X-Ray 5: The Long and Winding Road

X-Ray 5 are clockwise from top left: Pauline, Jeff, Berny, Daniele, Harini, Flo, Tom, Bella, Cas, Jac, Anthony, Simon, Angie, Hibbe, Iona, Chris and Drew

San Lucas, a beautiful island rich in history and adunbant in wildlife, became home to 13 Venturers and 3 PMs for 19 days as they set out on their environmental project last Sunday. A short boat ride from Puntarenas we pulled up on the shore of the former prison island, slightly uncertain but eager and excited to meet our Ranger to find out how we could help.

The pier on Isla San Lucas where prisoners used to arrive as did X-Ray 5!

Our first job was to clear the old library, which had become a jungle and was covered with litter and debris. Within 2 days we had restored the library removing all of the litter and uncovering the original green tiles. Although the Ranger said that sorting out the litter into groups wasn’t necessary we insisted on separating plastics and metals in order to allow the women on the mainland to earn money from recycling and to make a positive environmental impact.

San Lucas is abundant in wildlife, howler monkeys are currently under threat from poachers

The following day we were given our plan of action for the coming 2 weeks. Our aim is to improve the paths on the island, first by evening out the slopes to make them level and then the plan is to cover it in sand to compact the soil and for durability. The work has been difficult, the soil is hard and the heat is intense but X-Ray5 have been powering through and with great determination and teamwork we have covered 400m in 3 days.

X-Ray 5's camp is right on the water, basher beds are made out of bamboo and a hammock

The Ranger has been truly impressed by the high standard to which we are working to and has congratulated us on our progress so far. Our work will not only improve the island and make it more accessible but also encourages tourism so that visitors can be educated about the prison and it’s history. At one stage there were plans to change the island into a resort but luckily the motion was denied and the island has stayed a conservation area with some restoration of the prison.

The view from camp out over the water which is filled with stingrays and turtles alongside phosphorescence

The work X-Ray 5 have been doing has been really rewarding so far, our hard work has paid off as the paths are noticeably better and we can see the positive impact we are having on the environment. While being here, we’ve had a tour of the prison and heard some of the brutal stories of the prisoners in the past as well as having access to the book that was written by one of the inmates of the prison, the island of lonely men. We all feel extremely privileged to be living on this island and to be helping conserve the environment as well as being part of the work that the rangers do to encourage sustainable tourism.

Today's blog was written by X-Ray 5s Project Communications Officer Bella Jones

Artist's Blog: San Lucas Arts Programme

Today's blog is written by Holly Howarth, 13A's resident Artist:

Crossing the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas harbour towards the island of San Lucas, tides of excitement and trepidation churn in waves of equal measure as we approach a place of tragedy, heroism and regeneration. Where once San Lucas encapsulated the destructive nature of humanity as a penal island, it’s current status as national park symbolises the island as a place where humanity can protect nature.  

Paul's lizard

For twelve days, I undertook an arts programme with Alpha 5, with all this information swimming in our heads. As with the nature of the expedition, our activities revolved around the topics of environmentalism, as well as social justice. Whilst San Lucas is a protected habitat, it is not immune to the waste, dumped into the sea from neighbouring areas, which washes up on its beaches; therefore, it was an obvious choice of material for some of our projects.

My mission was to get everybody thinking about what can be achieved creatively with found objects, whether organic or man-made. Reflecting on Raleigh’s ethos of take only photos leave only footprints, our challenge was to be as considerate to the environment as possible. Often in art, permanence is considered the most valuable commodity; on San Lucas, temporality was our trademark. Our first day we were inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy, famous for his sole use of natural materials. Using driftwood on Playa de Coco, Anna, PM Sal and Nick created a conical sculpture in the middle of the beach.     

Andy Goldsworthy

Part of our time on San Lucas has been spent working on a path, connecting one end of the island to the other, thus improving access for the rangers, and there has been a lot of raking involved in the clearing. Taking inspiration from the beautiful Japanese tradition of raked gardens and their ability to draw attention to the contours of landscapes, we used our equipment to draw in the sand. Matt and Job took quite a philosophical approach to their work, creating work that surmised their outlook on life.

Working on Playa de Coco, it wouldn’t be right to omit coconuts from our programme! Emily and Gina set about finding items washed up on the beach and arranged them within coconuts, running down the beach. We wanted to demonstrate the interesting contrasts and compositions created from the found objects. It allowed us to consider the possibilities of how seemingly discarded things can be re-used. We then drew them in abstracted forms on paper.

Everyone was keen to continue using coconuts for their art sessions and so the next day PM Paul and Ben turned their creative hands to painting directly on them, creating really interesting designs, with some showing our adventures on the island. Afterwards, we gave a few to Chito, one of the rangers, as a means of saying thank you for all his help. They now have pride of place in their lodge!

Charlie and Greg did a fantastic job at sprucing the jetty up in time for Ben’s birthday. We made bunting out of the paper in our art kits and painted on pieces of driftwood. Ben was very impressed with our effort and it was a good excuse for the group to spend a little extra time by the sea!

