Issa Pleased: Light At End Of Tunnel Not Another Train Coming

Canada’s environment minister, Catherine McKenna              Cool Corp Chairman, Joe Issa

Environment advocate Joe Issa welcomes news that a light in the tunnel is not another train coming, as fast as the UN climate talks is concerned.

“I am glad they are making real progress; that should bring real money to poor states who need financial help to enable them to combat global warming,” said Issa, following a positive Associated Press reports on the final day of the climate change conference, COP24, in Katowice, Poland.

According to the report, a deal on the rules that govern the Paris climate accord appeared within grasp, as officials from almost 200 countries worked to bridge remaining differences after two weeks of U.N. talks in Poland.

The 2015 (COP21) Paris Agreement, during which Issa supported the ‘1.5 to stay alive’ campaign, is said to have been a landmark moment in international diplomacy, bringing together governments with vastly different views to tackle the common threat of global warming.

But while the accord set a headline target of keeping average global temperatures from rising by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) — or 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible — much of the fine print is said to have been left unfinished.

The meeting in Poland’s southern city of Katowice was meant to finalize how countries report their emissions of greenhouses gases — a key factor in man-made climate change — and the efforts they’re taking to reduce them.

Poor countries also wanted assurances on financial support to help them cut emissions, adapt to inevitable changes such as sea level rise and pay for damage that’s already happened.

“We’ve come a long way,” Canada’s environment minister, Catherine McKenna, reportedly told The Associated Press ahead of a planned plenary meeting on the last day. “There’s been really late negotiations, there’s been big group negotiations, there’s been shuttle diplomacy all through the night, and now we are coming to the wire.”

One major sticking point during the talks, the report said, was how to create a functioning market in carbon credits. It cites economists’ belief that an international trading system could be an effective way to drive down emissions and raise large amounts of money for measures to curb global warming.

“We want billions to flow into trillions. And I’m someone who believes that it’s not just about national governments,” McKenna reportedly said. “Ultimately the market is going to play a huge role in the cleaner solutions that we need, supporting countries and being efficient and how we do this.”

According to the article, emerging economies such as Brazil have pushed back against rich countries’ demands to cancel piles of carbon credits still lingering from a system set up under the 1997 Kyoto accord.

“There are still a range of possible outcomes and Brazil continues to work constructively with other parties to find a workable pathway forward,” said the country’s chief negotiator, Antonio Marcondes.

The talks in Poland took place against a backdrop of increasing concern among scientists that global warming is proceeding faster than governments are responding to it.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reportedly concluded that while it’s possible to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial times, this will require a dramatic overhaul of the global economy including a shift away from fossil fuels.

Alarmed by efforts to include this in the final text of the meeting, the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reportedly blocked endorsement of the report mid-way through the talks, prompting uproar from vulnerable countries and environmental groups.

While some officials questioned the format of the meeting, which has grown to a huge event with tens of thousands of participants, the head of Greenpeace International, Jennifer Morgan, reportedly stressed how important it was to bring all countries of the world together on the issue.

“We need a multilateral process especially for the poorest and smallest countries that don’t go to G-20,” she was quoted as saying, referring to the Group of 20 major and emerging economies that met recently in Argentina. “But the lack of ambition by some rich countries, like the European Union, is worrying, especially as we are staring the 1.5 report in the face.”

The COP21, for example, means the 21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Paris from November 30th to December 12th, 2015. The agreement was adopted on December 12th, 2015. Some 196 countries are party to the agreement.

Joe Issa Expresses Condolences on Passing of Scholar and Educator Lady Ivy Cooke

Businessman Joe Issa, a former tourism practitioner in Montego Bay, the home of former Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke, has expressed condolences at the recent passing of Lady Ivy Cooke. She was 100 years old.

Former Governor General of Jamaica- Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke

Widow of Sir Howard, who died in 2014 at the age of 98 years, Lady Ivy Cooke is said to have passed away at the Andrew’s Memorial Hospital in St Andrew. The union is believed to have produced three children – Justice Howard Cooke Jr, Richard and Audrey. 

“From what I know of Lady Cooke, she was a very bright student and a committed educator, who spent the rest of her life in the classroom teaching,” said Issa, executive chairman of Cool Group of companies, noting, “That’s awesome service to people and country.”

Issa, who continues to give towards the education of underprivileged Jamaican children through his Cool Charities subsidiary, said Lady Ivy Cooke is owed a debt of gratitude for her dedication to teaching.

Both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his predecessor Portia Simpson Miller, who reportedly made the first announcement, have hailed Lady Cooke for her contribution to education in Jamaica.

Joey Issa

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, who has also paid tribute to Lady Ivy Cooke, said “the former Ivy Tai graduated with honours from Bethlehem Teachers College in the early 1930s and went on to spend 43 years teaching.

“She was also the first person from Jamaica to study child development at the Institute of Education, London University, in the United Kingdom”.

