Peter Wallace: Founder of Belize?

Thursday June 26

Barely swinging hammock
misty morning, comprehensive wet
overlapping chair and stool legs
As yet unfilled by breakfasting feeders
River below swollen with sustenance
Singing ceaslelessly
Funky feeling, cranky no sleep
Itchy, scratchy mosquito fly kisses

Our group activities began with breakfast talks about climate change. Patrick and Rachelle prepared tortilla veggie scrambled eggs and tasty spiced potato hash. Ross used his handy plastic bag whiteboard to illustrate:

What we know for sure about climate change.

1. Temperature increase of 1-2 degrees worldwide, 1998 was the hottest year ever with 2000-2007 record years in between.

2. Carbon (CO2) in atmosphere has increased 270ppb to 380ppb in a relatively short period of time.

3. Ice caps melting, ocean water temperature increases.

4. Animal species relocating.

Some things we are not sure about.:

1. Feedback loops- ice melts/tundra absorbs heat/more ice melts

2. Interruptions in Gulf Stream

3. Increase of violent storms (more heat à more energy)

4. Animal species extinction up to 378

5. Shifts in precipitation

Some things we want to learn:

1. Solutions and next steps

2. Anecdotal evidence of climate change (from our time with host families, visit to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center and the Nature Conservancy).

3. Is the Caribbean community organized?

4. What kinds of basic factual background does one need to start a career in climate change study?

5. How can this be an inquiry-based activity for students at centers?

6. Perceptions of US, India, China’s role in their experience of climate change

7. Grand models for fixing problems- outside the box thinking

After a fascinating bus ride sitting beside Harrison , we arrived at Xunantunich, a Mayan site once home to almost 2 million people. We were talking about how best to communicate that scale to our kids so they could relate. We took a hand cranked one-car ferry across a sea green river. From there it was supposed to be a 1 mile hike, but we lucked into an emptying van which the driver generously offered to us. I was exhausted from lack of sleep so it was not only fortuitous but a lifesaver. Once we arrived on site we waited a while for our guide who was leading another group. A blue morpho-caterpillar landed on my knee while we waited. Another stroke of luck was the wait because there were cruise ship patrons crawling like ants everywhere throughout the site. By the time our guide was done, they had receded like the evening tide--the place was ours to explore! We climed to the top of one of the tallest majestic structures. It was a reward far greater than the work of climbing knee-high stairs. Although our guide Elfigo Ponti loved to talk, I must admit that somewhere between the Marimbas and the Mayan language discussions my eyelids started to droop. However, once the talking stopped and we got to actually see the site it was a cup of coffee- complete exhilaration actually. It seems a shame to have to use insufficient words like expansive, inspirational, verdant, humbling and peaceful to describe the view at the top of the ruin; the royal palace. It was so much more than what those words suggest. While we visited the site, two bat falcons courted one another in the most sweeping swoops across the landscape. They buzzed our tower several times between near misses.

The best way to introduce kids to this site would be through an interactive activity like a scavenger hunt. On our way down from the site, we walked the one mile – all easy downhill- and I practiced my Spanish speaking skills with Mr. Ponti. He was nice to oblige me. I cranked the ferry across the river so we could eat our tasty lunch, which was waiting across from the site in a deserted restaurant. Rachelle and Patrick had prepared tuna salad, fruit, tortillas and ginger snaps. It was welcome after the morning hike. Now we’re in the bus headed towards Belmopan- the former British Capital- where half of our group will visit the Nature Conservancy and the other half a climate change center.

Dave wanted me to mention that he was intrigued by the fact that Peter Wallace –a pirate- was pivotal in the foundation of Belize (then Honduras). He was using this as a base for his pirate operations. Some think Belize was a derivative of his name Wallace. I’m not buying it.

-- Alecia Berman-Dry