Dominica Island Blog: Sharing Every Dominican Moment with the World

Dealing with Racist Jokes at Work

Written by Chris in Tips For Life 1 Comment →

Let’s say you’re seating in the lunchroom chatting with your co-workers, and someone makes a racist (sexist, homophobic, black, or some other stereotype-based) joke. What do you do? Call him or her out on it and say goodbye to your work relationship - especially here in Dominica where everyone is quick to take everything on personal level. Don’t say a thing (and imply that it’s ok). So what do you do if a co-worker is making racist jokes about someone?

My recommendation? Play dumb. Put on a confused expression, act as if you don’t understand the joke, and ask your co-worker to explain it to you. He/She will not be able to explain why the joke is funny without evoking a racist stereotype. You can then question the stereotype, thus pointing out the racism of the joke, without being offensive and without humiliating your co-worker. Racist jokes rely on an unspoken, shared knowledge of racist stereotypes. Some might go far as saying that without the stereotypes, there is no humor.

Everyone’s been in this uncomfortable situation before. How have you dealt with it? How will deal with it if the situation presents itself? Share with us your knowledge on racist stereotypes in the comments.

Morning Brew: October 3rd, 2008

Written by Chris in Dominica News No Comments →

Dominica Creole Wear - by kretyen

Your Dominica morning news roundup for Friday October 3rd 2008:

We begin this morning brew with Former Prime Minister Edison James, who is asking - Why is David Hsui still Ambassador? Mr. James is calling on Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to remove Ambassador David Hsui from his position.

If it’s one time I’ve to agree with Mr. James, why would Prime Minister Skerrit have an Ambassador representing Dominica while being in a legal battle with Government? There is something fishy going on.

Now on to the Layou River Hotel mess - accusations, accusations accusations! At this point I believe Dominicans are confused and have no idea who to trust in this matter – weather is the Government, Ambassador Shu, or Business Man Felix Chen.

Felix Chen held a press conference in Dominica Wednesday to discuss the Layou River Hotel liquidation hearing currently being tried in the British Virgin Islands. But Senior Council Anthony Astaphan is accusing Taiwanese national Felix Chen of using the media in Dominica for his personal and political reasons.

Despite the whole the Layou River Hotel mess, Business Man Felix Chen is still interested in partnering with Government to build luxury hotel. But I’ve agree with Senior Council Anthony Astaphan – when he says that “Mr. Chen is simply trying to make the case go his way.”

On the lighter side of this morning brew, a 3-day workshop to enhance the understanding of Whale watch tour guides and operators on the island began Wednesday. The workshop will provide participants the ability to classify various species of whales and dolphins found in Dominican waters and supply them with essential photographic techniques.

I’m happy to see several persons in one way or another playing a part in Dominica’s Tourism industry.

Graphic Images on Cigarette Packets Shock Smokers into Quitting

Written by Chris in Healthy Living 4 Comments →

Shocking pictures of throat cancer and rotting teeth are to appear on cigarette packets from today in England will illustrate the health risks of smoking. Among the other images smokers will see are rotting lungs, a corpse in a morgue and a body cut open during surgery.

According to the dailymail.co.uk, the photos will appear on the back of packets accompanied by a written health warning. The images replace the previous warnings introduced in January 2003, although the messages ‘Smoking kills’ and ‘Smoking seriously harms you and others around you’ will continue to appear on the front of packets.

Canada was the first country to introduce picture warnings in 2001.Research a year later found 31 per cent of ex-smokers said the images had motivated them to quit the habit while 27 per cent said they had helped them to remain non-smokers, according to the Department of Health.

Graphic images are now used on tobacco products sold in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Venezuela, Thailand and Uruguay.

———Personal note———

In my opinion we don’t have smoking problem here in Dominica, but there are some chronic– smokers going around who have no disregard to other peoples health and the effects secondary hand smoking can have on non-smokers health. If it takes these graphic images to stop people from engaging in this disgusting habit the better. I could never understand this – if cigarettes are dangerous why governments don’t make them illegal to buy? Can someone help me answer this question – please!