Rise Up Sweet Island

Posted by David Roberts at 4:40 PM on 17 Oct 2005

A recommendation from Jamais at WC sent me back to Rise Up Sweet Island (it drifted across my radar a while back but I never took a close look). I'm glad he flagged it, because it's pretty amazing.

It's part of a larger site called Notes from the Road, a travelogue/blog with superb original photography from amateur traveler Erik Gauger.

Sweet Island is a narrative about a tiny West Indian island called Guana Cay, the pristine coral reefs around it, a proposal for an "ecologically sensitive" golf course on it, and the corruption and absurdity that ensue. It's difficult to summarize but fascinating to read and sumptuously illustrated. Check it out.

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Rise Up Sweet Island

This could be the environmental, human rights fight of the new millenium. This one has it all - coral reefs, golf courses, sleezy double talking developers, (and the politians who are funded by them). Marine biologists at loggerheads over the effects of golf course run-off and the disastorous effects to corals (or Not?)

The developer is using lots of green language to appease the masses, and to win those who are waiting for a hand out on the fence. The developer is really sneaky with the PR, even went so far as to Cyber-squat the oppositions wedsite!

This is an Island where the Men still go away to commercial fish for a living. (the head of the developer's environemtal team calls them "culturally disappointing", but who's counting?) These people care about their home and are fighting tooth an' nail against the Discoveryland Company and the Bahamas Government to stop the golf course and marina that will kill the nearshore and offshore reef systems.

I agree with Dave... Erik Gauger is a fine journalist who is after the truth, he has sure done his homework, check it out - it reads better than Hiassen, trouble is it's all true!!

R

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

by bwanna at 8:08 PM on 19 Oct 2005

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