By AIC guest blogger, Avra Heller, Coral Reef Project Coordinator, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
Lulu, Manny, and the CNMI Girl Scouts. Credit: Jihan Buniag, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
There are two active Pride Campaigns in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI): the Laolao Bay Pride Campaign and the Managaha Sanctuary Pride Campaign. Pride Campaigns employ social marketing strategies to change behaviors that are threatening our environment. The Laolao Bay campaign is focused on encouraging landowners in the Laolao Bay watershed to improve their soil management practices, while the Managaha campaign is concentrating on increasing compliance with marine protected area (MPA) rules and regulations.
Mascots, Laolao Bay Lulu and Managaha Manny, partnered with the CNMI Girl Scouts in Saipan’s Parade of Floats, on December 21st, to celebrate the official opening of the Christmas season. Lulu is a canario, the golden white eye, a bird found only on Saipan and Aguigan (Goat Island). Manny is a tataga, the bluespine unicornfish, found across the Indo-Pacific.
The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance’s Tasi Watch Rangers carried the float’s banner promoting the Micronesia Challenge and the two Pride Campaigns. Credit: Jihan Buniag, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
The float featured the two mascots together with the Girl Scouts who were dressed in green with Santa hats decorated with the campaign logos. The Girl Scouts decorated the float keeping the CNMI Micronesia Challenge motto “the land and sea are the pride of our culture” in mind. Everyone loved Lulu and Manny, snapping photos they passed by.
It was a great event and Lulu and Manny send their love, wishing everyone Feliz Navidad and Happy Holidays from Saipan! Here’s to an exciting 2014!
Please like the CNMI Micronesia Challenge, the Laolao Bay Pride Campaign, and the Managaha Pride Campaign on Facebook to stay up to date!
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