13 replies to this topic

[happy2dive]

22 April, in between the morning and afternoon dives, our boat (Big Hollywood) joined more than 100 other diveboats off the shore of Giftun Island, a pristine uninhabited island off the coast of Hurghada. The island and its coral reefs have been declared a nature preserve in 1995. Forty percent of Hurghada’s dive sites are located around this island, which is the second largest protected island in the Red Sea after Shedwan Island.

The reason for this gathering was to protest an incredibly daft plan by Italian investors to develop this island into a resort complex of over 1000 rooms (NOT eco-lodges) and to build a bridge to connect to the island to the mainland. If this plan goes through, it would mean certain death for most of the unique marine life in the area. Of course the divers and dive centers in the area as well as the local government that relies on eco-tourism income were enraged at this news.

Thus we braved becoming ‘toast’ in the harsh Egyptian sun while we were ferried to the island in small boats for the photo shoot. We all donned our ‘Save Giftun Island’ t-shirts and posed for the local news crew. A full report of the protest and the development plans is available at the following link:

Giftun Island Protest Report published on Egypt Today

To summarize, the following are at stake:
794 marine species, including whale sharks that have been spotted around the island
196 types of hard & soft coral representing 80% of the biodiversity of corals in the Red Sea
5 rare species of sea turtle, including the Hawksbill turtle that nests on this island
6 species of migratory birds including 2 endangered species, the Osprey and White-eyed seagull
2 eco-systems at stake, coral and sea grass

(source Egypt Today and EmperorDivers.Com)

You can also help by signing an online petition to stop the Egyptian government and the Italian investors. Please sign up at the following link:

Giftun Island Online Petition

I hope we can all stop this idiocy together.

Greetings from Amsterdam
Happy2dive

[Bubble2Bubble]

Happy2Dive
its
Happy 2 know you
I signed the Petition

Dont build a bridge,Feed hungry children

Mike

Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 19 May 2004 - 05:34 AM.

[sapphire]

Thank you, Happy2Dive, for bringing this to our attention. I signed the petition and I hope others do as well.

peace,

Jennifer

[Walter]

We're up to 9228 signatures.

[happy2dive]

We're up to 9228 signatures.

Good. Thanks for signing the petition. I hope more sign up. I also posted the same report on ScubaBoard to reach more divers.
It's going to take more signatures to outweigh the $2 billion 'bribe' the Italian investors are forking out to the Egyptian government in exchange for rights to the island.

Edited by happy2dive, 19 May 2004 - 07:39 AM.

[Walter]

I saw it over there too. I posted expressing my hope that more will sign. That also bumped it to the top where more people will see it.

[Blublood]

9248

[SuperDave]

9258

[chinacat46]

9260

[mischievous]

9275 and i'm emailing it to some friends.

[scubahoney]

9276!

[Marvel]

9279 less than an hour later- Keep sending it out gang!!

Hey H2D- post it over on scubaboard also, if you haven't already. You might want to contact a mod to see how it can be given maximum exposure, given all their subforums.

[happy2dive]

9279 less than an hour later- Keep sending it out gang!!

Hey H2D- post it over on scubaboard also, if you haven't already. You might want to contact a mod to see how it can be given maximum exposure, given all their subforums.

Hi Marvel,
I already did post on SB along with the rest of my red sea report. However I haven't contacted a moderator yet. Good idea. Walter has already posted a reply on SB earlier to try to keep the post up on the surface and visible.
I'm really pleased with everyone's interest and willingness to help.
H2D

[nextariel]

9280