Belize

This is Elise. The neighbor just down the road here is plowing over 80 acres of rainforest to raise cattle. We can hear the crackle as the bulldozer pushs over the big trees. I think of all the animals and birds being displaced and killed as the forest is being destroyed.  How do we stop it?  We don't. We can't. It's his land to do what he wants with. If it was your land would you want someone telling you what you could do with it?  This property we are staying on has 5 acres that's mowed and landscaped. In all honesty it is more pleasant to stay here than in the middle of the jungle. I just ate some beef yesterday. Somebody had to cut down some forest to raise that cattle. Do I wish I could save even that 80 acres? Of course. I had a nightmare about the forest being bulldozed. I woke up screaming,"No! No! No! ".
There are conservation efforts here. The Belizeans are proud of their country and are trying to conserve it. There is much less trash here than in Mexico. I like the mix of cultures and the friendly easy going people. It reminds us a lot of Hawaii with the beautiful countryside and easy going people. We have to remind ourselves to be vigilant about our belongings because we know there is crime here. It's easy to become complacent when it's so pretty here and everyone is so nice.