Ritz Carlton deal signed

[lmccollom]

Way to go Liz, well said! So, now what can we do, if anything?

[ruba4ever]

liz...is there any chance that these issues will be investigated and hopefully taken care of before this is built?Are there any resolutions to these issues (short of not building). I really don't want anything built that will further upset the environment on Palm Beach...but one would think that the powers that be (and those that finalized this deal..whether under or over handed) would have taken all this into consideration before moving ahead. I feel bad for the windsurfers and the fishermen losing there spots.
ruba

[dwippies]

well, first is to sign the petition (that i created and seems to now be listed on the rainbow warriors website as a link) that is at the bottom of my signature on this post. it has been there for a while. give the powers that be the message that tourists agree with locals that this should not be. then, to be honest, there is little we can do except back any efforts to stop it and not buy or rent at places that do meet the standards of a green and caring world.

Originally Posted by lmccollom

Way to go Liz, well said! So, now what can we do, if anything?

[lmccollom]

I always wonder about the Aruba environment, in addition to the marine environment, although I suppose it all ties together there....do they recycle, what happens to the trash, etc. Last time when we came home, I had one suitcase and it was half-full of recycling...boxes (cereral, crackers, etc.) and empty diet Coke cans. I had no idea what would happen to it but knew I would have space in our recycling bins at home. When my suitcase didn't make the flight home with me and I was filling out the form with the airline, they asked what was in it. When I said that there were a bunch of boxes and empty pop cans on top, I think the lady thought I was nuts.

[dwippies]

costa linda recycles bottles and cans. bucuti does a decent job of greening. i haven't a clue about the rest. paper is something i don't think is normally recycled on aruba but i am going to ask a few people that i know are in the know and see if i can get a reply.

Originally Posted by lmccollom

I always wonder about the Aruba environment, in addition to the marine environment, although I suppose it all ties together there....do they recycle, what happens to the trash, etc. Last time when we came home, I had one suitcase and it was half-full of recycling...boxes (cereral, crackers, etc.) and empty diet Coke cans. I had no idea what would happen to it but knew I would have space in our recycling bins at home. When my suitcase didn't make the flight home with me and I was filling out the form with the airline, they asked what was in it. When I said that there were a bunch of boxes and empty pop cans on top, I think the lady thought I was nuts.

[lmccollom]

Thanks Sherry, that would be good to know....although I already have designated "recycling space" in my suitcase! (ha) I looked but I don't see anything on the Marriott site about it. I am sure that the Costa Linda folks don't want everyone else delivering their recycling materials to their place. Here are a couple of web sites I found on the topic, although they don't seem to address hotel/time share properties.

WastAway Aruba FAQ

http://www.temasactuales.com/temasbl...or-just-fluff/

[dwippies]

when i am there, bring those bottles and cans to costa linda. i will take them.

at least there are now websites about recycling. that is progress. hope they mean what they say.

i have already done my email. let's hope we get a reply.

Originally Posted by lmccollom

Thanks Sherry, that would be good to know....although I already have designated "recycling space" in my suitcase! (ha) I looked but I don't see anything on the Marriott site about it. I am sure that the Costa Linda folks don't want everyone else delivering their recycling materials to their place. Here are a couple of web sites I found on the topic, although they don't seem to address hotel/time share properties.

WastAway Aruba FAQ

http://www.temasactuales.com/temasbl...or-just-fluff/

[lizzardo]

It sounds like we have an expert on what to do on the board already -
rainbowwarrior !!

I'd like to hear if he has any ideas for the boards on what we can
constructively do to make our voices (and tourism $) be heard!

[LocaLisa]

A little bit late but, here you have a quick translation of the papiamento article posted earlier:

Ritz Carlton must come to Aruba, meanwhile tourism is falling
Rainbow Warriors with an International boycott against Ritz Carlton
Strange action on the government's behalf will provoke a boycott against Marriott
Marisol has to explain what is happening here

Meanwhile Aruba tourism is depleting and also must invest 10 million florins of Plant in a plan to attract tourists to Aruba, the Government in a surprising act yesterday they met with the Marriott to sign a contract for the construction of Ritz Carlton, this has been announcing by Diario since Monday. This act brought several discussions between the hoteliers group, who knows that this is the time to consolidate and work with each other in the tourism business.


One of the mayor questions that have been asked by the tourism group in these days is what is with Ritz Carlton that out of nowhere wants to enter the terrain in Aruba. Last year there was a serious incident in the core of the advice of ministers as to where to put Ritz Carlton. This terrain was promised to a financial sustainer of the political party of MEP. A serious problem arose in the governments that even a threat of "everyone will be incarcerated". This was the big dispute between Marisol and Thijsen. Moreover, never an explanation on this saw the light of day.


