TresSugar

Caribbean Beaches Disappearing As Tons of Sand Is Stolen

CitizenSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:15:05 -0700

I can almost feel the warm sand in this picture - though one criminal phenomenon is making the sand in the Caribbean "hot" as in stolen. On islands like Puerto Rico, Grenada, and St. Kitts among many others, thieves are actually stealing sand off the beaches for money.

Why the sand swiping? The building surge requires sand and enterprising criminals are reselling it to constructions companies. The sand is in high demand because it is used in cement, which many homeowners are turning to instead of the traditional wood. Despite not having a patch to put your beach towel on, the ecological problems of the theft are beginning to cause concern.

How much sand are we talking? It's no drop in the bucket. To see how much and the effect, read more.

In Jamaica, nearly 100 truckloads of sand disappeared from a private residence leaving plants and limestone exposed to the elements. In Grenada, officials are now having to build a 1.2 million dollar seawall to shield the 131-square-mile island after large scale thefts have left the coast vulnerable to rough seas. Nearly two-thirds of the sand dunes on the small island of Tortola have disappeared.

Currently, it appears that many of the local law enforcement officials may not be so keen to crack down. After 10 Olympic-sized pools of sand disappeared one official began to suspect the involvement of government officials: “I was surprised at the amount. This one could not have been stolen without persons knowing about it.” Fines at this point are exceedingly light and in some cases the thieves still make a profit even after being caught.

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Love Thy Neighbor: Caribbean Tribe to Keep It in the Family

CitizenSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:15:26 -0700

Think your family meddles in your love life? What if President Bush was the one telling you who to marry? (Ow, my ears! I can hear your howls from here.) That's kind of the case for an ancient Caribbean tribe, the Kalinago. To prevent the disappearance of their culture, Chief Charles Williams of the Dominica-based tribe said members should not marry non-Kalinago people.

He said of the proposition, "The impact of colonization has been so strong on us that if we do not take steps to protect the race, it will be soon extinct." If they follow his plan, in an island of 70,000 people, the dating pool is limited to 3,000 tribal members. Want to know who seems to be the blame? According to the Kalinago cultural queen, "Well, for some people this is a ticklish issue. She thinks the Kalinago women are the cause of the shrinking population. She says, "You go out there, you see a nice white guy and you fall in love," cautioning, "you have to stick to your people, you have to stick to your traditions and that's the only way."

To see what the Kalinago young women think about the plan, read more.

On the tribes 3,700-acre territory, poverty is a huge problem. For young girls with ambition, it's a tough sell to marry and stay. "They want us to stay here to marry our own tribe but I don't think that will happen. It's already happening that we are marrying outsiders. They cannot tell us what to do. If we want to be pilots or nurses, we have to leave the island."

Cultural pride aside, the heart comes into play, too. According to several locals, "You can't tell someone who they should or shouldn't love." Are the elders right? Should the Kalinago be fighting with their hearts to preserve their culture?

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Sailor Prince William Headed to Caribbean to Take on Drugs!

LibertySugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:00:06 -0700

Prince William will be summering in the Caribbean! His next assignment with the Royal Navy will have him taking on drug traffickers in the Caribbean aboard the HMS Iron Duke . . . not exactly a vacation. The ship will sail on August 1.

Before he leaves, he'll have to undergo some basic sea safety training. The future king will learn how to navigate the sea, fight fires, and survive at sea during a catastrophe.

So what will life be like on this Royal Cruise? William will most likely be searching boats suspected of carrying cocaine. Navy officials admit that the days will be exhausting and austere. He'll even have to use a communal bathroom! Serious mission aside, the Love Boat duds are quite fetching. Ahoy matey, indeed!

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Those Pirates Are At It Again!

GiggleSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:01:13 -0700

I hate to see what their children are going to look like. (Thanks for the send, CatarinaBella521!)

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Uncouth In The Caribbean

DearSugar — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 08:16:21 -0800

Dear Sugar
I am a single 33 year old male. I live in NYC and have decided that I wanted to take a vacation. I booked the trip months ago and figured that if I met someone I'd bring them along or else I'd just go solo. Turns out, about a month ago I met a beautiful Broadway singer. She and I had gone on about a dozen dates and I really liked her, so I surprised her with tickets to Barbados. She was thrilled and I was so happy about getting the chance to spend some quality time together. But after a few days, things turned sour. I didn't realize that she was such a diva. She acted spoiled, rude and bossy. When I confronted her, she told me that I needed to get her another room and that she didn't want to be near me anymore. I obliged simply because I didn't want to be around her either, but she has not offered to pay one dime for her own room. She ordered room service 4 times and also got a massage. I am peeved about it. Just because I can afford to pay for her doesn't mean that I want to. I think she's classless and obnoxious. She has recently called me to ask me for a coat of hers she left in my apt. I just want to leave it with my doorman, but part of me wants to talk to her because I'd like to tell her what I think. Do you think it's futile? I feel like I have been taken advantage of. Nice Guy Gareth

Dear Nice Guy Gareth
She really does sound like a diva. I am sorry that she spoiled your vacation. I can't believe she asked you for another room and didn't even offer to split it with you, some people are just plain old disgusting. I doubt you will ever see your money, so try and get over that if you can. Since you can afford it, maybe you can write it off as a charity donation! I think you should end on a high note and just leave her coat with your doorman but add that you are out of town for the next 2 weeks. In the meantime, take a piece of sushi and put it in the pocket of her coat. When she comes to get it in about 2 weeks the sushi will be nice and ripe. That'll be your little payback to her!

