The World of Cole Chamberlain

By Liz Thaete

            After being “discovered” in the late 15^th century, the New World became host to a procession of European immigrants ready to impose their ideologies onto the native way of life.  Come the second half of the 19^th century, the Latin American coastline was now receiving a multitude of immigrant ships not only from Europe but also from the now established States as well. These immigrants flocked to the foreign coast with plans of harvesting and cultivating the rich environment for the end means of a hefty profit1. Cole Chamberlain, a confederate immigrant of the 1860s who tried to start a sugar plantation, was one such hopeful.

            One of the overarching truths of the invasion of the New World was that humans were curious about the newfound utility of nature, and were determined to turn a profit from it.2 The disunity from nature that ran prominent in the mindset of Cole Chamberlain’s world stood in stark contrast to the Native Americans whose culture ran deep with reverence for and unity with nature. Where the Mayas saw sacred land that was to be used only as necessary, the Chamberlains saw a perfect strip of dirt that would suffice perfectly for a logwood or sugarcane stand. 

The then British province of Belize became home to many such logwood and sugarcane harvesters, and the New River was at the heart of the despoliation. Running NS along the forested wetlands of Northern Belize, the New River was first home to the flourishing Maya city of Lamanai. However, with the 19^th century came the flood of immigrants such as Cole Chamberlain. Setting up mills along the river’s edge and enlisting the labor forces of the natives, sugarcane became a bountiful profit for the money-hound immigrants.It is easy to perceive such immigrants as villains; however, it can also be said that they were merely a product of their world around them. With fellow confederate immigrants such as Charles Swett sending back success stories of a profitable land3, and with no cultural upbringing that would elicit a unity with the land, it is no wonder so many hopefuls carelessly exploited the lush environment for their own gain.

Figure 1. The New River that runs through Northern Belize, as seen above, provided rich soil for harvesting sugarcane along the banks as well as a means of transportation for exporting the cane.

Figure 2. This sugar mill found at Lamanai, which was a primary means of processing sugar out of cane from 1860-1880, has since been overtaken by a Strangler Fig.

1 Swett, Charles. A Trip to British Honduras and to San Pedro, Republic of Honduras.1869

2 Miller, Shawn, W. An Environmental History of Latin America.Ch.2: Nature’s Conquest

3 Swett, Charles. A Trip to British Honduras and to San Pedro, Republic of Honduras.1869

The World of Heinrich H. Dueck

by Stephen Cupery

         So how after all did the Mennonites, in their varieties of communes come to the small out-of-the-way country of Belize – or British Honduras, as it was know then?  And how have they kept so unique and intrinsically distinct religiously and culturally, despite certain societal modifications?

         The current settlement of Spanish Lookout just only a few miles north and east of our campus here began with sixteen venture dairy farmers and families (mostly from Canada or Pennsylvania) coming to the Cayo District with intentions to plant a business for commercial agriculture in addition to finding adequate space to practice their Christian faith. 

         Among those was a gentleman by the name of Heinrich (pronounced Henry) H. Dueck who took the active role as manager for their newly created entrepreneur enterprise simply named “Western Dairy”.  It has always been an important part of Mennonite farming history. Farmers in Spanish Lookout, a now Progressive-Order, got more and more the idea, that dairying should be tried here in Belize as well. But how is that possible in this tropical country?

         Interestingly enough, their company evolved, expanded and adjusted fittingly to the demand and economic pace of western Belize and beyond.  This progressiveness was found dissatisfactory to some though, as persons such as Henry Friesian left the Lookout heading south to found the community of Barton Creek Mennonites, who practice a more traditional ascetic, simpler and socialistic commune.

         Heinrich and his “modern Mennonite” entourage nonetheless kept growing not only in health of community but also in prosperity.  They acquired used machinery from the U.S for increasing efficiency and productivity of farming, began and develop a cheese and ice cream factory, among other business-enhancing methods.  To this day, Spanish Lookout is seen for its westernized techniques and appearances, if not slightly eccentric albeit respectful practices in lifestyle and religion.  

