“On this World Radio Day, we celebrate not only the history of radio, but also its central role in our societies, now and in the years to come”. – Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
Radio has been the most transformative medium of communication since its invention. Without a doubt the radio has been a powerful medium of communication globally. Those of us old enough will recall the importance of the radio in our lives as well as the importance of this form of communication to the lives of folks in surrounding communities. Radio has the ability to connect to the listener in an intimate way that perhaps no other form of mass media can. Radio has proven to be both a durable and easy accessible form of mass communication. Radio has been responsible for shaping the ideas and discourse around many social issues, from politics to times of war, from religion to sporting activities. Unfortunately, radio can also be a form of propaganda to mislead or serve a particular agenda. This is especially the situation in countries that have an authoritarian form of government. For example, in North Korea the State controls all forms of media, as well as the content that is disseminated to the population. Radio is a low-cost medium specifically suited to reaching remote communities and vulnerable people, offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Without a doubt radio can also play a crucial role in emergency communication, disaster relief and management. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) radio is uniquely positioned to bring communities together and foster positive dialogue for change. By listening to its audiences and responding to their needs, radio services provide the diversity of views and voices needed to address the challenges we all face. The pivotal role of radio was again showcased during the COVID-19 pandemic when global education systems had to seek alternative forms to continue the education of their students.
In 2011, at the 36th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, February 13 was proclaimed as World Radio Day (WRD). This date was chosen by UNESCO’s director general as it was the anniversary date of the United Nations international broadcasting service, which was created on February 13, 1946. This year’s theme, ‘Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating’, underscores radio’s ongoing evolution in a digital age. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), radio has crossed the 100-year milestone hence, it is a significant occasion to commemorate the medium’s extensive virtues and continuing potency as it faces challenges to its audience and revenue numbers from digital platforms, social media, digital and generational divides, censorship, consolidations and economic hardships.
History
Many people in history have contributed to perfecting radio waves and frequencies. However, it was Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi who proved the feasibility of communication over the radio. He sent and received a telegram over the first radio signal in history from Italy in 1895. The first radio station in America was established in Pittsburgh in 1919, and the FM radio debuted in 1939. Broadcasting over radio went digital in 1994, when radio streaming started via the internet. Interestingly, this was accompanied by the first internet-only 24-hour radio station. Radio has kept pace with emerging technologies. The medium is embracing new technologies like podcasts and online streaming, reaching audiences beyond traditional frequencies. Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations. On this World Radio Day let us embrace the educational power as well as the entertainment value that radio brings to our daily lives. Let us also acknowledge the versatility and relevance of radio in the 21st century; especially as it relates to Caribbean societies. Happy World Radio Day!
In the words of Hallie Flanagan, the power of radio is not that it speaks to millions, but that it speaks intimately and privately to each one of those millions.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
For Chinese people and Chinese communities around the world, the Chinese New Year is arguably the greatest and most significant yearly festival. The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year begins on Saturday, February, 10. As is customary, it lasts 15 days, although it can occasionally last up to 17 days in total. The holiday dates back centuries and coincides with the end of China’s agricultural season, allowing farmers a break from field work and time to spend with their families. The Lunar New Year aligns with the start of a new moon. The practice of marking the Lunar New Year began centuries ago and is linked to an ancient Xia calendar which observed a new year on the second new moon following the winter solstice. This year, 2024, is represented by the dragon.
Lunisolar Calendar
The traditional Chinese calendar is a Lunisolar Calendar based on astronomical observations of the Sun’s position in the sky and the Moon’s phases. This ancient calendar dates back to the 14th century BCE (whereas the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582). The Chinese lunisolar calendar shares some similarities with the Hebrew calendar, which is also lunisolar, and it has influenced other East Asian calendars, such as those of Korea and Vietnam. For thousands of years, China observed the Lunar New Year as the beginning of a new year until the government officially switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1912, which commemorates the day on January 1st. The traditional Chinese lunisolar year has 12 months and 353 to 355 days (or during a leap year, 13 months and 383 to 385 days). Therefore, the Chinese year usually begins several weeks into the Western 365-day year (usually between January 21 and February 20), not on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar. Even though the New Year technically begins on the first day of January, observing the Lunar New Year continues to be integral in Asian culture and has gradually evolved into a seasonal celebration commonly known as “Spring Festival.”
Although this holiday is commonly called “Chinese New Year” in the West, China is not the only country to observe it. Many other countries in East Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own New Year celebrations at this time. (Occasionally, the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to time zones and other factors.)
Making and eating dumplings is also customary during the Lunar New Year. Symbolic of wealth, dumplings represent good fortune and are believed to ensure luck and prosperity in the year to come.
The Settlement of the Chinese in Jamaica
Throughout the first half of the 19th century, many Chinese labourers, predominately men migrated to the west coast of the United States of America in search of employment in agriculture, mining, railroad construction and other low skilled jobs. Additionally, some Chinese migrants went south to Panama to work on the Panama Railroads. In Jamaica, the Chinese came in 3 major waves; 1854-1884, 1900-1940 and the 1980s. The first wave was the smallest in numbers and consisted of workers imported for plantation work. The second wave was much larger and consisted primarily of the immigration of businessmen. In 1854, two groups of Chinese arrived in Jamaica in 1854. The first, a group of 224, travelled from Hong Kong on a ship called the “Epsom” and arrived in Jamaica on July 30. The second was a group of 197, part of a contingent of 1,042 who had travelled to Panama to work on the Panama Railroad. However, given the fear of catching yellow fever, they were sent by the Panamanian authorities to Jamaica in exchange for Jamaican laborers. They arrived on a ship called the “Vampire” on November, 1854. A decade later in 1864, another group of 200 Chinese arrived from British Guiana, Trinidad and Panama. The third wave of Chinese migrants arrived in 1884. Of course of the years Chinese have continued to migrate to Jamaica as well as to other islands in the Caribbean.
Qualities of the Dragon
Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be ambitious, energetic, and charismatic, often inspiring others with their passion and enthusiasm. They are considered to be natural leaders, confident and unafraid to take risks, making them magnetic personalities in social and professional circles.