In preparation for Gabby and Rich’s arrival (the road-trip crew visiting the different Alphas across Costa Rica) Jade and Kat set about designing signs to put around our campsite. They did an amazing job and the camp felt very much our own once the signs were up. 

The group, on the back of this, were keen to make a flag and demonstrate all our happenings since we arrived. Whilst the group set about painting onto an old t-shirt of Matt’s, Charlie demonstrated his artistic abilities on everyone else.

I set about the task for Olly and PM Kate to create a Cubist-themed drawing from one of the numerous animal skulls we picked up on the island, using any media that they liked. We determined that our subject was probably a dog’s skull, although we couldn’t be sure. Either way, they created a brilliant piece, which will go up at the Fieldbase exhibition during changeover.

Pablo Picasso

Valentine’s Day was a highlight - the group made brilliant cards (they're all romantics at heart). The project was to write a motto or saying that has a special meaning to them. Their ‘negative’ template was then used to create a frame in which to photograph through- an image which summed up for them their time on San Lucas. 

Maybe it was the location, the history, the nature, but I think the success of the arts programme on San Lucas was down to the enthusiasm of every individual in Alpha 5. Pura Vida! 

Alpha 4, 5 & 10

It has been an amazing couple of weeks for Alpha's 4, 5 and 10 and our bloggers Emma, Josh, Olly and Glyn have given updates on their progress.

Alpha 4, Carara National Park by Josh and Emma

It has been wild since Day 1 here at Carara when we came under tarantula 'attack' and met our resident iguana that we have named 'killer' for the first time. We quickly embraced our luxurious new home fully furnished with beds, showers and the occasional tree frog.

Alpha 4: Henry, George, Ben, Josh, Ollie, Emma, Celine, Emilie, Cecilia, Amy, Lewis, Adriana, Lou, Jos, Emma and Hidde

Once everything was set up we were ready to hit the ground running, lining over 100m of path with rcks. Since then our progress has continued and we have renovated many 100s of metres since including raking,gravelling and stone moving. One of the most rewarding parts of working in Carara is the instant gratification from the hundreds of tourists who visit each day and are always interested in and thankful for our work. We have felt perfectly at home here, having thrown Celine a birthday party including a magnificent biscuit cake, and have since held a jungle party with Tang cocktails and a quiz.

Ollie hard at work

We are all fighting fit and plan to continue working hard, until we cannot gravel anymore! We feel blessed to have seen all the wildlife in this magnificent park including Scarlet Macaws, an anteater, Capuchin monkey, hummingbirds, snakes and multiple agouti alongside witnessing an iguana eat a tarantula and a rare sighting of the illusive Carara puma. Every day we experience more and are so excited about our final few days and what they will bring. Pura Vida!

Alpha 5, San Lucas Island, Olly Wolrond

Celebrating St.Valentine's Day

It's hard to believe that I'm writing this blog entry on day 12 of our inhabitation of San Lucas Island. Although the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" does apply, I think it's more a case of time flies when you're working very hard. However, the palm lined Playa de Coco (literally Coconut Beach) on our doorstep does a little to ease the aches. The beach is also a reminder of our mission here to protect and conserve this beautiful island and it's habitat.

Alpha 5: Sally, Jade, Greg, Kate, Gina, Holly, Nick, Olly, Matt, Emily, Kat, Anna, Ben, Charlie, Paul and Job

We hope to keep the island as untouched as possible, preserving it's status as a nature reserve and allowing future generations to enjoy it as we have; while at the same time helping the Rangers to protect the island from poachers who take trees and animals from the islands beaches and forests. By far the most vocal species of animals at risk from poaching are the Howler Monkeys (surprisingly tiny for their loud calls), we thought they were massing for attack the camp however we have since become used to the maniacal calls that occur throughout the day and night.

Hard at work on the trail

Monkeys however are not the only animal to contend with on the island; ants, stick insects and most memorably a tarantula have all wandered into our kitchen. We've also seen an armadillo, hundreds of hermit crabs, have been set upon by bees whilst working and we also share our food store with bats! However we have also seen the other side of the islands natural habitat stargazing on the jetty and seeing for the first time the island's fluorescent water plankton which gives the sea a sparkling glow.

Howler monkeys up in the trees around camp

In building our trail across the island we hope to protect this habitat by providing a new path for the Rangers which will allow them to better patrol the different beaches from the threat of poachers as well as clearing and maintaining the beaches from rubbish which comes on shore from the sea. Taking down buildings is also part of our task and we hope that we will create an environment which will attract responsible tourists to the island both to view the infamous prison and admire the unspoilt natural environment. In terms of global impact we hope that our part in promoting conservation areas in Costa Rica will add to it's global reputation in providing the right way to protect the natural environment.

Alpha 10, Arenilla Miraflor

Raleigh is working alongside the local community of La Arenilla in Miraflor to build sustainable housing. This encompasses levelling the terrain, laying foundations and making adobe (mud) bricks to build new houses.  These solid, low-tech and durable homes replace makeshift accommodation that cannot withstand the storms and rains.

