blog




  • Essay / The Art of Caribbean Regional Resilience

    My essay is on the theme “The Art of Caribbean Regional Resilience. “It provides a depiction of what it means to be resilient at a time when many of our regional Caribbean island territories have been devastated by hurricanes, like Irma and Maria. Such natural disasters can lead a country, a population and its government to economic, financial, social, human well-being and natural resource disparities. However, Caribbean islands that express resilience in times of natural disaster can and are moving forward to establish and build a climate-resilient Caribbean through unification, preparedness and adaptation of their immediate environment. We can look no further than regional Caribbean islands, such as St. Maarten and Dominica, which, although facing destructive environments from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, have risen to the challenge of demonstrating resilience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayIn a nutshell, our Caribbean region can take appropriate steps to maintain resilience in light of the effects of climate change. In the face of continued climate change and natural disasters, such as those experienced by St. Maarten and Dominica, I can say from personal experience that we can only be resilient, but we cannot stop natural disasters in the Caribbean regions. What we can do, however, is gain the knowledge necessary to prepare for what may or may not happen to our Caribbean regions today and in the future. Having the opportunity to be a part of the term “resilience” has made me mentally strong. The Oxford Dictionary gives us a pretty interesting definition of the word resilience. He describes resilience as the ability to move quickly through the recovery process following difficulties or challenges. In other words, how can regional Caribbean islands measure up and bounce back in times of natural disasters and adversity. I believe that the need to strengthen the resilience of our Caribbean populations, our environment, our infrastructure and our economy is very important in the face of the intensifying impacts of climate change. This point cannot be overemphasized, especially considering how Hurricane Irma destroyed infrastructure on St. Maarten, Dominica, and other Caribbean islands. Hurricane-hit areas of the Caribbean faced the reality of adapting to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress, such as family relationships and obligations financial. As a result of our experiences in the hurricane-stricken areas of the Caribbean, we could not simply stand by, watch, and worry about the extent of the destruction in our region. We needed to stand up and do things that would bring us back to a resilient Caribbean region. We had to learn hard lessons and take the time to explore how to find resilience and demonstrate our true character in difficult times. Every person, every street and every city has been affected in one way or another by the severe weather events that hit the Caribbean region with Hurricanes Irma and Maria. On October 13, 2017, a high-level panel discussion was hosted by the IMF Bank Group Global Conference on Recovery and Resilience in the Caribbean Post-Hurricane Irma and Maria. These devastating hurricaneshave both been a setback for an estimated 40 million people living in the Caribbean region, reduced tacit communications, reduced water and electricity, and brought real benefits to economic development throughout the region. Showing resilience is the perfect message to bring together a regional audience and a testament to our faith in the people and in our regional governments of the Caribbean. It offers an opportunity for renovation. Our best practices should be our starting line. In other words, we must come together, prepare and adapt to change in the wake of a natural disaster resulting from climate change and other natural disasters. The ability to unite, prepare and adapt to change depends on the specific island situation of the Caribbean region. In fact, the Caribbean regions cannot respond or should recover and bounce back from any type of disaster without an integrated approach and the support provided by the international community, as mentioned during the October 13, 2017 high-level roundtable organized by the IMF Group of the World Bank. Being resilient in our Caribbean region simply means having a positive outlook and finding opportunities for growth and understanding that setbacks are part of the growing pains of becoming a resilient Caribbean region. Seph Fontane Pennock, in his study of the principles, practices and policies that form the basis of positive psychology, emphasizes the ways in which people can develop resilience after natural disasters, such as those that many have known after the crisis of hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean regions. It reveals that if people face a crisis and show no emotion or distress, they cannot be resilient. To be resilient in one's thinking is to fail miserably, to feel the emotions of disaster, and to survive to see another day. Simply put, resilience is the ability to adapt to uncertainties, such as tragedies, difficulties and trauma, and to grow with adversity. The American Physiological Association has provided several resources on how unification, preparation, and adaptation play a critical role in the wake of climate change and how natural hazards require a population and its country to build resilience. The association suggests establishing connections and building social networks, avoiding the tendency to view crises as impossible challenges and accepting that natural disasters are a part of life. Therefore, one must move towards realistic goals and take decisive actions that will help meet the challenges. We must seek out opportunities for self-discovery, maintain a wonderful view of ourselves and our abilities, keep things in perspective and context, and maintain a hopeful outlook on life. It’s about spreading unconscious resilience in the Caribbean region. The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, noted in an article titled “Building Caribbean Climate Resilience to Ensure Basic Survival”: Creating resilience to climate change, natural disasters and environmental modifications is not only essential and urgent, but is also a fundamental requirement to guarantee our basic survival as human beings. We ensured that finding the right channel to encourage flexibility and efficiency would ensure they reach those who have been affected. In the Caribbean region, crucial measures should or are being taken to address the effects of natural disasters on some islands..”