An important aspect of Chinese culture is the zodiac, which is based on a 12-year cycle. According to Chinese culture the zodiac is said to have originated from a Chinese Poem about 12 animals that came from the heavens to help farmers with their crops, each year is represented by a specific animal. People born in the year of those animals are said to embody specific personality traits, not unlike traditional astrology. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The dragon represents vigor, strength and good fortune, among other powerful attributes.
As is ancient tradition, the Chinese zodiac attaches animal signs to each lunar year in a cycle of 12 years. The animal designation changes at the start of the New Year.
In honour of the Chinese New Year as well as Asian culture, many cities and countries worldwide will host jubilant celebrations that will include festivals, parades and fireworks.
May the year of the Dragon bring you and your family good health, happiness and prosperity. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
We all have lost a family member or friend to cancer. In some families multiple members have succumbed to this dreaded disease. Cancers are a leading cause of death worldwide, causing 10.0 million deaths in 2019. In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases. The estimated number of people who were alive within 5 years following a cancer diagnosis was 53.5 million. About 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women die from the disease. World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. This year’s theme is “Close the care gap”. Everyone deserves access to cancer care. Cancer is a large group of diseases that can affect any organ or tissue of the body. It refers to the abnormal growth of cells that divide uncontrollably. Cancer has the ability to spread from one body part/ organ/ tissue to another.
Cancer is the second most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the Americas, after cardiovascular disease, and an important basis of health inequalities. In the Americas, there are an estimated 4.2 million people were newly diagnosed and 1.4 million people died from the disease in 2022. Cancer diagnosis is very scary and costly to treat especially given so many of us have no health insurance in the Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that approximately, 54% of new cancer cases and 45.1% of cancer deaths occurred in people 69 years of age and younger, in the prime of their lives. The global World Health Organization (WHO) survey on UHC and cancer shows that only 39% of participating countries covered the basics of cancer management as part of their financed core health services for all citizens, ‘health benefit packages’ (HBP). Only 28% of participating countries additionally covered care for people who require palliative care, including pain relief in general, and not just linked to cancer.
Three major cancer types in 2022: lung, breast and colorectal cancers
Lung cancer was the most commonly occurring cancer worldwide with 2.5 million new cases accounting for 12.4% of the total new cases. Female breast cancer ranked second (2.3 million cases, 11.6%), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million cases, 9.6%), prostate cancer (1.5 million cases, 7.3%), and stomach cancer (970 000 cases, 4.9%). According to the WHO, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death (1.8 million deaths, 18.7% of the total cancer deaths) followed by colorectal cancer (900 000 deaths, 9.3%), liver cancer (760 000 deaths, 7.8%), breast cancer (670 000 deaths, 6.9%) and stomach cancer (660 000 deaths, 6.8%). Lung cancer’s re-emergence as the most common cancer is likely related to persistent tobacco use in Asia. The WHO argues that there were some differences by sex in incidence and mortality from the global total for both sexes. For women, the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death was breast cancer, whereas it was lung cancer for men. Breast cancer was the most common cancer in women in the vast majority of countries (157 of 185).
For men, prostate and colorectal cancers were the second and third most commonly occurring cancers, while liver and colorectal cancers were the second and third most common causes of cancer death. For women, lung and colorectal cancer were second and third for both the number of new cases and of deaths.
The WHO states that cervical cancer was the eighth most commonly occurring cancer globally and the ninth leading cause of cancer death, accounting for 661 044 new cases and 348 186 deaths. It is the most common cancer in women in 25 countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Even while recognizing varying incidence levels, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem, through the scale-up of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.
Striking Cancer Inequity by Human Development Index (HDI)
The health burden of cancers is distributed unevenly across countries, with high-income countries facing a greater per-population burden in terms of disability-adjusted life-years than low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cancers impose a marked toll on the economy through reduced productivity, unemployment, labour losses and capital inventment reductions. Accordingly, investments in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment could yield sudstantial health and economic benefits, especially in LMICs, which have lower levels of cancer survival compared to high income countries. Global estimates reveal striking inequalities in the cancer burden according to the Human Development Index. This is particularly true for breast cancer. In countries with a very high HDI, 1 in 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 71 women will die of it. By contrast, in countries with a low HDI, 1 in 27 women is diagnosed and 1 in 48 women will die from breast cancer.
Projected Cancer Burden Increase in 2050
The WHO indicates that over 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050, a 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. The rapidly growing global cancer burden reflects both population ageing and growth, as well as changes to people’s exposure to risk factors, several of which are associated with socioeconomic development. Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are key factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, with air pollution still a key driver of environmental risk factors. In terms of the absolute burden, high HDI countries are expected to experience the greatest absolute increase in incidence, with an additional 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050 compared with 2022 estimates. Yet the proportional increase in incidence is most striking in low HDI countries (142% increases) and in medium HDI countries (99%). Likewise, cancer mortality in these countries is projected to almost double in 2050.
On this World Cancer Day let us lobby our governments to invest more funds regarding the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Alarmingly, the JAMA Oncology publication estimates that the total cost of cancer to the global economy will reach US$25.2 trillion dollars between 2020 and 2050. It is clear that the global community must unite both in terms of collective voices and resources in order to spread the message that early detection provides the best possible outcome for a diagnosis of cancer. The time to show more kindness and to be supportive to those who are going through their journey with cancer is now. It is possible to close the care gap regarding cancer.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.”- African Proverb.
There are those who will agree that it is a paradox to celebrate Black History Month in a society that is made up of predominantly people of African descent. Regardless, of your position it is important for us to pause and pay homage to the sacrifices of people of colour whose history is often under-represented and underappreciated over the centuries.
Unfortunately, most Jamaicans are unaware of their historical background. Furthermore a significant gap is in our education policy which relegates the teaching of history as optional. This omission of history from among the core subjects directly impacts how we see ourselves as a people. The ongoing bleaching of the skin is also related to the lack of knowledge of our rich and powerful historical past. The fact that history is optional in our schools speaks volumes about our cultural identity or lack thereof. There are those who will argue that more can be done to engender a greater appreciation for our unique history and culture by means of the education system. Interestingly, Friday, February 23, 2024 will be observed as Jamaica Day within the education system. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Jamaica: Authentic and Unique…A Fi Wi Trend A Dweet.
