Many of you have been e-mailing me and asking me about the Coalition of Reef Lovers or (CORL), I thank you for your interest and will Post more CORL information soon. CORL's web site is www.corl.org.
I must first address a growing problem within the "Marine Ornamental Industrys Reform" movement.
Sciguy2 posted this on RDO.
"It has become very apparent to me that many people who are concerned about reef ecology and reef environmental issues shoot their wounded. Please consider what you say and do and prove me wrong."
Thank you Sciguy2, your statement needs to be said and over and over...
With the ever growing demand for the dwindling Grant and private Supporters dollars we look more upon each other as competition, not co-workers toward our common goals.
This problem will defeat our common goals if we let it continue. If this problem continues it is not us that will suffer the greatest but those who we are suppose to be helping who will pay the highest cost for our arrogance.
The fact is that the current industry reform movement is very fractured. I ask those involved to take a look at yourself, your organization, what was it your organization was created for? Where are you today in that quest? Why is it that you are where you are?
The Ultimate Goal of any reform movement is to instigate and create the needed changes for the betterment of ALL that it involves. The Ultimate Goal of any program is to succeed and therefore be self ending or limiting. The Ultimate goal of any project is to provide the needed tools and knowledge of how to use them to make a program work and this knowledge should be shared with all regardless if the project a failure or success.
The Current situation that is developing here is very dangerous if it is allowed to continue it will jeopardizes a very crucial part of the needed change to bring forth sustainable resource usage, and that's Net Training. Granted even though changing the whole Marine Ornamental industry into one that's sustainable is a minor part of the big picture, it's a step in the right direction. The net training programs help not only in retraining of collectors to use nets for collecting marine ornamental fish but also with the needed environmental education that enforces the needed community awareness so they protect their resources from other degrading practices. Nets, Net use training, and education are all just tools; these and many more are needed to turn things around.
As far as the current net funding drives go..
Basically CORL DOES NOT CARE WHO PROVIDES THE NEEDED NETS (BUT WE DO THANK THEM GREATLY FOR THEIR ACTIONS!!!) What's needed more than the Netting material is the Net training. Not only for a select few who's resources are still prime, but for all those who need to be changed over from using destructive fishing methods. In areas where the habitat is too degraded to support a sustainable fishery alternative incomes must be created to give the collectors a means to feed their families.
OK more on CORL;.
CORL's main goal is to create sustainable usages of the Coastal and Marine habitats for those that depend upon them for food and a living.
CORL is not about the Marine Ornamental Industry it is about those people who depend upon the Coastal resources to live.
CORL is more then willing to work with any organization toward those common goals we share.
In the last four years CORL has developed a Coastal Resource Management Program that seeks to help provide answers for many of the problems of Coastal Resource Management and therefore help lead the way to sustainable resource usage in those nations were this program is adopted. CORL's program will be made available to any Government or Nongovernmental Non-profit organization who wishes to work with CORL toward this Common goal. This Program is a new way of doing business and is designed to overcome many of the major problems of Coastal resource management, one of which is funding by obtaining needed money through sales to the Marine Ornamental Industry. The CORL CRC program will also promote the aquarium hobby through its CORL-USA branch. One CORL CRC pilot project has now been started; we are currently seeking funding for another in the Philippines. The Net Training Program that Ferdinand and Steve have asked CORL to help with sets CORL into the Philippines ahead of the planned schedule, but as Steve stated sometime a push in the right direction is needed even if premature. I'm glad and proud to have both of them on the CORL team working toward our common goals, even if that dedication was just aimed at just net training I'd still endorse it 110%. The dedication they have is a passion, it is the type of people like Ferdinand Cruz and Steve Robinson who start to move the mountain they will not give up and if one way fails they will seek another. I invite others to join in our efforts and I applaud those who remain where they are within other organizations yet support CORL with their actions and words. These people truly understand that CORL is for the people.
To those involved with CORL, please try to remember as I state "CORL wishes to work with any organization or individual who shares our goals"; This includes all organizations regardless of their past performance. The CRC program CORL offers puts an end to the past organizational and technology transference mistakes on the receiving side of those organizations who work with us (We can't control them outside of the CRC program). That is they train the trainers and that's it, they are done. What we aim to create is a smoother technology transfer, and to further the shift toward the communities in resource dispersal. The communities produce the products as a business that creates a sustainable eco-beneficial industry. The CRC's in turn buys and sells the products, this will at a minimum subsidize the CRC's and at best totally funds the operating cost of the CRC's and can create funding for more Environmental and Social economic programs, all as a national Not for Profit Organization.
