APOYO INTERNACIONAL RECIBE DENUNCIA EN DEFENSA DE LOS HUMEDALES

Tras la carta publicada por el señor José Miguel Leiva en Algarrobo Digital días atrás, un grupo en los Estados Unidos la tradujo y comenzó a recolectar firmas en apoyo a la defensa de los humedales. Adjuntamos el texto íntegro y las firmas correspondientes.

Esta situación debería ser conocida y entendida por todos los lugareños, santiaguinos, chilenos, extranjeros, el mundo entero! Educación y conciencia para interrumpir el sistema nefasto. Aquí va una traducción en Inglés con firmas de residentes de USA apoyando a la Hermosa cuidad de Algarrobo. 

____________________________________________

How come the selfish arrogant interest from housing development corporations can be imposed in our community as they thrive to erase flora and fauna on the already distressed wetlands in order achieve their own business goals?

How come we have to continue supporting our politicians, the ones who receive our votes, as they cover their ears and eyes in front of this tremendous environmental destruction?

This tremendous encroachment onto wetlands puts our whole community at risk, a privileged community thanks to the habitats these wetlands provide.

According to the Kennedy Foundation, protector of the majority of our wetlands, among them The Membrillo, the most threatened by the hands of people with no scrupulous, Algarrobo, almost 20 kilometers long, with 14 micro habitats, which form 7 wetlands of great importance to the regional biodiversity.

The National Ministry recently declared Tunquen Wetland as a natural sanctuary due to its rich native flora and fauna. 

There are two other natural sanctuaries in our community: Pájaros Niños Island and Peñon de Peñablanca, both considered as marine wetlands under an international treaty from 1971 which, according to the Kennedy Foundation, in 1981 Chile reiterated as a protected area, together with the rest of the wetlands, because of their importance to the international animal migration.

All the wetlands in Algarrobo are noticeable for their landscape, their beauty, and their rich diversity of species that depend on these habitats. 

Membrillo Wetland is today threatened. It is formed by a coastal lagoon and two adjacent streams.

This Wetland serves as nesting and transitional homes for a variety of migratory birds. Some 90 species of birds have been identified, together with reptiles and amphibians, all endangered of preservation. In addition, the ravine through which the streams run, is the home of species such as Palma Chilena, which enjoy the areas provided by this habitat. 

Today, dear readers, this Wetland is threatened by fatal housing development projects to be built on this wetland, a place meant to receive significant rain fall and marine water.

As the Foundation works to declare this wetland as a sanctuary, all wetlands are being threatened and taken advantage of due to a Plan of Regulation, created in 1997. 

With the development of housing, our community has experienced an incontrollable and disgusting expansion of people just in the last few years. 

This neglected and explosive expansion of housing takes advantage of the natural water to irrigate their flowers that decorate gardens as they dig deep into underground currents that feed our wetlands.

Thus, here are all the endangered wetlands:

• QUEBRADA EL YECO, with valuable ecological species such as Reliptos de Canelo, Pataguas, and endangered Yacas and Chilean frogs.

• HUMEDAL SAN GERONIMO, where Taguas and Huairaquillos nest.

• HUMEDAL SANTA TERESITA, right next to the church with the same name, and the presence of enormous eucalyptus trees, which absorbe all the water from the wetland.

• HUMEDAL TRANQUE ROTO, where all the natural condition exists to provide nesting for Taguitas.

• QUEBRADA LAS PETRA, between the area of Algarrobo and El Quisco, which contains vegetation such as Pataguas and Canelos.

We, Algarrobinos, are privileged ... but, for how long? Is it that difficult, Mr. Politicians, to work together and legislate to protect the biodiversity, ecology, and environment?

Is it so hard, Mr. Politicians, to legislate to favor future generations and protect them from future corporation blows of fate?

Mr. Mayor, do you know the existence of these wetlands at all?

You are the ones who represent us to execute and protect our rights and the right to protect our wetlands. 

I understand the political defense from conservatories and rightists who defend these immoral housing developers to wipe out our lands and environment. You are consistent with your immoral values. You have common interest.

But the ones I don’t understand are the politicians of the other political parties: these so-called progressives, environmental and ecological protectors. What are you doing? Blinding your eyes and covering your ears!!!

In defense of our wetlands!

José Miguel Leiva

[We are signing our names to support the people of Algarrobo, Chile to wake up ecological international vigilance:]

http://www.fundacionkennedy.cl/quiero-ayudar/

https://www.facebook.com/fundacionkennedy/

Tatiana Leiva

Jed Lundeen

Zeytuna Mohamed

Michael Turbak

Darren Tobolt

Rahn Carlson

Dana Garvey

Jennifer Mickelson

Emily Savage

Shelly Campbell

Beth Turbak

Katherine Garvey

Meg Groeneweg

Jeffrey Olson

Jolene Turbak

Phoua Yang 

Elysia Peitzman

Renee Dorman

Xue Vang

Ed Garvey

Charlotte Landreau

Kelly Lang

Sean O’Reilly 

Dave Peters

Lindsay Lowther

Eric Frost

Ben Groeneweg

Becky Wilson

Heidi Dunlap

Layo Hernandez

Myrna Abrigo

Stella Ashland

Marina Medina

Katy Scanlan

Shelly Peters

Brett Asleson

Jillian Bukowski

Chanda Mulligan

Mikala Villaskey

Nicole Frost

Florence Dubaille

Eric Haugee 

Christie Oberg

Mary Hernandez 

Jessica Johnson

Amanda Herrera

Sarah Imholte

Lee Haugee 

Johan Oberg

Gloria Lopez

Jeffrey White

Peter See

Jeff Rissman

Anthony Taylor

Leah Porter

Melissa Kubousek

Salahadin Mohamed

Xiong Xue

Al Lavin

Carol Markham-Cousins

Amy Vavrika

Kris Heim

Joel Mason