Monumental Letters

In an effort to inform the general public about the conversation that took place in our community for over one year, I went ahead and put together a list of all the letters to the editor and opinion pieces on the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument (I had a lot of help).

I realize that this list is probably missing a few items, and I would be much obliged if you would forward them on to me, but from what I have compiled here, the running total of letters FOR is 117 versus 50 AGAINST. There were 50 unique writers in support vs 19 writers against. Greg Cruz holds the distinction of being the only person to write letters in support and against the monument.

I'd also like to point out that Ken Kramer was the most prolific writer for the Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument writing 17 (of 117) support letters, while John Gourley wrote only 13 (of 50) non-support letters.

Those are some pretty amazing numbers to me. Thanks to everyone who wrote a letter of support.

Happy readings!

1. March 20, 2008. Angelo Villagomez “Practicing My Culture”
2. March 24, 2008. Jacinta M. Kaipat. “Give PEW a chance:”
3. April 3, 2008. Greg Cruz. “Taotao Tano supports idea of National Park.”
   
4. April 17, 2008. Ignacio V. Cabrera. “Many benefits from national monument:”
5. April 17, 2008. Ken Kramer. “In defense of the national park proposal:”
6. April 22, 2008. Jaime Vergara. “The dream of the Earth:”
7. April 25, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Marine Monument.”
8. April 28, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Bye bye marine monument!:”
9. April 28, 2008. Jane Mack. “Arguments against Pew proposal are political and economic:”
10. April 28, 2008. Wesley Bogdan. “A brilliant idea, a gift from heaven:”
11. April 28, 2008. Tami L Hunter. “Awesome.”
    
12. April 29, 2008. Brad Doerr. “Our Marine Monument:”
13. April 30, 2008. Donald Cohen. “This is what your senators are doing today.”
14. April 30, 2008. Greg Cruz. “To Mr. Joe Cabrera of Dandan.”
    
15. April 30, 2008. Angelo Villagomez. “Only of the people want it:”
16. April 30, 2008. Laurie Peterka. “My motives for supporting Pew's proposal:”
17. April 30, 2008. Chuck Sayon. “MINA wants open dialog to continue:”
18. May 01, 2008. Cinta M. Kaipat. “Marianas Trench Marine National Monument:”
19. May 1, 2008. Ignacio Cabrera. “A Great Opportunity for NMI.”
20. May 2, 2008. Ignacio Cabrera. “To Governor Fitial.”
    
21. May 02, 2008 David Khorram. “Movies, Power, Federalization, and Pew.”
    
22. May 02, 2008. Dr. Cooper Schraudenbach. “A chance to be a steward of the ocean:”
23. May 02, 2008. Ed Propst. “CARE: Change, Action, Reform, and Excellence:”
24. May 02, 2008. Eli Bueneventura. “Support for marine monument:”
25. May 05, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “A lot of mis-, dis-, and non-information on proposed Trench monument:”
26. May 06, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Need I mention pozzolan?:”
27. May 08, 2008. Brad Doerr. “Our marine monument II:”
28. May 8, 2008. Chuck Sayon. “Mina wants open dialogue to continue!”
    
29. May 09, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Why WESPAC wants a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument:”
30. May 09, 2008. Angelo Villagomez. “The governor says no, others say yes:”
31. May 9, 2008. Jay Nelson. “Upcoming Reports on marine park proposal.”
    
32. May 13, 2008. Jane Mack. “Make the devastation of our natural world stop!”
33. May 13, 2008. Mike Tripp. “Personalities and politics of a marine monument:”
34. May 17, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Wespac's History Speaks:”
35. May 20, 2008. Mike Tripp. “Marine monument-Let's talk eh!:”
36. May 21, 2008. Mike Tripp. “Marine monument-the benefits (it's not all about the fishing):”
37. May 22, 2008. Peter Houk. “What does science tell us about our Northern Islands coral reef ecosystems?:”
38. May 23, 2008. Fred Hovnaton. “Save the Islands’ Trees.”
    
39. May 27, 2008. Brad Doerr. “Keep your eyes open:”
40. June 02, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “'Overfishing is destabilizing the marine environment':”
41. June 10, 2008. Fred Hovnaton. “Asking for nothing and getting nothing:”
42. June 16, 2008. Elizabeth Deleon Guerrero. “Support the marine monument!:”
43. June 17, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “'Accentuate the positive':”
44. June 23, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Pew spew? Or more Wespac sputum?:”
45. July 04, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “What's at stake in the marine monument proposal:”
46. July 08, 2008. Bryan Jones. “What a shame!:”
47. July 18, 2008. Jay Nelson. Opinion. “The Pew Charitable Trusts: Committed to ocean conservation:”
48. July 28, 2008. Editorial. “Marine Monument: Good for the CNMI, good for the environment:”
49. July 29, 2008. Ignacio V. Cabrera. “Kudos:”
50. August 04, 2008. Chailang Palacios. “Don’t Stoop to their level”
51. August 6, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “Golden Opportunity.”
    
