PELLUCID
02-02-2007, 02:06 PM
NASSAU - Ministers of the Government of The Bahamas held a joint press conference today, announcing the nation's new initiative to fight global warming.
The Hon. Marcus Bethel (Minister of Energy and The Environment) opened the press conference by stating "As a nation of low-lying islands, we are at great risk of being inundated by rising sea levels as global warming melts the planet's ice caps. We have complained about this situation for years, and have seen little action on the part of the large industrial nations responsible. It is high time The Bahamas stopped relying other nations to solve its problems. We must take matters into our own hands. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to unveil our local solution to a global problem -- Carbon Sequestration Through Iron Fertilization."
Mr. Bethel presented research showing every ton of iron added (http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/iron.txt)to the oceans will capture 700 tons of carbon dioxide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigation_of_global_warming#Seeding_oceans_with_i ron), the principal gas responsible for global warming. He said "We have a ready source of iron at hand, cheaply available, in the form of derelict ships. As Minister of Energy it is my special pleasure to announce that the first vessel designated for this program will in fact be an oil drilling barge, courtesy of Liberty Oil Refining (http://www.libertyoil.org/) of Las Vegas, NV. I'd like to extend a special thanks to Mr. Kermit Waters for allowing this vessel to come aground over a year ago, on a coral reef next to the historic settlements of Man-O-War Cay and Hopetown. If any in the audience would like to extend their personal thanks, his phone number is 702-499-9832. We are extremely grateful for his gift of more than 2000 tons (http://www.tc.gc.ca/ShipRegistry/detail.asp?lang=e&VesselID=3175&category=statistics) of iron which will be added to the oceans over the next couple of decades."
Drill Barge "Louis J Goulet" Aground on Reef in Abacos
(see attached photo)
The Hon. Obie Wilchcombe (Minister of Tourism) had additional good news to announce. "This is part of our plan to diversify the nation's tourism industry away from packaged cruise ship/casino vacations. The new generation of tourists is much more attuned to the environment, and they are willing to spend money to experience it first-hand. We see eco-tourism as a profitable niche that will carry us past the looming transition of power in Cuba. Our vision is to have several vessels similar to this one grounded off of every anchor development in The Bahamas. Local tour operators can offer kayak excursions, wreck snorkeling, even bungee jumping from the superstructure. Doesn't this look something that would appeal to the adventure traveler?"
New Design For Bahamian Ten Dollar Bill
(see attached photo)
Mrs. Wendy Craig (Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas) wrapped up the press conference by presenting the new design for the Bahamian ten dollar bill. "We were of course thrilled that the Louis J Goulet came aground just a mile or two away from the Elbow Cay lighthouse." she said. "This historic structure, one of three remaining hand-wound kerosene-fired lighthouses in the world, epitomizes Bahamian respect for tradition. With its red and white stripes, overlooking the Hopetown harbour first settled in 1783, there is good reason this is one of the most photographed scenes in The Bahamas. Now, with the addition of the drill barge to the scenery, we have the privilege of updating the nation's currency. I do hope Obie is able to quickly find some more derelict ships to park near Hopetown. As you can see, there is plenty of room on the ten dollar bill for us to add more."
The Hon. Marcus Bethel (Minister of Energy and The Environment) opened the press conference by stating "As a nation of low-lying islands, we are at great risk of being inundated by rising sea levels as global warming melts the planet's ice caps. We have complained about this situation for years, and have seen little action on the part of the large industrial nations responsible. It is high time The Bahamas stopped relying other nations to solve its problems. We must take matters into our own hands. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to unveil our local solution to a global problem -- Carbon Sequestration Through Iron Fertilization."
Mr. Bethel presented research showing every ton of iron added (http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/iron.txt)to the oceans will capture 700 tons of carbon dioxide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigation_of_global_warming#Seeding_oceans_with_i ron), the principal gas responsible for global warming. He said "We have a ready source of iron at hand, cheaply available, in the form of derelict ships. As Minister of Energy it is my special pleasure to announce that the first vessel designated for this program will in fact be an oil drilling barge, courtesy of Liberty Oil Refining (http://www.libertyoil.org/) of Las Vegas, NV. I'd like to extend a special thanks to Mr. Kermit Waters for allowing this vessel to come aground over a year ago, on a coral reef next to the historic settlements of Man-O-War Cay and Hopetown. If any in the audience would like to extend their personal thanks, his phone number is 702-499-9832. We are extremely grateful for his gift of more than 2000 tons (http://www.tc.gc.ca/ShipRegistry/detail.asp?lang=e&VesselID=3175&category=statistics) of iron which will be added to the oceans over the next couple of decades."
Drill Barge "Louis J Goulet" Aground on Reef in Abacos
(see attached photo)
The Hon. Obie Wilchcombe (Minister of Tourism) had additional good news to announce. "This is part of our plan to diversify the nation's tourism industry away from packaged cruise ship/casino vacations. The new generation of tourists is much more attuned to the environment, and they are willing to spend money to experience it first-hand. We see eco-tourism as a profitable niche that will carry us past the looming transition of power in Cuba. Our vision is to have several vessels similar to this one grounded off of every anchor development in The Bahamas. Local tour operators can offer kayak excursions, wreck snorkeling, even bungee jumping from the superstructure. Doesn't this look something that would appeal to the adventure traveler?"
New Design For Bahamian Ten Dollar Bill
(see attached photo)
Mrs. Wendy Craig (Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas) wrapped up the press conference by presenting the new design for the Bahamian ten dollar bill. "We were of course thrilled that the Louis J Goulet came aground just a mile or two away from the Elbow Cay lighthouse." she said. "This historic structure, one of three remaining hand-wound kerosene-fired lighthouses in the world, epitomizes Bahamian respect for tradition. With its red and white stripes, overlooking the Hopetown harbour first settled in 1783, there is good reason this is one of the most photographed scenes in The Bahamas. Now, with the addition of the drill barge to the scenery, we have the privilege of updating the nation's currency. I do hope Obie is able to quickly find some more derelict ships to park near Hopetown. As you can see, there is plenty of room on the ten dollar bill for us to add more."