[meteorite-list] Dr. Richard Daniels is a pseudonym for RandallGregory, my way of not asking peo

From: Pete Pete <rsvp321_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 17:00:34 -0400
Message-ID: <BAY141-W3D18E653958F751622D46F8AF0_at_phx.gbl>

My sentiments, exactly, Martin!



Pete





> From: altmann at meteorite-martin.de
> To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 13:24:33 +0200
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Dr. Richard Daniels is a pseudonym for RandallGregory, my way of not asking people to post for me
>
> Mr. Randall,
>
> I think I'm not the only one on that list here, who has the feeling, that
> your posts are highly inconsistent.
>
> First we could read from you, that you're not sure about, that there is a
> main mass some down below in the soil at all and that the crater/pit should
> be preserved.
> We read, that the poor locals should profit from the finds made there, that
> all fragments collected and sold by locals without agreement of the land
> owner are stolen goods and how immoral it is to sell such goods on ebay.
> And that the best solution would be, that the meteorites and the crater
> would be property of the Peruvian state as national treasure + that the
> Peruvian scientists would be experienced enough to handle the case.
>
> In the same mails and later we read, that you not only have bought some
> material at a not directly generous price, but that you bought it from the
> local authorities, who had confiscated the material from people, who
> collected it illegally (according your own words).
> To give money to authorities to obtain secured material - hence either
> property of state or in custody of the state is a simple act of corruption.
>
> And contradicting your own moral standards you started immediately to fence
> those stones via ebay and to dealers like Matteo.
>
> After on the list was discussed, that there is a probability that the main
> mass could exist below the crater and Farmer/Karl/Ward travelled to the
> site, you showed an immediate eagerness to lead an initiative to excavate
> it.
>
> Now, when they entered the scene offering the locals - remember your own
> mails, who are poor and should profit from that situation - a much higher
> and adequate price for the material, which they collected than you did with
> your (seen from the collectors point of view) ridiculous price,
> you seem not to be delighted.
>
> And furthermore you condemn, that they sensitized the population about the
> importance of that case, in giving them a more adequate imagination that the
> possible main mass is more important than the crater and that it has a high
> value, which lead to the exact result, which you always wanted from the
> beginning on, but which you weren't able to accomplish,
> that the importance and the basic necessity to act was finally recognized on
> a national level. Instead to be happy about that, and also that the area is
> now protected by police from further "looting", you call it now an
> "irreparable damage".
>
> And with all respect, the questions about meteorites, you posed here on the
> list, give not directly an impression, that you're an expert in meteoritics,
> neither do I see, why you should be entitled for the " all your work at
> preservation" and not rather the Peruvian scientists, who - at least you
> expressed it so in one of your early mails - are in your opinion
> sufficiently trained to investigate that fall.
>
> So even if we let that strange issues from the private mails Farmer
> published here aside,
> the observer will see a remarkable bigotry in your emails and will most
> probably come to the conclusion, that your motivation isn't morale but
> profane greed.
>
> Regards,
> Martin
>
>
>
> -----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Dr.
> Richard Daniels
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 3. Oktober 2007 11:46
> An: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Betreff: [meteorite-list] Dr. Richard Daniels is a pseudonym for
> RandallGregory, my way of not asking people to post for me
>
> XXX,
>
> This is critical, I'll try to post but if it doesn't make it could you
> send it to someone that will post. I know you want to stay out of the
> middle.
>
> I reviewed the report sent in by Mr. Farmer today and then I asked my
> Peruvian wife to her to call my friends in Desaguadero to find out
> what the situation is. I read Mike's field report and he had mentioned
> that they started to pump out the water in the crater and I was
> curious to know if they found the meteorite.
>
> This is the story as my wife is relating to me after she talked to my
> friend. Major Victor Anaya Barrientos of the Peruvian National Police
> located in the town of Desaguadero.
>
> Apparently, Mike and his associated went to the town of Desaguadero
> and used their method of posting flyers and soliciting citizens to
> sell them meteorites.They told people that the meteorite pieces were
> very very valuable and they would pay good money for any samples. I
> guess they made offers on a per gram basis that sent these people into
> a frenzy. They never went to the municipality and asked for any kind
> of permission. And they never made any contacts with scientists or
> researchers in Peru. Local citizens swarmed to the site to look for
> pieces and almost caused a riot. Apparently, the Spanish speaking
> person with Mike told the people of the community that there was a big
> meteorite in the hole and it was worth alot of money. This is the
> equivalent of starting a revolution. The people gathered at the
> municipality demanding that the government extract the meteorite. The
> mayor of the city complied under duress, and started to pump out the
> water. Meanwhile, news of this revolution went from the local to the
> national level.
>
> Local people were upset as they expected the city to find this million
> dollar meteorite that Mike and his friends told them. This caused so
> many problems with the municipality that the Minister of Interior at
> the national level has issued an order to close the site declaring
> that the site government property. The site now has a 24 hour police
> guard and everyone is forbidden from entering the site. Mike never
> realized the consequences of his actions. The reason he and his
> friends were harassed was the police believed that they were
> "trafficantes" or traffickers. The police were entirely correct in
> their assessment, and gave a message to Mike that they wanted him and
> his friends to leave.
>
> The damage he caused might be irreparable. I intend on visiting the
> site in a short time to see what the situation is and report back to
> the list. I will try to work with my colleagues in Peru and Bolivia,
> the Universities to organize an effort to extract the meteorite as a
> National Treasure for the people of Peru. I believe this meteorite can
> be still be saved and the crater preserved. But now that the national
> government is involved, all my work at preservation might have been in
> vain.
>
> Right now, I am furious with Mike and his actions. No respect for
> people. I am also deeply offended when he called the Mayor and other
> Peruvian scientists stupid. Here is a man with a high school education
> calling college educated professionals stupid. He called Desaguadero
> a "craphole". Yes, it is a very poor city high in the Andes and is no
> way plush as the area of Tuscon he lives in. He went in with his
> greedy little plan and hurt alot of people, while never trying to
> understand the culture or the people. Just criticism and a ton of
> negativity toward everything. The Peruvians are good, decent,
> hard-working, and religious people and I happy and proud to be
> associated with them. Besides the damage he caused in Desaguadero, I
> believe he tarnished the image of meteoritic community.
>
> It really makes me think, What is the definition of a "professional"
> meteorite hunter?
>
> I take responsibility for everything I say in this post and I am
> expecting criticism. After I read Mike's field report, I sent him an
> e-mail. I won't post it to the list, but it is available to anyone
> that wants to read it.
>
> I am now appealing to the meteoritic community of scientists to help
> me at a national level so our government can contact and assist the
> government of Peru in extracting this meteorite. Every meteorite has
> the potiential to harbor organic compounds or fossilized remains and
> should be studied. Give me leads or referrals is all I ask.
>
>
> Randall
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Received on Wed 03 Oct 2007 05:00:34 PM PDT