Amy Bowers: A Woman of Substance
My friend Amy Bowers died on Sunday 20th May at the Seychelles Hospital after a long and brave battle with cancer. Active in the local arts scene for many years, Amy also had a deep interest in the natural environment.She was a long time member of Nature Seychelles and became the organisation’s first Treasurer. She was re-elected on the Board three times and assisted us in maintaining sound financial records that impressed donors, partners and local officials. She was still occupying this post when she died.
To commemorate the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22nd May, Nature Seychelles Chief Executive Dr. Nirmal Shah presented the organization’s projects to promote "Bio Happiness", at a national conference entitled "Be happy, Make Seychelles happy” at the Seychelles’ International Conference Centre. Shah's presentation focused on Nature Seychelles programmes which include the Green Health programme and Heritage Garden, and its innovative projects - the Greening Livelihoods and Gardens for Growth projects, which are all society-based and geared to help people have well rounded fulfilling lives.
Careers in the environment sector are within reach to local job seekers. There is a variety of attractive positions in the environmental sector and the sector is fulfilling a big role in providing lifelong careers for Seychellois. This was the message that Nature Seychelles passed on to visitors to its stall at the Ministry for Labour and Human Resource Development Job Fair held on Friday 27 April.
"Seychelles, small country, big nation" and "Blue is the new Gold" are the powerful messages that form part of Seychelles pavilion at Expo 2012 in the city of Yeosu in South Korea. The messages are contained in a banner designed by Nature Seychelles as part of the Expo, where the theme is "The Living Ocean and Coast." The banner explains our dependency as a nation on the sea and outlines the organisation’s contribution towards the country’s marine-based economy: the management of Cousin Island Special Reserve which is also a Marine Protected Area; sustainable tourism; fisheries co-management; climate change; ecosystems restoration and species conservation.
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has agreed to measures that, if appropriately implemented by tuna longline fishing vessels, will result in significant reductions in albatross mortality.