The Education Minister said Lady Cooke and Sir Howard, who was also an Education Minister, “spent their early years as educators in the small community of Bell Castle, Portland, where they earned the respect of students and the wider community alike,” according to newspaper reports.

He said “this was as much for their giftedness as teachers as well as for their humility and community involvement.”

“Lady Cooke lived a life of exemplary service and commitment to the people of Jamaica,” Reid is quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Simpson Miller said, “Prior to being thrust onto the public stage, Lady Cooke had already made a name for herself as an outstanding scholar who later developed into a superb educator, and one who was dedicated not only to the task of enlightening young minds, but also to tending to their welfare.”

Joe Issa’s Love for Quality Socialization: His Best Characteristic

It has become generally accepted that nothing is constant except change. And for Mr. Sociable Joe Issa, the changes are lavish, such as the quality of the people he meets and the events he attends, from welcome and farewell parties, to all the in-betweens like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, awards, launches, dinners, cultural, heritage and music festivals.

“You name it and Joey (pet name for Joe Issa) is in the forefront of the social scene, either as host or guest,” says a colleague of his, adding, “In fact, my friends and I believe that most of the time he is out socializing, he is the one hosting; he has a sense of occasion and a passion for entertaining, and needs no excuse to do so.” 

By his own admission, birthdays and weddings are Joey’s favourite occasions, especially as he has had a blessed life since birth and an even better one since his marriage.

“When you’ve had a blessed life like I’ve been fortunate to have, birthdays are important; it’s an occasion to respect and to treasure the life it has brought you. As for weddings, it’s such an overwhelming occasion … that’s why so many people cry their hearts out … birth and marriage are really sacred; that’s why I like birthdays and wedding anniversaries above all occasions,” says Joey, a Catholic Eucharistic Minister.

Then a youth with big eye glasses, a sign of the time and working at his father’s SuperClubs chain of resorts, Joey is said to recall with much nostalgia, Pope John Paul 11 visiting his family in Barbican and singing happy birthday to his sister Zein.

Similarly, but only older and is Executive Chairman of his Cool Group of companies, Joey recalls with even more melancholy, walking down the aisle with his bride Asha, as Jimmy Cliff sang his favourite, heart-rending song “Many Rivers to Cross”. The occasion was said to have been a washed with tears as many guests wept involuntarily.

Joey is also said to have several other fond memories of nights out, such as a reception hosted by HE French Ambassador Pierre-Antoine Berniard and his simply elegant wife Luisa Berniard; and hosting former British Prime Minister John Major and his wife, who were in Jamaica to celebrate his birthday.

The inaugural appearance in Jamaica of American singer and songwriter, Jimmy Buffet, at the opening of Margaritaville Restaurant and Bar in the Island Village Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Ocho Rios was also a remarkable occasion.

Joey is also said to recall fondly, hosting three honeymoon couples at the Grand Lido Negril resort. The couples Kris and Debbie Bergstrom, William and Sandra Tavares-Finson and Mark and Wendy Lalor were married on the same day and spent their honeymoon there. The resort was Jamaica’s newest all-inclusive and it was Joey who had turned it into a paradise for honeymooners.

And as Resident Manager of Grand Lido Negril, Joey has also been captured in his usual relax mood, striking up a tune for guests in the Piano Bar while Helen Leyden, Grand Lido’s classical pianist assisted.

OF FAMILIES, BIRTHDAYS, AND LOVE

In addition to record temperatures, and a downpour of mosquitoes, the city has been buzzing this week.

Congrats to Joey and Asha. Tatler saw the rock, thank God I was wearing my Gucci shades……

Rebecca Brandt blew her candles out to the strains of the 50/50 Band at the Jamaica Pegasus and Boscobel did their first anniversary thing, in the most breath-taking setting. A great time was had by all. Jeff McKitty needs to take a bow as well as well as Valrie Fearon from the Grounds Department of Beaches Boscobel. She displayed excellent customer service, as unlike her seniors, who pointed with total nonchalance, she took time to take guests to where they needed to go. Congrats again, Valerie.

Looking spectacular were Louis Grant of Sandals Dunn’s River and his gorgeous wife, Debra.

The gorgeous, one Allen Michael Chastenet, now a very proud dad, with plans by the way to have many more, (little Raquels and Allens) is returning to his native Saint Lucia, to manage the family’s 20 room boutique style Villa Creole. We’ll miss the class and sophistication, but at least he’s not too far from the Rock.

Out-going Canadian High Commissioner John Robinson, is part of that formidable group of diplomats who came to Jamaica, and has so endeared himself that we really need to make him an honorary Jamaican. Thalia and Mike Lyn hosted what has got to be the most formidable party of the year last week Thursday for John. Let’s just say the book can now be written on choosing the right mix of guests.

A bientot!

PS. Congrats to Jean Wilson on her latest publication No more ‘Smalling Up’ of Me.

Source: The Observer