SURVIVOR 16 - Can Palau Outwit, Outplay, Outlast?

SURVIVOR 16 - Can Palau Outwit, Outplay, Outlast?

Well, things are once again in full swing here in Palau for the shooting of SURVIVOR 16, the second Survivor show to be shot in Palau, Micronesia. Survivor 10 was also shot in Palau a few years ago. Helicopters are again buzzing around, shuttle boats and security boats zooming here and there, and selected locations cordoned off for filming. Across the street from Sam's Tours, SURVIVOR Base Camp is buzzing with activity almost 24/7.

It's the tourism "off-season" here in Palau so without the Survivor crew here, things around town would otherwise be pretty quiet. Local establishments like Bottom Time Bar and Grill at Sam's Tours, Kraemers Bar and Restaurant, Taj Indian Restaurant, and Drop-Off Bar are all places where Survivor crews hang out in the evenings. They're a busy bunch but also very friendly with lots of new faces from all around the world that help liven up the place. Many bring a fresh perspecitive that's good to hear!

Of course, we don't really get to talk shop with these guys 'cause everythings gotta be kept super secret until after the show airs, but that's why we have the Internet. Anyone looking for info on Survivor 16 Palau just has to spend a few minutes on Google to find all the latest gossip. I pasted a few links below that I ran across but anyone can find these and much more in a few minutes at the keyboard themselves. Guess we'll just have to wait til SURVIVOR CHINA is finished and SURVIVOR 16 Palau begins to air to really know what's going on. http://www.claycritters.com/map/s16/survivor_16_map.htmhttp://www.unofficialsurvivorguide.comhttp://www.survivor.com

But SURVIVOR isn't the only "show in town"... Discovery Channel's BONE DETECTIVE series has been here for a few weeks shooting some episodes of their own. And rumors still abound that SURVIVOR Russia may shoot in Palau too!

THE BIGGER THREAT:Palau is indeed a small place, but nonetheless there's lots going on. I just hope Palau itself can Outwit, Outlast and Outplay the growing global exposure and successfully survive the outcome by converting increased interest and exposure in to sustainable low impact - high return tourism. Sounds simple perhaps, but it's actually a major challenge.
Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr, has done much during his last seven years in office to lay a strong foundation of environmental preservation and protection intended to ensure the survival of Palau's natural resources in the years ahead. He recently masterminded the Micronesia Challenge, and just weeks ago was recognized by TIME Magazine as a global environmental hero, for his many accomplishments. With his two term limit as president about to end in 2008, there is considerable concern about successors sustaining his momentum.
While SURVIVOR 16 Palau Micronesia is but a television show, the true realities are the very real environmental challenges Palau faces as a direct resultant of global warming, illegal foreign fishing, shark finning, destruction of mangroves, and dependence on fossil fuels to name but a few.

Can Palau truly Outwit, Outplay and Outlast the mounting environmental challenges and destructive impacts that are often the result of actions and or inactions of other nations whether close by or half way round the world?

Never mind "Reality TV", a much more (environmentally) foreboding show is being played "Live" right before our very eyes every day in Palau......all that's missing are the cameras to broadcast it around the world .... hopefully to an audience of responsible world leaders with the vision and courage to care and to act now. Palau, is a tiny country made up of hundreds of islands yet fully aware that no man is an island, a sentiment lost it seems on continental nations "who cannot see their damage for the seas!"