Date: November 1, 2000
Contact: Dan Evans
Phone: (352) 373-6441
In the next couple of weeks, there is a great opportunity to try to persuade Mexico’s new president and administration to do the right thing for X’cacel. This is a chance to deal with people who were not involved in the irregularities in the sale and case of X’cacel. Contacts in Mexico have heard that it is quite possible that the new Secretary of the Environment will protect X’cacel IF enough emails, letters and faxes are sent to him!
Send an e-mail message to President Fox and Victor Lichtinger, the new head of Mexico’s EPA, that’s all it takes to help make a difference!
Send your e-mail to Mr. Lichtinger and President Fox or print the pre-written letter and fax it to them (contact info below).
The fact that there is a new administration presents a good window of opportunity for influencing the government on this issue. The Mexican press has suggested that “There is no way that the new administration can accept the irregularities, shady and stupid deals of the past authorities.”
According to the national press, Mr. Lichtinger is going to visit X’cacel in January. This means that any public input that reaches him before then is likely to have a large impact! Also, the first trip that the new environmental commission of the federal congress took was to X’cacel, where they talked with scientists, environmentalists, and community groups about X’cacel. The leader of the commission stated that X’cacel is an issue that the whole nation should be concerned about.
Multiple lawsuits seeking a reversal of the Environmental Impact Assessment approval are pending, and an injunction temporarily halting construction is in effect. That saves the beach in the short term, but Lichtinger’s decision (likely to be made soon) will surely be what determines the final outcome for the beach and the turtles.
Contact Info:
Lic. Víctor Lichtinger Waisman
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
Periférico Sur 4209,
Col. Jardines de la Montaña, C.P. 14210, México D.F.
FAX: 525-628 0643
E- MAIL: vlichtinger@semarnat.gob.mx
Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec CP 11850 México, D.F.
FAX: 525-516-65-15 and 525-516-10-23
EMAIL: vicente@fox2000.org.mx
Information provided by Mary Louise Whitlow
Sea Turtle Conservancy
