President Obama has been endeavor to exit the prison house facility atGuantanamo Bay(or “ Gitmo ” ) since 2009 , but many in the now - Republican - dominate Congress are strongly opposed , believing that the ingroup send out a warm content to those worldwide that would endeavor to do trauma to the United States .
or else of close it down , however , an legal opinion piece in the journalSciencesuggests that it could be repurposed into a country - of - the - prowess ecological research station , concentrate on ecosystem conservation , nautical inquiry , and climate alteration mitigation . Far from just closing a dark chapter in America ’s recent history , this architectural plan would serve to open up the door to a more scientifically prosperous , peaceable , and enlightened one .
As they point out , Cuba has around 5,000 km ( about 3,100 miles ) of coastline rich in Rhizophora mangle wetlands , coral Rand , seagrass beds and tropic wet woodland , most of which continue undeveloped and have retained unbelievable grade of biodiversity . to help maintain this , they propose turning the prison adeptness into a carbon paper - electroneutral environmental inquiry center whose primary goal is to protect Cuba ’s incredible natural wonders .
The area is abode to several alone species , include vulnerable iguanas and turtle , and the tropical teetotal timberland currently on the base are comparatively rare . The generator note that “ with a thin out U.S. step at Guantanamo , most of the land and ocean could be returned to native wildlife . ” blend further , they suggest that with cooperation between Cuba and the U.S. , cutting - edge adeptness dedicate to search man - made mood change and ocean conservation could also be added .
The ultimate aim would be to create a trulyinternational research hubthat experts from all walk of biography could use . “ With genetics laboratories , geographic information system laboratories , videoconference room – even graphics , music , and design studios – scientists , scholars , and creative person from Cuba , the United States , and around the world could gather and meditate , ” they drop a line .
This new marriage proposal get to entirely change the use of Gitmo , whose dominate images include this one of detainees get at Camp X - Ray in 2002 . Shane T. McCoy / Wikimedia Commons ; Public Domain
The U.S. military ’s naval base and military detention facility on the southeast end of Cuba has beenassociated with controversyfor decades , particularly during the recent “ War on Terror ” initiate by the Bush administration . Its use of “ enhance interrogation techniques ” – effectivelytorture methods – on surmise extremist have led to it being called the “ gulag of our times ” by Amnesty International .
Although the Obama giving medication hasoutlawed tortureat the facility and has significantly descale down the War on Terror practices used by the Bush administration,91 prisonersare still held there , and many have questioned their discourse . opponent to its block remains strong .
But perhaps thanks to recent efforts , a pioneering scientific research center at Guantanamo could be more than just a pipe - pipe dream . Such external cooperation would have seemed insufferable before the governments of Cuba and the U.S. agreed to “ normalise ” diplomatic relation between the two disputative state in the summertime of last class .
“ When we first discussed the idea , it seemed farfetched , ” Joe Roman , a conservation life scientist from the University of Vermont , and a carbon monoxide - generator of the piece , say IFLScience . “ But since last twelvemonth , the U.S. and Cuba have commence cooperating on nautical - protected surface area and shark preservation . I call back the U.S. government could do it and should do it , for the benefit of the U.S. , Cuba , and the many species on the base and beyond . ”
Could Guantanamo ultimately become another sincerely wonderful example of how skill knowsno political bound ? “ For the next generation , the name Guantanamo could become associated with salvation and feat to preserve and repair international sexual relation and the satellite , ” the authors conclude .
