Anonymous
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Environmentalists fight planned gas terminal
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2825390
MEXICO CITY Greenpeace Mexico today announced new efforts to block plans for a liquefied natural gas import terminal off the Pacific coast.
ChevronTexaco already has the main federal approvals necessary for the proposed terminal off the coast of Tijuana near the Coronado Islands.
Greenpeace and the Mexican Environmental Law Center are seeking to nullify the Mexican Environment Department's authorization.
The law center has helped five environmental and civic groups file legal complaints against the authorization.
Representatives for ChevronTexaco and the Environment Department didn't immediately comment today.
The proposed terminal would be several hundred yards from the islands and more than eight miles from shore.
San Diego-based Sempra Energy also is planning a liquefied plant off the Baja California coast about 14 miles north of Ensenada.
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Dave
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Silly girls... Greenpeace, or any other environmental group has absolutely zero influence in the politics or policy of Mexico.
Now, if they could come up with several million dollars to bribe those who would approve the plant....
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edevart
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Not so fast...
Fortunately, Dave, the assumption you make that environmental groups have "absolutely zero influence in the politics or policy of Mexico" is a
stereotype and a myth, just like other common misconceptions of Mexico such as the thought that all Mexicans wear large sombreros or that the highways
are plagued by pistol totting bandidos waiting to ambush dumb Americans.
One only has to look back five years (the anniversary is this year) to the battle over the expansion of the Mitsubishi owned saltworks in the Vizcaino
to see the effects of the "environmental" movement in Mexico. (I put the word in quotes because the battle to protect Baja from greedy developers and
foreign interests is a battle for so much more than just the environment--whatever that means.) Groups like El Grupo de los Cien--headed by one of
the most influential and respected contemporary Mexicans, the author Homero Aridjis--along with Greenpeace, Wildcoast, and others, worked with a
strong contingent of locals from the Guerrero Negro area to save Laguna San Ignacio and a large portion of the UNESCO recognized Vizcaino Biosphere
Reserve from being destroyed.
The movement to protect Baja California from massive development and greed and to support local communities through sustainable development and smart
planning is not a futile one. Gringo tourists may not notice it from the cabs of their RVs or from the back of a whining ATV, but all it takes is few
minutes of conversation with a resident of Bahia de Los Angeles, Santa Rosalillita, or any other threatened locale to see that the spirit of
conservation and lifestyle preservation is strong and effective on the penninsula.
Howerver... two million dollars of bribe money wouldn't hurt...
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by edevart
Fortunately, Dave, the assumption you make that environmental groups have "absolutely zero influence in the politics or policy of Mexico" is a
stereotype and a myth, just like other common misconceptions of Mexico such as the thought that all Mexicans wear large sombreros or that the highways
are plagued by pistol totting bandidos waiting to ambush dumb Americans.
One only has to look back five years (the anniversary is this year) to the battle over the expansion of the Mitsubishi owned saltworks in the Vizcaino
to see the effects of the "environmental" movement in Mexico. (I put the word in quotes because the battle to protect Baja from greedy developers and
foreign interests is a battle for so much more than just the environment--whatever that means.) Groups like El Grupo de los Cien--headed by one of
the most influential and respected contemporary Mexicans, the author Homero Aridjis--along with Greenpeace, Wildcoast, and others, worked with a
strong contingent of locals from the Guerrero Negro area to save Laguna San Ignacio and a large portion of the UNESCO recognized Vizcaino Biosphere
Reserve from being destroyed.
The movement to protect Baja California from massive development and greed and to support local communities through sustainable development and smart
planning is not a futile one. Gringo tourists may not notice it from the cabs of their RVs or from the back of a whining ATV, but all it takes is few
minutes of conversation with a resident of Bahia de Los Angeles, Santa Rosalillita, or any other threatened locale to see that the spirit of
conservation and lifestyle preservation is strong and effective on the penninsula.
Howerver... two million dollars of bribe money wouldn't hurt... |
You are absolutely right, theres been plenty of cases before where public pressure forced the goverment to shut down many proposed plans from major
corporations, the asumption that everything is crooked in Mexico all the time is absurd.
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JESSE
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MEXICO CITY - Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said this week it was ditching plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant on
Mexico's Pacific coast.
An official at Mexico's CRE energy regulator said recently he doubted Marathon would succeed with its project because of stiff local opposition to it
using the site, which is close to residential areas around Tijuana.
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/24107/new...
[Edited on 1-20-2005 by JESSE]
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Dave
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It was not internal pressure but financial, mostly from U.S. based mutual fund groups (led by California) that "convinced" Mitsubishi ( NOT Mexico) to
abandon plans for its Ignacio works.
Additionally, in 1999 PROFEPA issued a report on the original ESSA works which listed almost 300 violations, 25% serious. The Mexican government OWNS
51% of that operation. It continues to roll merrily along.
Mexico TALKS a good environmental game. Much better, in fact, than the U.S. But when push comes to shove it spreads 'em like a cheap hoar. ( After, of
course, getting the cash up front.)
[Edited on 1-20-2005 by Dave]
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
It was not internal pressure but financial, mostly from U.S. based mutual fund groups (led by California) that "convinced" Mitsubishi ( NOT Mexico) to
abandon plans for its Ignacio works.
Additionally, in 1999 PROFEPA issued a report on the original ESSA works which listed almost 300 violations, 25% serious. The Mexican government OWNS
51% of that operation. It continues to roll merrily along.
Mexico TALKS a good environmental game. Much better, in fact, than the U.S. But when push comes to shove it spreads 'em like a cheap hoar. ( After, of
course, getting the cash up front.)
[Edited on 1-20-2005 by Dave] |
Wrong! theres plenty of occasions where actual citizen and environmental pressure has won against big business, for a guy who has lived in Mexico for
a while now, you are very ignorant about the ways of this country. The fact that right here in my own neighboorhod we have stopped the construction of
one toxic waste incinerator and the Marathon gas project, contradicts your view that everything in Mexico is done with bribes and corruption.
Your original comment was that environmental groups have cero influence because everything here moves with money, and that is wrong and has been
proven wrong countless of times.
[Edited on 1-20-2005 by JESSE]
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Dave
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Jesse, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule.
And you're right about my being ignorant about the ways of your country. I figured out long ago that money could fix almost anything but I'm still
puzzled about how to make it STAY fixed.
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Jesse, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule.
And you're right about my being ignorant about the ways of your country. I figured out long ago that money could fix almost anything but I'm still
puzzled about how to make it STAY fixed. |
These are not exceptions to the rule Dave, in fact, sometimes environmentalist's have too much say in these types of projects, and as far as you being
puzzled about how to make it stay fixed, like i said, you need to think differently and you will find ways, we do, you should too.
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Braulio
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Another mega-example of environmentalists gaining the upper hand in Mexico would be the proposed Mexico City airport in San Salvador Atenco - which
didn't happen. Opponents were kind of a strange blend of campesino, antglobalist, leftist, and even wacko anarchist type groups.
Once things hit the press in Mexico the money thing doesn't always work.
As far as making things stay fixed in Mexico - it's tough - once you start paying out money it's almost inevitable that eventually it's going to catch
up with you - unless you can pay discreetly through a third party. That's why friends and personal conacts are more important than money.
A good business plan in Mexico has to include a quick exit strategy that allows you to keep whatever you've gained.
imho
[Edited on 1-21-2005 by Braulio]
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