Save the Cruces Trail and Panama Canal Watershed

Dear Readers:
I wish to inform you through this new blog of the many hurdles we are facing trying to protect our priceless natural and historical heritage not only of national interest but of worldwide importance. We are constantly struggling with unscrupulous officials and business interests which will not look beyond their own business profits and their financial gains overlooking the priceless legacy these rainforests contain below the cool damp forest floor which incidentally forms the Panama Canal Watershed. The Cruces Trail (along with its all land partner the Portobelo Trail) , was the foremost trading route during colonial times which criscrossed the Panama Isthmus, bearing the gold and silver laden mule train convoys onto the Chagres River, Fort San Lorenzo and Portobelo where these colonial were shipped out to Spain aboard seafaring Galleon Convoys.
During the California Gold Rush it served as the fastest route for the '49 niners' back then. This particular trail served as the forerunner for the Panama Canal Railroad finished in 1859 and later on the Panama Canal built in 1914.
Please view our Comittees Web Page at http://www.caminodecruces.org as well as news outline listing page at http://www.caminodecruces.info

We are also concerned by the rushed Panama Canal Widening and Third Set of Locks Plan envisaged for increasing the tonnage to go through the Canal. Although we feel this important we also feel that the environmental aspects have been grossly overlooked (not even an Environment Assessment Study has been made by the ACP Autoridad del Canal de Panama) requirement preceeding any mass building project in Panama. We also think that all the natural implications of such system of water recycling locks may in the long run turn the sweet water Gatun Lake Basin into salty, brackish seawater. See Panama News: Propaganda, studies differ about Gatun Lake water quality. http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_12/issue_12/business_01.html In the process endangering endemic wildlife and the water producing plants for the terminal cities of Panama and Colon.

But we also feel that the important social and national issues and priorities of human development also need to be fully addressed. How can we think of an expensive First World Mega-Project such as this one, when ej. our native indian children in our 'comarcas' continue to go bare foot and without breakfast to school? It certainly is a question of priorities. That is why a 'National Social Pact' has to be worked out with the citizens BEFORE the oncoming National referendum next November 2006. To avoid the rich becoming more rich and the poor becoming more poor in this country.