Essay Introduction

Imagine diving into a crystal-clear ocean, the view stretching for miles. All around is natural beauty and life. Decadent coral formations, lush aquatic plants, and colorful creatures of all shapes and sizes all thriving in their natural habitat. A sea turtle swims by, almost seeming to glide through the ocean blue with the elegance of an angel incarnate. The sun above the waves glints off the stunning scales of a rainbow parrotfish, creating a dazzling display of color and light as it feeds on the abundant coral in the reef. Suddenly, the world around goes dark, but the fish do not seem to mind. Looking up reveals the cause: a whale shark, passing above and temporarily blocking out the golden rays of the sun. As the gentle giant continues on its way, the sound of clicking and squealing can be heard. Nearby a mother dolphin and her calf play cheerfully, happy to have such a beautiful home. Welcome to the Bonaire National Marine Park; founded in 1979, the preserve covers a total of 6,700 acres along the leeward coast of Bonaire. Most of this is pristine coral reefs, the healthiest in the Caribbean. According to Andrew Bruckner, a coral biologist leading an intensive survey of Bonaire’s reefs, “This is one of the last places in the Caribbean where you can see really big star corals.” (Pala, par. 2) The people of Bonaire take pride in the natural beauty of their island, going to great lengths to preserve it. Ecotourism is a huge part of their economy and culture, and with the massive impact nature has on the island and its people, who can blame them?

Compare and Contrast: "Little Cog-burt" & "Cotton Candy"

The stories of "Little Cog-burt" and "Cotton Candy" have many similarities. The most obvious of these similarities is the authors. Both are women from the Caribbean, writing narrative stories that tell a message. Another similarity would be the point of view that the story is told from. Both stories are told from the perspective of the main characters but written as if narrated in the third person. There are also many similarities between these main characters. Both Moira in "Little Cog-burt" and Lola in "Cotton Candy" are women. Both are distraught over something they desire, Moira a sense of normalcy lost, and Lola her unfulfilled desires. Both also have a redeeming arc in the end; Moira begins to realize that the children of the Caribbean are more like her own little girls than she at first thought, while Lola in the end attains what she always wanted.

Just as these two stories have their similarities, they have just as many differences, if not more. The authors were from different islands (Dominica and Cuba) and were active during different times. While each focus on a social issue, "Little Cog-burt" addresses the condition of the ethno-African majority as second-class citizens to wealthy white planters. Alternatively, "Cotton Candy" focuses more on the lasting repercussions of a overly-controlling parent. "Little Cog-burt" spans a short period of time, only one to two days, while "Cotton Candy" covers almost the entire span of Lola's life, from little girl to old woman. There is also a difference in each character’s redeeming arc. Moira redeems herself by changing, while Lola redeems herself by reverting to how she was before she changed.

About the ABC Islands

The Dutch ABC Islands are a set of three small islands in the Caribbean named Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. "All three islands are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, although they remain outside the European Union. Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous, self-governing constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands proper." (Wikipedia.org)

History

The ABC Islands were originally inhabited by the Caiquetio Indians, who had most likely migrated there in canoes from the Paraguana peninsula in Venezuela during pre-Columbian times. The "islands were first explored by one of Christopher Columbus' captains, Alonso de Ojeda, who landed on Curaçao in 1499." (Wikipedia.org) The islands remained under the control of Spain until 1634,  when the Dutch took control of the islands. A major port was established on the island of Curaçao by the Dutch West India Company, but the economies of the islands were ruined in 1863, when the slave trade was made illegal. However, the islands were developed as major refineries when oil was discovered in Venezuela in the early 1900s, reviving their economies. Today, the islands gain a great deal of income as a major tourist destination, in addition to the oil refineries present.

Economy, Ecology, and other E's

As a major tourist destination, there are many features to the islands that attract visitors. While most islands in the Caribbean are well known for their crystal-clear waters, the island of Bonaire takes it a step further. It is known as a diving paradise, with the entire coastline of the island being a marine sanctuary. The coral reefs around the island are home to more than 350 different species of fish, and 60 species of coral. It is also known for its flamingo sanctuary, which is home to one of the only four nesting grounds for the Caribbean flamingo.

Aruba fully embraces the tourist industry, with tourism accounting for 75% of its gross national income. The island boasts one of the highest living standards in the Caribbean, with an incredibly low unemployment rate and a $28,924 GDP per capita. This is one of the highest in both the Caribbean and the Americas (Yes, including the United States!).

On the island of Curaçao, tourism plays a lesser role. It is overshadowed by oil refineries and shipping services, taking advantage of the major port on the island. The island is also a major banking hub, housing the oldest central bank in the western hemisphere. In addition, prostitution is legal in Curaçao, though only to foreign women with a special visa; prostitution is also limited to one area, a large open-air brothel known as "Le Mirage".