Tacoboy was checking NOOA this morning and said it looks like tropical depression 5 is heading our way. Currently it is still moving towards towards Puerto Rico, passing Jamaica Monday and Cuba on Tuesday. That is a long way off and anything is subject to change, but due to the path shown it is worth keeping an eye on.

Not long after I started writing this post, I got an email Lily Bowman Director General for the Belize Red Cross.  All Eyes on Tropical Depression # 5, in the email she said “Although this is still too soon to say whether Belize is in any direct danger, one never knows what will happen as it continues its path west and it is forecast to develop further even to a Hurricane Category 1 over the next few days. ”

Here is a brief explanation of wind speeds in relation to storm categories. When the wind speed less than 39 MPH is considered a tropical depression. As the wind speed picks up between 39 MPH and 73 MPH it becomes a tropical storm and definitely worth keeping an eye on. Hurricane status is gained when the wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH and Major Hurricane with a wind speed greater than 110 MPH

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from their  National Climatic Data Center, temps for June were above average. The globally-averaged temperature for June 2012 marked the fourth warmest June since record keeping began in 1880. It also marks the 36th consecutive June and 328th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. I wonder if  July and August be high as well.

Banana tree at Banana Beach Resort

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The National Aids Committee luncheon took place at El Divino today at noon. I was glad to be able to put a few faces to names,  it was nice to see how Red Cross and NAC can further develop relations and spend some time in air conditioning.

Please  join the  NAC / CCM Island Committee facebook page in support of this organization and Getting to Zero the Belize HIV Strategic plan.

The celebration of the NCA/CCM Island Committee was well attended and enjoyed by all. There were some great speakers lined up and we learned more about the Getting to Zero Belize HIV strategic plan and watched the new members get inducted.

Philip who is a BRC volunteer, was on the Island Committee induction list. He will be attending an upcoming HIV workshop happening next weekend. Doctor Cualler  from the NAC  confirmed that  Mr. Pedro Garcia from San Pedro High School will also be attending the following training as approved by Tina Gill.

Belize Red Cross with the financial support  from the Global Fund through UNDP  is scheduling a workshop to train National Trainers from  Aug 7-10th, 2012, for the Together we Can HIV Peer Education Program. They have succeeded in acquiring the professional  assistance from Ms. Lois Hue (Deputy Director General of  the Jamaica Red Cross) and “author” of the Together we can methodology, to facilitate the training with the assistance of BRC’s very own National Trainer, and former TWC Program Coordinator, Ms. Tashera Swift.

The Belize Red Cross adopted the TWC Peer Education program in 2004 and has since revised the material in 2010 to make it more relevant to the Belize context. The Program focuses on empowering youth through interactive and participatory games and educational sessions with the aim to reduce their vulnerabilities to STI’s, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies.