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REPRINTED FROM COMPUSERVE SCUBA FORUM ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Fellow divers, A blueprint has been drawn up by the archaeological community to put sport divers, treasure hunters, and salvors off wrecks permanently. It is entitled the "Buenos Aires Draft Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage." Drafted under the auspices of the United Nations, it establishes a "Cultural Heritage Zone" extending out to the edge of the continental shelf where everthing of man-made origin is put off limits to everyone who does not have a Ph.D. in archaeology. Other "highlights" of this convention include: - Abandonment being redefined in favor of the archaeologists. The cleverly removes the main pitfall found in the Shipwreck Protection Act of 1987. The traditional law of salvage is precluded. - The old idea of "preserve in place" is promoted. - The age of wrecks protected is left up to member countries'" Administrative Convenience." - Contains a strong "us versus them" theme. If you're not an underwater archaeologist, you're a "looter." This convention, if allowed to pass into law, will effectively block further salvage operations like the Centeral America, any treasure hunting on Spanish galleons, et cetera, as well as sport diver artifact recovery. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP THIS? Start by writing to the President of the Underwater Society of America (P. O. Box 628, Daly City CA 94017), expressing your displeasure. Their Legislative Director, Anne Giesecke, is named as a party to this convention. Ask your local dive council or club to draft a resolution opposing this forthcoming legislation, and send it to the Underwater Society, with a copy to your federal legislators. It is unknown when this convention will appear as a federal bill; however, it must do so in order to enact the enforcement clauses it contains. Stay alert on this issue. We will try to update status through Scuba Forum in this section, Underwater USA or any other media available. For a free copy of this document, you can write to the California Wreck Divers, P. O. Box 10571, Marina del Rey CA 90291. Feel free to e-mail me as well. PLEASE REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL AND DISSEMINATE TO YOUR FRIENDS. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Christopher M. Parrett, President, Abysmal Diving Inc. 6595 Odell Place, Suite G. Boulder Colorado, USA 80301 Ph.303-530-7248, fx 303-530-2808 Makers of ABYSS, Advanced Dive Planning Software. Available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Swedish. Abyss, Mixed Gas, Technical Nitrox, Recreational Air. Abyss, Technical Logbooks featuring 22 integrated databases.
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