Yes what I'm/CORL is proposing is a bold step, but the well beaten path so many of us are on seems to be one full of confusion and dead ends, sometimes a bold step off the path is needed , sometimes a new path needs to be created to reach the common goal we all are seeking to obtain. If we work together to blaze those new trails we can better avoid the cliffs and swamps on the way and those successes we found can create the bridges where usable. What CORL offers all is a new way of doing things, based on and for the communities with support from a local professional staff trained at a national or regional office where professionals from many organizations come to train the trainers. I could go on and on ..... But it's best if you or your organization wishes to learn more about CORL's CRC proposal send me an e-mail [email protected] . Several governments had already been given it and CORL is currently working on the first CRC pilot program here in American Samoa. Is it the answer to all the problems? NO, but with your input and help some of those cliffs and swamps might be avoided.
Unfortunately right now I can not spend the time that I'd like to on the internet to inform the hobbyist about whats going on at the front lines. I hope Ferdinand can find some more time too, but like me he has his hands quite full doing the work not just talking about doing it. In a few weeks when my workload lets up I will give you all some more insight on just what it takes to bring about the needed changes to create sustainable resource use in the MOI and community fisheries.
If CORL-USA is shut down CORL will also survive for the ideas behind it are my passion like Net Training to Steve and Ferdinand, both of them were given the CORL CRC program and understand just what it is that CORL is about. For those that don't know. CORL is more than a Not for- Profit org its a new way of doing business itself.
So many organizations have tried to bring about the needed changes, yet little ground has been gained Why?
Could it be we have looked upon the solutions wrong from the start?
Could it be that we totally left out a few needed components?
Could it be that our way of presenting the solutions to the communities we serve were all wrong?
Or was it we were too busy fighting with each other to notice that those we said we would help were wandering off aimlessly in search of answers in the distance?
From CORL-AS
In the South Pacific
Fa'
Mike R King
One last note for CORL associates, Please if you post your opinions state them as just that, not those of CORL.
Thanks.
Grrr HTML.....
I must first address a growing problem within the "Marine Ornamental Industrys Reform" movement.
Sciguy2 posted this on RDO.
"It has become very apparent to me that many people who are concerned about reef ecology and reef environmental issues shoot their wounded. Please consider what you say and do and prove me wrong."
Thank you Sciguy2, your statement needs to be said and over and over...
With the ever growing demand for the dwindling Grant and private Supporters dollars we look more upon each other as competition, not co-workers toward our common goals.
This problem will defeat our common goals if we let it continue. If this problem continues it is not us that will suffer the greatest but those who we are suppose to be helping who will pay the highest cost for our arrogance.
The fact is that the current industry reform movement is very fractured. I ask those involved to take a look at yourself, your organization, what was it your organization was created for? Where are you today in that quest? Why is it that you are where you are?
The Ultimate Goal of any reform movement is to instigate and create the needed changes for the betterment of ALL that it involves. The Ultimate Goal of any program is to succeed and therefore be self ending or limiting. The Ultimate goal of any project is to provide the needed tools and knowledge of how to use them to make a program work and this knowledge should be shared with all regardless if the project a failure or success.
The Current situation that is developing here is very dangerous if it is allowed to continue it will jeopardizes a very crucial part of the needed change to bring forth sustainable resource usage, and that's Net Training. Granted even though changing the whole Marine Ornamental industry into one that's sustainable is a minor part of the big picture, it's a step in the right direction. The net training programs help not only in retraining of collectors to use nets for collecting marine ornamental fish but also with the needed environmental education that enforces the needed community awareness so they protect their resources from other degrading practices. Nets, Net use training, and education are all just tools; these and many more are needed to turn things around.
As far as the current net funding drives go..
Basically CORL DOES NOT CARE WHO PROVIDES THE NEEDED NETS (BUT WE DO THANK THEM GREATLY FOR THEIR ACTIONS!!!) What's needed more than the Netting material is the Net training. Not only for a select few who's resources are still prime, but for all those who need to be changed over from using destructive fishing methods. In areas where the habitat is too degraded to support a sustainable fishery alternative incomes must be created to give the collectors a means to feed their families.
