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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We would like to provide some historical
perspective based on a similar situation to Vieques which took place on the
Puerto Rico island of Culebra. The U.S. Navy also conducted li</FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>ve fire target practice on this biologically
diverse and inhabited island of Puerto Rico. Navy was forced out
by the people of Culebra in 1976 because Culebra was considered spoils of
the Spanish-American war - a land treaty technicality. (The Navy did not leave
for ethical reasons). The National Security arguments stated by
the military for Culebra in the late 60's are very similar to those
being stated today for Vieques. (See <U>Culebra y la Marina de Estados
Unidos</U> by Carmelo Delgado Cintrón, Appendix XX) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At the turn of the Century, the Navy was attracted
to Culebra because of its large harbor, Ensenada Honda, which the Navy
considered the most hurricane safe harbor in the Caribbean. At this time
President Theodore Roosevelt set part of this island aside for the Atlantic
Fleet's weapons training area and part of the island aside for a
Federal Refuge. After the Navy left, more areas including offshore cays
littered with unexploded ordnance from the target practice were included
under the Federal Refuge status. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Around 600 people lived on
Culebra at the beginning of the 1900's. Their main town of San Ildefonso (a
Taino Indian village 1,000 years earlier) was relocated by the Navy, and renamed
Dewey, after the famous Admiral. The Navy left for Cuba to establish a
base at Guantanamo, so Culebra was fairly quiet until things began to heat up in
Europe in the late 1930's. The Navy returned and began concentrated live fire
target practice now on the outskirts of a much larger population on Culebra.
Many of the "Old Timers" on Culebra speak English, because they had to learn to
deal with the Navy personnel. Many locals have not so flattering stories of the
behavior of military personnel when they would come into town binge drinking and
assaulting family members. Others to this day are really friendly to gringos and
share stories about famous Navy admirals they met, etc... Many Culebrenses have
served in the U.S. military and many still do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Locals have also shared stories
about how Navy ordnance would drift a considerable distance from the target
areas and lodge in their tin roofs in the center of the town of Dewey. They told
me how they used to go down to the beaches at night and watch the tracers flying
in the sky like fire works displays. A few residents have shell casings in
their yards to this day, some white washed, as decorations or possibly
memorials of days gone by. Two Sherman tanks stand rusting surreally
posed to the backdrop of beautiful Flamenco Beach...once heavily targeted
by U.S. Navy warships.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The central peninsula of
Flamenco was repeatedly napalmed. I was told, (but am not sure it is true), that
this altered the vegetation which ironically turned it into ideal
nesting habitat for endangered tern colonies. Some 55,000 endangered sea
birds return to Culebra and offshore cays every year
to nest. Hopefully this does not encourage Audubon Society
members to begin napalming hillsides. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Only three years ago did the
Army Corps of Engineers begin scanning terrestrial areas for unexploded
ordnance, outside of the Federal Refuge areas. When the Navy left Culebra,
ordnance clean up was not part of the agreement. I have been told by an
x-military person, now turned conservationist, that they used to pile up the
bombs on the most impressive coral heads and then explode them periodically
as part of the clean up. I asked why the most impressive corals and he
said...it made for a more spectacular explosion to watch from shore. I have
also heard that there used to be "fly over" populations of pink flamingos that
would run on Flamenco Beach and feed in the neighboring salt pond. People have
said they were shot for target practice by Navy personnel.(I believe this
is true as it was confirmed a similar fate happened to the nesting population on
Anegada, only it was the locals who shot them. Now local descendants have
successfully started and are caring for a new breeding population on
Anegada).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> It is true that some of the best
coral reefs remaining in Puerto Rico are found around Culebra. The Navy presence
may or may not have halted development on this island for a while. I don't
think from this you can conclude that the Navy presence actually "conserved"
these resources, even if you are callous enough to take out the human factor of
these practices on this small inhabited island. Current coral coverage may
rather be a testament to the population of coral which existed 50 years
ago, water quality of healthy coral larval source areas, greater and
diverse reef fish populations, a fairly disease free environment and less
frequent and intense storms. Also the reason Culebra for so long escaped the
development juggernaut (I love saying juggernaut) may have more to do with
its isolation and changing climate. Fresh water is now limited on
Culebra. Two centuries of deforestation, agriculture and now extensive
land clearing for development is altering the entire island into a stressed
desert ecosystem where once creeks supported crawdads or crayfish
(anecdotal evidence). Pending developments are now being approved
after the recent completion of an underwater water pipeline,
(which based on interoffice government communications - will have no water
coming out of it.) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The coral reef situation is clearly different for
Vieques today.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In Culebra there are still giant craters
left in some reef areas and unexploded ordnance left in the water. It may have
been a blessing the Navy left without cleaning the underwater ordnance, given
that their only method for cleaning is piling up the ordnance and
exploding. In 1996, for example, the Navy clean up of underwater
unexploded WWII bombs off the Pacific island of Rota did an estimated
80 million dollars worth of damage at the Coral Gardens dive site (University of
Guam). Terrestrial ordnance accidents have injured several people on Culebra
since the Navy left. (anecdotal evidence).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Puerto Rico is
complicated. For obvious reasons imperialistic approaches attached
to anything from economic reform policies to environmental management
planning are resisted...and based on PR history, I find this
understandable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Today Puerto Rico is asking for
your help as coral reef experts, managers and conservationists. If you have not
already done so please fax President Clinton and tell him no more live or
inert U.S. Navy target practice on Vieques. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>White House Fax Line: 202-456-2461</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mary Ann Lucking</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Project Coordinator</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>CORALations</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PMB 222</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5900 Isla Verde Ave. L2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Carolina, PR 00979-4901</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:corals@caribe.net">corals@caribe.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
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