Weekly highlights
Demar Tracey, Youthlink Writer

Along with the weekly highlights I give my thoughts on the various issues.

Local news

Pornography prevention bill to be tabled

Lightbourne

Fact: Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, says the 2009 Child Pornography (Prevention) Act is to be tabled in Parliament after being approved by Cabinet. Lightbourne said the document will recognise and treat child pornography as a criminal offence in Jamaica and will make the production, importation, export and distribution of child pornography a criminal offence.

"There has been an increase in the sexual exploitation of children, and more so by the use of technology. It is common knowledge know that there are pictures of children involved in sexual acts on your cellphones and on the Internet," the minister said during a post-Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House.

She added: "There is no law in Jamaica that deals specifically with child pornography and the trend globally now is to treat child pornography as a separate crime, and this is what the bill seeks to do."

It will allow persons who produce visuals of children engaging in real or simulated sexual activities or recordings that advocate sexual exploitation of minors to be prosecuted. So too adults who fail to report pornographic material involving children.

My thoughts: I have no problem with this bill. My concern, however, is whether it will be enforced properly.

Farmers receive water tanks

Miguel Mullings (right), property manager at Christiana Potato Growers Cooperative's farm in Manchester, and United States Peace Corps volunteer, Joseph Thornton, of Los Angeles, stoop in front of their miniature tunnel-type greenhouse, as they show off lettuce being grown in grow-bags at the Jamaica Trade and Invest Business Opportunities '09 forum recently, in Montego Bay. The Christiana Potato Farmers Cooperative also specialises in the construction of tunnel-type greenhouses. - Photo BY Claudia Gardner

Fact: The Government has issued 100 water tanks to farmers in St Elizabeth and Manchester to improve irrigation in those parishes.

The distribution is part of the Black Tank Project, launched on April 16 by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) in Pedro Plains, St Elizabeth.

The farmers were expected to begin receiving the tanks by yesterday.

Everton Medley, acting systems manager of the NIC's central region, said the project was a pilot to address water problems.

"There is a need to improve the production and productivity of farmers who operate within the breadbasket parishes of Jamaica, including all sections of southern St Elizabeth and extending to south central Manchester. The farmers have demonstrated their commitment to producing despite the severe water shortage," he stated.

Medley said the NIC, in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, would provide technical support for the beneficiaries.

My thoughts: It's a start. Hopefully, the project stays true to its promise of helping other farmers.

International news

Spanish separatist chief in custody

Fact: The leader of Spain's Basque separatist group, ETA, has been captured in France. Jurdan Martitegi was held with two other suspected terrorists near the city of Perpignan during a Franco-Spanish military operation. Martitegi's arrest cames only a week after another senior Eta member was detained by French forces.

Eta has been linked to approximately 820 deaths across Spain over the last 40 years in its fight for an independent Basque region. The French police reported that the trio was held with three firearms in a car that had illegal licence plates.

Martitegi is alleged to have assumed military command of Eta since the arrest of Aitzol Irionda in December, also in France. Spain and the European community are pleased with the French clampdown on the group, since France was once regarded as a safe haven for Eta.

Restrictions on antarctic tourism

A grounded iceberg is seen near a penguin rookery in this undated handout photograph from the Australian Antarctic Division. The impact of global warming on the vast Southern Ocean around Antarctica is starting to pose a threat to ocean currents that distribute heat around the world, Australian scientists say, citing new deep-water data. - FILE

Fact: In an effort to preserve the ecosystem, countries with ties to Antarctica have agreed to adopt a proposal limiting the number of tourists and restrict the size of cruise ships journeying to the ice-capped zone. The agreement came during a recent meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, in response to an increase in visitor arrival and cruise-ship accidents in the area which attracted more than 45,000 tourists last season.

The new restrictions will become legal once ratified by each of the 28 nations that have signed the Antarctic Treaty, launched 50 years ago in Washington DC.

They require that members prevent ships with more than 500 passengers from landing in Antarctica and instead allow a maximum of 100 passengers on shore at any given time. Two cruise ships ran aground during the 2008-09 season.

Another high-profile accident in the region was the sinking of the M/S Explorer in November 2007.

Antarctica is home to several varieties of penguin and seals, and is a vital feeding ground for whales.

My thoughts: It's about time some serious measures were taken here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8001222.stm

Keywords: Plane lands in school playground