CEA Electronic Communications Edition XXX, March 2005 More Than Pot Luck by Paul Sánchez-Navarro What a wonderful surprise our Pot Luck evening was here at CEA! Diane Mahan, Lydia Pontius, and Laura Bush, among many others, organized a “Pot Luck” evening for the community at CEA on March 1. Besides the excellent food and drink everyone brought, Dennis Mahan invited a few of his musician friends to play (Denny Mahan of Akumal, Roger Burton from Dallas, Steve Cook of Atlanta and Ed from Ireland and California), so we had a nice concert. Before the music, Pati Ucpech’s dance troupe presented a carnival dance to get the evening started. What I didn’t know was that this Pot Luck was also an anniversary party for my having completed one year at CEA. Laura presented me with a huge gift basket, Jennifer of Turtle Bay made a delicious two-layer chocolate cake, and my staff gave me a variety of gifts. I was very moved and would like to thank everyone for the warm support I have been given here in Akumal. The evening was a fantastic event and gave me great motivation to aim for even greater success in 2005. Thanks everyone! Click here to enjoy some photos from the evening. WATER FOR LIFE! 2005–2015 by Kate Riley A day to be thankful for the primary source of life: WATER. Our bodies, our oceans, our planet—sustained by the reactivity of this chemical wonder. It's a cause of life, and a cause of death. We are contaminating the very medium from which we derive health. Four in 10 people don’t have even a simple pit latrine. Two in 10 people don’t have safe water to drink. Two million people die every year from water-borne diseases. The United Nations has declared an International Decade for Action, 2005–2015, to begin on World Water Day, March 22, 2005. The UN assembly appeals for our focus in water-related issues, and our coordinated response to find solutions. Perhaps this renewed effort comes from the realization that water is the issue underlying all others, including environmental sustainability and poverty. The Millennium Development Goals state: “Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.” Click here to read more. The Kyoto Protocol Comes into Force by Lucy Gallagher photo credit-BBC February 16 marked a momentous day in environmental history as the Kyoto Protocol came into force, seven years after it was agreed. Some 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases— Methane (CH4), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)— by 5.2% by 2012. These gases are believed to be partly responsible for global warming—the rise in global temperature which may have dramatic repercussions on life on Earth as we know it. Click here to read more. Alternative Disinfection by Kate Riley Do you ever wonder how clean your cutting board or dishes are? Or what is the safest product to disinfect vegetables and fruits? Many of us, whether living or visiting the Riviera Maya, have experienced the unpleasant effects of the array of microorganisms that exist in our tap and recreational waters from contamination with waste sources that seep through the underground rivers and out to the sea. Click here to read more. Environmental Saturdays by Mauricio Bautista Vega CEA has resumed "Environmental Saturdays," in which local school groups visit our Center to learn about various issues of local ecological importance. The main objective is to have students interact with their environment, and thus reinforce the lessons learned in class, so that they can identify local flora and fauna and participate in the solutions to the environmental problems we face as a community. Staff Birthdays March 13 — Lydia Linton Pontius, Online Development and Web Manager. Upcoming Events March 22 is World Water Day. March 24 “Akumal Through the Sight of My Camera (1982–2005)” will be presented by Gonzalo Arcila at the CEA Center. Come see incredible photos of Akumal. Admission is free and all proceeds from event donations will go to the local Montessori Daycare and CEA. A Door Prize will be offered—2 Nights/3 Days at Las Villas Akumal (Double Villa, sleeps 6). Gonzalo’s Riviera Maya calendars and books will be on sale as well. The show starts at 7 PM, so please join us. Check our Web site often to learn more about CEA's programs and upcoming events. Special Thanks to Diane and Denny Mahan at Akumal Villas, Laura Bush Wolfe at Hotel Akumal Caribe, Jen & Bart Smith at Turtle Bay Café, and all who helped to celebrate Paul's first year at CEA. We want to remind you that Turtle Season is approaching and, for anyone interested in our Turtle Adoption Program, we have added some new items this year. You can now adopt the nest, along with the entire family, and become a member, all with one contribution right online. We will be posting pictures once the turtle season kicks off. Please continue to tell your friends about CEA! Many CEA Members join after being referred to CEA by people like you. If you have questions about how you can become more involved, please contact us. The Yucatan Environmental Foundation is the U.S. 501(c)(3) fiscal agent for CEA. All donations made through YEF for CEA are tax-deductible in the U.S. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or simply need to contact CEA, please click here.