Every February, the United States of America (U.S.A) pays homage to the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who worked tirelessly to shape the nation. Black History Month celebrates the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an indelible part of the history and journey of the USA. The story of Black History Month began in 1915 when Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting the achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History Week in 1926. The second week of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Importantly, by the late 1960s, Negro History Week had evolved into what is now known as Black History Month. Additionally, protests around racial injustice, inequality and anti-imperialism that were occurring in many parts of the U.S. were fundamental to the change.
Over the years, the observation of Black History Month has increased rapidly beyond the shores of the United States of America. The event is commemorated in many schools and communities particularly in the Americas. Black History Month can be celebrated by establishing history clubs and hosting performances and lectures in educational and cultural spaces. Additionally, social media facilitates the sharing of information regarding black history.
February was chosen primarily because it coincided with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln who was influential in the emancipation of slaves, and Douglass, a former slave, and a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement. The Black History Month theme for 2024 is “Rhythms of Resilience: One Soul, One Sound.” This month’s theme centers on the concept that Black history, culture, and music embody a tapestry of diversity and interconnection, rather than being a single narrative. Noteworthy, in 1976 President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. President Ford called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, Black History Month is a time to honour the contributions and legacy of African American activists and civil rights pioneers namely Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. Among the legacies for post-slavery societies is the ability for us to build on the legacies of those who have gone before us. May we never forget the struggles of the past as we celebrate Black History Month.
In the words of Marcus Garvey, a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela.
Jamaica’s education system is at a crossroads. Those of us who are in the trenches are very much aware that all is not well in the local education system. However, there is the official narrative that fails to acknowledge that a band- aid approach will not solve the issues that we face as a society. The truth is many students have switched off their dial regarding the education system. Having said this we must also concede that boys in particular have realized from very early that there are more lucrative pathways available than the long and sometimes arduous pathway of academic rigours. As a result male underachievement across all levels of the education system has become a global concern. The society is also hypocritical in that we continue to send our students conflicting messages concerning academic success. The adage ‘children live what they learn’ is a truism. Additionally, those who are tasked with policy- making by now should realize that despite pockets of excellence throughout the education system, the masses of students continue to fall through the gaping cracks that are structural and which urgently needs to be addressed. Perhaps, the recent assessment of the island’s 15 year olds will jolt the collective action of all stakeholders. The 2022 international assessment conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) through the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has concluded that Jamaican students are not performing on par with those 15 year olds in other nations in the subject areas of reading, mathematics and science. A total of 3,873 Jamaican students from 147 schools completed the assessment in mathematics, reading and science. The results further showed that only 26 per cent of Jamaican students attained at least level 2 proficiency in mathematics, this is significantly less than the average of 69 per cent across participating countries. Clearly, this must be a wakeup call to action in order to rescue our students. Perhaps, it is divine intervention that the results have been published on the International Day of Education that is observed annually on January 24th.
Background
On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted with consensus a resolution proclaiming 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. The adoption of the resolution 73/25 “International Day of Education”, co-authored by Nigeria and 58 other Member States, demonstrated the unwavering political will to support transformative actions for inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. Accordingly, the international community reiterated that education plays a key role in building sustainable and resilient societies, and contributes to the achievement of all other Sustainable Development Goals. With a view to enhance international cooperation in supporting the efforts towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 4, the resolution called on all stakeholders including Member States, organizations of the UN system, and civil society, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, individuals and other relevant stakeholders to observe the International Day of Education.
This year, the focus is on “Learning for lasting peace.” The idea is that education can transform us, giving us the knowledge and skills to be peacemakers in our communities. The United Nations tells us that education is like a powerful tool that can help us deal with big issues like climate change, inequality, discrimination, and conflicts. The theme emphasizes how education lays the foundation for more peaceful, fair, and sustainable societies. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has dedicated the International Day of Education celebrated on 24 January 2024 to the crucial role education and teachers play in countering hate speech, a phenomenon which has snowballed in recent years with the use of social media, damaging the fabric of our societies. The Council of Europe states that Hate speech is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has far-reaching and dangerous consequences for human rights, rule of law in democratic societies. Preventing and combating online hate speech poses specific challenges. Hate speech not only affects thedignity and human rights of the individual directly targeted, but also of persons belonging to the same minority or group as those directly targeted. The Council of Europe adds hate speech leads to dangerous divisions in society as a whole, affects the participation andinclusion of all those targeted by it andthreatens democracy. The targets of hate speech become increasingly excluded from society, forced out of the public debate and silenced. History shows that hate speech has also been intentionally used to mobilize groups and societies against each other in order to provoke violent escalation, hate crime, war and genocide. In common language, “hate speech” refers to offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics (such as race, religion or gender) and that may threaten social peace. The United Nations (UN) Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech defines hate speech as…“any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.”
The Way Forward
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was already off-track to achieve its education targets. According to the United Nations if no additional measures are taken, only one in six countries will meet SDG4 and achieve universal access to quality education by 2030. An estimated 84 million children and young people will still be out of school and an estimated 300 million students will still not have the basic numeracy and literacy skills they need to succeed in life. In order to deliver the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4, education systems must be re-imagined, and education financing must become a priority for national investment.
The time to revisit the nation’s approach to numeracy and literacy is now. Additionally, governments must find the resolve and political will to implement policies that will assure inclusive education for all.
In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility.”- Robin Morgan.
