The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage today launched its "Learn, Sign and Vote" campaign. The campaign is a national initiative aimed at getting the Belizean public involved in the national debate on oil exploration in particular on offshore drilling and oil exploration in protected areas. Love News spoke to Tanya Williams, Coalition Coordinator.
Tanya Williams - Coalition Coordinator
"There are three parts to the campaign. We have the learn part which is to get the information to people for them to make an informed decision. We want people to be aware so that when the petition form goes around people are signing knowing the information. The petition is calling for a referendum to decide whether or not we should have offshore drilling or drilling in protected areas. We have been given a three month period by the government to collect the signatures which is the learn and sign portion of our campaign. The next portion of our campaign which is the vote part of it is when people go to referendum. I think it should be three months after we have collected the signatures and that is why we are saying six months."
Williams says that so far the response from the people has been encouraging.
Tanya Williams - Coalition Coordinator
"It is excellent. The support has been excellent. I think people are excited about the opportunity for the first time as a people to get involved in the decision making particularly as it relates to our natural resources. So we have been seeing a great support from the public and we encourage more people to sign on to the petition form. We have a number who have signed already to the petition. What we have right now is a larger number of people going house to house so people can sign on. We are also doing special events where people can come and sign and we also have established areas where people can go and sign up."
Throughout the next six months, the Coalition will be holding national community education programs, media campaigns and public events to increase the awareness on the issue. Those who wish to support the cause can sign the petitions at the offices of APAMO, the Belize Audubon Society, Oceana, Bacongo in Cayo, Chocolate in Caye Caulker, SATIIM in Punta Gorda, and BELPO in Belmopan.
LOVEFM