In this episode of Mada Fyah, André Habet and guest Yaya Marin Coleman continue their conversation on the proposed cruise terminal and cargo expansion project at Port of Belize following the September 1 public consultation about the revised Environmental Impact Assessment. They discuss how the consultation went, the difference between a hearing and a consultation, and how environmental regulation has changed through revisions to legislation ..read more

On this episode of Mada Fyah, Andre talks to Dassia Regada and Jonathan Tremillo of the Crocodile Research Coalition regarding their efforts to relocate crocodiles and teach people about the significance of crocodiles to Belize as biological indicators.  Crocodile Research Coalition FB page https://www.facebook.com/crocodileresearchcoalition/ Mada Fyah FB page https://www.facebook.com/MadaFyah ..read more

On this episode, André Habet talks to Tom Hines, a videographer with Feste Films and the creator of several videos chronicling the effects of climate change on Dangigra and the surrounding area. André spoke to Tom about what made him decide to develop these videos and how they align with his goal of increasing awareness of the effects climate change is already having on Belize.  ..read more

For this episode, host André Habet spoke to Jolie Pollard, founder, formulator, and manager of the haircare brand Ikooma. Ikooma is a seaweed-based line of haircare products that Pollard created over years of trial and error. Now two years into selling her products, Pollard spoke to me about her journalism past, her formulation process and her work with Placencia seaweed farmers whose labor forms the basis of her product. It was a great conversation with a few fun tangents. Hope you enjoy it. Ikooma https://ikoomahair.com ..read more

In this episode, I’m sharing an interview with Yaya Marin Coleman, a community organizer and grassroots journalist currently investigating Port Loyola constituent’s familiarity with the Port of Belize Expansion project in Belize City. She shares with me her start in community work from an early age, her thoughts on how organizing can be made most effective, and her take on how Belizeans might proceed from here in reconstructing existing government systems to better serve more Belizeans. Escazu Agreement Visual Explainer https://observatoriop10.cepal.org/sites/default/files/escazu_agreement_ar ..read more

In this episode, André Habet talks to Allie Johnstone who both independently and as a part of Caye Caulker Strong has dedicated much of the past two decades towards mangrove restoration projects on and around Caye Caulker. André and Allie discuss the origins of her interest in mangroves, her early days of guerilla planting on the island, and Caye Caulker Strong's efforts to shift people's views of mangroves as the essential wonders they are. The Belize Mangrove Conservation Network https://www.facebook.com/groups/111537467026   ..read more

André talks to Maria Pech from Steadfast Tourism and Conservation Association (STACA). The two talk about environmental education, how STACA works to maintain community involvement and their efforts to conserve the North Stann Creek and Mullins River watersheds through data collection and community dialogues. Check out STACA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacaassistant28 ..read more

Continuing our pause in our usual coverage, this week on Mada Fyah we bring you an interview with Alexander Evans, the composer, musician and teacher behind the Mada Fyah theme song in addition to co-founder of the Belize Afro-Indigenous Institute For The Visual And Performing Arts. They will be hosting a virtual event on August 1, 2021 called Sambai to commemorate Belize's first state-recognized Emancipation Day. More on Sambai here: https://www.facebook.com/events/827744634605549/?ti=ls ..read more

For this episode, we're taking a break from our regular coverage to bring you a conversation with friend of the podcast, Zyania Alonzo. In addition to being a brilliant artist, Zyania is also the owner of the kombucha company Longivetea and her eponymous crocheted item store Zyania. We talk about her curiosity, her passion for experimentation and taste test three kombucha flavors she’s working on. It’s a fun conversation that hopefully serves as a reminder of what we’re fighting for: to time and ability our crafts, to form community, and determine ways to do so while exploring our identities ..read more

On this episode, André and Digna talk about hurricanes with Shelton Defour, National Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to discuss NEMO’s role in emergency response during hurricanes, the role civilians play in emergency response, and how global warming is altering the way storms move and change. Additionally, André interviews Katie Numi Usher and Mercy Sabal, two artists unveiling a collaborative embroidery show at the rebranded Imagination Factri in Belize City on July 15, 2021. Katie Numi Usher and Mercy Sabal Interview transcript https://docs.google.com ..read more