Today I stumbled across a publication I had picked up at the airport on my way home from my visit to Red Frog Beach. I noticed on the back a website for the magazine's online version at www.TheBocasBreeze.com.
Of course, I didn't have to look very hard for something negative about our project. It was written by Scott Doggett in the Oct. 2006 issue entitled, "Don’t let it happen here". Like most of the people who write negatively about the project, they know NOTHING about the environmental hurdles our guys are going through to make sure that what they do is in line with the environmental agency.
As I've stated, I have a few criticisms about the project and some of its organization, but their committment to environmental friendly solutions is NOT one of them! Mr. Doggett claims to know the RFB team though he admits he's never met them. Well then, I know Mr. Doggett, though I have never met him.
And in my opinion, he is another bleeding heart who seems to think that if we went away, Panama would be a lot better off. Well, let me tell you what's going on at the other end of the country.
On the San Blas Islands at the other end of Panama, the lifestyle is very rustic. I stayed there in a bed and breakfast which should really have been called a "bug in breakfast". The bottom floors were sand and sleeping in a hammock was recommended because sleeping bags attacted critters in the night.
And my experience with the bathrooms went like this. Every morning the maintenance people would fill up the water barrel in our second floor room to use for our shower and toilet. Once you were done going to the bathroom, you'd flush and the waste would drop through a pipe right into the reef below. NO SEWAGE SYSTEM! It has been this way for years!
One of my biggest beefs with environmentalists is that they seem to think nature can't survive without us. Tell that to the coyotes now hunting humans in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco! True, man has created some messes and caused some animal species to go extinct, but nature has been doing that for years without our help! Remember dinosaurs and sabre tooth tigers?
Anyway, more to the point is this. Only 9% of Bastimentos is actually scheduled for construction, and of that the home sites are mostly land. As we've seen in Panama, the land is fertile and with the amount of rain they get, even the fence posts sprout leaves! Included in the development is one of the most sophisticated water and sewer treatment plants you will see anywhere. Dennis Stears has proudly seen to that.
And what of those houses on the beach? Does Mr. Doggett think we are going to be out there hunting for turtles or their eggs? If someone is stealing eggs, it won't be us! I guarantee it! And we are not capturing dolphins or monkeys or birds or red frogs (though we might grab an orchid or two!) or any of the other creatures among which we want to live.
Bastimentos is an enchanting place; a thing of beauty and wonderment. We will keep it that way!
Mick @ Lot 83
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2 comments:
So the environmentalist wackos found your blog, huh? The thing that gets me is their superior attitude - only THEY have respect for the environment, and everyone else is going to destroy the environment. How is the west end of Bastimentos now - does garbage still litter the shore near that little town? And what's THEIR sewer system like? Red Frog's is state-of-the art. When we were last there in Panama we were appalled by all the garbage carelessly strewn about in Panama City. Where do you see cleaner towns - in Panama or the U.S.? Americans, Canadians and Europeans (typical owners at Red Frog) are VERY conscientious about keeping their surroundings clean and respecting the environment. Many of the Red Frog team are going to live at least part time at Red Frog - do you think they'd want to see their surroundings destroyed? They are very acutely aware of environmental laws and issues, obviously.
Well put. As I was told a long time ago, when you hear negativity, consider the source. Or in this case - ignore it!
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