The view from our homes

Raleigh’s Expedition 13A Alpha 10 group came to La Arenilla with the aim of progressing building work on 60 to 70 percent of the locals’ new housing. That aim is near completion.

This project is to provide the people of La Arenilla with safe and stable housing. This project is not just to build sustainable housing, it is to secure a future for the children and grandchildren.  Somewhere for them to study, somewhere for them to be safe and confident that when the wet season comes their homes will not be washed away.  We are proud that Alpha 10 has helped this community realise its ambition to adapt to the climatic conditions, to withstand the rains and to carry on into the dry season without rebuilding every year. 

Tomorrow a social justice blog from Alpha 8 and an update from Alpha 7.

Spotlight on Social Justice: Alpha 5 San Lucas Island

Continuing with our theme of Social Justice in the lead up to the 20th February, two of our Venturers on San Lucas Prison Island expressed their thoughts:

Olly Wolrond took in his surroundings on San Lucas Island and considered the Penal System:

The jetty where prisoners would arrive at San Lucas Prison

"In a perfect society, everyone must have access to swift and powerful justice without this there can be no socially just society. After all, what better way is there to make everyone equal than to hold them to the same just laws."

"It is the second condition of this justice that gives rise to a penal system. That is they must be powerful enough to punish crimes but it is a mark of a society how it deals with those that break it's codes. The horrific conditions we have heard about that existed at San Lucas prison reveal how the abuse of a penal system can lead to tragedy and lowered the gaolers to inhumane levels."

                                                

The renovated entrance to the prison compound

"In a truly socially just society incarceration must only be used if all other forms of sentence are exhausted or would not suffice. For example: restorative justice, education, rehabilitation and support for the perpetration of a crime are all more effective than incarceration, as the ultimate aim of a criminal legal system is to make sure it never breaks the codes of society again. If they can do that themselves, with help and guidance then brilliant but if not the taking of individuals liberty, a basic human right, is the last resort. This forcefully stops them from breaking society's rules and is applicable when they are judged to be too dangerous to be allowed back into a socially just society; their crime is too severe to escape punishment."

"Conversely, the penal system in a socially unjust society can be used to detain those who are trying to change society for the better, leading to prisoners of conscience. This is all too common and is occurring today in the world and it is an important consideration when thinking of social injustice in the world."
                                   

Alpha 5 at sunrise

Matt Heathcote on San Lucas Island and Social Justice

Holly peering into the well where men were put for up to 5 days in knee deep water as punishment

"When San Lucas closed in 1991, a new chapter began for social justice in Costa Rica. Allegations of brutality, torture and the failure to respect the basic needs of the individual prisoners meant that the island had no place in modern society. San Lucas portrayed the worst of humanity in how other humans treated fellow humans."

A section of one of the prison cells showing the nature of one of the gang's incarceration

"Nowadays 'The Island of the Lonely Men' represents a new chance for social justice to blossom through giving people the opportunity to bear witness and learn about the violations. Furthermore through redeveloping the prison via maintaining and creating new trails and educating visitors, we hope to promote the vision of a world where all humans maybe treated fairly and equally both before the law and each other, while receiving the basic essentials for a happy and fulfilling life."

All of the Alphas are doing really well, working hard and will be back at Fieldbase on the 21st February, so lots of updates to come.

Una invitación a vivir

Work,  play, fish, cook, clean. Zulu 4 have made San Lucas Island their home. And it is close to paradise. Host-country venturer, Yali Gonzalez extends us an invitation to live.

Nuestra participante, Yali Gonzalez de Zulu 4 escribe sus pensamientos durante su tiempo en la Isla San Lucas.

Me desperté con los primeros rayos de luz y los fuertes aullidos del macho alfa que llama a su bulliciosa manada de monos congos. Estaban durmiendo en el mismo higueron en el que colgué mi hamaca, desde donde el cielo cobijarnos con muchas estrellas.

Estos dias en la isla han sido puro natural mystique. Frente a nuestro campamento tenemos un muelle que nos permite penetrar en la inmensidad del mar que se asoma muy tranquilo llenándonos de paz. La natureleza se siente, se respira, vibra. Nos ha recibido con las mejores puestas de sol, que miramos desde la playa después de nadar un rato.

En esta última fase, nuestro días inician muy temprano; después de desayunar un atol espeso llamado "porridge", nos adentramos en los senderos para hacer labores de limpieza. Ya estamos acostumbrados a trabajar y nos sale fácil.

En la tarde nos dedicamos a explorar nuevas playas, meditamos, hacemos yoga y tai'chi en el muelle, bailamos y nadamos un rato.

Las noches son innolvidables. En realidad el muelle es inolvidable, nos acostamos a contemplar las estrellas fugaces y a contar historias.

Cuando llegué a la expedición, ni me imaginé lo que iba a aprender aquí. Estos dias, después de 9 semanas de experiencia Raleigh, he entendido que Raleigh es una invitación a vivir, a darle vida a nuestra vida, a entender que el mundo esta lleno de sopresas maravillosas, pero sobre todo de gente increíble y que si es posible cambiar para ser mejores.