Hello BT'ers
Here is Saturday. September the sixth. .

I will call this thread Breaking News 8.

As of late last night my E mail, <callingintheclan@.yahoo.com>. A net work of over 2000 old diving buddies from around the globe who have kept contact with me and Bonaire for over the last eight years.

Has lambasted me with over 23 Demands that I write to the Queen

[Calling in the Clan] Something like BT, Only of a more personal nature. I have dove with every one of them. Trained many. Shared their live. Saw them married. Having kids and have been a part of there lives. I cried when they die. and damned them when they split. You know stuff like that.
They are my family. I have none others. They are my clan. .

For example we,. My clan and I founded the Accolade a program Which is now world acclaimed Four awards in New Jersey for the Ocean Pals winners just last month. And before that an award for Bill Ackkers on the island of Yap. Two more now scheduled in Germany - Even DEMA has been awarded for their roll in diving. I helped with their kick off in '76'

http://www.accoladefoundation.org/new/

In fact just last week a 1000 dollar donation was received from Jeris & Selwyn Levitt in Florida. 5000.00 nafl from our own islands Sabadeco. Thank you Carl Smeets. Who by the way from his own personal funds built the Entrances for Andrea one and two. Another 5000 nafl's from Maggie & Frans booi here on Bonaire.

This news possible is unknown to you. However the reason of this Breaking news 8 is to share with you that some of my clan members are holding me responsible for the stone walling of the beach front properties against leaching. trucking etc...

"Get off your ass." They say. You are now a knight now, Sir Captain Don Now get out there and bust some butts.

Write the Queen bringing her up to date and begging her to get involved. Sir Donal.

Okay now BT"ers WE"S is gonna have some fun. Help me write the Queen letter.

Sir Donal. Or just plain don/

September 06 -08
Some facts for the letter to the Queen of the Netherlands.
By don/

On Bonaire I am known as Captain Don.

With respect, I wish to approach you seeking a boon of perhaps a most unusual nature.

On April 25th 2008, Bonaire Lt. Governor Domacasse I was presented with the title of Ridder (knight) within the Order of Oranje Nassau,

The medal proclaims the Dutch national motto I WILL STAND FAST. I well recall Mei 10th 1940 when Zeeland stood firm and valiantly resisted 17 days against the German invasion

And I assure you I will stand fast.

I am a Californian who has lived 47 uninterrupted years on Bonaire.

I blundered upon this magnificent rock on May 21st 1962. As the first scuba diver to ever slide beneath the pristine sea around Bonaire, I discovered unlimited hectares of absolutely virgin corals.

I questioned the sensibility of sharing this discovery with the world. Goats, charcoal and salt were Bonaire's only commerce. Tourism was nonexistent

The Opportunity for Bonaire to build possibly the world’s first diving tourism industry was present.

In August, 1996 my position letter, STOP THE IMPENDING REEF CRISIS, addressed to water front properties, tragically fell on deaf ears:

"Long before the outside world ever knew that a Bonaire existed, we had discovered the value of an untouched, undamaged reef colony.

The karma of this island that it would one day earn an income from the exploiting of this natural resource.

Over the years we became a hero,a pace setter, with an aquatic attitude that has made a worldwide impact.
As these words are being typed, even today, beneath the resorts, condominiums, homes, and apartments built along the shoreline, there seeps, unknown and hidden, deep within our coral foundations,

an ongoing lethal flow of raw sewerage finding its way into our sea.

Without an immediate change in our policies of treatment of our raw sewage wastewater, our reefs will very soon know total destruction.

Relatively inexpensive solutions are available and can be put in place now, while we wait for the long-term completion of a major sewage treatment plant still light years away." (2014)

My mind is full of hostilities and anger. The apathy of seaside properties concerning this willful destruction of the reefs is appalling. Their refusal to come to the table to address and solve this problem is ongoing.

Resorts complain of staggering operation costs for water, gas, electric, and diving fuel bills, as well as current airlift problems. The revised sewage treatment plant is now promised for 2014, which I fear will be too late.

