Why I resigned from MINA

The recent letter to the editor (May 1 and 8, 2008) from the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA), regarding their support for the proposed PEW monument has prompted me to write this letter to let my families, friends, and acquaintances know that I am no longer associated with this organization for this very reason. Although I have not been very active with MINA since this issue was first discussed last year, it is only right that I use this opportunity to officially resign as a board member of MINA.

From the very beginning, when the PEW representative approached MINA during our strategy meeting and wanted us to lead and spearhead the establishment of this monument idea, I made it very clear I will not support the monument and, most especially, I objected for MINA to take the lead. I made my position crystal clear despite the offer by PEW to finance MINA for such undertaking for a lucrative amount per year should MINA agrees to take on the proposal and take the lead. My position then and now, is that this matter is best be addressed by the native people of these islands, their traditional leaders, as well as their current elected leaders. And if any decision needs to be made, the native people of these islands should be the ones to decide whether or not they want more than 1/3 of their ancestral properties (land and ocean) turn into a national monument. As we all know, whatever the outcome of the proposed monument, native islanders are the ones who will be impacted the most, including their future generations.

I’m also concern that whatever potential, if any, the three islands and their surrounding waters may have will be held hostage should the area be designated a national monument, just like in the case of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

Suddenly PEW’s proponents have become experts on what is good and bad for the native islanders. They even criticized our traditional knowledge of conservation, a knowledge that even the scientific community continues to find amazing.

I never for a moment believe PEW representatives when they enumerated all the great benefits that will benefit the native islanders. It’s the same old propaganda that I’ve heard too many times from salesmen, which irritate me more than anything. Even the benefits under the Covenant are not fully realized today, and we may never see those benefits in the years to come. What guarantee do the proponents have to assure us that we will get these benefits when the monument is established? I say nothing. In fact, we have nothing to gain but everything to lose.

I wish PEW’s proponents give us some time to digest all the information and propaganda that they continue to shove down our throats over the past several years. But as arrogant and disrespectful as they are, they do not know how to stop and listen. Our elected leaders have already spoken for us, and they must be respected.

I hold no hard feelings against MINA and wish them luck.