FWD: urgent: Bahia de San Quintin, Baja

[Doug Yanega]

In case this hasn't been seen already (apologies for x-posting). Note the
Friday deadline, and the request to send e-mail to Mr. Harper by that date
so he can have copies in hand for the public meeting. Myself, I'm surprised
that there is no request below to send messages to anyone at Century 21 -
surely the one thing corporations *will* listen to is threats of boycotts
or plain old negative PR. I see from their website they do have a toll-free
number, 1-800-221-5737, and they list their public relations person as
Margie.West at cendant.com, so I suspect that these would also be VERY useful
contacts, as well. Maybe just add Margie to the list of CC's for anything
people send out.

Why do we seem to only hear about these sorts of things when it's almost
too late?

>Date: Sat, 27 Nov 99 13:15:23 -0000
>From: Dan Silver <dsilver at exo.com>
>
>TO:  All conservationists
>FROM: Dan Silver, Endangered Habitats League
>
>PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ALERT
>
>CENTURY 21 ESCALATES CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY BAHIA SAN QUINTIN, BAJA
CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
>
>PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 3
>
>YOUR E-MAILS NEEDED TODAY
>
>The Endangered Habitats League urges conservationists from around the
world to act on this alert.  The alert was prepared using information from
pro esteros, a binational U.S.-Mexican conservation organization.
>
>BACKGROUND
>
>Four hours south of the U.S.-Mexican border in Baja California lies Bahia
de San Quintin, a near-pristine bay with 26,000 acres of wetlands.  This
is the most significant salt marsh in the ecoregion south of San Francisco
Bay.  It is critical habitat for the black brant and the endangered
light-footed clapper rail, least tern and snowy plover.  Surrounding
uplands support coastal sage scrub and California gnatcatchers.  The
ecological significance of the Bay can hardly be overstated.  Its beauty
and sense of "intactness" - seeing hundreds of pelicans at once - is
overwhelming.
>
>There is also sustainable economic use of the Bay - not only ecotourism
and fishing, but a thriving aquaculture industry which employs 1,000 people
raising clams and oysters.  The high water quality has led to health
certification for export of the shellfish to the U.S.
>
>The local community is now working on a long-term land use and management
plan, or "ordenamiento."
>
>THE THREAT
>
>Century 21, the huge real estate firm, is proposing to the Mexican
government massive industrial tourist development of the worst sort.  The
funding would be U.S. money.  On the peninsula surrounding the Bay would be
5 hotels, 3 golf courses, a 350-slip marina, housing for thousands, a
desalination plant, a shopping mall, and underground parking.  Such
development would forever destroy the ecosystem and the water quality, let
alone the tranquillity.  According to Agromarinos, SA, the aquaculture
industry would vanish due to pollution, toxic paints used on boats, and
sewage.
>
>There is no place for Cabo San Lucas in Bahia de San Quintin!
>
>TAKE ACTION
>
>Century 21 is aggressively moving to secure Mexican government approval
for their plunder of the bay.  They are holding a public meeting in Bahia
San Quintin on Friday, Dec. 3, to show support for the development!  Pro
esteros, local aquaculturists and others will attend the meeting to oppose
the plan.
>
>As this is a U.S. company and U.S. money, it is fully appropriate to
express your views to the Mexican government.
>
>HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
>
>1.  IF YOU CAN ATTEND THE MEETING, CONTACT ALAN HARPER OF PRO ESTEROS
(aharper at dnai.com) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
>
>2.  SEND E-MAILS TO TWO MEXICAN OFFICIALS WITH COPIES TO ALAN HARPER WHO
WILL PRINT THEM OUT AND TAKE THEM TO THE PUBLIC MEETING.
>
>The names and addresses are:
>
>* M.C. Enrique Provencio, President of the Mexican National Institute of
the Environment (eproven at ine.gob.mx)
>
>* M.C. Antonio Azuela de la Cueva, the Prosecutor General of PROFEPA
(aazuela at semarnap.gob.mx)  NOTE: This can be a copy or "cc".
>
>* Alan Harper, US Co-chair, pro esteros (aharper at dnai.com)  NOTE: This can
be a blind copy or "bcc".
>
>NOTE:  Letters from scientists are particularly important.  Please
circulate to your colleagues.
>
>In a courteous letter (see sample below), please make four basic points:
>
>1. The Bay is a global environmental treasure and critical to the Black
Brant and many other species.
>
>2. The development proposal would destroy a successful and sustainable
aquaculture industry which employs 1000 people.
>
>3. Until the community completes the land use plan (ordenamiento), no
construction of any sort should be allowed.
>
>4. An environmental impact statement must be prepared and publicly
circulated, with adequate time for scientific review.
>
>THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  PLEASE DUPLICATE AND
DISTRIBUTE WIDELY.
>
>A sample letter follows:
>------------------------------------------
>                                                       Nov. 28, 1999
>
>Lic. Enrique Provencio
>Director General del INE
>Av. Revolución #1425, Tlacopac
>San Angel, Delegacion Alvaro Obregon
>01040, México, D.F.   MEXICO
>eproven at ine.gob.mx
>
>RE:  Bahia de San Quintin - OPPOSITION to Century 21 development proposal
>
>Dear Director General Provencio:
>
>       I/we wish to most strongly oppose the proposal by a U.S. company,
>Century
21, for massive development at Bahia de San Quintin.  This proposal would
destroy the ecology of the Bay and the livelihoods of the 1,000 workers in
the aquaculture industry.
>
>       The economic future of Bahia de San Quintin lies in preserving its
special environment.  The natural resources of the Bay are of global
significance.  The expanses of rare wetlands are irreplaceable habitat for
the Black Brant and numerous other threatened birds.  It is one of the most
important migratory bird stopovers in North America.  The potential for
ecotourism - if nature is allowed to survive - is great.
>
>       The water quality in Bahia de San Quintin is of such high quality
>that an
aquaculture industry is thriving.  Development of the peninsula and boat
marinas would end the aquaculture industry by introducing pollution.
Health certification of clams and oysters for export would become
impossible.  Please ensure that a full environmental impact report is
prepared and publicly circulated, and that adequate time is given for
scientific review.
>
>       The ongoing effort of the community to develop a land use and management
plan (ordenamiento) is supported as the correct approach.  Century 21's
development proposal would, however, preclude the ordenamiento.  No
construction should be allowed until the ordenamiento is finished.
>
>       Massive development (golf courses, hotels, marina, shopping mall,
parking, etc.) is totally unsuited to Bahia de San Quintin.  This type of
tourism is already well-served by the coastline between Tijuana and
Ensenada.  Please insist on an ordenamiento as a first step, and deny this
most destructive and ill-conceived project.
>
>       Thank you.
>
>                                                       Sincerely,
>
>
>cc:  M.C. Antonio Azuela de la Cueva, Prosecutor General of PROFEPA
(aazuela at semarnap.gob.mx)
>--------------------------
>
>DON'T FORGET TO COPY IT TO ALAN HARPER OF PRO ESTEROS (aharper at dnai.com)!
>
>Dan Silver, Coordinator
>Endangered Habitats League
>PMB 592
>8424-A Santa Monica Blvd.
>Los Angeles, CA  90069-4267
>
>TEL: 323-654-1456
>FAX: 323-654-1931
>E-mail: dsilver at exo.com


Doug Yanega       Dept. of Entomology         Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California - Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
phone: (909) 787-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
                http://insects.ucr.edu/staff/yanega.html
                emergency e-mail: dyanega at hotmail.com
NOTE: I WILL BE ON VACATION FROM NOV. 24 - NOV. 28, AND DEC. 18 - JAN. 4