Distant Lands

             I traveled with a friend to a resort in the Republic of Cape Verde earlier this month.  For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Republic of Cape Verde is a cluster of ten volcanic islands off the northern coast of Africa.  Nine of these islands are inhabited and have become a holiday hot spot for Europeans.  The tropical climate, beauty and close proximity attracts large numbers of tourists from the UK, Portugal, Germany, France and Italy. This isn’t the case for Americans. I was greeted with a certain amount of surprise when I disclosed my country of origin with one person even exclaiming, “wow, you are really far away from home.”  Yes, yes, I was.

            Cape Verde has only been an independent country for the past 39 years.  I was told that the changes that have taken place during these years have been positive.  Residents were happy to discuss the beauty of their country and how much better it got every day.  The government is growing and developing, but as with all countries, there are still a few issues that should be addressed.  I am sure changes could be implemented on each island.  However, I’d like to focus on the one I spent the most time on: Boa Vista. 

            As a tourist advised not to drink local water, I was very pleased to see that bottled, clean drinking water was readily available on the RUI resort.  Better yet, the Coca-Cola Company was one of the beverage corporations providing the product.  I felt secure in drinking their product.  However, I was saddened to see that bottles were disposed of randomly about the island outside of the resort.  I was told by members of the hotel staff that there were no recycling programs on the island. This was truly evident. Litter was seen for miles along the streets, on the public beaches and in the ocean.  Couldn’t @CocaColaCo begin a dialog with President Jorge Carlos Feonseca @presidenciaCV and their government to establish a recycling program to benefit the people and environment of Cape Verde? It broke my heart to see so much trash discarded on the beach and in the water.  The beauty of Boa Vista was blemished with trash.

            Within the RUI resorts, there were several stray cats and dogs that were cared for by guests as well as the hotels.  The hotel employees advised us that they had vets treat the animals to prevent guests from being exposed to potential disease.  However, none of these animals were spay or neutered so the stray population rises.  Perhaps a program can be established with prominent veterinary schools to help create spay/neuter clinics throughout the country? With this in mind, I’m hoping this blog entry gets the attention of a few organizations and people who may be able to help implement change and develop the proper relationships to help bring these changes to fruition.  People such as @cesarmillan @rickygervais and organizations like the @ASPCA @HumaneSociety - is there any way this can be addressed? Are there international organizations that can intervene?

            I see a great deal of opportunity to improve the quality of life on the island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde by addressing these two issues.  If a strong recycling program is introduced and funds are given for each water bottle and glass bottle then littering will decrease.  If animal welfare groups help to establish a spay/neuter program then there will be fewer starving stray cats and dogs in the streets. 

            I know, I am one American woman who brings her views and ideals to a very different culture.  I understand that not everyone in the world sees things in the same light. Still, wouldn't it be wonderful if pollution didn't exist and animals were all healthy and loved? Perhaps I'm describing Utopia.