URGENT ACTION NEEDED!

In order to make Saipan a better place to live and visit, we must have laws enacted that protect property from harm and taking. To date, no law has been passed by the CNMI Legislature making it illegal to steal or kill another person's animal.

Together, we can change that.

PAWS received the following email and asked that Beautify CNMI! pass it along to the community. Together, we are requesting IMMEDIATE action by the community. The email was sent out by two teachers that have served this community as leaders in our schools and in community sports.

"Dear friends, Sorry for the generic mass email, but I have some rather sad news and I only want to type it once. Unfortunately, Luna died last night. Even more upsetting than that is that she didn't die because of her illness; she was shot in the back of the head with a 22. When we came home and found her a little after midnight, her body was still warm and the blood was still fresh. We are certain of who did it - our neighbor was awake and hanging out with a friend on his porch 20 yards from her body, but claimed to know nothing, hear nothing, see nothing. Glenn went and questioned them and their story kept changing. We called the police. They came and wrote a report and said that they would be contacting our neighbor and his friend. I doubt there will be much follow-up and even if there is, I doubt there will be much resolution. Luna was the sweetest dog in the world, and as you all know she was like a child to us. Thank you for all your help, concern and support. Sadly, someone had other plans for her. Lindsay and Glenn"

If you find this email as outrageous as we did, please contact the media at:

• Saipan Tribune: Jayvee Vallejera Editor at editor@saipantribune.com
• Mariana Variety: Zaldy at mvariety@pticom.com
• KSPN: Chris Nelson at nelson@kspn2.com and chris.nelson@saipan.com


We would also ask that you contact our leading legislators at:

• Senate President Pete Reyes: sen.reyesp@cnmileg.gov.mp
• Senator Maria Frica T. Pangelinan: sen.pangelinanm@cnmileg.gov.mp
• Speaker Arnold Palacios: speaker.palaciosa@cnmileg.gov.mp
• Representative Tina Sablan: rep.sablanc@cnmileg.gov.mp and/or tinasablan@gmail.com

Something must be done about this. This is wrong. This is absolutely wrong.

Make our community a better place by demanding something of our legislature and law enforcement officials.

Stop Turtle Poaching in the Marianas

I received this message from MINA today:

NOAA needs your help. NOAA is offering Rewards for Information on Sea Turtle Poaching!!!!

NOAA’s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of persons poaching endangered sea turtles in the Territory of Guam and in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands.

Turtle poaching is an ongoing problem in the Guam area. In recent months, NOAA special agents have investigated cases involving the sale and consumption of meat and eggs of protected sea turtles.

Turtle experts believe that turtle poaching is a significant contributing factor to the reduction of indigenous sea turtle populations around the Pacific islands.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects all six species of sea turtles in the United States. Endangered species include the indigenous Green Sea Turtle and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, which are commonly found in and around Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Under the ESA and its corresponding regulations, it is illegal to take, possess, sell, deliver, receive, import, export, carry, transport, or ship any endangered species. A violation of the Endangered Species Act can result in civil penalties of up to $25,000, and criminal fines of up to $100,000 and imprisonment up to one year.

Anyone with information is asked to call one of the following numbers:

Special Agent Charles Raterman (Guam) 671-472-7200
Pacific Islands Division (Honolulu, HI) 808-541-2727
Office for Law Enforcement - National Hotline: 800-853-1964
Guam Customs & Quarantine Service - MITF: 671-475-6331
Guam Division of Aquatics and Wildlife – DAWR: 671-735-3991
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Guam 671-647-6064
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

go to:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080729_seaturtle.html