The Pew monument madness continues

I regret to inform you that the Pew Environment Group has returned to the Marianas to continue pushing their non-science-based environmental programs and anti-fishing agenda. However this time, Pew is lurking behind its alter ego, a local Pew-financed group called “Friends of the Monument.” Based on stories in last Friday’s newspapers, it appears that Pew is using FOM to persuade Delegate Kilili Sablan to submit legislation that would change the existing Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Marianas Monument) into what Pew originally proposed during their failed 2008 monument campaign. In their April 17, 2009 letter, FOM chair Ignacio Cabrera suggested that Delegate Sablan work with their [I]“partners in Washington, DC, the Pew Environment Group.”[/I] In a further effort to get Pew deeply involved in this particular issue, the FOM chairman proudly proclaims: [I]“Pew can be very influential inside the Beltway and their expertise may be helpful in assisting you and your staff.”[/I] It wouldn’t surprise me if Pew has the legislation already drafted and ready to submit.

I understand that Pew was angry when their monument proposal was found to lack merit by the (federal) scientific community who conducted the assessment for the Council on Environmental Quality. Based on the results of his own agencies’ assessment and the non-support of the CNMI government, former President Bush outright rejected the Pew monument proposal. However, the ink was barely dry from Bush’s signing of Proclamation 8335 (that designated the Marianas Monument) before Pew and their minions started complaining. FOM vice chair Agnes McPhetres proclaimed: [I]“We’re getting less than we wanted, but that’s OK…. This is just the beginning.”[/I]1 Additionally, she vowed to lobby President Obama, [I]“starting from the day he is sworn in … to come in and finish the job. We set out to protect an entire ecosystem and that is what we intend to do.”[/I]2 The FOM puppet-master, Jay Nelson (director, Pew Ocean Legacy Program) is quoted in Action Asia magazine as saying: [I]“… so we look forward to working with the Obama administration to strengthen the protection of the Marianas Trench monument and to increase the size of other sites.”[/I] 3

Whether we like it or not, Pew has mounted another campaign to force their version of a marine national monument on the people of the CNMI and Guam. I expect nothing less than another arrogant and culturally insensitive environmental campaign based solely on the wants of Pew. Remember when Pew claimed their role was solely limited to public education? When Pew would not interfere with any negotiations that may occur between the CNMI and federal governments? That the final monument design would reflect the wishes of the local government? Here are three relevant quotes to refresh your memory:

(1) The Pew CNMI Coordinator stated: [I]“Pew Environment Group isn’t the one making any decisions. All decisions will be made by the governments.”[/I] 4

(2) A great statement from Pew (Jay Nelson) to Governor Fitial: [I]“The rules by which monuments are created are not fixed. The NW Hawaiian Islands model suited the circumstances and interests of the Governor and people of Hawaii. If a Marine Monument were to be designated in the CNMI the resource management undoubtedly would differ to reflect local wishes.”[/I] 5

(3) And my all time personal favorite quote from the Pew CNMI Coordinator: [I]“We have been crystal clear from day one that the proposal for designating a protected area in the waters around the northern three islands is for discussion between the leaders of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and officials from the federal government. Our role is simply to educate the community on the opportunity offered by…”[/I] 6

The only thing that is “crystal clear from day one” is that Pew promised the people of the Marianas that they would have a hands-off approach when the CNMI government was negotiating the details of our monument. Pew assured us that their role was limited to community education and preaching to the masses. Since the designation of the Marianas Monument in January 2009, Pew has decided they don’t like what the CNMI government negotiated. So Pew is reneging on their original promises and has resurrected their original “no-take” monument proposal to again push it on the people of the Marianas. What about Mr. Nelson’s claim that [I]“if a marine monument were to be designated in the CNMI, the resource management undoubtedly would differ to reflect local wishes.”[/I]?5 I don’t believe “sincerity” is part of the Pew vocabulary.

So, what is the underlying reason that Pew wants to substantially change the existing Mariana Monument design? The answer lies hidden in the FOM letter to Delegate Sablan. FOM chair Cabrera subtlety infers that many of the promises they made to the people of the CNMI are unlikely to be met with the present Marianas Monument arrangement. For this reason, they want to modify the Marianas Monument to include the numerous inflexible prohibitions originally proposed by Pew and to significantly expand monument boundaries for the islands unit. Included in the FOM letter is a 5-point monument improvement plan that Pew believes will improve the ability for them to fulfill their promises. As an aside, may I suggest that the new Pew monument campaign slogan be: [I]Support the new Pew version of the monument—all the earlier promises we made will really come true this time! Really![/I] It wouldn’t surprise me if Pew announces publicly that the CNMI government is to blame for Pew not being able to get their promises fulfilled.

In line with Pew’s anti-fishing agenda, the first of their 5-point improvement plan includes a request for legislation that would prohibit all fishing activities (except for “cultural and traditional purposes”) throughout the entire monument—including the trench and volcanic units where fishing activities are presently allowed. As a significant area of the Mariana Trench Unit occurs within the Guam Exclusive Economic Zone, I was disappointed that FOM did not extend the courtesy of copying Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo or Guam Gov. Felix Camacho on their letter. One would think that Guam would be interested in knowing that FOM is advocating taking away their fishing rights within the monument. I realize this approach may be foreign to Pew, but we call this common courtesy in the Pacific Island region.

If the people of the Marianas have learned anything from the 2008 Pew monument campaign fiasco, it is that any promises made by Pew or their representatives mean absolutely nothing. Pew has shown no integrity or one ounce of respect to the people of the Marianas or their culture. The only thing the schoolyard bully has been straight with us about is that they are here to take away our fishing rights, any potential right for oil, gas and mineral extraction and give it to the federal government to ”properly” manage, according to Pew preaching. I can’t help but wonder how the indigenous people of the Marianas survived for all these thousands of years without Pew around to tell them what to do.
[B] John Gourley[/B] [I]Navy Hill, Saipan[/I]

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1http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bush-pacific-conservation-009jan06,0,2645677.story
2http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28506975/
3Action Asia magazine (March/April 2009.
4http://jetapplicant.blogspot.com/2008/06/another-illegal-wespac-meeting.html
5Letter from Pew Environment Group (Jay Nelson) to Governor Fitial dated Dec. 20, 2007
6Letter-to-Editor, “Facts, Not Fiction”; Marianas Variety, June 23, 2008