The World of W. A. Bowman

by Autumn Brown

            W. A. Bowman was a banana plantation owner and supporter of United Fruit Company in the first decades of the 1900s.  Bowman and his contemporaries would have thought of the natural world only in so far as it could benefit them; it was a purely utilitarian relationship. They used the land in order to make a profit and had no concern for the ecological consequences of their actions. 

            As a banana plantation owner, Bowman would have bought a plot of land in Belize, clear cut and burned the forest there, and planted 170 banana trees per acre.  He would have had paid laborers to help him in this task; they would have likely been West Indian creoles, Mayans, “coolies” from the East Indies, or Caribs, a group that resulted from the intermarriages of Africans and Carib Indians.  These people would have been paid to clear the land, plant banana trees, and harvest their fruit.

            Bowman was a supporter of the United Fruit Company.  This multinational corporation’s rather blatant tactics helped it to form a strong monopoly on banana exports in the Caribbean.  They owned the boats that carried the bananas to the United States and used price cuts to force all competitors’ from that market.  They eventually got into growing bananas themselves, bought huge tracts of land, and forced small farmers out of the business by controlling prices.  The company bribed and intimidated government officials to ensure their company interests were not threatened (Moberg, “Crown Colony as Banana Republic”).  They had no respect for the land.  When Panama disease began to wipe out entire plantations of banana trees and no cure could be found, United Fruit used their considerable means to run from the fungus.  They would clear tracts of land, grow bananas there until the Panama fungus arrived (usually within five to ten years), and then move on, destroying whatever infrastructure they had made for their plantations before they left to prevent other farmers from using it (Tropical Determinism). 

          Bowman himself was forced out of the banana industry by Panama disease and moved on to citrus, ensuring that the land still gave him a profit.

    

 Figure 1: Bananas growing on the Nabitunich campus.  These are not the same species of banana that Bowman or the United Fruit Company would have grown.  American consumers during the 1920s demanded the exceptionally sweet and slow ripening Gros Michael and therefore the United Fruit Company grew only this type.  The monoculture of this particular species was a dangerous endeavor; it turned out to be particularly susceptible to the Panama disease that ravaged banana plantations across the Caribbean.  The bananas we typically buy today in the United States are the Cavendish species, which is highly resistant to the fungus that causes Panama disease.  (Miller, Tropical Determinism)

The World of C. Hummel

by Nick Voss

             The Forests in Belize, along with their precious Mahogany and Logwood have been long sought after items in the history of Belize. As the quest for these resources stretch back to the 1700s, it continued until the 20^th century. The social and political structures from the start of the logging exhibitions shaped the environment of Belize and would later result in the actions taken in consequence almost two hundred years later.  The actions of course, are conservation measures. From the 1700s, the land was viewed solely for its production, while English settlers continued to stretch their logging operations, they also gained economic and political power over British Honduras. While the Spanish also had their own logging operations, private ownership of the English eventually overpowered the Spanish, and took measures to hold their social status, as well as the land that they logged. The environmental consequences of the growth of this political system later on, in the 20^th century, led to near exhaustion of forest resources.1    

With the remnants of English private landowners now being major corporations, they owned half the lands in the colony in the early 20^th century. These were also the best forestlands in Mahogany, Logwood, and Sapodilla trees.1 The Government had to persuade the private companies to establish new logging methods in order to conserve the forest resources, as well as their source of economic stability, which is stretched overseas. Here, C. Hummel was appointed the first conservator of forests. He had experience in foresting from Britain, and now must interact with private companies developing new ways to go about their business to prevent the exhaustion and destruction of the resources altogether.2    

These new methods were based on scientific research, in knowing the nature of the forest, when and where to cut, instead of simply stripping the trees and shipping them away. Rather than continually expanding and invading new forests for Mahogany, which was the most expensive and valuable wood, loggers now had to remain within their land and manage it in a way that trees could also grow back, keeping a healthy ecosystem that will sustain trees that could continue to be used for logging in later years. One important question that was asked was, which trees absolutely needed to be taken from Belize, and what could instead be taken from within Britain, saving valuable resources and energy.3  

This aided the economic conservation as well as forest conservation. The biggest aspect was that of control. Control over destructive and limitless logging and tapping methods. Mr. Hummel later went from working for the forest department of British Honduras to being manager of the BEC. The BEC was the first company to actively make changes in their foresting, pioneering the way for many other private organizations. They also showed that its possible to maintain commercial interest while practicing sustainable forestry.  

