Vanessa Foulon

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Cay Bay

My name is vanessa, I was raised on this paradise island, on the french side. My dream was to have a child at one point but most of all have a ‘local’ kid born from two parents that are ” from here” like people love to say . And it came reality. I come from a stable family backround , grew up in the French Lowlands and benefited from the best my parents could provide me in my life time. But i always felt something was missing in my life. What om talking about is Unity among all different ethnicity i became friends with and learned to cherish. Still today on the island i love and call my home racism and discrimination id still a big issue. I live is Caybay today and made it my home along with my son. We are the only “white “people living in the neighborhood but i can say….its the best place ive ever moved too. At first people were wary but once i gave my my time and interest to get to know all My neighbors…we all became “one” and interact on a dayly basis…watching each others kids and persona’s…for the first time in my living here…i feel color or race is not even considered or thought upon…but just suporting one an other as one ….a community ….neighbors who became friends and most of all Family.

Here is a picture of my son and his best friends…where color, nor race, nor status is even a notion in their naive and innocent minds. Thats how culture should really look like…where what when or where isnt even considered or pondered upon.

Les Fruits de Mer Joins BirdsCaribbean: First Institutional Member in the French Caribbean

BirdsCaribbean is the Caribbean region’s largest conservation organization.
BirdsCaribbean is the Caribbean region’s largest conservation organization.
St. Martin’s connection to the regional conservation community just grew a little bit closer. Local non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer recently became the first institutional member of BirdsCaribbean in the French Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean is the largest regional organization devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean. Although the two organizations have been working together for almost two years, joining helps integrate Les Fruits de Mer, St. Martin and the French Caribbean into the regional bird education and conservation community.

“Working with BirdsCaribbean has really helped us have a big impact quickly, even though we’re a young association,” explained Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “They’ve provided training and materials developed for the Caribbean that have really enhanced many of our events and educational workshops. Simply being part of something bigger also makes an event more meaningful and interesting to our members and the public.”

BirdSleuth Caribbean is one of many BirdsCaribbean programs Les Fruits de Mer participates in.
BirdSleuth Caribbean is one of many BirdsCaribbean programs Les Fruits de Mer participates in.
Les Fruits de Mer has collaborated with BirdsCaribbean on a number of projects and events over the last two years, primarily in the areas of education and outreach. Les Fruits de Mer’s annual Migratory Bird Festival and Endemic Animal Festival events are part of Caribbean-wide programs organized by BirdsCaribbean to celebrate migratory and endemic birds: International Migratory Bird Day and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. Les Fruits de Mer has also added birdwatching sites to BirdsCaribbean’s flagship eco-tourism project, the Caribbean Birding Trail.

Les Fruits de Mer works closely with BirdsCaribbean on multiple education programs. Last year, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama received training on two ecology-oriented programs: Wondrous West Indian Wetlands and BirdSleuth Caribbean. In addition to incorporating activities from these programs into their outreach and education programs, Les Fruits de Mer has partnered to help translate materials into French and train local educators in the BirdSleuth Caribbean curriculum.

The organizations began working together after a Les Fruits de Mer member attended BirdsCaribbean’s international meeting in 2013. “For someone new to wildlife education, it was a real eye opener,” according to Yokoyama. “It’s probably the only opportunity to spend a week with hundreds of Caribbean educators and conservationists, learning, sharing and tackling issues on a regional level. More than anything, BirdsCaribbean is a network of inspired individuals and organizations. Being a part of that network is key to our mission, and being the only member organization in the French Caribbean makes our role even more important.”

Membership also gives Les Fruits de Mer a chance to help BirdsCaribbean. “We support our member organizations, but our accomplishments are also the work of our member volunteers,” explained BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Les Fruits de Mer are partners in many of our education and outreach programs, but members are also part of internal working groups managing BirdsCaribbean’s media and technology.”

The Brown Pelican is featured in a new collection of desktop wallpapers of St. Martin birds released to commemorate the partnership.
The Brown Pelican is featured in a new collection of desktop wallpapers of St. Martin birds released to commemorate the partnership.
Les Fruits de Mer have released a collection of desktop wallpaper and screensaver images to celebrate the partnership. It features 24 images of St. Martin birds and can be downloaded for free from their web site. Looking to the future, Les Fruits de Mer will continue to collaborate with BirdsCaribbean on education and awareness projects. Yokoyama will also lead a workshop at the 20th International Meeting of BirdsCaribbean in Jamaica this July. Once again, it will be a chance to connect St. Martin—and the French Caribbean—to the regional conservation community.

Billfish Tournament 2015 – Day One

Yesterday was the opening day of the St. Martin Billfish Tournament, and we were at our booth doing marine life education. It was a good day for the fish—no marlin big enough to keep were caught—so we didn’t get to analyze any stomach contents. We did begin gathering local knowledge about fish and fishing, including many of the traditional local names for fish on St. Martin and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Stop by today 4pm-9pm or Saturday 11am-10pm and share your knowledge about local fish and fishing.

Nathalie Beaurain

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Le Galion

I just love to go to Galion Beach. I usually go towards the right where the sea is rougher but there is also the “vestige” of the old hotel… An old red sofa welcoming you and lots of graffiti. I happen to love old building with graffiti art.

Nathalie Beaurain

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Colombier

I love the village of Colombier and their Will to insure that the heritage of the island passes over to the next generation. They have created the Nature Valley Association and among their events is the Arrow root festival opened to everyone. You can see how it grows, how it is picked, cleaned and so on until the final product.

Jovito Hermoso

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St. James

Do you remember what it was like to get a handwritten letter? Our old generation had written many letters from their heart, warm wishes and greetings live on in their beautiful letters. How much longer we can see these colorful boxes in our neighborhood. If only we could find out a way to embrace technology without tossing out the best of the old generation.

Jovito Hermoso

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Marigot

It is a pity that at this present world of us many people have no idea what a fresh fish looked like, smelled like and tasted like. A privilege we still enjoy on this island , imagine being able to buy fish “right off the boat”.