Petition to Save the Micro Atolls of Cozumel - Please Read & Sign

[WSOPFAN]

Its a question and a valid one.

And why is nobody else asking it? Everybody just blindly signs a petition without even knowing anything about it? There is a paragraph vague description on the petition website that doesn't explain anything, just begs people to sign something blindly.

If somebody is willing to take the time to post this asking for signatures is it a crime to explain the reasoning behind your view point of why we should sign it?

Antonio - your quickness to jump on me for asking a question is EXACTLY why it comes up time and time again in the Cozumel forums people making the accusations that there are a group of posters who jump and try to censor information. Anyone who doesn't go along with the herd and Rah-Rahs and cheerleads and a few of you immediately jump in to silence the issue.

I guess we have another card carrying member of the "I am sick of the Cozumel cheerleaders" club.
I see no reason why they can't build there. They should be monitored to keep them from effecting the reefs but it probably won't happen. I remember a story a little while back about them doing repairs on the eastside road near a protected lagoon. They were just trashing the protected area and nobody did anything. Then there is the air strip they built down south and they trashed the protected area there. They have been releasing to much silt in the area by the new opening for the marina. What about the sand dredging? You are right there are alot of things we have not seen petitions about. Money talks when it comes to development in Cozumel and I hope they do build there cause when it is done we will most likely have some public access to beach and reef areas there also.

 

[TomZ]

Wow! Grouchy folks today.

I think Mike has a valid point: If you want my support, educate me. I don't do "trust me" dives, or sign my name to anything without good information. I read the links Ron Lee provided, but it seems there are some local politics involved here. I need more input.

I think Mike and Antonio hit each others' hot buttons. Their reactions detract from the OP.

 

[cvchief]

See, Fin: Now you are signed up for the World Series of Poker.....

Of course I totally subscribe to the NIMBY theory. I got my spot, now DON'T build any more. (except the downtown wifi. I like that...)

 

[kixy1]

Wow, testosterone, politics, hash, pretty emoticons, and now wsofan joins the party....

CV, take notes, THAT is how to rile the troops up

 

[WSOPFAN]

Just to avoid any confusion, I am also a member of that club and I was just welcoming him.

 

[Ron Lee]

Here is another link. Not sure how good it is since I am on dialup

Cozumel Punta Arrecifes Presentation

 

[DandyDon]

Signed the petition

 

[cvchief]

Just to avoid any confusion, I am also a member of that club and I was just welcoming him.

Hair club? Sorry, Poker, I couldn't help it....

 

[annlaur]

Punta Arrecifes would be a huge development (planned to become a luxury resort town of 3000 rooms) which the mayor of Cozumel is trying to pass even though many environmental local associations are against it and even though it would require changing local urbanist laws to allow construction in this area. My understanding is that it would be located in front of Hanan dive site (which I was lucky enough to dive), it is a beautiful, virgin area.

I'm guessing the reason there were no petition when the hotels of the West coast were built is because people were less aware of damages to the environment back then, plus there was a real need to build infrastructures to accomodate tourisms.

Nowadays, though, we have proof that construction and human activities create pollution and endanger fragile ecosystems and many people are more aware of the importance of protecting nature in general and the reefs in particular. Even more so when, in my opinion, there is really no need for yet another resort on the island. Those on the West coast seldom fill up to full capacity. As a matter of fact, many are struggling and a few hotels are for sale. The mayor's official argument is that he wants to bring upper class tourism on the island (this would be a very exclusive, super luxurious place). Personally, I doubt it would benefit the locals, as it would be so remote and have restaurants and shops on site. As well as golfs and marinas and private jet landing stripe.

Besides any economic and ecologic considerations, the East coast is a special place. No electricity, a few beach bars and a tiny hotel and that's it. There aren't many places left in the world where you can get that Robinson Crusoe feeling for miles and miles and yet still be 20 minutes away from the modern world and all its commodities. To me there's something sacred about the wild side. Especially considering that at any time a hurricane can just blow and destroy anything that might get built there.

So yeah, I signed the petition.

PS: the above info comes from what I remember reading in the Por Esto and other local news sources over the past 8 months or so. Easy to find through Google with the key phrase Punta arrecifes.

 

[Mike]

Thank you Annlaur. Antonio - just so to be clear my comment to you was not meant to be threatening. I re-read it and it could be taken that way. I mean only to say that sometimes it's too easy for any of us to write things on a forum with the distance of miles or anonymity, and only that I try to gauge what I write by not writing anything I wouldn't feel comfortable saying to someone in person. I just wanted to say that being quick to jump to dishing out your emoticons and being so quick to jump to the total gayness of the "Hijack" nonsense, that maybe you wouldn't be so quick to act that way in person and that we could easily meet each other, as I do stay from time to time at the Presidente. That's all, just hope we can keep it real here, since most of us have very good chances of actually sitting next to each other at barstools in Cozumel.