The Sound of Silence: NAUI Kills Article on 'Interactive Diving'Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by FREEMAN WASHINGTONHiding in PADI-DEMA's shark feeding closet?
NAUI's "Don't ask, don't tell" Jim Bram |
If you thought the battle over shark feeding ended on January 1, 2002 when it officially became illegal in Florida, hold on to your chumsickles Jim and think again.PADI and DEMA, the marketing folks who brought you the GIMEC "interactive diving" scam, and shark feeding all dressed up as the dive industry's disingenuous solution to shark finning, have vowed to fight the decision. Since the ruling came down, DEMA has been scurring around with high-priced attorneys squandering member contributions on frivolous lawsuits faster than tourists canceled their Florida holidays during last year's Summer of the Shark. Even NAUI, which has been struggling AND FAILING for decades to sell itself as the safer and more eco-friendly educational organization, has apparently decided to hold hands with PADI rather than get involved in educating its membership about environmental problems related to the multi-million dollar business of shark feeding. How else can one explain NAUI's last-minute decision to cancel publication of an environmental article on marine life feeding that IT requested for the NAUI journal, 'Sources'? The article, written by NAUI instructor and professional marine biologist Dr. William Alevizon at the request of Sources Editor Peter Oliver, had already completed the full editing and revision process and been sent to layout when somebody ordered Oliver to kill the piece. Who killed the article? Jim Bram, among others at NAUI headquarters, is not taking calls on that particular question. Bram, the president of NAUI, has declined to respond to CDNN's repeated requests to explain why the article was canceled at the last minute, who killed it, whether Bram's position as a DEMA board member was a factor, and where exactly NAUI stands on shark feeding. Don't ask; don't tell. Alevizon, who received NAUI's prestigious "Outstanding Service" award for developing three new environmental specialty courses, contacted CDNN after NAUI refused to return his calls, let alone offer him a satisfactory explanation for the decision. "It is critical for the diving public to have access to uncensored viewpoints on important issues. Sadly, it seems NAUI's vaunted commitment to education now takes a back seat to industry insider politics." Dr. William Alevizon According to Alevizon, NAUI originally requested articles from both sides because they felt is was an important issue their members needed to be informed about, however, representatives of commercial shark feeding tour operations declined to provide an article unless it was published unopposed. "It is critical for the diving public to have access to uncensored viewpoints on important issues such as this," said Alevizon. "I was fine with NAUI's plan to provide both sides of this issue a public forum - if the feeders felt they could not really defend their position in a competitive atmosphere, that is hardly justification for censorship of both positions. Sadly, it seems NAUI's vaunted commitment to education now takes a back seat to industry insider politics." As part of our uncompromising mission to keep the diving public informed about important conservation and safety issues, CDNN has decided to publish the article NAUI killed, in its entirety. The article is the final draft exactly as Dr. Alevizon wrote it, and exactly as it was approved for publication in NAUI's 'Sources'. So dive in to the article NAUI DOES NOT WANT YOU TO READ, and if you can figure out why the information it contains is so dangerous that the entire article had to be censored, please be kind enough to click through to SCUBA FORUMS and let us know. We don't have a clue, and Bram and his lackeys over at NAUI Headquarters are pretending they don't either. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum | 