The Caribbean region has had a rich and enviable history of adhering to democratic principles and ideals. In fact the English speaking Caribbean is probably second to no other bloc of nations regarding having peaceful and fair elections. The process of involving the people in the structure of governance was not handed down on a silver platter but was instead a gradual and sometimes painful progression of blood, sweat and tears. It is therefore extremely troubling to learn of recent developments in Grenada, a fellow Caricom member state. For the first time in modern Grenadian history, the government of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell barred reporters and photographers from the swearing-in of new cabinet ministers, signaling a disturbing move towards information control and suppression of the free press. Dickon Mitchell, an attorney at-law became the ninth prime minister of Grenada on 24 June 2022. He has been the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since 2021. Interestingly, Mitchell would have been a toddler in 1979 when the government of then Prime Minister Eric Gairy was overthrown in 1979 by the New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop. Undoubtedly, the situation on Grenada had been of concern to the administration of United States of America since 1979, when the leftist Maurice Bishop seized power and began to develop close relations with Cuba. In 1983, another Marxist, Bernard Coard, had Bishop assassinated and took control of the government. The situation spiraled out of control quickly as protesters clashed with the new government and violence escalated. The US President at the time Ronald Reagan ordered nearly 2,000 U.S. troops into the island under the code-named Operation Urgent Fury. Grenada needs to tread carefully given its recent past. News report indicates that the Grenadian Government has also dismantled the weekly post-cabinet press briefing, shifting to a communication strategy where information is dispensed on a ‘need to know basis. The Media Workers Association of Grenada has criticized the Grenadian government regarding escalating concerns over freedom of the press in the country. The association, representing Grenada’s independent media, vociferously condemned the government’s action, labeling it a “dangerous new low”. Noteworthy point of history was also in 1983 when then Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop incarceration of journalist Leslie Pierre, who ran the opposition newspaper The Grenadian Voice. Pierre stood in strong defense of press freedom; Bishop alleged that Pierre “engaged in acts of violence to overthrow the government.”
The Fourth Estate
The media’s role as the fourth estate complementing the three pillars of democracy (executive, legislature, and judiciary). Additionally, the media serves as a regulator institution in order to uphold democracy. The ability of journalists to conduct their profession without impediments from the political sphere are more likely to prosper in a democratic system of government since such a system guarantees the freedom of speech and freedom of the press. McQuail (2009) states, that journalism can take on different roles in a democratic society. They range from being the provider of all kinds of relevant information that citizens need about current and recent events not only in the political sphere, but in all areas that concern the general population, to taking on a more active role as a “facilitator”. The fourth estate functions as a branch of the government and plays a significant role in safeguarding democracy. It is vital for every journalist to possess strong investigative reporting skills and a distinctive level of literacy which is critical to maintain the questionable concept of democracy in this day and age. The Fourth Estate is essential for protecting democracy and holding the powerful accountable.
There is no doubt that the media is very powerful. In Caribbean societies, the media plays an even more significant role in both entertaining and informing the populace. In all countries where authoritarian governments exist journalists are often imprisoned and muzzled from publishing stories critical of the government, in fact some journalists have been murdered in the pursuit of conducting their work. In essence an independent media culture serves as a bastion of safeguarding democracy and the ideals of principles associated with democracy. It is always very troubling when governments move in a direction to limit media access and freedom of expression. Two fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are: Freedom of expression and access to information. Together with the safety of journalists, these rights are promoted in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #16 of the 2030 Agenda and are critical to fostering peaceful and inclusive societies. The role of media in development communication is important in promoting social, economic, and cultural progress within societies. Media serves as a powerful tool for disseminating information, shaping public opinion, and influencing behavior, all of which are essential for driving positive changes and development outcomes. Development communication is an interdisciplinary field that draws from communication studies, sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, and other disciplines. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to sustainable development by fostering positive social change, improving the quality of life for people, and creating a more equitable and just society.
Caricom
The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) is a group of 20 developing countries in the Caribbean that have come together to form an economic and political community that works together to shape policies for the region and encourages economic growth and trade.
There are many in and outside the region who questions the relevance of Caricom in today’s society given that Caricom has always been viewed as a reactionary mechanism. However, it is never too late for Caricom to find its voice and speak out on matters that will have implications for the region. The move by the government of Grenada is clearly at odds with the democratic values of the people of the Caribbean region and specifically to the Grenadian people. The lack of independent press coverage not only undermines the role of the media as the fourth pillar of democracy but also obstruct the public’s right to be informed about government procedures and decisions. All democratic governments must adhere to the theme of World Press Freedom Day “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.” The government of Prime Minister Mitchell must reverse its decision and allow for transparency in governance and inclusivity. Governments must do all within their power to engender and safeguard a free and independent media. A robust fourth estate ensures a vibrant democracy and as a result all that can be done should be done to ensure democracy continues to thrive in the Caribbean region.
In the words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”- Robert John Meehan.
Team teaching can be defined as a group of two or more teachers working together to plan, conduct and evaluate the learning activities for the same group of learners. Quinn and Kanter (1984) define team teaching as “simply team work between two qualified instructors who, together, make presentations to an audience.” Team teaching can be a wonderful and effective strategy regarding teaching and learning. Team teaching involves a group of educators working purposefully and cooperatively. Teachers together prepare lesson plans, share insights, teach students and evaluate the results. It is widely reported that the team teaching idea originated in the United States of America in 1954. It is rather unfortunate that in many instances there is no prior meeting of the team in order to get some synergy going. Regrettably, it has become commonplace that teachers who are teamed meet in the classroom for the first time and this is problematic. This approach is both unfair and unprofessional not only to the teachers involved but also to the students. The fair and professional practice should be that prior to the teachers begin their first class teaching together, intensive staff development in the area of team teaching should be conducted. This training may involve learning the rationale behind team teaching, shared readings and discussion, learning cooperative skills to enable a positive partnership to evolve, as well as learning a variety of time management skills in order to ensure a smooth operation in the classroom. Team teaching or collaborative teaching should not be forced nor should it used across the board as a method to merely add teaching sessions. Oftentimes, as educators we ignore the fact that schools are for the development of our students. When team teaching is not done successfully, there will be chaos. Furthermore, there will be situations where one teacher bears the brunt of this partnership. Regrettably, this then becomes burdensome on that teacher with an increase in absenteeism and attending problems that will negatively impact the educational institution. There are also mental health issues that can accompany team teaching as the teacher who is burdened might experience anxiety and depression and hopelessness. However, do we care given that mental health is not taken seriously?
Emotional Intelligence
It is at this juncture that Emotional Intelligence comes into question. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. There are five key elements to Emotional Intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. People with high EI can identify how they are feeling, what those feelings mean, and how those emotions impact their behavior and in turn, other people. Obviously, it becomes more challenging to “manage” the emotions of other people. We cannot control how someone else feels or behaves. However, if you can identify the emotions behind their behaviour, you stand a better chance of understanding where they are coming from and how to best interact with them.
