Omani turtles, workers hurt by privatisation

This video is about one of the many turtle nesting beaches at Ras al Hadd in Oman.

From the World Socialist Web Site today:

Omani turtle sanctuary strike

Around 40 staff at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Research Centre continued their strike for a second day Monday.

“We had given notice to the management on April 8, and since we didn’t get a reply for 20 days we decided to go on strike,” Nasser Al Zedjali, an assistant guide, told Gulf News.

The staff action halted all turtle watching activities at the turtle reserve. Al Zedjali said that soon after control of the turtle reserve was transferred to a commercial entity, the employees were promised better conditions.

But instead, no new guides were appointed and the number of tourists permitted to watch turtles hatching was increased from 80 to 100 a night to about 180 to 200.

Al Zedjali said more visitors could keep turtles away, but “No one seems to be bothered as their only aim is to make money.”

Promised increments and bonuses were not given in the last four years.

Green turtles nest at Ras al-Jinz.

This video from the USA is called “Teamsters and Turtles Together“: Andre Benjamin in Battle in Seattle.