CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS IN SURINAME'S AMAZON!

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Photograph of the Suriname interior from Drietabiki by Shane Charles Sourgose

When I originally came to South America to visit a dear friend and Volunteer of the Peace Corps, I thought my mission would be to do one thing, write. Though during my venture through his village upon the interior of Suriname I noticed more than a land they called, and I concurred, “Moi-Moi!” I viewed along the stretch of gleaming river of the Amazon and among the much rainforest foliage in vast greens, rubbish; trash in piles that seemed to taunt their neighboring homes, and one day, if it is not taken into account, landfill that will mark the mammoth of all aforementioned.

In my final days upon his site I thought of Jane Cowen-Fletcher’s children’s book published by Scholastic Press in 1994 and titled “It Takes a Village” in which an African youth searches for her younger sibling, solitary to discover that the village as a whole had been watching over them mutually. I too, am a villager in the form of a tourist, though still had to watch over these children of the forest: the land, the air, the trees, the aquatics and most importantly, the life. Therefore, I pondered and brought to concept a philanthropy effort in preserving the longevity of environment and the wellbeing of inhabitants.

KIIN KONDEE = MOI KONDEE translates to English as CLEAN LAND = BEAUTIFUL LAND, a title brought on by my friend, and thus made into fruition such project. I am no longer to stay in Suriname for just a few months as prior publicized with the American media, for this concern is one that needs dire addressing! This concern has developed a worldwide economic address formally mentioned by the United Nations with regards to 2011 being the International Year of the Forests.

During the June 2nd opening of the 2011 Forest Film Festival held at the Cultural Center Suriname by the Embassy of the United States of America in Paramaribo. I obliged eloquent remarks by Public Affairs Officer, Susan Ross, United States Ambassador John R. Nay and keynote speaker Mr. Wim Udenhout, respectively. I even got to ask my question, “Will the government’s efforts of environmentalist and humanitarian issues be emphasized through educational methods, and if so, would it be along the lines of literacy and the literary arts?”

With much loss in translation between both parties, for I do not possess such eloquence with the duel-linguistics of Suriname as of yet, though after many back and forth, was able to finally get my notion in question to attain thus answer, and one that I was searching for . . . quite simply, yes! And so I am to stay yet another few months . . . though, for how long? I am not too sure. What I do know is that I am going to stay long enough to see my friend’s vision and my KK=MK project come forth to fruition, as once and for all, we too will be much like that village overseeing the children, humanitarian and environmental.

KIIN KONDEE = MOI KONDEE is a non-profit Waste Management & Sanitation Project formulated by American bestselling author Shane Charles Sourgose. Our mission is to assess correct disposal of renewable resources that motivates sustainability of the natural habitat on the island and may generate revenue for the community, thus preserving such wellbeing of the environment and the inhabitants of Drietabiki into future generations.