Now the serious bit

So now is probably time to explain my reasons for creating this blog
I visited Yadua at the end of 2004 to help study/protect the local reefs through an organisation called Greenforce. It was a fantastic experience and my most lasting memories are of the people there who took us into their families
Unfortunately the organisation I was with ended their project there in early 2005, and in my opinion didn't leave the locals with a lasting altenative for their presence (they had been there over 5 years, and during this time had contributed to raising the quality of life on the island, but had also made the people more reliant on the outside world and it's cash flow).
There have been some projects underway to solve this problem and the villagers have coped well with the transition, but I want to ensure this continues in the future
The local coral reefs are currently in very good condition, though the elders of the village still claim a noticeable change in their lifetime, and this is mostly down to a lack of refrigeration meaning local catches cannot be exported elsewhere (the only major trade being in dried seacucumbers). It is very likely that in the future the fish stocks there will become a target for fishing companies, and as the locals become more dependent on the outside world they may sucumb to this pressure. In little time the reefs could be devastated and the inhabitants of this idyllic tropical island reduced to starving poverty (the reefs being far and above their major food source). I don't have a long term solution to avert this happening, but I am hoping this website will raise awareness amongst those interested, and keep past Greenforce volunteers in touch with how things are going
For my part I also ran the London Marathon this year to raise a small amount of money (about 3,000 FJD) to go into a general development fund run by the village. It aims to target problems of water supply, electricity and education issues. Hopefully I will soon have some more information on how this money is being spent