According to a recent assessment unveiled by UNESCO, World Heritage coral reefs, which include the Belize barrier reef system — still on the list of World Heritage sites in danger — are likely to disappear by 2100 unless carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are drastically reduced.

Countries with responsibility over World Heritage-listed coral reefs should adopt ambitious climate change targets, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions to levels that would keep global temperature increases to just 1.5°C, said UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre (WHC), a UN agency responsible for overseeing World Heritage sites.

The WHC released the first global scientific assessment of climate change impacts on World Heritage coral reefs, highlighting the devastating outcomes that are likely to arise due to escalating ocean temperatures.

In the past three years alone, soaring ocean temperatures have subjected 21 of 29 World Heritage reefs to severe and/or repeated heat stress, and caused some of the worst bleaching ever observed at iconic sites like the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Papahânaumokuâkea (USA), the Lagoons of New Caledonia (France) and Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles).

Belize was among these adversely impacted places, and furthermore, in just about a decade, it is projected that it could be adversely impacted again by severe heat stress.

“The analysis predicts that all 29 coral-containing World Heritage sites would cease to exist as functioning coral reef ecosystems by the end of this century under a business-as-usual emissions scenario,” said UNESCO’s WHC in discussing the report.

It explains that, “Bleaching is a stress response that causes coral animals to expel the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) whose photosynthesis provides the energy needed to build three-dimensional reef structures. Mass bleaching is caused by rising water temperatures associated with climate change. It only takes a spike of 1-2°C to cause bleaching, and carbon emissions have caused a 1°C increase in global surface temperature since pre-industrial times. This effect has been magnified by strong El Niño and La Niña events. Ocean acidification caused by dissolved atmospheric CO2 weakens corals further.”

“The 29 globally significant coral reefs on UNESCO’s World Heritage List are facing existential threats, and their loss would be devastating ecologically and economically,” Dr. Mechtild Rossler, Director of the World Heritage Centre, is quoted as saying.

“These rainforests of the sea protect coastal communities from flooding and erosion, sustain fishing and tourism businesses, and host a stunning array of marine life,” Rossler explained.

The Belize Barrier Reef system is both economically and ecologically invaluable, and it is prized as an underpinning resource for two of the country’s economic pillars: fisheries and tourism. Furthermore, it has provided protection for the country in buffering the adverse impacts of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes.

The Belize Barrier Reef system is a phenomenal natural asset, the largest such reef system in this Western Hemisphere, and the biggest portion of what is described as the Meso-American Reef System.

According to the WHC, “The social, cultural and economic value of coral reefs is estimated at US$1 trillion. Recent projections indicate that climate-related loss of reef ecosystem services will total US$500 billion per year or more by 2100, with the greatest impacts felt by people who rely on reefs for day-to-day subsistence.”

The assessment was developed with satellite data from the United States National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch and received the support from the French Agency for Biodiversity (Agency Française pour la Biodiversité).

Source: Amandala

Lieutenant Almita Pinelo of the Belize Coast Guard is the first female ever to attend and graduate from the Universidad Naval, Centro de Studios Superiors Navales (Naval University) in Mexico City in the course of Especialidad de Mando Naval’ (Naval Command Specialty). Almita graduated from a 6-month course along with 81 other male naval officers.

“The last three weeks have been so essential and important to my career as a woman in the military,” stated Almita Pinelo in a Facebook Post. She had the honor of being nominated by the William J. Perry Center For Hemispheric Defense Studies to represent Belize as a panelist under the topic of Inclusive Security.

Almita Pinelo representing in Antigua

“Anyone that knows me is well aware of my passion for equal and equitable rights in Belize’s military. Needless to say it I was quite the honor to present such a topic to partner nations during the seminar in Antigua. I also received the directors challenge coin for my presentation that day!”

From Antigua, Almita headed to Mexico City to graduate from their naval university. She completed a junior level staff course that covers different modules in administration, doctrine of tactics and tactics and operations planning.

“For junior officers this is really just a check in the box for our careers but for me it was extra special,” stated Almita. “Not only did I create a bond and friendship with many Mexican naval officers but I was THE FIRST female to ever attend and graduate from the course. I know now I can say at least once I’ve made history.”

“I wish I would have taken more pics, but I tend to live and cherish the moment instead.”

Congratulations Almita Pinelo, you make San Pedro and your country Belize so proud!

Source: Ambergris Today

Recognising 20 outstanding leaders, visionaries and role models changing the world as Princess Diana believed they could. These 20 young people received their awards from HRH Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at St. James’s Palace Thursday 18th May 2017.

Belize’s very own Elsia Pop is among the recepients. Take a look at their outstanding contributions:

Congratulations to our #LegacyAward Winner, Elsia Pop!

Learn more about the recepients and this prestigepus award on the Diana Award Facebook page.

Over the years, we’ve criticized the Belize Bureau of Standards many times on this newscast. But, now they have seriously stepped up their game. Two years after ground was broken, the Bureau today opened a Metrology Lab that is the envy of the entire Caribbean region. I went for the opening today to find out what makes it so singular:…

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Most shoppers don’t usually make a big fuss about checking if they are actually getting the amount of product they are paying for.

Consumers just expect that they will be getting 10 or 5 pounds of flour, the precise amount of soap powder. And the 400 grams marked on the packaging of their favorite chocolate drinks.

The Bureau of Standards is responsible for making sure this is the case through what is called legal metrology.

This type of measuring is enforced to protect consumers from being fleeced, like what happened in 2011 when our 7news team discovered that consumers were getting far less than the legally prescribed 100 or 50 pounds of butane.

But with the newly opened state of the art metrology office in Belmopan, the Bureau of Standards will be able to better carry out these duties, but more importantly, the Bureau will now be able to adjust the weights used by manufacturers and other enterprises.

David Tomlinson, Technical Officer, CROSQ
“When you are baking your bread, you take measurements, 2 cups of flour, whatever sugar right, those measurements are important to you because they guarantee the quality of your bread, now the Bureau will have the capability to help you to ensure that those measurements are accurate, so that cup is actually measuring a cup and not a cup and a quarter.”

That is called industrial metrology and all that is needed is inside this polished lab.

Jose Trejo, Director, Belize Bureau of Standards
“The Metrology Laboratory is the first calibration facility of its kind in Belize and let me add, it also has the proud distinction of being the first purpose built, state of the art metrology facility within the Caribbean Community.”

There are 6 laboratory units. The fine mass lab is one of the principal units. These comparators or high precision scales are the main features in this lab. They are used to measure smaller weights such as these.

Industries such as BSI or companies like CPBL can now bring their weights that they use on their scales to be adjusted in the Grand Mass Lab.

This scale for instance can measure weights up to a ton.

Liquid measuring devices such as thermometers are calibrated in the Temperature lab using this highly sophisticated platinum resistance thermometer.

Now, to maintain and preserve these delicate devices, there has to be a specific balance in temperature.

Jose Trejo, Director, Belize Bureau of Standards
“Each laboratory is then supported by its own air handling unit located on the Southern corner that lies immediately behind the main entrance, most impressive is the fresh air unit that is uniquely designed to monitor fluctuations in ambient temperature across labor while heating and cooling the laboratory to ensure stable conditions.”

While all this might just seem like fancy foreign equipment, the operations at this metrology lab will impact customers, the local marketplace and trade.

H.E Malgorzata Wasilewska, EU Ambassador
“Whether we like it or not, there are standards that guide every aspect of our lives, as consumers it is very important to have technical guidelines of specification that can be used consistently to ensure that the materials, goods and services that we purchase or otherwise access of provide are fit for purpose.”

“This is however, a basic element of quality insurance and ensuring customer satisfaction, for economies that rely heavily on exports for foreign exchange and for economic growth the extent at which they adhere to standards can make the difference between poverty and prosperity for citizens.”

The lab was funded by the European Union at a cost of 3.2 million Belize dollars.

Source: Channel 7

Last year Joyjah Estrada made headlines when she became one of the faces for the UK’s Love magazine.

Joyjah, who has more Instagram followers than half of Belize’s entire population, is making headlines again.

This time for a modeling gig she signed with the Squad agency which will see her living in London for more than 3 months.

“I just love being in front of the cameras! My favourite part is that you become different versions of yourself, different characters, it excites me,” she posted to Facebook.

According to Estrada, it was in 2012 when she did her first photo shoot with Danny Hun in Punta Gorda that she knew she had what it took to become a model.

Source: BreakingBelizeNews.com