[Coral-List] a large mexican island named "Jacques Cousteau"?!

[Osmar Luiz Jr]

Well,

What about the native's feelings when the Spaniards come and "just assigned" 
the name of the Island after an expedition that may killed many of them.

It is the history repeating itself my friend. At least Jacques Cousteau was 
more cool than a bunch of governments that only looked after gold and 
richness..

regards
Osmar

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hector Reyes" <hreyes at uabcs.mx>
To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:47 AM
Subject: [Coral-List] a large mexican island named "Jacques Cousteau"?!


Dear coral listers, many of you might have heard the recent news that a
large Mexican island in the Gulf of California, originally called Isla
Cerralvo, was "re-named" as Isla Jacques Cousteau.

Nobody can deny the relevance of Mr Cousteau to show the marvels of the
oceans, and undoubtedly the Gulf of California gained international fame
because of his documentaries. However, geography of a nation is another
matter. The names are not "just assigned" but most of times they are a
signature of history. In this case, the conquistador Francisco de Ortega
named the island "Cerralvo" in 1632, celebrating the Virrey of Nueva
España who send the expedition that discover it.

As a consequence of all this, there is a movement in the state (Baja
California Sur) asking the federal government to revoke the decision.

I know that in the end this is just a quarrel between a government that
took a bad (very bad) decision, and the citizens. However, my point here
is that it is a shame that "Jacques Cousteau" is becoming an example, a
tag, of the persistence of authoritarian practices that should have
dissappeard a long time ago in our hurting third world.

Finally, for all those who can read Spanish, please take a look at these
articles in the most important newspaper in Baja California Sur, and in
another very important journal.

http://www.oem.com.mx/elsudcaliforniano/notas/n1409473.htm

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2009/11/19/index.php?section=sociedad&article=035n2soc


Hector Reyes
UABCS, La Paz

-- 
Héctor Reyes Bonilla
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur
Departamento de Biología Marina
Apartado postal 19-B, CP 23080. La Paz, B.C.S.
MEXICO

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