Ornamental fish in Crossroads. Goldfish and fighting fish. I didn’t ask how much they are, but of course the fellow tried to convince me to buy one. I was tempted…

Happy Fourth of July! Let’s hope everyone stays safe this weekend.

The other day, we flew back into Kingston from the U.S. There was a distinct haze over the city, and at first, I thought Riverton was burning again. But then I thought back to about a month ago, when I was thinking the same thing. And there are currently no major fires burning. However, there is a yellowish haze over the city and it must be pollution. It is similar to what happens in big cities when there is a “smog warning,” when the summer heat exacerbates the pollution. I don’t remember it being like this last year, or perhaps I am more aware since the dump was burning.

In any case, the air does not look too healthy. It gets better out in the country, except then you must contend with the fires the farmers burn to clear the grounds so that the green shoots can spring up again and bring new growth. I wonder if the Ministry of Environment monitors the air quality. Fellow blogger Emma was asking these questions several days ago too. I wonder about the safety of the air we are breathing as I look at the large smokestacks spewing black smoke. I wish we knew what this yellow haze is, and how long it will last.

Happy Canada Day from JA! 148 years old today.

On a drive up to Ocho Rios, I spotted this group of young children playing football in a field high in the hills.

In the wake of the U.S.’ historical, brilliant Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, I direct you today to a beautifully written editorial in yesterday’s Jamaica Gleaner. It makes the point that this is a question of fundamental human rights, and also calls on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to act. Here is an excerpt:

The American legal and constitutional factors applied by Justice Kennedy in his ruling are not totally at one with Jamaica’s. Indeed, marriage, as defined in Section 18(2) of Jamaica’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, is a “union between one man and one woman”. But they are not incongruent with the larger principles upon which fundamental human rights must rest, if the individual is to enjoy his/her innate right to dignity.

In that respect, on this issue, Jamaica remains stuck on first base. It retains the anachronistic buggery law, which maintains the State as voyeur and is the basis for the illegality of ultimate sexual expression among gay men. Indeed, some heterosexual couples engage in anal sex, too. It is also antipathetic to same-sex marriage – an institution that presupposes the consummation of its fact.

With her revolutionary stance that contradicted the anti-gay, “not-in-my-Cabinet” rhetoric, Portia Simpson Miller hinted at the courage to advance these rights. She must act.

Glorious clouds in small town Florida. Enjoy your Friday.

Lifeguard on duty: Ocho Rios.

These crows were lined up yesterday like this. It was kind of eerie. Did they know something we don’t know? There was a tremendous thunderstorm later in the day, perhaps that was why. I always wonder how and why birds and animals decide to be together, as opposed to alone.

This is the main beach in Ocho Rios. These ladies were joyfully playing childhood games in a circle, chanting and clapping and dancing. It was lovely to watch. Tourist season has died down a little bit, so the beach was quiet. We were, however, turned away from Mystic Mountain because it was over capacity. As a family member who had just arrived from England for the Diaspora Conference commented, he was urged at the conference to frequent local business and support the local economy. But when he attempted to do so, he was turned away because the attraction was full of tourists from cruise ships. An interesting dilemma.