Friends of the Monument praises Bush
The Friends of the Monument, a coalition of indigenous and resident people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who support designation and protection of the important ocean resources along the Mariana Trench, applauded President Bush yesterday for declaring a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument at a ceremony in Washington, DC Tuesday.
The new marine monument will encompass 95,000 square miles of oceans surrounding the islands of Uracas, Maug and Asuncion, 21 hydrothermal volcanic vents and the entire stretch of the Marianas Trench.
Deputy Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat, one of the monument’s earliest supporters, said, “It’s a great day for us all and for the world! I’m very proud of the team and everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.”
By the time of the designation, local support for the monument was near unanimous in the capital island of Saipan. In the eleventh hour, CNMI Gov. Benigno Fitial, Speaker of the House Arnold Palacios and Senate President Pete P Reyes joined the 6,000 petition signers, 206 businesses, and nearly 600 letter writers who asked President Bush to designate a monument in the Marianas.
Local environmentalist Ken Kramer, who quit his job with USDA to volunteer with the Friends of the Monument, had praise for the 60 volunteers and dozens of people who wrote supportive letters to the editor.
Kramer said, “Congratulations to everyone for a job well done. There was certainly a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went into the making of this monument. I am happy to be a part of this history making adventure to save the planet. We are all environmental superheroes.”
More information on the Friends of the Monument and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument can be found at http://marianamonument.blogspot.com. (PR)