Now that tourism is in crisis, suddenly the Ritz Carlton project appears again. A surprising act, specially for the Rainbow Warriors group who has adverted Marriott and Ritz Carlton that they will put an international boycott against them.


Last night a memo of Rainbow Warriors was released, announcing that they will contemplate an international boycott against Marriott too.


Monday another group of citizen, who are watching these strange projects, will publish an advertence to Marriott in Diario who will keep investigating on this case.

[RainbowWarriors]

Coming soon, Rainbow Warriors Aruba blog on current issues in Aruba.

See preview of blog at rainbowwarriorsaruba.wordpress.com.

Images are of stickers of campaign against a.o. Ritz-Carlton. We have a limited amount of those left (less than 80 pieces). Anyone local can request a copy of sticker for use on car bumper.

Also available sticker of Waste Management campaign (some 250 stickers left).

Donations much appreciated - it cost money to make stickers, and make even more!

[dwippies]

it took a little time because the person i asked was off island when i sent the email. however, here it is including the questions i asked with a big 'thank you susan!'

Here are our best practices: http://www.bucuti.com/_pdfs/about_us_en/bucuti-env-updates.pdf
Our environmental website: http://www.bucuti.com/en/about_us/environment.php

1. what does the bucuti recycle? Glass, Carton, Water, we have a gray water system that is used for the garden - from showers and sinks, paper (No recycling of plastic available in Aruba, so

2. what other hotels/timeshares do you know of that recycle? Aruba has 6 Green Globe properties who should be recycling. Manchebo, Amsterdam Manor, La Cabana, Costa Linda and Bucuti. Some of the high rise hotels are looking into becoming certified.

3. what does aruba recycle?
Carton, Glass

4. does aruba really recycle what it collects or is it a ruse? Yes, Carton and Glass.
Plastic recycling is very costly and a large amount of plastic is needed in order to justify building a plant and Aruba does not have nearly the necessary quantities to make it feasible. Our resort does our utmost to not use plastic that will be discarded. For example we do not use the small amenities in the bathroom of shampoos etc, we have dispensers in the shower and sinks and we refill them with freshly produced Aruba Aloe products from our local source... We do not buy portion controlled items that will be thrown out, but bulk items - we do not issue plastic cups (plus, they blow into the ocean and pollute the ocean) We use reusable hard plastic around the pool and beach and wash it.

Originally Posted by lmccollom

Thanks Sherry, that would be good to know....although I already have designated "recycling space" in my suitcase! (ha) I looked but I don't see anything on the Marriott site about it. I am sure that the Costa Linda folks don't want everyone else delivering their recycling materials to their place. Here are a couple of web sites I found on the topic, although they don't seem to address hotel/time share properties.

WastAway Aruba FAQ

http://www.temasactuales.com/temasbl...or-just-fluff/

[lizzardo]

Actually about the containers moving - saw on TV Rob Smith
saying he isn't economical to move the location and that since
99.9% if everything is imported - it could drive the costs
up to 40% within 10 years (or something to that effect)

[RainbowWarriors]

Go to:
rainbowwarriorsaruba.wordpress.com.

In the right menu select the page Stop the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba Campaign for aerial pics taken from the adjacent Marriott building.

If you carefully examine the photos, you will notice they date from 2002!

Yep the campaign is seven years old and still has not been won!

[wndsrfgrl]

This is so disappointing. We used to frequently travel to Aruba, but now that the Ritz-Carlton plans on building where the windsurfers/kitersurfers play, we'll have to find another island. Doesn't Aruba have enough hotels? They're also pricey. During the high-season the rooms can start as low as $300/night.
The island used to be so convenient to us, and it was a place we would always look forward to visiting because of the warm sun.
Just to let you know, Bill Marriott. I will no longer stay at your hotels b/c you're such a greedy moron.

[dwippies]

AMEN! you are my new best friend, lol.

Originally Posted by wndsrfgrl

This is so disappointing. We used to frequently travel to Aruba, but now that the Ritz-Carlton plans on building where the windsurfers/kitersurfers play, we'll have to find another island. Doesn't Aruba have enough hotels? They're also pricey. During the high-season the rooms can start as low as $300/night.
The island used to be so convenient to us, and it was a place we would always look forward to visiting because of the warm sun.
Just to let you know, Bill Marriott. I will no longer stay at your hotels b/c you're such a greedy moron.

