#28 Stolen Items
Mon, 18 Sep 1995 12:00:51 -0600 (GMT-0600)

Last few Messages:
--------------------------------------------
Message 25: Guadalupe River revenge.
Message 26: leaving for Isabela
Message 27: Back from Isabela
Message 28: Stolen Items
-------------------------------------------
This is a message from Chantal, some of you have already received this by other channels.

In addition to the items stolen that Chantal mentioned, I must report that while we were in Isabela someone tried to break into our laundry room/storage house. I found plastic strips embedded in the door where some one had tried to release the bolt.

Fortunately, they failed in their attempt.

Jim
----------- From Chantal ----------------------------

Michael Bliemsrieder was accompanied by MCE.., a spunky environmental education volunteer at CDRS, and she photographed the Park Stockrooms when they were checked with the Marines and representatives from the Strike Committee.

The following items were missing (I have had difficulty getting a complete list, but this is what Michael told me verbally):

- much gasoline; I don't yet know how much
- GPS unit
- small computer
- VHF radio
- some papers
- "other items"; I will continue to pursue more details on this, but it sounds like these were minor items.

Additionally, the main gate at the cemetery was broken and will require repairs. We dragged the parts together and locked them shut today, and we will maintain locks on our two interior fences (on the main road, near the trail to Van Straelen; and on the road going down to the Marine Lab).

Apparently the main GNPS offices were not broken into, but the Fisheries Office had been opened.

As soon as I can get more "official" information, I will pass it along to you.

Michael was relieved that apparently none of the firearms had been taken, and in general there was less thievery than he had feared. As you may remember, after the first few days of the blockade, Andrade and other leaders turned the protection of the GNPS stockrooms over to the (Ecuadorian) Marines.

Michael explained that this was because the Strike leaders realized that they could not adequately control their own people, and would have more to respond for, if a great deal of thievery occurred. This may be conjecture on Michael's part, but this view was corroborated by Lt. G.. of the Marines.

By the way, the Coastal Cleanup yielded well over a ton of garbage along the coast and in the bay under the boats.

Saludos,
Chantal
--------------------


[NOTE: The Coastal Cleanup is an annual international event organized by the Center for Marine Conservation. The Research Station had organized its personnel and Galapagos residents to participate in the Coastal Cleanup since 1993 as a tool to enhance islanders' awareness of the amount and sources of litter that tourism, fisheries, and oceanic currents brought to Galapagos each year.

Despite the Strike, the Station's staff in Marine Sciences and Environmental Education/Interpretation partnered with Park personnel to carry out the 1995 Coastal Cleanup. Its success -- involving townspeople and even the Marines on guard at the Park and Station -- is a tribute to the tenacity and dedication of the participants. The Coastal Cleanup was a positive step to counterbalance resentments created by the Strike.]