The land of British Honduras was first perceived forests heavily in modes of production, ignoring the natural environment’s history, and ignoring all other values of the land, except for profit. The conservation efforts of Mr. Hummel led a change in these perceptions of the forest, including the history and values of the forest, but still retaining the mode of production as the main source of motivation. The forest industry and people of the English colony British Honduras still saw their production and profit most important, but with conservation efforts they applied it in a new way, creating an ideology that sustained the forest’s ecosystem, not for its own sake, but for future production possibilities and continued economic growth. However, This could also be seen as steps towards other conservation measures today, which conserve forests without logging intentions.

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1 Boland, Nigel and Shoman, Assad. Land in Belize 1765-1851

2 Oliphant, J.N. Development of Forestry in British Honduras.

3 Oliver, J.W. The Indian Forester: Forestry, Agriculture, Shikar & Travel. Vol 23, 6.

1. Forests in Belize today are cut for logging, as well as cattle grazing (Pictured center) and agriculture. Forest conservation today serves economic and intrinsic value purposes through ecotourism.

2. Logs on the Belize River show how logging shipped Mahogany from forest to seaport in the 18^th century by English settlers.1. Foreign and Privately owned logging industries still exist today in Belize.

 

3. Foreign and Privately owned logging industries still exist today in Belize.

The World of Sharon Matola

by Kandice O'Grady

                 Sharon Matola was American born but is now a proud citizen of Belize. Matola is known for a variety of issues surrounding her passion for animals and the Belizean environment. Matola’s many noteworthy efforts to save the endangered Scarlet Macaw (including her book  “The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw”) her influential part in the Belize radio station, creating of the only zoo in Belize, and her strong opinion on the Chaillilo dam are only a few of the things that shape the character of ms. Matola. Sharon Matola is a strong out spoken women, so there are a few issues in Belize that really push her buttons.

     There is a plunder of controversy surrounding the economic and environmental impacts of the Chaillilo dam and being the biocentric women that ms. Matola is, her first arguments against the dam would be based on her passion for the environment. The environmental impacts of the Chaillio dam are devastating they include: hindering of reproduction and life cycles of reproduction and feeding of stream dwelling organisms, the chemistry of the stream is also greatly affected with the methane, hydrogen sulfide released into the water from the decomposing organic matter that isn’t able to receive oxygen. The dam does far more than just hinder the life of stream dwelling organisms but it has a whole other world of destruction for the creatures inhabited near the stream. The site of the Chaillilo dam that was flooded was the only known nesting site for the Scarlet Macaw. So this is where is gets personal for Sharon. The magnificent Scarlet Macaw that Ms. Matola is so passionate about may disappear due to the raping of its habitat. The dam also flooded an environment that a plethora of other creatures were dependent upon the stream area for food and for a place to call home.

    Just this information alone would be enough certainly for Ms. Matola and for many other people to reject the Chaillilo dam, however the economic incentives the Chaillilo dam brings to Belize do not even come close to justifying it’s terrorizing of the environment.

  Before touching on this issue it would first be important to point out the frustration that Sharon Matola encounters when arguing against the Chaillio dam. Sharon, being a Caucasian, American born woman Sharon faces the typical argument of “She doesn’t care about the people of Belize, she just a gringa interested in keeping the animals around to attract tourism.” Such a viewpoint towards Caucasians can be captured in the texts “New Missionaries” and “The Tourists are Coming,” by Trapasso. Belize history and present day life has been manipulated by eco tourism and the “environmentalists,” also sarcastically referred to as the “new missionaries.” Present day San Pedro has become so engulfed in tourism that the people who once called it home were displaced because of the sky rocketing standard of living. Through the “New Missionaries” text there is also an example of the Belizean people being displaced in light of environmental reasons. The Cockscomb jaguar preserve was created in 1984 in order to “save” the jaguars. This ultimately led to the displacing of the Maya people inhabiting the area, and ironically enough all the jaguars that were captured for the preserve died or were killed during that time. So economically speaking the Chaillilo dam was initially to be built in order that the citizens of Belize have cheaper energy, and in order that they would not be depending on Mexico for the entirety or their energy needs. Turns out that the dam is actually increasing the monthly energy bill for Belizeans, so now the people of Belize are left with billion of dollars on loans from the world bank (interest at 12%) a hurting river ecosystem, and a heavier monthly energy bill. Given all of this clearly Sharon Matola has a heavy heart, but even amongst the dark outlook of the Chaillio dam Sharon is still frustrated, but nonetheless is still outspoken about her passion for making life better for both the animals, and people of Belize.             

