*OT* Off topic but important for us tree huggers <g> Found this on the Gold thread...
HOLLYWOOD DESTROYING NATIONAL PARK IN THAILAND:
Boycott 20th Century Fox movie "THE BEACH"
Dear Friends,
On a recent trip to Thailand I discovered that 20th Century Fox is
making a movie called "The Beach" on Phi Phi Leh Island, a treasured
National Park in Thailand. Portions of the film, which stars Leonardo
Di Caprio (Titanic- fame), will be shot on Maya Beach on the island of
Phi Phi Leh. This is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled islands in the
Pacific and it is being destroyed to meet Hollywood's perception of
paradise. The film company has already bulldozed large portions of the
beach and removed much of the natural vegetation (Giant Milkweed, Sea
Pandanus, Spider Lily and other beach grass) in order to widen the beach
to accommodate a football scene.
Fox plans to replace the native vegetation with 100 non-native coconut
palms to
create their "paradise." Local Thai activists feared that removing the
natural vegetation would create serious erosion, and they were right.
The beach has already been eroded and now locals are very worried about
how much of the beach and bay will remain after the monsoons. Phi Phi
Leh Island is supposedly protected as a National Park and is key to the
local tourist economy.
Thai activists report that Thailand's Royal Forestry Department violated
their own regulations and were bought off by 20th Century Fox, who paid
the government Bhat 4 million. Local activists are enraged that the
government would cave in to Fox's demands and that their concerns were
ignored. Activists are not opposed to filming on Maya Bay, but want the
island to be filmed as-is. A lawsuit has been filed, but an injunction
to stop further destruction of the island was denied. The local Thai
people have tried everything, from the courts to blockading the beach,
to protect their island. They need our help.
They ask the American public to take action and boycott the film. The
Thai people point out that Americans would never allow Thai film makers
to bulldoze Yellowstone or other US National Parks. Hollywood must get
the message that exploiting the environment and powerless people is
unethical for mere entertainment.
Please help the people of Thailand by:
1) Passing this message on to everyone you know.
2) Write a letter to producer Andrew McDonald. Tell him you will
boycott
the film unless 20th Century Fox stops destroying Maya Bay.
The address is:
Andrew MacDonald, Producer
c/o Carol Sewell
10201 W. Pico Blvd. Building 89, Room 224
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Check out web site of Maya Bay at: http:www.wildrockies.org/wve/
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