Change Org Petition to cancel Disney Lighthouse Point.

[Yensid 1928]

I just got a email today from Change.org about a petition to cancel Disney's Lighthouse point. Of course the Petition doesn't come out and say it, nor does it talk about the way Disney is working to ensure the land is protected. So what do you think is this the first shot to cancel Lighthouse Point development?
Petition · The Walt Disney Company: Last Chance for Lighthouse Point · Change.org

The events of the past year have shone a bright light on the threats posed by global pandemics, climate change, and systemic injustice. Now is the time for transformative action to deal with these challenges. Let’s build back better towards a more sustainable and just future. Let’s start with Disney at Lighthouse Point. We are deeply concerned about Disney’s plans for a massive cruise ship port at Lighthouse Point that threaten this unique natural place treasured by generations of Bahamians and visitors from around the world. The seas surrounding this southernmost point of the island of Eleuthera are so biologically rich that they have been formally proposed as a Marine Protected Area. This is NOT the place where an environmentally-responsible corporation would choose to develop a massive cruise ship port, especially following climate-charged Hurricane Dorian, which struck The Bahamas one year ago. As Dr. Adelle Thomas, a Bahamian human-environment geographer, said, “we cannot continue with a business as usual approach that has resulted in the devastation seen by Dorian.” Our future depends on the choices we make today to protect places like the proposed Lighthouse Point Marine Protected Area. Join us in challenging Disney to make sure that its draft Environmental Impact Assessment, which is now under consideration by the Government of the Bahamas, is adequate. It must address the realities of climate change, COVID, and systemic injustice and provide an opportunity for meaningful public participation. Disney has the opportunity to show real leadership in making the transformation to a new model of lower-impact, lower-carbon, and higher-community-benefit tourism. Let’s make Lighthouse Point a beacon of hope for the future. Sign the petition to call upon Disney to: rethink its current plans for a cruise ship port. work with Bahamian citizen groups on a sustainable alternative for Lighthouse Point.

 

[sethschroeder]

I am completely confused. It does not happen very often. I may be completely wrong sometimes but not as confused as that blurb.

First, I am okay if they outright banned cruises (never looked closely enough to really form a full conclusion at how bad it might be).

1. Disney I think does claim "environmental protection" sometimes just so they can make more money in the long run or cut costs
2. I am not sure what COVID has to do with lighthouse point or climate change
3. I am not sure what Lighthouse point does to "higher community benefit tourism" when it seems 75% of this forum stays on the ship when going to the Bahamas and likely people wouldn't visit Bahamas in another matter anyways (sounds like the Government needs to enforce additional fees and requirements to leverage local vendors)
4. I am not sure what is unsustainable about Lighthouse Point in comparison to building something similar in some other location

They say its a proposed marine protected area. Seems like a better course of action would be to push for that to be created as an actual protected area.

It also talks about the Environmental Impact Assessment under consideration but does not call out a single shortcoming, issue, or change that is proposed just that it "is adequate".

This seems to fit with other Change.org petitions that are not actually shaped in a manner at actual change and is fairly vague. Also to be clear I am all for protection on environmental areas, more aggressive regulations on business, and requirements to be carbon neutral within the next 15 years so its not like I am dismissing this but this doesn't really tell me much.

 

[Intr3pid]

Sounds like they want Disney to reassess what it currently has in plans for the location.

The current plan envisions guest numbers without a pandemic in forecast - and all the while the climate change theme was on a backburner in the last few years. From the looks of it, the petition wants Disney to revisit it. A bit dramatic maybe, but nevertheless a fair ask...

Unlike CC, Lighthouse Point is a part of a larger inhabited island. I imagine they want Disney to rethink how many guests will be brought in (1) at a time and (2) over time. The timing is probably opportunistic, as CDC's CSO is already limiting occupancy numbers. Disney can afford to take it slow.

The petition still is mainly symbolic. It might attract a lot of signatures because of the current headlines, but my guess is that most signatories will neither be cruisers nor Bahamian residents. A better way to deal with it would have been to put the question on a Bahamian ballot like they did in Key West.

 

[Jme W]

So what do you think is this the first shot to cancel Lighthouse Point development?

Well, it's certainly not their first time trying to get it cancelled. They've published a number of Press Releases opposing the project since March 2019.
Press — Last Chance for Lighthouse Point (stopdisney.com)

Their website does a better job illustrating their grievances than the petition does.

As I'm not a resident of the Bahamas, I don't feel I can properly weigh in here on the validity of their claims. But - I don't think this petition will result in any actions being taken.