Dog Tag License Registrati​on

Courtesy of PAWS (Pet Assistance and Welfare Services) a message from the Mayor's Office:
Hafa Adai to all,

This to kindly inform dog owners starting next week July 11th-22nd 2011 Mayor of Saipan will reopen its Dog Control Program "Dog Tag License Registration". Registration will take place at the Mayor of Saipan Compound at Chalan Kanoa (behind the Post Service Office) from 9:00am-4:00pm(open during lunch hours). Please be advised to pay your fees at the CNMI Treasury in Capitol Hill, Superior Court in Susupe or the Tax and Revenue in Dan Dan then proceed to the registration site. Applications are available at the cashiers, please fill out the application per dog so we can expedite the process and then we will issue the tags.

To see a copy of Saipan Local Law 9-12 Dog Control Act and its Regulations, please contact the Mayor's office. Thank you for outmost support for the program.

Free screening of "A Sea Change" tomorrow

Tomorrow First Friday Films will be presenting A Sea Change, a film that tackles the twin of global warming, ocean acidification, and its effects to our ocean, our corals, and our marine animals. The event starts at 6:30pm at the American Memorial Park visitors center.

If you live in an island, like ours, that heavily depends on coral reefs for tourism and sea creatures for sustenance, wouldn’t you want to know what is happening to them now and what might happen to them in the future? Sven Huseby, an ordinary grandfather, wants to know. Recipient of the 2010 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Hero Award, A Sea Change follows the journey of Sven as he travels from Alaska to Norway to uncover that the global ocean is slowly becoming too acidic for the creatures that live in it.

Members of the CNMI Marine Monitoring Team will be on hand to discuss how you can help protect our corals from the expected effects of global climate change.

The Pacific Historic Parks (formerly the Arizona Memorial Museum Association) Bookstore, located inside the visitor’s center, will be open until 8:30 PM. All proceeds go to community education programs.

As always, First Friday Films is free and open to the public. For planning purposes, the movie runs 1 hour and 23 minutes long.  For more information visit the programs blog at firstfridayfilms.blogspot.com.

See you tomorrow!

Sharkwater Saipan

Check out what Kathy Pagapular's 6th grade class at San Vicente Elementary School were able to accomplish with the help of Sharkwater's Rob Stewart and some other very dedicated adults. I hope this inspiring video goes viral, and I'd appreciate anything you can do to put it in the blogosphere, Twittersphere, or Facebooksphere.

World Oceans Day - How will you celebrate?

How about becoming an Ocean Hero?

Be an Ocean Hero This Summer!

World Oceans Day, June 8, is a day for celebrating the oceans' beauty and bounty. This summer, do more than just celebrate. Be an ocean hero.

CLICK HERE: Bing an ocean hero is easy – just pledge to recycle, clean up or eat sustainable seafood this summer.

Discover the story behind your local produce at the next First Friday Films. Come see Nourish, Food + Community tomorrow (Friday, June 3rd) at 6:30 p.m. at the American Memorial Park. visitors center

Have you ever wondered where your food comes from? Was it produced locally or hundreds of miles away and shipped to your hometown? Nourish is a film celebrating fresh and wholesome food that’s both good for you and the community.

With interviews from Best-selling author Michael Pollan, Sustainable Food Advocate Anna Lappe, Chef and author Bryan Terry, and Dr. Nadine Burke, the film delves into how the choices we make affect our sustainable food supply. From the seed to your table, see how food connects every individual on earth.

Also joining us, will be members of the Sabalu Farmers Market Association, including Asap Ogumoro who will be discussing where our food in Saipan comes from and how you can make food choices that benefit your community, health, and environment.

NMC CREES will have a selection of tasty dishes made from locally grown produce for all to try as well as their recipes for you to use at home.

First Friday Films is a monthly film series brought to you through a partnership with the National Park Service, Division of Environmental Quality, with generous support from community groups such as the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance.

The Pacific Historic Parks (formerly the Arizona Memorial Museum Association) Bookstore, located inside the visitor’s center, will be open until 8:30pm. All proceeds go to community education programs.

For planning purposes, the movie runs about 30 minutes long. As always, First Friday Films is free and open to the public. Please arrive early to ensure admittance, as seating is limited.

Find more information about the film at www.firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com. Subscribe to the blog for regular updates on upcoming events.

Protect the Oceanic Whitetip Shark on World Ocean's Day

The IUCN Red List Threatened Species assesses the Oceanic Whitetip Shark as Critically Endangered in the Western and Central Atlantic. Globally they are assessed as Vulnerable and are threatened with extinction if strong measures are not put into place to protect their remaining populations.

To raise awareness of the plight of this charismatic species, please change your Facebook profile picture to the attached graphic until World Ocean's Day on June 8, 2011.  A high resolution of the photo can also be found on Flickr.

