UPDATES PAGE 8
Dynamite fishermen returning to San Antonio.
The San Bernadino Strait is seen in the background.
Picture taken in JULY 2000.
In the months of July and August dynamite fishing has become so rampant that blasts are being thrown directly from the beach areas to kill passing shoals of small fish! Some Island inhabitants are also complaining that these near shore blasts are damaging the foundations of houses near the beach.
Visitors to date have surpassed 10,000 ! THANK YOU.
We have not been up-dating these updates pages as regularly as usual because of the attention presently being paid to the Kidnapped tourists in Jolo, Mindanao.
At the same time we are able to repeat that the situation has not changed and dynamite blasts have increased to enormous levels due simply to the political unwillingness to lose valuable funds and votes.
As we have stated before, we are avoiding all and any political references on these up dates pages and in any case it would make little difference as it seems a forgone conclusion that the Present incumbant politicians will remain in place.
Saturday 17 September
TODAY THE DYNAMITE TRADE AT BURABOD ON DALUPIRI ISLAND COST THE LIFE OF YET ANOTHER PERSON.
A person was today blasted to death by an explosion whilst preparing the detonators used for detonating bottles of dynamite for fishing, or exported throughout the area.
Todays event is extremely significant for several reasons:
1. The detonators were, in part, the property of the MAYOR.
2. It would seem difficult to get killed by a small detonator exploding accidently, in this case however, there were 12,000 detonators and when one went off they all did. 12,000 detonators proved too much for that person who was killed.
3. Dynamite charges vary in size from a pint to a gallon, due to the present freedom both the suppliers and fishermen are enjoying during this pre-election period, an average blast would be about a third of a gallon.
Therefore 12000 detonators would supply 4000 gallons of blasts.
Such a large order could only be destined for export, either to other parts of the Philippines or abroad, perhaps in areas as far away as Papua New Guinea, where it is understood that a strong connection with Burabod has been made.
Alternately either the finished dynamite or blast product, or the 12000 detonators were destined for uses other than dynamite fishing.
With the present situation, including bombs in Manila and Ferryboats, or the ongoing situation in Mindanao, the number of possible obscure destinations seem unlimited.
Perhaps now, with these figures, it may become easier for the Philippine Government in the guise of the Dept of Tourism and the DNR to understand how much damage is presently being done to the Marine evironment and migrating Marine life in the San Bernadino area.
And how perhaps this is becoming a double headed problem.
As soon as we have more details including the name of the dead person we will post it here.
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