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>From: subocean@co*.ne* >Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 18:50:30 -0500 >X-Sender: subocean@co*.ne* >To: norcadiver@so*.ne* >Subject: I respond for SOS >X-UIDL: 06e838d7fb1552d97519ef6a195cf5d9 > > I thank you all for every response, not only for the donations, but >expecially for the negative comments. The main thing that I've learned from >this dialogue is that SOS doesn't have complete enough information out >there. For that, I apolozise. It is also clear that many people are quite >willing to express their opinions about the SOS efforts with only the >slightest idea of our programs, leaving much to their imaginations. As for >dealing with reality, I thank Tom Mount, a man who's seen these problems >first hand. He offered some very astute and compassionate views, as might be >expected from an industry leader. Yes, these indigenous peoples are pawns >with very limited moves, trapped in a brutal corporate game of greed that >thrives on viewer apathy. For the confirmed 'nay sayers', I have only >persuation; and short time to wield it. There are many positive things yet >to do, but now I think that responses to main themes would be productive. >Esat Etikkan: > True, there is much exploitation in our world, but I don't see that >as a reason to give up trying to help as we can. The exploitation I oppose >is new, unique in history, unaddressed until now. I think that death and >paralysis are unusually severe ends to exploitation. My area of expertise is >diving safety. I have no historical examples to follow. I don't have a plan >for every third world problem, but I do have a plan for this one. > Here I list your four solutions with my comments: >1) Protection, via legislation, from the tyranny of the 'lobster lords'. > answer: I assume you mean legislatiion by third world governments. >Of course the tyrannical 'lobster lords' are the government in many cases; >in others, they own the government. At any rate, laws, if there are any, are >never enforced where indigenous minorities are involved. None the less, I >hope that world opinion will nudge these governments into a more humane >stance. I also hope that our nation will consider import regulations that >respond to different levels of exploitation; but hope is all I can do >because I am not, nor would like to be, a politician of an overlord of a >third world nation. >2) Training in safe diving techniques. > answer: I wish that first world solutions would work in these cases, >but diving education alone is not the answer. Yes, for three years I've >supported ths Moravian Missions diving school (specifically, I've both >mailed and carried down donated PADI Spanish dive manuals and have supported >that school editorially in my magazine,'THE UNIVERSAL DIVER') adeptly run by >Bob Armington. He's trained over 500 divers of the 9,000 in that region, a >collosal feat that deserves the highest praise. His work is a vital part of >the complex gearwork, of which SOS is a part. Unfornately, divers without >watches, depth or pressure gauges can't follow tables. Moreover, this system >is based on production...the divers get paid by the pound of caught lobster. >In effect, the divers are rewarded for breaking the rules. Still, I hope >that the boat owners will realize that it's in their best interests to limit >diving, thus preserving both the crew's health and protecting the resource. >I propose that a good first step would be to outlaw aluminum 80's, >restricting the men to 72's at lower pressure and volume. >3) Training in adequate first aid techniques. > answer: I think this sounds like the bandaid cure you referred to. >First aid my ass. I'm talking full blown hyperbaric medical treatment with >some of the best doctors in the world. I want to train lead divers and >captains in emergency 'in-water O2. I believe that this inexpensive and >immediate treatment is a key to saving many lives around the world, not only >for diving fisheries, but also for remote sport diving locations. SOS has a >training video that awaits editing. >Will the fisheries divers dive again after such a close call? That's their >choice, but if they choose to retire, as some will, they hopefully will be >able to walk and remain productive in some other capacity. By the way, the >SOS chamber we want to make operational is 24 hrs. closer to the lobster >fields than the 'available' chamber you refer to. As you must know, minutes >are nerve tissue. >3) Development of alternate resources for exploitation. > answer: Good idea, but not my field of expertise. What do you >suggest? There are similar diving problems all over the world, problems for >which SOS is chartered and equipped to address. There are many other >agencies that deal with a number of social problems, and I wish them well. >SOS will help where it can. SOS is planning to offer Continuing Medical >Education Credits at our chambers and combine that with eco/adventure tours, >but I hope for something better than a 'bell boy' solution. In Nicaragua, >the Dutch have funded numerous coastal development programs, including >aqua-culture. I am in touch with Joe Ryan, a marine biologist working in >that arena. SOS has applied to be a part of the overall program and stands >ready to help. > Your comment of this being a 'sentimental' issue sounds like a nazi >apologist. Your timid insinuation that I, as president of SOS, don't have >the strong support of the SOS board members is an improper area for your >inquiries and doesn't deserve an answer. > I am quite proud of our 'grandiose' move, as you call it, assuming >that you are referring to our efforts at providing emergency medical care >for unfortunate divers. The more grandiose, the better. Discovery is >covering the marathon and it will be a new category Guinness record. Much >more PR is happening, without apologies. Izdepski > >Scott: > In fact this does have a lot to do with technical diving, as it does >with all diving. SOS has a unique opportunity to render humanitarian aid >while conducting research in the very worst cases of decompression disease. >Are shallow treatments more or less effective in treating DCS than deeper >ones? Could we develope new tables? How can some Miskito divers last for >years in this industry with few ill effects? Aggressive research in this >field of most extreme diving could provide a cornucopia of hyperbaric >knowledge, as I hope it will, thus benefitting all divers. > >Judian Bruk: > Distant, land based chambers will do nothing to allow greater acess >to lobster stocks. You assume that belated chamber treatments will restore a >divers health. The sad fact is that there are many paralyzed divers who have >visited chambers, with no beneficial results. I hope that our chamber will >be close enough to restore a mans legs well enough that he can at least limp >around and remain productive. I wish that I could offer a complete cure in >all cases, but that is impossible. Izdepski > >Jack Edelstein, Ph.D. > There is a deeper underlying assumption than that of a chamber >helping these communities. It is that if you do good things for people, good >things happen. I can never prove this, but I believe it. You either do or >you don't, and that's your concern, not mine. > As for supporting an operational chamber...good question, and we >have an example. > The SOS chamber that Dr. Tom Millington brought to Ahuas is >operating now, and has been for several years. Tom trained the Moravian >Mission doctors and they manage the chamber. The boat captains pay for the >patients and that covers operating expences. It works. Once a chamber is up >and running, the fishing communities will support it. Izdepski > > The purpose of our underwater marathon is to attract publicity for >these problems, lift awareness and raise funds to buy a diesel engine to >make our chamber operational at the closest point of land to the lobster >fields. I am interested in constructive dialogue, but I am mostly interested >in getting the chamber going. Yes, there will be mistakes, but I'm not >afraid to learn from them. > I hope that the diving community will support SOS to the point where >we can demonstrate exactly what we can do in an empty field. We'll do our >best to deserve your trust. We can discuss all the fine points of third >world assistance later, after we have a record to either praise or >criticize. Right now we've got an international diving crisis on our hands; >a human rights issue that no one else has ever cared enough to do anything >about. Bob Izdepski > > > Rocky Daniels
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