The majority of the beachfront managers are Dutch. We all love you for what we know you are. On your visits to Bonaire, you have expressed your love of our nature and environment, as had your father. Reason is what is required here.

No more apathy. Let us all step up to the line, bite the bullet, and together we will solve this dilemma.

I plead with you to please exert all possible influence on policy and decision makers at all levels of bureaucracy to eliminate as soon as possible the ongoing flow of untreated sewage into the seas around Bonaire.

Insist all involved cooperate to find quick and aggressive solutions to our still IMPENDING REEF CRISIS.

Your Father, Carle Steenma, and I initiated the marine park. 1975

This is my 54th award for environmentalism

September 06 -08
Some facts for the letter to the Queen of the Netherlands.
By don/

On Bonaire I am known as Captain Don.

With respect, I wish to approach you seeking a boon of perhaps a most unusual nature.

On April 25th 2008, Bonaire Lt. Governor Domacasse I was presented with the title of Ridder (knight) within the Order of Oranje Nassau,

The medal proclaims the Dutch national motto I WILL STAND FAST. I well recall Mei 10th 1940 when Zeeland stood firm and valiantly resisted 17 days against the German invasion

And I assure you I will stand fast.

I am a Californian who has lived 47 uninterrupted years on Bonaire.

I blundered upon this magnificent rock on May 21st 1962. As the first scuba diver to ever slide beneath the pristine sea around Bonaire, I discovered unlimited hectares of absolutely virgin corals.

I questioned the sensibility of sharing this discovery with the world. Goats, charcoal and salt were Bonaire's only commerce. Tourism was nonexistent

The Opportunity for Bonaire to build possibly the world’s first diving tourism industry was present.

In August, 1996 my position letter, STOP THE IMPENDING REEF CRISIS, addressed to water front properties, tragically fell on deaf ears:

"Long before the outside world ever knew that a Bonaire existed, we had discovered the value of an untouched, undamaged reef colony.

The karma of this island that it would one day earn an income from the exploiting of this natural resource.

Over the years we became a hero,a pace setter, with an aquatic attitude that has made a worldwide impact.
As these words are being typed, even today, beneath the resorts, condominiums, homes, and apartments built along the shoreline, there seeps, unknown and hidden, deep within our coral foundations,

an ongoing lethal flow of raw sewerage finding its way into our sea.

Without an immediate change in our policies of treatment of our raw sewage wastewater, our reefs will very soon know total destruction.

Relatively inexpensive solutions are available and can be put in place now, while we wait for the long-term completion of a major sewage treatment plant still light years away." (2014)

My mind is full of hostilities and anger. The apathy of seaside properties concerning this willful destruction of the reefs is appalling. Their refusal to come to the table to address and solve this problem is ongoing.

Resorts complain of staggering operation costs for water, gas, electric, and diving fuel bills, as well as current airlift problems. The revised sewage treatment plant is now promised for 2014, which I fear will be too late.

The majority of the beachfront managers are Dutch. We all love you for what we know you are. On your visits to Bonaire, you have expressed your love of our nature and environment, as had your father. Reason is what is required here.

No more apathy. Let us all step up to the line, bite the bullet, and together we will solve this dilemma.

I plead with you to please exert all possible influence on policy and decision makers at all levels of bureaucracy to eliminate as soon as possible the ongoing flow of untreated sewage into the seas around Bonaire.

Insist all involved cooperate to find quick and aggressive solutions to our still IMPENDING REEF CRISIS.

Your Father, Carle Steenma, and I initiated the marine park. 1975

This is my 54th award for environmentalism

Dear Captain Don,

I send to your E-mail a copy of a report I send on 4 August 2008 by registered mail to His Royal Highness Willem-Alexander, The Prince of Orange and Chair of UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S ADVISORY BOARD ON WATER AND SANITATION (UNSGAB).

I regret, no reply up to now.

I wish you more luck.

All the Best
Detlef

Very impressive...to you Captain...and to Detief and his efforts...

I wonder how long it takes to get a response from the Queen....