Pirate's Booty: Women Flock to Somali Port to Marry Pirates

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:30:52 -0700

It may be wedding season at Sugar, but elsewhere circumstance and desperation still send women down the aisle . . . or to the docks. In like, say, Somalia!

In an interview today on CNN's American Morning, TJ Holmes found that Somali women are flocking to the port town of Bosaso in hopes of marrying a pirate. Arghh. I'm going to assume these pirates are more like the men pictured above and less Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. So what's the appeal? Well, money - pirates have it.

In fact, women want to marry pirates for the same reasons men become them: they want to escape the hopelessness, poverty, lawlessness, and civil war that pervade the streets of Somalia. Can you blame them?

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Front Page: Clinton Won't Let Human Rights Stand in the Way

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:51:47 -0800

In China today, Hillary Clinton said human rights violations cannot interfere with the possibility of significant cooperation between the US and China. - Washington Post
Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited by President Peres to form Israel's government, a decade after he was ousted for a more moderate government. - Reuters
President Obama will meet with American mayors today at the White House. - MSNBC
Calls for Illinois Sen. Burris to step down are growing louder, thanks to revelations that he tried to raise money for Rod Blagojevich. - AP

France has pledged $730 million in economic aid to its Caribbean territories in hopes of ending escalating protests there. - CNN
The Democratic National Committee still owes more than a million dollars to the city of Chicago for the election night victory party. - Chicago Sun Times

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Briefing Book! How Will Bush Be Remembered in History?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:00:35 -0800

Bush: How will he be remembered down the road? Hardball takes on the debate. - Donklephant
In the Year 2010: Take a look at what history books might say just in case we're faced with the complete dissolution of the US. - 23/6
War 2.0: People in Second Life have been protesting the attacks in the Gaza strip; meanwhile, the Israeli Consulate in NY launched two Twitter accounts and will be hosting a Twitter press conference today. - Boing Boing
Economy: Congress gave Wall Street a big wad of cash to boost the economy. It didn't work . . . so where did all that money go? - Salon
Eco: What's the solar potential of your home? - GOOD
Pricey Disasters: Insurers' losses from natural disasters rose by about 50 percent in 2008, with Caribbean hurricanes Ike and Gustav powering the increase. - Huffington Post

Check This: Jamaica Far From Paradise for Gays

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:00:58 -0800

Though Jamaica's motto is, "Out of Many, One People," recent horrific attacks against homosexuals ensure for some, this tropical paradise is more hell than haven. Stories of attacks on gay people using machetes, sticks and knives, and thrown bottles and rocks, ensure that none are safe - whether out to dinner with friends, or attending a funeral.

Much of the Caribbean actively markets to homosexual vacationers, Jamaica has not joined suit. According to the piece above from the New York Times, some think deep roots of Christian tradition on the island point to the Bible as back-up for hateful behavior. Jamaicans violently uphold the passage they believe condemns homosexuality, but other biblical edicts aren't so strictly followed. To find out, read more. Critics point out Jamaicans’ fervor for casual sex among heterosexuals, and considered it part of the Caribbean way of life. This salad bar approach to religious-sanctioned hate crimes weakens their spiritual superiority, and creates sympathy for those being oppressed.

Does the Bible sanction such severe abuse against one's fellow man, regardless of lifestyle? Do you find the pick-and-choose adherence to the Bible's stance on sex, hypocritical?

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Front Page: Gustav Spares New Orleans, Thailand Declares Emergency, McCain Raises $47 Million

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:56:08 -0700

Gustav Spares New Orleans:
Hurricane Gustav, thought Sunday to exceed the strength of Katrina, largely spared New Orleans. The city's improved levee system and mandatory evacuation order and curfew helped keep damages low. The storm was responsible for eight deaths in the US and 94 people in the Caribbean. Residents are expected to be able to return in the next few days.

Thailand Declares Emergency:
Thailand's Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency today to try to restore order after overnight clashes between protesters and government supporters left one dead and 43 injured. Though the prime minister wants to end the violence "softly," the military has power to suspend civil liberties, ban public gathering, and bar the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
McCain Raises $47 Million:
John McCain raised $47 million in the month of August, more than double his previous best month. $10 million in donations have come in since he announced Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. The amount comes close to Barack Obama's take for July at $51 million. At the end of the convention, the Republican campaign will get $84 million in public financing.

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