By Ann Barlow, GreenPepper
You probably think I'm referring to Obama, but yesterday's announcement from our current Chief Executive could make you think otherwise. Yesterday, George W. Bush announced the biggest-ever marine monument.
This area includes the the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument and will greatly limit commercial fishing and restrict recreational fishing as well.
So what gives? My own opinion is that Mr. Bush wants the record to show that he didn't give into commercial interests at every turn and truly wanted to leave at least somewhat of a positive legacy where the earth is concerned. That's a good idea, because I believe in the next decade, we will shed almost all of our hydrocarbon-economy ways in favor of what preserves our resources. If that's the case, we may look back at our behavior with some of the same horror that we now feel when we watch our racist behavior during the 1960s' equal rights movement. No one wants to be an emblem of such ugliness.
In this light, how should we feel about the President's designation? I'm tempted to be as cynical about it as I am about most of what he's done. Certainly, his motives are suspect, and environmentalists say the hard part will be monitoring and enforcement.
But in spite of all the above, I'm happy. It's still an important step toward preserving marine life -- in a space that is bigger than Texas and Alaska combined. So from a progressive/environmental type, thank you President Bush.
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