Pew spew

It has been some time since I have spoken out about all of the Pew spew. I was off island at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, where the world goes to buy seafood. As I walked through the market I couldn’t help but ask myself, how many Pew supporters have gone there as tourists and enjoyed some sushi and a cold beer? What an amazing place. It is like the seventh wonder of the world. It was by far one of the most amazing places I have seen. The seafood that is being processed and the care that is taken to ensure that all of the produce and seafood is handled with the utmost care as it is on its way to and from international market places to feed the world was awe inspiring. The number of jobs that are created and the number of families that are fed by the industry was a sight to see. From the fisherman to the fuel companies, chefs to the carpenter who made the chairs we sat on in the sushi bar and the people who build and maintain the boats down to security guards directing traffic in and out of the market. And the list goes on and on.

Moving on, let me start by saying that I have nothing but respect and admiration for Angelo Villagomez and everyone else for their efforts in spearheading the Beautify CNMI campaign. I myself have participated in the cleanup program. It has been a very commendable effort and continues to be a great project for our community. But on to another topic, I myself grew up with a “Save The Whales” bumper sticker on the back of my Datsun 620 pickup truck. I cringed when I first saw the clubbing of harp seals for their pelts. However, we are not talking about fashion here, are we? My first and probably only book report in school was called “Blood bath at Iki Beach,” based on a story taken from Time magazine about the slaughter of dolphins on a beach in Japan. I grew up watching The Undersea World of Jacques Yves Cousteau and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. I have lived and dove in the CNMI for the past 18 years and have always made it a practice to be very conscientious about the coral reefs and their care. However, that is neither here nor there. I think for the most part, we all want to see what is best for the community and what is best for the environment.

But let us keep in mind that while Mother Earth should be protected, it was also designed to provide resources for everyone living on her. I will not try and quote a bunch of data about WestPac and I will refrain from calling the proponents of the Pew project evildoers and eco-Nazis—something they seem to have difficulty with. I have watched as the “non-evil doers” attack my good friend, Mr. John Gourley, because he chooses to expose the misinformation they are spewing out, while they try to discredit him and accuse him of being on someone’s payroll without any proof. It is my understanding that they referred to him as an “eco-prostitute.” This is starting to sound a lot like old-time religion when it was “believe us because we are right and everyone else is wrong and if you oppose us you must pay.” I have spoken with a number of people who used to be proponents of this project but have simply backed away from its organizers’ all-or-nothing mentality.

I strongly applaud Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan for stepping forward and asking the overzealous group to wait for five years in order to observe what is happening in Hawaii. Pew does not want this to happen. Their latest little sticker says “All we are saying, is give Pew a chance.” Fine, so why don’t we start with establishing hunting seasons for certain species of marine life based on scientific fact and individual’s species mating seasons and gestation periods? How is that for a chance? Okay, how about establishing certain sizes for certain species in order to guarantee the perpetuation of each species. There, how does that sound? It seems to me that they have no interest in such a concept. They would like to shove this concept down your throat and have you choke on it. Bush is almost out of office and they themselves in their own articles have expressed urgency in getting it signed before he leaves office. Then Bush will go to his little farm and retire and they will have their trophy and move on.

I was present at Porky’s for one of their presentations. They are not interested in hearing about the opposition. They all seem to be in no way interested in considering options. Mr. Angelo Villagomez’s basis for supporting this project were twofold. 1. It’s a great idea. 2. Why not? Mr. Villagomez also made claims that Crystal Seas and Marianas Fisheries were somehow being financed by WestPac. This is a false statement. They wanted to tell us how bad WestPac is and what a great failure they are. And I suppose those same individuals would like to tell me what a great president Bush is and all the great things he has done for our country. Please!!! When the opposition had questions or concerns, proponents begrudgingly pretended to listen but the bottom line is they have blinders on. It was very apparent that the party was for supporters of the project and we were nothing more than party crashers. There is no middle ground with them. Mr. Villagomez has made claims that things are negotiable. Please enlighten us as to what exactly is negotiable in the Pew scheme. They have stated their objectives are to preserve the northern islands for diving and to protect the coral reefs. This is their primary objective. Correct? That is my understanding. Let’s make this as easy as possible and see if Pew will help us clear up some of the smoke and mirror mysteries about what exactly they are trying to do.