School Leadership
Those administrators who are tasked with teaming teachers must be more meticulous and conscious of the approach they take when implementing team teaching. In many cases the unsuccessful partnership concerning collaborative teaching involves a languid teacher working alongside an industrious teacher. At the end, the students are always the ones who suffer. Obviously, collaborative teaching can be a wonderful, useful experience and quite beneficial to the students. However, it takes a great effort to put together the workable team. The pursuit of collaborative teaching should never be done on the premise that the teacher need more teaching sessions or out of malice. Collaborative teaching, also known as team teaching, is a specific approach to classroom instruction and has many models such as station teaching and parallel teaching. Without doubt the vital components to successful team teaching are two teachers, working as equals and planning instruction both before and during the class. These methods should be supported by the school with feedback and professional development. With these components, collaborative teaching is an effective way to meet the diverse needs of students in a classroom. The 21st century learner deserves the best strategy in order to excel and become a law-abiding citizen. The following are some of the more popular approaches to collaborative teaching:
Team Teaching Approaches
The traditional teaming approach, also known as co-teaching, splits the responsibility of teaching the full class equally between two instructors. Opposite this model, the one teach/one observes approach has a single instructor doing all the teaching while the other observes and takes notes. There are several models in between these two methods. All models will make use of two instructors and be based on the same general content. The depth of that content and the role of each instructor vary.
One Teach/One Observe
The one teach/one observes model for team teaching is the least collaborative approach to team teaching. This model places the responsibility for instruction on one individual, usually the content-area instructor. While this teacher instructs the class, the other teacher floats around the room making observations. These observations could be general or specific to a student.
The one teach/one observes model ensures that the entire class receives consistent information from a single source and that the source is the best qualified to provide that instruction. It can also be a very useful model to gain helpful information for behavior or instructional plans for individual students. The model’s usefulness is limited, however. It does not utilize either teachers for instruction or student support.
One Teach/One Assist
The one teacher/one assist model is similar to the one teach/one observe model in that a single teacher, usually the content expert, provides instruction to the whole class. In this model, however, the second teacher works directly with individual students. They may address either behavior or academic questions or concerns. In this, students benefit from the strongest instruction and receive attention to their individual needs. An example of this model would be a Social Studies class where while one teacher is delivering instruction, the other is walking around the class checking individual students’ homework and answering questions or correcting errors.
Station Teaching
Also known as rotational teaching, this model deems both teachers responsible for teaching a specific lesson or a specific part of a lesson to the students. The class is divided into smaller groups and then these groups rotate through lessons by each instructor. Depending on the number of students in the class, more groups may be required to retain the advantage of small-group instruction that this model offers. If this is the case, the additional stations students rotate through may consist of activities or opportunities for them to apply their learning. An alternative is having students remain in place and teachers rotate.
Parallel Teaching
The parallel teaching model also has the benefit of smaller groups. In this model, the students are split in half and each teacher teaches the lesson to one half of the students. There is no difference in the materials presented to students by each teacher in this model. Each half of the class receives the same information, and there is no rotation of students or teachers.
Alternative or Differentiated Teaching
In the alternative or differentiated teaching model, most of the class will receive the same lesson from one teacher, while the other teacher works with a small group of students on a completely different lesson. There is no rotation in this model. The alternative or differentiated model allows for a small group of students with targeted needs to receive lessons specific to those needs. It can be used for both remediation and extension activities.
An example would be one teacher working on multiplication skills with a group of students who are struggling while the other teacher instructs the large group with a lesson introducing division.
Teaming
Teaming is the collaborative teaching model that has traditionally been known as co-teaching. This model places equal responsibility for instruction of the large group on each teacher. The two teachers work in tandem throughout the lesson. This model gives students two instructors who are equally experts on the subject being taught, as well as two different teaching styles to learn from in the same lesson.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Working as part of a team has a multitude of advantages: it gives the participating team teacher a supportive environment. Another benefit of team teaching is that working closely with. one or more colleagues enables teachers to overcome the isolation inherent in teaching. When an instructor teaches solo, she rarely has the time or the opportunity for interacting with her fellow teachers, even though she is surrounded by educational colleagues. By working together, team teachers can discuss issues relating to students, such as behavioral expectations, student motivation and teaching policies, and end up with improved solutions. Robinson and Schaible (1995) describe each team member as a sounding board for sharing the joys and the disappointments of particular class sessions. On the other hand, there are also disadvantages. Team teaching is not always successful. There are some teachers who have unyielding personality types and may be uncomfortable to move out of their comfort zone. There are those teachers who fear that they will be expected to do more work for the same salary as the other team member. Some teachers do not want to risk humiliation and discouragement from administrators regarding their failures. Additionally, some students flourish in a highly structured classroom environment and are confused by conflicting opinions that comes along with team teaching.
Workplace Culture
Whether you are the keeper of the organization’s grounds or the chief executive officer, mutual respect is a key driver for the success of any business. And yes, education is indeed a business. Respect in the workplace is mainly about valuing the time of each individual in the organization regardless of one’s position. The trust factor is another critical element in having a successful collaborative approach to team teaching. The teachers involved in this partnership must believe that their fellow teacher has their best interest at heart. A respectful environment is one in which everyone is treated with fairness and respect. Unfortunately, this does not happen in the real world of hustle and bustle. In many organizations, including educational institutions, there exist preferential treatment and this creates a toxic work environment oftentimes characterized by low levels of productivity.
Embracing Professional Development
Like all disciplines, teachers continue to learn and grow throughout their careers. Schools should support this growth by providing explicit professional development or providing resources to specific teachers to attend professional development sessions on specific strategies. Such should be the case with teachers who are teaching collaboratively. Collaborative teaching is a specific approach that is not explicitly supported in many professional development programs. Therefore, specific attention to finding opportunities for professional development in this area may be required, particularly in smaller districts without the resources to have people with expertise in this area on staff. An example would be sending two teachers who work collaboratively to a professional development session on parallel teaching. As educators, we should not discount the positives to collaborative teaching; however, we must also acknowledge the disadvantages to this strategy and make the necessary adjustments accordingly to benefit all the stakeholders.
“A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way.” – Swahili Proverb.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“By voting, we add our voices to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.”- Jens Stoltenberg.
The year 2024 will be quite interesting politically. In the first instance the year promises to be polarizing, especially given the pending US presidential elections in November as well as unpredictable, given the current wars involving Russia and Ukraine and Hamas and Israel. Of course there are other forgotten wars and social and political unrest such as those in Syria, Haiti, Libya, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Yemen and Mali to name a few.