[charlescroes]

I quote and fully agree with the concern that was expressed with the following words:

Marriot Resort and Casino
Marriot Surf Club
Marriot Ocean Club
Marriot Renaissance
Marriot Ritz-Carlton
Marriot Renaissance Island......
Marriot-Aruba?

I truly hope that this project serves as as a lesson to all of us locals that just sat by and didn't get fervently angry and protest as we should have. The signing of petitions is nothing more than fodder in the mouth of the lion that consumes what it wants.

MY SON LOST HIS BEACH DAMN IT. and this is not the first one he lost - and he is not the only one to loose a beach. This has to stop. Yet sadly enough, it will not stop until a political person with the proper sized testicles just looks at money and big companies and say NO, Simply, NO, Don't ask me again because it is NO and that will not change. And then that same political person will have to turn around and say to his constituents that "We just blew 200 MILLION in income for a beach and we now need to find a way to replace that loss and DO IT!

Some day soon, Aruban's or Philippines or Marrionettes will be scurrying about delivering room service or walking about the beaches with a large tray full of beer to be delivered to the Chikis and some little kid is going to walk across the sand that his fathers and those before them, fished and launched their boats from and that little kid will be an intruder. And if that makes sense then not much does.

I am not young and cannot fight the fight that should be fought but some day, someone will. I am training my son to see these things as what they are:

A service to greed and an abundance of conspicuous consumption. And at his tender age, he understands that. I pray his testicles meet the match.

Lastly, while it does not give me pleasure to say this, Marriott is not to blame. they are a machine and this particular machine works well. n WE Aruban's are to blame. And we need to realize this and hopefully learn.



be well / be sad
charles

[dwippies]

charles, thank you as always.

Originally Posted by charlescroes

I quote and fully agree with the concern that was expressed with the following words:

Marriot Resort and Casino
Marriot Surf Club
Marriot Ocean Club
Marriot Renaissance
Marriot Ritz-Carlton
Marriot Renaissance Island......
Marriot-Aruba?

I truly hope that this project serves as as a lesson to all of us locals that just sat by and didn't get fervently angry and protest as we should have. The signing of petitions is nothing more than fodder in the mouth of the lion that consumes what it wants.

MY SON LOST HIS BEACH DAMN IT. and this is not the first one he lost - and he is not the only one to loose a beach. This has to stop. Yet sadly enough, it will not stop until a political person with the proper sized testicles just looks at money and big companies and say NO, Simply, NO, Don't ask me again because it is NO and that will not change. And then that same political person will have to turn around and say to his constituents that "We just blew 200 MILLION in income for a beach and we now need to find a way to replace that loss and DO IT!

Some day soon, Aruban's or Philippines or Marrionettes will be scurrying about delivering room service or walking about the beaches with a large tray full of beer to be delivered to the Chikis and some little kid is going to walk across the sand that his fathers and those before them, fished and launched their boats from and that little kid will be an intruder. And if that makes sense then not much does.

I am not young and cannot fight the fight that should be fought but some day, someone will. I am training my son to see these things as what they are:

A service to greed and an abundance of conspicuous consumption. And at his tender age, he understands that. I pray his testicles meet the match.

Lastly, while it does not give me pleasure to say this, Marriott is not to blame. they are a machine and this particular machine works well. n WE Aruban's are to blame. And we need to realize this and hopefully learn.



be well / be sad
charles

[Elaine S]

Originally Posted by sherry

charles, thank you as always.

I ditto sherry, but have a hard time blaming Arubans. What's happened is not unique to Aruba. Government in all countries, ours as well, is no longer about "we the people," and hasn't been for a very long time.

"We" rant, rave, show our displeasure at the polls, but it makes no difference. It ultimately results in "business as usual -" not "for the people "not" what the people want.

Greed is rampant in government, and lining the pockets of those we put into office seems to be the name of the game. Politics is a dirty business, and it turns my stomach.

[roschone]

It is the worst form of greed. It's all about "show me the money". I mean it's not like they NEED the money. Don't they ever have enough?

[roschone]

Whoopsie, did something and somehow submitted before I was done.

One more thing, I really feel like the powers that be will not stop until a chunk of Aruba breaks off and floats away into the sea....

ok, I'm done now.

[lynnen]

We own at the Renaissance & have since it was orginally built as Harbourtown. I wish we were not part of Marriot because I hate what they have done up north! Talk about urban sprawl!

[charlescroes]

Have you considered sending them correspondence to that effect?

Originally Posted by lynnen

We own at the Renaissance & have since it was orginally built as Harbourtown. I wish we were not part of Marriot because I hate what they have done up north! Talk about urban sprawl!