52. August 08, 2008. Ken Kramer. Thanks, Alexie!
53. August 08, 2008. Herman Villagomez. “No Need.”
    
54. August 11, 2008. Ignacio V. Cabrera. “Another indigenous point of view:”
55. August 15, 2008. Agnes McPhetres. “Another option to address budget shortfall:”
56. August 15, 2008. Ken Kramer. “A Dog and His Shadow:”
57. August 18, 2008. Angelo Villagomez. “About the marine monument proposal ”

58. August 22, 2008. Ruth Tighe. “Clarification:”
59. August 25, 2008. Bryan Jones. “Environmental Victory.”
    
60. August 26, 2008. Richard Dela Cruz. “A Hotdog for a Signature:”
61. August 26, 2008. Jesus Cruz Cabrera. “Recognition for the Marianas:”
62. August 27, 2008. Ken Kramer. “An achievement in conservation:”
63. August 27, 2008. Mylene Balisalisa. “Proud of the CNMI:”
64. August 28, 2008. Ron Hodges. “Chamberonomics…the Marine Monument.”
    
65. August 29, 2008. Belinda Norita. “Make the Monument a Reality.”
    
66. September 1, 2008. Brad Doerr. “Thar She Blows.”
67. September 1, 2008. Ken Kramer. “win-win”
    
68. September 2, 2008. Jane Mack. “Marine Sanctuaries Work.”
69. September 2, 2008. Chuck Sayon. “MINA Supports Creation of Marine Preserve.”
70. September 2008. Josh Reichert. “Our Oceans: Our finite, fragile and valuable resources.”
    
71. September 4, 2008. Leisha P Camacho. “Let’s Give it a try.”
    
72. September 5, 2008. Aleth Kae Atalig. “Young Indigenous in Support of Monument.”
73. September 5, 2008. Andrew Sablan Salas. “A Legacy Truly Worthy of the CNMI’s children.”
    
74. September 8, 2008. Ken Kramer. “Commercial Fishing Remains Irrelevant in the CNMI.”
75. September 8, 2008. Jay Nelson. “Let’s Focus on Opportunities, Benefits of Monument.”
    
76. September 11, 2008. Chuck Sayon. "A Marianas Trench Marine Monument: The Year is 2029."
77. September 12, 2008. Ken Kramer. "Lawmakers worth voting for."
78. September 19, 2008. Karl T. Reyes. "Constitutional Intent."
79. September 19, 2008. Andrew Salas. "Together let's make monument a reality."
80. September 22, 2008. Jaime Vergara. "Let there be light."
81. September 23, 2008. Wes Bogdan. "Law of the Sea."
82. September 25, 2008. Jane Mack. "The concept behind the proposal."
83. September 25, 2008. Brad Doerr. "This week's special."
84. September 26, 2008. Ken Kramer. "A great thing for the CNMI."
85. October 2, 2008. Leticia Camacho. "Read the economic impact report."
86. October 2, 2008. Ruth Tighe. "High cost is natural barrier."
87. October 3, 2008. Brad Doerr. "Thank you, Mr. McCue."
88. October 7, 2008. Jean Michel Cousteau. "A national treasure worth protecting."
89. October 9, 2008. Emelaine Fejeran. "Monument will benefit education."
90. October 13, 2008. Cinta Kaipat. "120 on 10/20."
91. October 20, 2008. Agnes McPhetres. "Welcome to the CNMI."
92. October 20, 2008. Ken Kramer. "Thanks to the Humanities Council."
93. October 21, 2008. Ignacio Cabrera. "Thanks for supporting marine monument plan."
94. October 21, 2008. Lee Taitano. "The awakening of the world."
95. October 21, 2008. Rosalia Duenas. "Amazed and Proud."
96. October 21, 2008. Jaime Vergara. "The WOW for MMM."
97. October 21, 2008. Ken Kramer. "DFW arguments for marine monument."
98. October 23, 2008. Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument. "Open letters to President Bush."
99. October 23, 2008. Jose Ayuyu. "Open letters to President Bush, Part 2."
100. October 24, 2008. Jaime Vergara. "Along the Paseo de Marianas."
101. October 24, 2008. Ed Propst. "New rules of engagement for the marine monument proposal."
102. October 24, 2008. Ruth Tighe. "Mutually Exclusive? Not!"
103. October 24, 2008. Andrew Salas. "Mutual Respect."
104. October 27, 2008. Saipan Tribune Editorial. "Compromise on the marine monument plan."
105. October 31, 2008. Ruth Tighe. "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
106. November 14, 2008. Ben Deleon Guerrero. "Making myself clear."
107. November 14, 2008. Maegan Agulto. "No coercion."
108. November 20, 2008. Ignacio Cabrera. "Monument momentum."
109. December 1, 2008. "Ruth Tighe. "A biased view of the matter."
110. December 2, 2008. William Aila. "Aha Moku who?"
111. December 29, 2008. Jaime Vergara. "The great work of the planet earth."
112. January 8, 2009. Jane Mack. "Thank you."
113. January 8, 2009. Ken Kramer. "A great day for Earth."
114. January 8, 2009. Benigno Fitial. "Statement on designation."
115. January 9, 2009. Jeffrey Flores. "Message of Appreciation."
116. January 12, 2009. Andrew Salas. "Moving Forward."
117. January 19, 2009. Emlaine Fejeran. "Si yu'us ma'ase."

