OVER
1,400 individuals have signed an online petition opposing the proposal
to turn the volcanic northern island of Pagan into a dump for Japan
tsunami debris.
The petition is addressed to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Rachel Roque of the
Department of Public Lands, Frank Rabauliman of the Division of
Environmental Quality, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, Legislative Bureau
Director Melchor Mendiola, CNMI House Clerk Linda Muna and CNMI Senate
Clerk Dolores Bermudes.
According to the petition, “The CNMI
is…limited in land and burying parts of Pagan Island under tons of
rubbish from another country is not only environmentally unconscionable
but is degrading to the people of the CNMI.”
The petition said the “uniqueness of the
CNMI and its culture should be celebrated and protected, not desecrated
with a wealthy country’s garbage.”
It said burying portions of the debris
from the tsunami that hit Japan in March last year is not only degrading
to the people of the CNMI, it also “makes absolutely no sense.”
By signing the online petition, an
individual shows that he/she supports protecting Pagan against the
potential impact of this type of activity and the potential
environmental impacts of leeching chemicals, loose debris, and
sedimentation of the reefs and surrounding waters.
“No amount of revenue could possibly be
worth the devastating environmental impacts of using Pagan…as a dump,”
the petition stated.
A group has also been formed on Facebook
where members and visitors can write their opinions and interact with
other supporters. As of yesterday, the Facebook group “No to Dumping
Trash on Pagan” site had 4,534 members.
For more information, go to
http://www.change.org/petitions/don-t-turn-pagan-island-into-a-garbage-dump
or http://savepaganisland.org.
first published HERE
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