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| Introduction to Concerned Citizens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Never doubt that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed that is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concerned Citizens for the Future of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico was conceived and founded in April of 2004, when the most recent development plans for the El Mogote Peninsula began to look like actual construction of the proposed Paradise of the Sea project would happen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For over a half a century the citizens of La Paz had heard one mad capped scheme after another for the development of El Mogote and nobody took this new one as anything but another future failed plan in the making, and that would never actually touch the delicate ecological environment there. When two palapas were constructed and we discovered actual bulldozing of the land was happening, with evidence of the destruction and death of endemic species filmed, we set about to address the concerns of many citizens and to end a project on which what all knowledgeable locals recognized as un-developable property, due to its geology and ecologically essential mangroves, which are protected by law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As the whole picture began revealing itself we have uncovered all that is set forth in this document. This has all been done with no external funding and has been a 100% volunteer effort by a whole list of concerned citizens, that reaches into the thousands and covers a wide spectrum of the society of La Paz who have become actively involved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The brains of this effort has been its academic core, and ecological community the soul, which have gone to whatever extents necessary to put forward well thought out investigations and studies addressing most of the issues we have faced. The heart of this effort is the Citizens of La Paz who raised the grass roots support needed to get the information to people throughout the community at large and raise a public cry of protest, based upon sound research and well documented studies. The news media picked up the cry by being the peoples voice and has kept the public at large hearing it for the past eight months. Many public servants, our inside eyes and ears, have also contributed with their inside information, which was essential to understand the overall picture and address things in their fullest possible light. The feet and hands of this are all those of you who take this presentation and do something about it. Volunteer to help. This presentation, and all of its supporting materials, is the completion of the first eight months of Concerned Citizens actively working for the future of La Paz , leading to the years end, and explaining our efforts. It sets the stage for all of our future projects, which have expanded to include a broad array of environmental problems we face in this area and which have far reaching affects upon the entire region. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We also hope to have Balandra Bay and the El Mogote Peninsula declared a United Nations World Heritage Bio Reserve and have been in direct contact with the proper U.N. Officials to help set that consideration into motion. The Mangrove Forests in those two locations are the most significant strands on the Bay of La Paz and among the most important along the Sea of Cortez. They are essential for the life of the sea and should remain part of the patrimony of the citizens of La Paz, and indeed of the entire planet, as it is imperative to save the sources of sea life that feed the people and other forms of sea, air and terrestrial life as a whole. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considering our lack of resources and the relatively short period of time this effort has been unfolding, it can easily be stated that miracles have been performed by the shear will of the people involved and their dedication to one of the worthiest of causes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Come join with us in this effort and be part of the growing family of Pace�os, Mexicans and foreign residents who can be proud to stand up for the future of their home, families and culture, as well as preserving the abundance of life we are blessed with via the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez, the most biologically diverse body of water on Earth. We are the caretakers of the natural wonders we have been gifted with and must protect them for the health of the Planet, and for generations to come. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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