There are still media stories being written claiming that our leaders and our people were against the declaration of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. New Scientist magazine writes:
This is a picture of former President George W. Bush and CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial moments after the declaration of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. In case you can not decipher what is going on in the photo, Governor Fitial is hugging Mr. Bush.
New Scientist should issue a retraction and report that our monument was supported by our Governor, Legislature, Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association, and a majority of our residents.
The Pew group bankrolled and was key in promoting one of George W. Bush's last acts as US president. Despite protests from local island leaders, Bush declared the Mariana trench in the Pacific Ocean a national monument, even though it extends 80 kilometres beyond US territorial waters.I would like to offer the following photo as evidence to counter the inaccurate claims made by New Scientist:
This is a picture of former President George W. Bush and CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial moments after the declaration of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. In case you can not decipher what is going on in the photo, Governor Fitial is hugging Mr. Bush.New Scientist should issue a retraction and report that our monument was supported by our Governor, Legislature, Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association, and a majority of our residents.