Local Government Elections
In Jamaica, local government elections are constitutionally due no later than February 28, 2024. The local Government elections, which are constitutionally due every four years, were last held in November 2016. They were due to be held in November 2020 but were postponed as the country was still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, a general election was held two months earlier, in September of that year. The ruling Jamaica Labour Party won nine of the Municipal Corporations, while the People’s National Party (PNP) won three. There was a tie in St. Thomas, with both parties taking five divisions. The Corporations won by the JLP include Kingston and St. Andrew (KSAC), Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and St. Catherine. Those won by the PNP include the parishes of Hanover, Westmoreland and Manchester. Since then the Jamaica Labour Party has taken control of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation with two former PNP councillors Myles and James crossing the floor. Jamaica is currently on an election watch given that the general elections are constitutionally due in just over a year’s time.
US Presidential Elections
The 2024 presidential election will take place on November 5. This will be preceded by nominating contests in each state and territory. Those begin in January and end in June. The Republican and Democratic conventions will take place in July and August, respectively.
Republicans will flock to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15-18, 2024, for their national convention to formally select their party’s next presidential nominee. The Democratic National Committee has yet to decide on a location or dates for its 2024 convention.
Despite concerns over his age, President Joe Biden age 81 years remains a strong frontrunner for his party’s nomination. On the other hand, Trump at 77 is merely 4 years younger than Biden. It is likely that former President Donald Trump and Biden will have a rematch similar to their 2020 presidential election faceoff. In 2020 Joe Biden won 306 to 232 Electoral College votes. It is important to note that 270 Electoral College votes are needed for any candidate to win the presidency. We must be mindful that over 74 million Americans voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential elections. Trump’s base of supporters has remained unmoved even in the midst of his legal problems. On the other hand over 81 million votes were cast for Biden in the 2020 presidential elections.
14th Amendment
Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits anyone who has previously taken an oath of office (Senators, Representatives, and other public officials) from holding public office if they have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the United States.
As Trump’s legal woes mount, two states Colorado and Maine have decided to remove his name from the ballot citing the 14th Amendment concerns regarding the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill riot. Of course, Trump’s legal team has indicated a challenge will be mounted. Intriguing both Colorado and Maine are viewed as blue states for the Democrats. Importantly, Colorado has 9 Electoral College votes compared to Maine that has 4.
It is also very likely that other states might follow Colorado and Maine. This issue of the 14th Amendment will be settled by the US Supreme Court. In fact, the Supreme Court on Friday, January 5th, 2024 decided to weigh Trump’s Colorado ballot eligibility under the 14th Amendment. The pending ruling of the Supreme Court will not only address Colorado but any other state that might consider removing Trump from the ballot. Interestingly, Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, “while I am cognizant of the fact that my decision could soon be rendered a nullity by a decision of the United States Supreme Court in Anderson (the Colorado case), that possibility does not relieve me of my responsibility to act.”
The US Supreme Court is seen as rather conservative and pro-Republican especially given its composition of Justices three of whom were appointed by Donald Trump. The three Supreme Court Justicesappointed by Trump areNeil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett; these are the most by any president since Ronald Reagan. Reagan served two terms as president from 1981 to 1989. In a rather bizarre and inappropriate comment, Alina Habba one of Trump’s lawyer called on Justice Kavanaugh to ‘step up’ as she reminded him how the former president fought for him to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Habba’s comment can be viewed as a textbook case of quid pro quo both from those with and without legal training. Unfortunately, the US Supreme Court has become politicized in recent times more so during Trump’s presidency.
What is obvious is that the 2024 US presidential elections will also be close. American voters cast 158 million ballots in the 2020 presidential election. Yet the winner was ultimately decided by about 43,000 voters across Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin the states that carried President Joe Biden over the 270 Electoral College votes he needed to win the presidency.
Notable Candidates
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose fondness for cultural clashes led him to declare his state as the place where “woke goes to die,” launched a bid for president in May 2023. DeSantis has said he is running to “reverse the decline” in America and to offer a new generation of leadership for the country. DeSantis, rose to national prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida was one of the first states to reopen schools, and DeSantis took measures to prohibit lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccine requirements.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley launched her presidential campaign in February 2023, calling for a new generation of leadership in the Republican Party. Her campaign has heavily focused on economic responsibility, national security and strengthening the southern border. Interestingly, the Republican Governor of New Hampshire Christopher Thomas Sununu has endorsed her candidacy. If successful in the primary, Haley would be the first woman and the first Asian American nominated by the GOP for president.
Tech entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy launched his outsider campaign for the presidency in February 2023, focused on combating “woke” ideology, exposing government corruption and ushering in a younger generation of voters into the Republican Party. Ramaswamy, 38, is the youngest candidate in the GOP field.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced his second presidential campaign in June 2023 at a town hall in New Hampshire, drawing stark contrasts with former President Donald Trump. Unlike other GOP candidates, Christie has touted his willingness to take on Trump directly, repeatedly hitting the GOP front-runner on his looming legal troubles and foreign policy, among other key issues. Christie previously endorsed Trump after dropping out of the 2016 GOP primary and served as a close adviser. It is noteworthy that most of the GOP potential nominees with the exception of Chris Christie have been guarded in calling out Trump. Perhaps, they are hoping that if Trump gets the nomination they can be his running mate for vice president.
Voter Apathy
The increase in voter apathy in Jamaica and the Caribbean is concerning. The political attractiveness in Jamaica’s political culture over the years has lost some of its appeal as many voters do not see a huge ideological difference between both political parties. Clearly, this is not good for our democracy. In the 2020 general elections the overall voter turnout was approximately 37 per cent, compared to 48.37 per cent in the 2016 General Election.