Friends of Marpi - ACTION ALERT

The following is reproduced from an email circulated on May 11, 2011:

Dear Friends of Marpi,

As many of you know by now, on May 2, 2011 Judge Kenneth Govendo issued a 90-day preliminary injunction on the Marpi power pole project following two days of hearings on the matter. The judge encouraged the government and the Friends of Marpi to come together over the 90-day injunction period and discuss ways to resolve the controversy that would be satisfactory to both parties.

Here are links to the stories on the hearings, from the Marianas Variety here:

• "Govt told to listen to the people" http://www.mvariety.com/2011050236453/local-news/govt-told-to-listen-to-the-people.php

and the Saipan Tribune here:

• "Judge stops Marpi poles project for 90 days" http://saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=109108

Also included in this email are documents submitted to the court during the hearing on May 2:

• Letter from Dr. David Louter, Cultural Resources Program Chief for the National Parks Service, in response to to Friends of Marpi's inquiry regarding the compliance of the Marpi power pole project with requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (document attached). Dr. Louter describes the significance of the National Historic Landmark area of Marpi, and the role of the National Park Service in monitoring historic sites across the nation. He notes that NPS is concerned about the cumulative effects, or incremental loss, that the Marpi cemetery and other projects may have on the integrity of the Marpi area and its historic and cultural values. Louter further indicates that NPS had not been formally invited to Section 106 consultation for the Marpi project, and that NPS had supported the CNMI Historic Preservation Office's recommendation to the local government to consider either solar power or underground lines instead of power poles.
• A document produced by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, titled "Environmental Impacts of Transmission Lines" and found here: http://psc.wi.gov/thelibrary/publications/electric/electric10.pdf. The paper provides an overview of the environmental issues and concerns raised by the construction of power lines, and discusses ways to measure, identify, and minimize or mitigate negative impacts, including impacts to places of historic, cultural, or scenic value. The paper also notes that underground transmission lines are considered a reasonable alternative in places where aesthetic impacts of power lines would be significant, and that low-voltage underground lines are more cost-effective and more common than high-voltage underground lines.

Many thanks to Jim Davies, a resident of the CNMI for more than 20 years, who offered testimony at the hearing about the impacts that the Marpi power poles will have on his ecotourism business, and CNMI ecotourism generally, and also on the Japanese film and photography industry, with which he has worked over the course of his years here, and of course to David Banes and Wes Bogdan for their strong work in preparing the case and securing the injunction.

***
Since the issuance of the injunction, the CNMI House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Natural Resources has called for public hearings on the Marpi power pole project. Please do take the time to make your voice heard and participate in these hearings. Our thanks to House Natural Resources Chair, Representative Joe Palacios, for convening these hearings and offering the opportunity for all of us in the community to express our views.

The hearings are scheduled for:

• Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 6pm - CNMI House of Representatives Chamber at the Legislature on Capitol Hill
• Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 6pm - Multipurpose Center in Susupe

Want to help? Here are eight simple ways to do your part:

1. Go to: http://www.friendsofmarpi.com and click on Letter to Elected Officials to sign the form letter which will be forwarded to our elected officials. This will only take you a minute!

2. Write a personal testimony and submit it to the House Natural Resources Committee. Submit written testimonies by dropping them off or faxing to the Office of Representative Joseph M. Palacios (664-8831) or mailing to P.O. Box 500586 Saipan, MP 96950. Written testimonies can also be emailed to rep.palaciosj@cnmileg.gov.mp. 

3. Share your personal testimony with local media and the Friends of Marpi. Email the Marianas Variety at editor@mvariety.com and the Saipan Tribune at editor@saipantribune.com to submit letters to the editor. Please also share your testimonies with the Friends of Marpi - email Glen Hunter at glenhunter@gmail.com so we can post it on the website.

4. Attend the hearings on May 12 (6pm, CNMI House of Representatives Chamber) and May 18 (6pm, Multipurpose Center), and personally submit your testimony at the hearing.

5. Write to David at davidgbanes@gmail.com if you would like your name to be included with his written testimony on behalf of Friends of Marpi. David sent out his draft in an earlier email, and I am attaching it here as well.

6. Sign the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-marpi-beautiful-----for-tourists-and-residents-alike/.

7. Donate to Friends of Marpi (make checks payable to Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, write "Friends of Marpi" in the memo line, and submit to either Laurie Peterka or Tina Sablan, both members of the council)

8. SPREAD THE WORD. Please circulate this information to your mailing lists, on your Facebook page, and by word of mouth. Encourage your friends and family to join the Friends of Marpi and help keep Marpi beautiful.

***

Many thanks!
Best wishes,
Tina Sablan

2 attachments
NPS response to Friends of Marpi 27April2011.pdf 
David Banes.Draft Marpi Testimony.05.11.11.doc