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<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Dear
Mark,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
thought we were as one! I also dream that Chris and Fiona (now 2 and 4)
will also be able to enjoy reefs as I have. I also often lie awake at
night thinking that if the majority of our assessments are even slightly
correct, then reefs will be frightenly degraded when they are old enough to
really enjoy diving reefs. This brings me down to earth - how academic we
can sometimes become in the discussion of the loss of reefs!
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>In
reality, it is quite the enviro/sci fi nightmare.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000></SPAN><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Bestest,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=250415120-05122000><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Ove</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Mark and Arnaz Erdmann
[mailto:flotsam@manado.wasantara.net.id]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, 5 December
2000 6:46 PM<BR><B>To:</B> oveh@uq.edu.au; fspsuva@is.com.fj;
coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: The trouble with high
profile reef science<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Dear
Ove,<BR><X-TAB> </X-TAB>Indeed,
there is no real difference of opinion here - I fully agree with you on the
importance of providing clear expert statements to policy makers on urgent
environmental issues facing reefs (including, but not limited to, global
warming). It is for precisely this reason that Austin and I point out
that there are other urgent issues facing reefs in the developing world today
that ALSO need to be communicated to policy makers (especially those in the
developing world). Far from suggesting that you tone down your admirable
championing of the global warming/coral bleaching issue, my email was simply
meant to demonstrate that strongly-worded, focused headlines aimed at
Washington, Canberra, Tokyo or Europe CAN have counterproductive, if
unintentional effects in the developing countries that own the majority of the
world's reefs. I agree with you that the solution to this, if any, will
certainly not be found in toning down statements about the imminent threat of
global warming/mass bleaching or in quibbling over which threat is more
important. Rather, it behooves us to present well-argued and balanced
statements to the press and policy-makers that accurately reflect the wide
range of urgent stresses facing coral reefs today. I believe we both agree on
this!<BR><BR>Far from dreaming of controlling headlines, I dream that in 15
years my daughter will be able to dive and experience the same reefs that I've
been fortunate enough to marvel at (and even these reefs, as has oft been
remarked, are nothing compared to what divers even 30 years' ago experienced!)
As you have pointed out, given the coherence of assaults on reefs from both
global and local levels, we've got a big job ahead of
us....<BR><BR>Best,<BR>Mark<BR><BR>At 07:01 AM 12/4/00 +1000, Ove
Hoegh-Guldberg wrote:<BR><FONT face=arial color=#0000ff size=2>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite type="cite">Dear Mark,</FONT><BR> <BR><FONT face=arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I don't see that there is too much of a difference of
opinion here. Thinking globally and acting locally is a good call
(even if clichéd). No one would seriously dispute that. As
someone who also works in Indonesia, I am under no illusion as to the scale
of "local" problems that face the reef resources of that developing
country.</FONT><BR> <BR><FONT face=arial color=#0000ff size=2>The one
viewpoint/opinion that I would dispute is the negative effect of drawing
attention to issues like climate change (which I guess is the major point of
your email). The urgency and scale of the response to that particular
issue (as with blast fishing and water quality) would militate that it would
be very negligent to sit on one's hands and not make clear expert statements
or take action on the issue. Recent effective deliberations on climate
impacts and solutions (or the lack thereof) in the Hague emphasize this
point. Unless we are clear about the potential impacts of climate
change, the policy makers at the international level will find it hard to
take the urgent action required to reduce the scale of future damage.
If you think telling them that climate change represents a serious threat to
coral reefs is tricky, try asking them to define a forest for
you!</FONT><BR> <BR><FONT face=arial color=#0000ff size=2>So - to the
issue: "how does one present expert advice on the problems that face
reef systems." Controlling headlines would be useful but is
impossible. Equally, and I think more damaging, the appearance of
scientists quibbling over which stress is "bigger and badder" may also lead
to non-productive outcomes and headlines. I think we have to go beyond
these issues and provide clearer responses to those trying to find solutions
(and loopholes!). </FONT><BR> <BR><FONT face=arial color=#0000ff
size=2>As you and I have discussed before, weighing up immediate human needs
versus sustainable reef usage presents a similar (confusing to some) set of
arguments. Similar "reasons" for inaction might also eventuate from
this situation. Equally, negligence on Greenhouse by developed
countries like Australia, Europe and the USA may provide a convenient excuse
not to take action on local reef issues in Indonesia. However, as we
know, this argument does not present a water tight or even logical argument
for inaction. Hence a greater role for champions of reef protection
such as yourself. Rather than dream of controlling headlines, you
should be ready with the argument that climate change will mean that reefs
will be even more vulnerable to local scale threats than before. That
there is a greater not reduced need for action. In the same breathe,
you may also ask why Indonesia is so intransient and impotent when it comes
to real political action at the international level against countries like
Australia and the USA. </FONT><BR> <BR><FONT face=arial
color=#0000ff size=2>So if we are into take home messages - avoiding mention
or watering down statements on issues at either end of the spectrum of
problems facing reefs is no solution. The only solution is to make
sure that policy makers realise that climate change will make the management
of local reef stressors more and not less urgent. Given the coherence of
assaults from global and local levels, immediate and appropriate action at
all these levels is urgently required. </FONT><BR> <BR><FONT
face=arial color=#0000ff size=2>Regards,</FONT><BR> <BR><FONT
face=arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Ove</FONT><BR> </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>