With the exception of the first general parliamentary election under Universal Adult Suffrage held in December 1944 when there was a 58.38 per cent turnout, the number of voters casting ballots had steadily increased, reaching 86.91 per cent in 1980. However, the numbers have been slipping since 1989. In 1983 there was a 29.49 per cent turnout in the general elections due to the boycott by the People’s National Party. The situation is similar in many Caribbean countries, which have either recorded small, yet steady, declines over the past five general elections or so, or have maintained turnout in the low to mid-50 per cent range. According to Dr Peter St Jean, a Dominica-born professor of Sociology at North Park University in Chicago, USA, governing parties do everything to remain in power, including “bending, stretching, and even breaking of rules and laws”, because politics is “the best job that most of them have had”. He said the governing parties refuse to undertake campaign finance reform because it gives them an unfair advantage, while they also are able to cling on to power by victimizing opposition supporters.
Needless to say there will be implications for small developing nations such as those in the Caribbean regarding who sits in the White House as president. Undoubtedly, governance will be on the ballot in 2024.
In the words of Henry Clay, government is a trust and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“At the time, enslaved Black people could find little respite from ever-present surveillance, even in practicing their faith.” – National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade continue to reverberate decades after the abolition of slavery. The United Nations states that the enslavement of over 13 million Africans during the Transatlantic Slave Trade was driven by the racist ideology that these women, men and children were inferior because of the colour of their skin. The African Holocaust or Maafa involved numerous European powers such as England, Spain, Denmark, and The Netherlands who were all responsible for the trafficking of our ancestors. In the British West Indies the slavery system was referred to as Chattel Slavery. This was a system whereby the slaves and their offspring were enslaved during their lifetime and were the sole property of the owner. The slaves were bought and sold as commodities. Thank God we made it. It is that time again when end of year activities take center stage. For the revelers among us attending a New Year’s Eve ball is the ultimate way to usher in the New Year. While for the more religious minded among us, there is no better way to ring in the New Year than to be in the house of God for Watch Night Service. Indeed attending church has become a staple and tradition for many families in Jamaica and the Americas. However, very few of us have ever questioned the antecedents behind such an observation. Regrettably, fewer folks have taken the time to read about the struggles of Black people. The tradition of Watch Night services in the United States of America dates back to December. 31, 1862 when many Black Americans gathered in churches and other venues, waiting for President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law, and therefore free those who were still enslaved in the Confederacy. Watch Night has evolved into an annual New Year’s Eve tradition which not only commemorates freedom from slavery, but also celebrates the importance of faith, community and perseverance. It is a tradition in the Black Church in America that five minutes before midnight, men, women and children will kneel, hold hands and pray to God from the present year into the New Year.
Undoubtedly, Watch Night Service is time of reflection. African American Christians engage in their prayer posture, and will reflect upon the fact that approximately 11 million Africans were enslaved during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, where 10-20 percent of them died on the slave ships, and the exact number of enslaved Black children, women and men killed or died during slavery will never be known. The museum notes that the Watch Night worship services were traditionally followed by a “fortuitous meal” on New Year’s Day, often featuring a dish called ‘Hoppin’ John’. Traditionally, ‘Hoppin’ John’ consists of black-eyed peas, rice, red peppers, and salt pork, and it is believed to bring good fortune to those who eat it,” the museum says. “Some other common dishes include: candied yams, cornbread, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese.
Caribbean Experience
Watch Night service in Jamaica has a buzz of excitement and expectation. As youngsters no one wants to be at home for the beginning of the New Year so being at church is always a welcome experience. Watch Night Service in Jamaica is similar to what happens in the United States of America but of course with a Caribbean flavour. The service usually begins about 8 pm and ends shortly after 12 am with a baptismal service. It is not uncommon in Jamaican churches especially the Pentecostal faith to see people literally walk into church close to midnight and request that they be baptized. Of course there are always the faithful prayer mothers who are traditionally dressed in white. These prayer mothers would wrap the newly baptized saints of God in towels or sheets as they emerged from the water thus symbolize a public shift in their relationship status with God. On the other hand, denominations such as The Adventist usually begin their Watch Night Service at about 5.30 pm until 8.30 pm. After the end of the service congregants would then fellowship with each other. Regardless of the denomination there are similarities in the Watch Night Service. How can we not mention the Holy Spirit? Watch Night Service is all about the Holy Spirit who is always present. The sermon at Watch Night Service is usually preached by senior pastor after which there is a call to the altar. At this time those who are so led by the Holy Spirit will give their lives to the Lord. As children, watch night had a different significance. There was a culinary side to Watch Night. Food is a huge part of any commemoration and Watch Night Service is no exception. There was always boiled and roasted corn as well as soup. Additionally, there were the usual snacks like bun and cheese, biscuit and drinks. Of course there is also sorrel, the traditional Christmas drink that is made with ginger and sweetened to taste. The church vendors were always parts of the community of worshippers. They were the ones who sold the food. Additionally, most churches also have a canteen where tea and other food items are available. Yes, food is available both inside and outside the church so too the Holy Spirit. There is nothing compared to a Caribbean Watch Night Service. As we close out the old year “may the tears we shed in 2023 be used to water the seeds that will germinate in 2024.” Happy New Year!
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
“In the case of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, history will judge us harshly as to how we answer this billion-person question. It may also look back in anger at policy-making amounting to institutionalized manslaughter.”- Professor Julian Kinderlerer- President of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE).
Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon. However, this practice has caught on like wild fire in many parts of the world. Vaping devices are popular among pre-teens and teenagers. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse vaping devices are the most commonly used form of nicotine among youth in the United States. Some research shows that many teens do not even realize that vaping cartridges contain nicotine, and assume the pods contain only flavoring. The attractiveness of vaping is rooted in: the easy availability of these devices, appealing advertisements, various e-liquid flavours, and the belief that vaping devices are safer than cigarettes. Additionally, vaping devices are easy to hide from teachers and parents because they do not leave behind the stench of tobacco cigarettes, and are often disguised as flash drives. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that a study of high school students found that one in four teens reported using e-cigarettes for dripping, a practice in which people produce and inhale vapors by placing e-liquid drops directly onto heated atomizer coils. Teenagers reported the following reasons for dripping: to create thicker vapor (63.5 percent), to improve flavors (38.7 percent), and to produce a stronger throat hit a pleasurable feeling that the vapor creates when it causes the throat to contract (27.7 percent). According to National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) vaping is almost like a trend among primary and high school students. The NCDA study found that the risk perception of vaping is very low among students as they fall prey to the marketing of these products that come in a range of flavours and which the tobacco industry claims can help reduce the harm of smoking tobacco products.