Letters to the Editor/Opinion/Editorials AGAINST the Marine Monument

1. April 11, 2008. John Gourley. “Reason 1 why I oppose the PEW National Monument:”
2. April 14, 2008. William Bamboo McCue. “Be aware of the futurity of your actions:”
3. April 15, 2008. John Gourley. “Why I oppose the PEW National Monument: Reason 2:”
4. April 23, 2008. Jim Davies. “Letter.”
   
5. April 24, 2008. John Gourley. “CNMI as co-manager of proposed monument: How real is it?:”
6. April 29, 2008. Joe Cabrera. “To benefit a certain few.”
   
7. May 01, 2008. William McCue. “Don't give up control:”
8. May 2, 2008. Juan I. Tenorio. “Problematic.”
   
9. May 05, 2008. John Gourley. “We're talking-PEW isn't listening:”
10. May 09, 2008. John Gourley. “More misconceptions about the Pew monument:”
11. May 9, 2008. Rosemary Camacho. “My Reason for not Supporting the Pew Proposal.”
    
12. May 11, 2008. Lino M. Olopai. “Why I resigned from MINA:”
13. May 14, 2008. John Gourley. “Pew, why won't you talk about the monument?:”
14. May 15, 2008. Benigno Sablan and Manny Duenas. “No need to federalize protection of Northern Islands:”
15. May 23, 2008. John Gourley. “Pew, outsiders, and online petitions:”
16. May 23, 2008. Richard B. Seman. “Leave all conservation measures to the people of the CNMI:”
17. May 23, 2008. George T Sablan. “Mr. Tripp.”
    
18. June 06, 2008. John Gourley. “Interesting regulatory exemptions likely to be adopted for the proposed Pew monument:”
19. June 20, 2008. Jim Davies. “Pew spew:”
20. July 10, 2008. Candy Taman. “Pew’s proposed conservation up north.”
    
21. July 18, 2008. Candy Taman. “Honoring our forefathers wisdom.”
    
22. July 30, 2008. Candy Taman. “Indigenous Land and Sea.”
    
23. August 01, 2008. John Gourley. “We are not alone in our opposition:”
24. August 01, 2008. Dr. Ignacio T. Dela Cruz and Benigno Sablan. “Who's lying now?:”
25. August 29, 2008. John Gourley. “Betrayal Day: August 24, 2008”
    
26. September 3, 2008. Candy Taman. “Pew’s plans on NI Monument”
27. September 5, 2008. Michael Trianni. “Clarifications: An Achievement in Conservation.”
28. September 12, 2008. John Gourley. "Pew is as Pew does."
29. September 18, 2008. Stanley Torres. "Sales Hype."
30. September 23, 2008. James Davies. "A Pew solution to the problem."
31. September 26, 2008. William McCue. "How much a trip to the monument will cost."
32. October 1, 2008. William McCue. "Monument will heal little, if anything."
33. October 17, 2008. John Gourley. "Misinformation, Deception, Lies - Another Perspective."
34. October 22, 2008. John Del Rosario. "In search of MM."
35. October 23, 2008. Greg Cruz. "Taotao Tano's position on the marine monument proposal."
36. October 23, 2008. Juan Lizama. "Resolve submerged lands, EEZ issues first."
37. October 23, 2008. William McCue. "Monument-al fallacies."
38. October 24, 2008. Juan Tudela. "A perspective on the Pew proposal."
39. October 28, 2008. Edward Guerrero. "No to the proposed national marine monument."
40. October 28, 2008. Greg Cruz. "Taotao Tano's position on the proposed marine monument: Part II."
41. October 28, 2008. Pete Reyes. "Clarification on leaked letter."
42. October 29, 2008. Edward Guerrero. "No to the proposed national marine monument II."
43. October 31, 2008. Candy Taman and Alex Sablan. "Mutual agreement."
44. October 31, 2008. Stanley Torres. "I don't believe."
45. November 4, 2008. Juan Tenorio. "Marine monument."
46. November 21, 2008. Stanley Torres. "Devil child."
47. November 25, 2008. John Del Rosario. "Our right to decide."
48. December 3, 2008. Juan Tenorio. "Thank you."
49. December 3, 2008. John Del Rosario. "Birthright."
50. January 5, 2009. John Gourley. "The grand illusion."