According to the Global Water Partnership (GWP) (2009), the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) evolved in order to address the failures of traditional approaches to water management and to assist in meeting worldwide development goals without compromising environmental sustainability.  Traditional approaches entail management and decision making within one sector; involving limited institutions; addressing specific issues and interests and allocating funds among these sectors.  To correct this, and reverse the present negative impacts on water resources, countries are being encouraged to translate into reality, actions programmes for water, based on the Dublin Principles of water management.  These principles are based on the fact that (i) fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, (ii) water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, (iii) women play a central role in provision, management and safeguarding of water and (iv) water has an economic value and should be recognised as an economic good.

This article (i) defines IWRM, (ii) discusses the steps involved in implementation, (iii) the agencies involved and their roles, (iv) discusses and evaluates the challenges faced in implementing IWRM in Columbia and Burkina Faso and (v) offers recommendations for avoiding challenges and improving implementation. Increasingly, there is the acknowledgment that unless water is not properly managed, development goals cannot be achieved.  In recognition of this, many practitioners and policy makers around the globe have been engaging in practices that are aimed at achieving a balance between economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability in water resources management.  These practices are known as the IWRM approach (GWP, 2009).

Pollution issues in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) are generated from the activities associated with the production of petroleum products such as ammonia (NH4), urea ([NH2]2CO) and fertilisers. Problems are also caused by construction activities and by the manufacturing of products such as rum, soap, paint and wood. Moreover, contamination of water sources by pesticides and herbicides, as well as atmospheric pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions also aggravate the environment.

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By Colin Gaskin
Team Leader, Compliance Unit
The Occupational Safety and Health Agency
(OSHA)

Achieving and maintaining a sustainable framework to promote good Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) practices in the construction industry must be a cooperative and collaborative effort among all stakeholders. The client has a significant influence over how a project is run, for instance unrealistic deadlines and the failure to allocate sufficient funds may contribute to poor risk control on a site.  Clients must also recognise their responsibility to adhere to the highest standards of procurement practice; specifically this should include ensuring the competence of organisations recruited for projects. Prior to an appointment, an assessment of the firm’s organisation and arrangements for safety and health in addition to their experience and track record must be adequately conducted. Good procurement practice mandates that the experience of the contractor match the complexity and associated risks of the project. Often flaws in the system and deficiencies in the procurement mechanism lead to incompetent firms being awarded contracts with inevitable poor management of projects, cost/time overruns and, as a natural consequence, critical injuries and fatalities on worksites.

By Martin Anderson
A&E Charge Nurse
North Middlesex University Hospitals
London, England

Many have never thought that noise can be critical to patients’ care, more so the thought of noise to be a problem in a modern hospital. As we develop the hospital industrial units this concept must not be ignored any longer. As a charge nurse in a busy London hospital, an online poll was created to ascertain patient’s views on the topic of noise in a hospital or clinical setting.

The simplest definition of noise that we have is “unwanted sound,” but that is highly subjective (Sharp, 2012). Noise is an audible acoustic energy that disturbs the physiological and psychological well being of people. Noise pollution has been escalating at such a high rate that it is now considered a major threat to the quality of human lives. In the past thirty years, noise has been increasing rapidly particularly in urban areas, due to the modern technological developments such as industry and transportation. These developments are urging legislators to organise and issue new rules and legislation to control noise pollution and protect people from its hazardous effects (Stansfeld and Matheson, 2003). The Environmental Agency in the UK best highlights the difference between sound and noise. They describe sound as a sensation detected by the ear as a result of pressure variations set up in the air by a vibrating source while noise is defined as unwanted sound or sound that is not desired by the recipient.  Although the various physical attributes of sound can be quantified, the subjective aspects of noise are much more difficult to assess.  The degree of annoyance and stress that can result from exposure to noise is almost impossible to quantify, since responses may vary widely between individuals. However in early as 1859, the importance of noise in health care has been recognised, as evidenced by a statement in 1859 by Florence Nightingale, “Unnecessary noise, then, is the most cruel absence of care which can be inflicted either on sick or well.” cited in Bailey, (1994).

People are affected by noise pollution every day. As one of the four major forms of pollution in the world, noise pollution reduces the quality of the urban environment and human health. It has been estimated that about 80 million people (approximately 20% of the population) in the European Union suffer from noise levels considered unacceptable (above 65 dB [decibels] in so-called “black areas”), while an additional 170 million people are living in “grey areas” exposed to noise levels between 55 and 65 dB (European Community, 2012).

From the definitions above it can be seen that not all sounds are noise and the definition of noise is conceptual. The normal audible frequency for young persons ranges from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The non audible frequencies come in two regions, the infrasonic region below 20 Hz and the ultrasonic region above 20 kHz (Marieb, 2006). The Environmental Agency (2004) illustrates typical sound levels in everyday situations.

By Norma Cherry-Fevrier
Economist
Department of Planning and National Development
Castries, Saint Lucia

In the quest for increased development and economic growth, environmental noise pollution is also increasing.  In the Caribbean, familiar disturbing sounds from the neighbours’ stereo set, heavy equipment, industry, lawn mowers and transportation to name a few, all contribute to the unwanted noises that communities have to deal with on a daily basis.  Singh and Davar (2004) state that noise is derived from a Latin word “nausea” that means unwanted sound or sound that is loud, unpleasant or unexpected, much of which emanates from human activities.  These unwanted noises are not simply nuisances, but can have a wide range of negative effects on the health of human beings.  As a result, Governments must put measures in place to control and minimise noise pollution and its negative effects, especially on residential communities.  This article will discuss some of the general sources and effects of noise pollution and use an example from a residential community in Saint Lucia to show how residents can cause change where the noise pollution problem affects their community.  Also, recommendations will be presented as to how Governments can address the growing issue that is unavoidable as populations grow, development increases and changes in technology occur.

By Norma Cherry-Fevrier
Economist III
Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security
St. Lucia

Global warming can be defined as an increase in the average temperature on the earth due to the greenhouse gas effect, which causes changes in climate.  Recent warming of the earth is a cause for concern since temperature changes are accelerating (London, 2004).  Based on NASA GISS surface temperature readings, the eighteen warmest years on record from the time when consistent recording began in 1880, have occurred since 1980, with eleven of those years occurring from 1990 (See Figure 1.0).  In light of this, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the smallest emitters of greenhouse gases are among the areas most significantly impacted by accelerated global warming (London, 2004).  Additionally, according to NASA , the year 2011 was the ninth warmest year on record, with an average global temperature of 0.92 degrees F (0.51 C), warmer than the mid-20th century baseline.  In essence, these facts illustrate a long-term trend of increases in global temperature.

By Magella Moreau and Skye Hernandez
The Green Light Network - Plastikeep

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Imagine an island in the North Pacific Ocean, larger than the United States’ state of Texas, whose geological composition is plastic waste. The “island” is, in fact real and its existence highlights one of the major problems of the 21st century – plastic and our dependence on it, its toxicity to animals and humans and our inability to get rid of it in an environmentally sustainable way.

The “island” (not a solid mass, but a geographical location) is in the North Pacific sub-tropical gyre, which covers a huge area in the Pacific near Hawaii, where the water circulates clockwise in a slow spiral. Plastic is brought there by the currents of the world’s oceans, and it stays there, choked with dead fish, marine mammals and snared birds. Some plastics in the gyre will not break down in the lifetime of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away. As a result of this large amount of plastic, the gyre has been dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or the Pacific Trash Vortex.

By Dr. Deryck D. pattron, Ph.D.
Senior lecturer & public health Consultant

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