OK more on CORL;.
CORL's main goal is to create sustainable usages of the Coastal and Marine habitats for those that depend upon them for food and a living.
CORL is not about the Marine Ornamental Industry it is about those people who depend upon the Coastal resources to live.
CORL is more then willing to work with any organization toward those common goals we share.
In the last four years CORL has developed a Coastal Resource Management Program that seeks to help provide answers for many of the problems of Coastal Resource Management and therefore help lead the way to sustainable resource usage in those nations were this program is adopted. CORL's program will be made available to any Government or Nongovernmental Non-profit organization who wishes to work with CORL toward this Common goal. This Program is a new way of doing business and is designed to overcome many of the major problems of Coastal resource management, one of which is funding by obtaining needed money through sales to the Marine Ornamental Industry. The CORL CRC program will also promote the aquarium hobby through its CORL-USA branch. One CORL CRC pilot project has now been started; we are currently seeking funding for another in the Philippines. The Net Training Program that Ferdinand and Steve have asked CORL to help with sets CORL into the Philippines ahead of the planned schedule, but as Steve stated sometime a push in the right direction is needed even if premature. I'm glad and proud to have both of them on the CORL team working toward our common goals, even if that dedication was just aimed at just net training I'd still endorse it 110%. The dedication they have is a passion, it is the type of people like Ferdinand Cruz and Steve Robinson who start to move the mountain they will not give up and if one way fails they will seek another. I invite others to join in our efforts and I applaud those who remain where they are within other organizations yet support CORL with their actions and words. These people truly understand that CORL is for the people.
To those involved with CORL, please try to remember as I state "CORL wishes to work with any organization or individual who shares our goals"; This includes all organizations regardless of their past performance. The CRC program CORL offers puts an end to the past organizational and technology transference mistakes on the receiving side of those organizations who work with us (We can't control them outside of the CRC program). That is they train the trainers and that's it, they are done. What we aim to create is a smoother technology transfer, and to further the shift toward the communities in resource dispersal. The communities produce the products as a business that creates a sustainable eco-beneficial industry. The CRC's in turn buys and sells the products, this will at a minimum subsidize the CRC's and at best totally funds the operating cost of the CRC's and can create funding for more Environmental and Social economic programs, all as a national Not for Profit Organization.
Yes what I'm/CORL is proposing is a bold step, but the well beaten path so many of us are on seems to be one full of confusion and dead ends, sometimes a bold step off the path is needed , sometimes a new path needs to be created to reach the common goal we all are seeking to obtain. If we work together to blaze those new trails we can better avoid the cliffs and swamps on the way and those successes we found can create the bridges where usable. What CORL offers all is a new way of doing things, based on and for the communities with support from a local professional staff trained at a national or regional office where professionals from many organizations come to train the trainers. I could go on and on ..... But it's best if you or your organization wishes to learn more about CORL's CRC proposal send me an e-mail [email protected] . Several governments had already been given it and CORL is currently working on the first CRC pilot program here in American Samoa. Is it the answer to all the problems? NO, but with your input and help some of those cliffs and swamps might be avoided.
Unfortunately right now I can not spend the time that I'd like to on the internet to inform the hobbyist about whats going on at the front lines. I hope Ferdinand can find some more time too, but like me he has his hands quite full doing the work not just talking about doing it. In a few weeks when my workload lets up I will give you all some more insight on just what it takes to bring about the needed changes to create sustainable resource use in the MOI and community fisheries.
If CORL-USA is shut down CORL will also survive for the ideas behind it are my passion like Net Training to Steve and Ferdinand, both of them were given the CORL CRC program and understand just what it is that CORL is about. For those that don't know. CORL is more than a Not for- Profit org its a new way of doing business itself.
So many organizations have tried to bring about the needed changes, yet little ground has been gained Why?
Could it be we have looked upon the solutions wrong from the start?
Could it be that we totally left out a few needed components?
Could it be that our way of presenting the solutions to the communities we serve were all wrong?
Or was it we were too busy fighting with each other to notice that those we said we would help were wandering off aimlessly in search of answers in the distance?
From CORL-AS
In the South Pacific
Fa'
Mike R King
One last note for CORL associates, Please if you post your opinions state them as just that, not those of CORL.
Thanks.
Grrr HTML.....