Dear Pew people,

Where is a specific proposal for exactly what you intend to do? I would very much like for them to send me the specific proposal in all its glory. Black and white. The more I observe the more it seems like some people were contacted and offered jobs and were put on payroll. That same people got together and decided to draw a circle around a random portion of the islands and then, ooops! that is not our waters. “Someone get the eraser so we draw a new random line and ‘Bob’s Your Uncle.’” There you have it. Our not-so-professional opinion about what is best for everyone else. How did this whole thing come to be? I would ask that those whose minds are so set on taking away a resource forever, at least be forthright with the public. Who approached who? What is your monthly salary and exactly what are your names and how much do you get paid to be eco-environmental volunteers? Paid volunteers, how is that for an oxymoron. Come on folks, it’s a small island; I have a pretty good idea who is on payroll. I will not state names as that would be akin to spreading rumors but you folks on payroll could come out and tell us and then we would all the better understand the playing field. I think it is your responsibility to the public to let us know what really motivates you, Mother Earth or the almighty dollar. Please don’t forget that your paycheck and those greenbacks came from wood from the rainforests. I am not trying to be facetious or malicious and at the same time, I do not think the supporters on payroll should be hypocritical or pretend like they are just volunteers out to save the world. If that were truly the case, you would cash your checks and donate the funds back to Pew.

Now class, how about some Q & A? Dear supporters of Pew, please answer the following questions. These are very easy questions so no spin doctoring please.

1. Is it your main objective to preserve the northern islands for a nonexistent diving industry?

2. Do you know how many recreational divers have actually paid money that trickled into the economy for the purpose of scuba diving in the northern islands over the past 20 years?

3. How many investors in the CNMI do you know who are currently providing dive boat charters to the Northern Islands?

4. How many of the proponents of Pew are on payroll with the foundation? My understanding is there are several. We the people would like to know exactly who is on payroll and how much you receive. This goes to motivation. Is this all about believing in a cause or partially a cause while primarily a paycheck. Come on, I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours.

5. According to any statistics you would like to provide, how many divers that have or would dive up north, will be diving beyond the 30-mile mark which is the long line fishing limit? Some 2,000 feet of water is not exactly what PADI deems recreational diving.

6. What is your basis for wanting to stop longline fishing?

7. Please provide the public with the number of proponents of the Pew that are vegetarians and do not eat fish or seafood of any kind.

8. Please provide also the number of proponents who do eat fish and seafood but only want their fish caught in other countries where fishing regulations are nonexistent, or at best antiquated.

9. How many Pew proponents support the catching and selling of fish as long as it does not directly benefit our community and economy.

10. Please describe how future generations will benefit through the permanent, forever, eternal, infinite, don’t even think about touching anything forever and ever and ever closure of the northern islands. In 100 words or less, please describe this benefit.

People of the CNMI, please watch for the answers to the above questions and please keep in mind that refusal to answer the above questions is really the only answer the public should need. Senator Pangelinan is correct. The sky is not falling and the world as we know it is not scheduled to end tomorrow. Let Pew explain to us, the public, why we should not wait for five years. Yes, we know about the visitor’s center that will be on Saipan so we can tell people about the islands 200 miles north. We know about the T-shirt sales and postcards. We know that a seamstress will make some money for sewing uniforms for park rangers that I am assuming will be living on Saipan and working at the visitors’ center. We know about the worldwide recognition but keep in mind, sometimes worldwide recognition is just that. And then it is over. Most of all, we all know that Bush is almost out of office and how important it is that we take the Pew way or the highway before our fearless leader is out of office and no longer in a position to sign away the future of the northern islands. Do we really believe that tourists will flock to the CNMI to see a signboard at the end of Smiling Cove with a little arrow that points north saying, “Monument 200 miles and good luck getting there”? Keep in mind that people who support protecting the longline and inshore fishing industries also support the concept of protecting the reefs and the diving industry—or at least I do. And I will not be hypocritical in my approach. And I will not hide my motivation. I stand to benefit financially as do many through a sustainable fishing industry. However, if I found out that fishing boats were out there finning sharks and dumping them overboard, not only would I walk away from any financial opportunities, I would also work to expose those abusing our resources. Don’t get excited now. I didn’t say I would then support Pew. I would like to commend Mr. Gourley, who through much public abuse and ridicule, continues to battle against the smoke and mirrors approach of the Pew Foundation. And to Mr. Stanley Torres, please don’t forget my “Proud To Be An Evil Doer” button you promised me. To Mr. Joaquin Villagomez, thank you and your group for taking action to counter this blindside approach to shutting off the natural resources of the people of the CNMI. We the people of the CNMI need to do exactly what Pew is doing. We must let good old George W. know that the people have spoken. Mr. Joaquin Villagomez, although I believe Mr. Gourley has already sent me the signature page for opposition to Pew, I am not sure so just in case, please e-mail me a page and I will also collect signatures in opposition of the Pew proposal. jim@bizaidsaipan.com