RECYCLING ON ANGUILLA

On Anguilla with 100% imports, we produce tonnes of waste which ended up in Corito landfill each year, with 0% collected for recycling, compared to some of our neighbouring islands with some recycling over 50% of their waste. There is a great deal of waste which could be recycled that ends up in our limited landfill which is harmful to the environment. Recycling this waste is an excellent way of saving energy, lives, and conserving the environment.

Here are the facts:

• 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
• 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
• 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
• 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.

According to data on recycling, on average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish. Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in our dustbins could be recycled. As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted. The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours. Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled, and now with the VW revelations, we can save thousands by adding that energy back to the grid.

Satirically in a conversation with a keen recycling enthusiast, when told that 9 out of 10 people would recycle if it were made available... he pause... then replied, "actually that's the figure on recycled relationships..."

I guess they meant human resourcefulness...

By: Realist Spikenice

IT'S NO YESTERDAY TOMORROW

In 2007/8, financial markets entered a sustained period of instability, causing difficulties for banks across the world, precipitating a global credit crisis, and a widespread economic downturn… and Anguilla, being not in a vacuum, but also a highly valued and respected global financial partner have suffered parallel and direct consequences, but the facts are that serious financial malpractices have seriously contributed to the demise of our indigenous banks on Anguilla. 

Whereas the Government of Anguilla ability to service the indigenous banking community debt obligations, like many other finance ministries around the world, may take actions to:

• protect depositors in banks suffering insolvency or a severe decline in market confidence;

• maintain liquidity to allow “our” banks, whose failure would threaten the overall financial system, to pay claims and outstanding borrowings as they fell due;

• ensure that banks whose failure would threaten the overall financial system would have sufficient capital to cushion them from losses caused by further deterioration in the financial markets; and

• encourage banks to lend to creditworthy borrowers.

... these indigenous banks will never be the same again. The Government of Anguilla will have to recapitalize, loan, nationalize, or introduce relevant schemes such as liquidity, credit guarantee, and asset protection - to cushion your indigenous financial institutions on Anguilla. Nothing above is a a must, rather out of concern, financial stability, and investor confidence... which is a priority... but the Government of Anguilla is under no pressure whatsoever to make any rash decision going forward, contrary to misinformed proven incompetent Opposition pundits. 

Our concern is that there are those who believe that because they have shares in these institutions, mean that they own these institutions - no, you don't! The term 'share' means a share in the share capital of a company, which may includes stock, except where a distinction between stock and share is expressed or implied. It simply means that your share value can be bought and sold at will to the highest bidder. Corporations issue shares which are offered for sale to raise share capital.

... it simply means that if, and when your Government bailout the private banks' financial mess... that you the taxpayers will in essence also own shares in these indigenous banks - you will be also a shareholder. 

The question we must ask ourselves is, are we prepared to roll-up our sleeves and clean our own filth, or leave the banks die a natural death? The reality is that banking on Anguilla will never be the same again... it's no yesterday tomorrow.

By: Realist Spikenice