Here you see the Chaillilo dam  which flooded Belize's only known nesting site for the Scarlet Macaw. 

Sharon Matola pictured here in the Belize zoo. 

God and Nature 1

Do you know your place, ecologically speaking?  This is the question Steve Bouma-Prediger posed during God and Nature I.  To test our ecological perception of place, we took a quiz.  Here’s a sampling of the questions. See how you do.

 

1.      How many days until the moon is full?

2.      Describe the soil around your home.

3.      Trace the water you drink from precipitation to tap.

4.      Name five edible wild plants and five agricultural plants in your bioregion.

5.      From what direction do winter storms generally come in your region?

6.      Where does your garbage go?

7.      Name five trees in your area.

8.      Name five resident and migratory birds.

9.      What primary geological event or process influenced the land where you live?

10.    From where you are reading this, point north?

 

How did you do?  If we can’t answer these questions, we’re ecologically illiterate, despite of (or perhaps because of) our education.  Being good earthkeepers, however, requires that we not only know our place intimately, but that we also have ears to hear the “groaning of creation”.  The earth’s vital signs are not good.  Try this quiz.  No cheating…

 

1.      There were half as many people in the world today in the year

a)     1800

b)     1930

c)     1960

2.      If the number of hungry people in the world today were lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch

a)     from LA to New York

b)     around the world once at the equator

c)     around the earth 18 times at the equator

3.      Another species of plant or animal life become extinct

a)     every year

b)     every week

c)     every 8 hours

4.      Tropical forests are destroyed at the rate of 25 million acres each year, an area the size of

      a) metropolitan Chicago

      b) Rhode Island

      c) Indiana

       5.  The percent of people in so-called developing countries without adequate drinking water is

                  a) 10%

                  b) 25%

                  c) 50%

 

The answers are all C. Scary, eh?  Thoroughly depressing as these statistics are, as Christians we are called to hope not despair, and signs of hope abound. The Bible itself has a lot to say about caring for creation and more and more Christians are starting to cultivate an “earthy” faith.  Yes, there is bad theology out there but it is being countered by good theology, a theology that affirms that humans are called to serve and protect the earth; that God, not humans, is at the center of things; that the earth will be renewed, not destroyed; that the earth is our eternal home, not heaven.   There’s a lot of work to be done.  May God shape us to be people who have the patience, courage, and compassion to live as agents of His shalom in a world of wounds.  Amen.

Stephen at Itzamna

It was my privilege to spend the better part of two weeks as an intern for a community-based organization called the Itzamna Society with the purpose of developing and managing Eljio Panti National Park and promoting biodiversity conservation, cultural patrimony, and community development through education.  Being named after the ancient Mayan Lord of heaven who served as priest, author and benevolent friend of man and their creation, the Itzamna Society seeks to continue those roles within the nearby Yucatec Maya farming villages of San Antonio, Cristo Rey and El Progresso. The association consists of active and involved volunteer members representing each respective community, their agriculture, archaeological ruins and natural resources. Their success in making unified decisions of how to manage local lands is obvious and encouraging as each village is healthy and thriving. They value the ecological and cultural importance of the area and are committed to its preservation and sustainable development for the future.  In addition to possessing strong leadership skills, many members have received training including forest planning and management, organic cultivation, and conservation awareness.   My tasks consisted of writing and designing environmental education literature on the ecological, cultural and mythological significance that the Jaguar or “Chack-Mool" has within the Yucatec Mayan society.  In addition I joined a few other local guides for a three- day trek to assess the biological distribution and range of Jaguars and Pumas by tracking their presence among and throughout the EPNP rainforest jungle.