Vaping in the Caribbean
Currently, 11.3% of adolescents between 13 and 15 years of age in the region use tobacco, compared to the world average of 10.3%. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) delivered a webinar in June 2023 on “Clearing the Air – Vaping and Youth in The Caribbean” to launch HCC’s new report, “Vaping among Adolescents and Youth in The Caribbean: Situation, Policy Responses, and Recommended Actions” where the panelists emphasized the urgency of taking action to combat youth vaping given its high prevalence use among adolescents in the Caribbean. Smoking prevalence in the region has been reduced in the last few decades as a result of the regional tobacco control efforts. The Pan-American Health Organization, which is the Americas regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimates that “between 2007 and 2015, the prevalence of tobacco smoking dropped from 22.1% to 17.4%, a greater drop than that recorded globally”. This trend is expected to continue, with the region being the “only WHO region expected to achieve a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of current tobacco use by 2025.” Jamaica has the highest rate in youth consumption in the region, with 28.7%, followed by Colombia with 22% and Chile with 19.7%. Brazil has the lowest rate of tobacco consumption amongst the youth, as a result of the efforts of the country to introduce tobacco control measures as advertising ban, health warnings, and flavouring ban.
What Are Vaping Devices?
A typical vaping device costs between $10-50 USD. Vapes also have recurring costs such as e-liquid and replacement pods or coils. Vaping devices are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which typically contains nicotine (though not always), flavorings, and other chemicals. They can resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes (cig-a-likes), cigars, or pipes, or even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks. Other devices, such as those with fillable tanks, may look different. Regardless of their design and appearance, these devices generally operate in a similar manner and are made of similar components. Alarmingly, more than 460 different e-cigarette brands are currently on the market. In addition to the unknown health effects, early evidence suggests that vaping might serve as an introductory product for preteens and teens who then go on to use other nicotine products, including cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and premature death. A study showed that students who had used e-cigarettes by the time they started 9th grade were more likely than others to start smoking cigarettes and other smokable tobacco products within the next year. Another study supports these findings, showing that high school students who used e-cigarettes in the last month were about 7 times more likely to report that they smoked cigarettes when asked approximately 6 months later, as compared to students who said they didn’t use e-cigarettes. It is clear that the tobacco industry has done their work in creating and marketing vaping devices. Given how impressionable teenagers are there is no doubt that the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry has worked.
Physiological Impact
The nicotine in e-liquids is readily absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream when a person vapes an e-cigarette. Upon entering the blood, nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. As with most addictive substances, nicotine activates the brain’s reward circuits and also increases levels of a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine, which reinforces rewarding behaviors. Pleasure caused by nicotine’s interaction with the reward circuit motivates some people to use nicotine again and again, despite risks to their health and well-being. The National Institute on Drug Abuse adds, e-cigarette use exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals, including those added to e-liquids, and other chemicals produced during the heating/vaporizing process. A study of some e-cigarette products found the vapor contains known carcinogens and toxic chemicals, as well as potentially toxic metal nanoparticles from the device itself. The study showed that the e-liquids of certain cig-a-like brands contain high levels of nickel and chromium, which may come from the nichrome heating coils of the vaporizing device. Cig-a-likes may also contain low levels of cadmium, a toxic metal also found in cigarette smoke that can cause breathing problems and disease. More research is needed on the health consequences of repeated exposure to these chemicals. There are also reports of lung illnesses and deaths related to inhalation of certain vaping oils into the lungs, which have no way to filter out toxic ingredients.
Urgent Action Required
The World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly identified vaping as problematic. In fact the WHO says urgent action is needed to control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as non-smokers and minimize health harms to the population. E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects. E-cigarettes have been allowed on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people. Thirty-four countries ban the sale of e-cigarettes, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products. E-cigarettes target children through social media and influencers, with at least 16 000 flavours. Some of these products use cartoon characters and have sleek designs, which appeal to the younger generation. There is an alarming increase in the use of e-cigarettes among children and young people with rates exceeding adult use in many countries. The WHO argues that even brief exposure to e-cigarette content on social media can be associated with increased intention to use these products, as well as more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes. Studies consistently show that young people that use e-cigarettes are almost three times more likely to use cigarettes later in life.
The WHO concludes that the tobacco industry profits from destroying health and is using these newer products to get a seat at the policy-making table with governments to lobby against health policies. The tobacco industry funds and promotes false evidence to argue that these products reduce harm, while at the same time heavily promoting these products to children and non-smokers and continuing to sell billions of cigarettes.
Workable Solutions
With the recent ban on the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes in Venezuela, more countries in the Americas are adopting measures in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to protect the health of their populations from novel tobacco products. Currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes and vapes, in some way. Eight of them (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela) prohibit their sale altogether, and the other 13 have partially or totally adopted one or more regulatory measures. Meanwhile, 14 countries lack any regulation of these products. Perhaps, CARICOM could seize the moment and speak as one body regarding its position on e-cigarettes and vapes. What is most troubling is that many parents have no idea that their child or children are involved. Vaping allows for a sense of secrecy. In addition vaping has acquired an air of harmless sophistication. Vaping has become sexy. Our teenagers see vaping on the silver screens involving their role models and idols; this makes the practice more alluring. When this reality is juxtaposed with the fact that there is not an anti-vaping campaign locally this makes for a match made in vaping heaven. It is evident that our children have been targeted by the creativity of the tobacco industry. The truth is any anti-vaping campaign must be as equally creative in order to reach our pre-teens and teenagers who are primarily the targeted customers. Governments as well as non-governmental organizations must now ‘heed the call’ from bodies such as the World Health Organization and the National Institute on Drug Abuse in tackling vaping which has now become a social problem in many if not all societies. Our educational institutions are critical stakeholders in the fight against vaping. As a consequence, any anti-vaping campaign must bear this in mind. Our schools especially those at the primary and secondary levels must also adjust their school policies to include vaping and vaping devices. Our parent teachers’ associations must also be part of this conversation regarding anti-vaping measures.
Interestingly, some jurisdictions have also placed a special tax on vaping devices. Perhaps such a measure should be explored and the proceeds used to fund anti-vaping campaigns. The time for stakeholders to act is now.
In the words of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.