Nature lovers' stake in Cuba's terror designation
HAVANA, Cuba -- It's not just U.S. and Cuban political and business leaders eager to see the island nation dropped off the U.S. government's State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
Political differences aside, U.S. conservationists are all too aware that the two countries are separated by only 90 miles of water -- a boundary that sea life and oil spills completely ignore.
Dan Whittle is both a lawyer and the director of the Environmental Defense Fund's Cuba Program, and he admits that removal from the list "will not in and of itself eliminate all the barriers we face to supporting environmental projects in Cuba."
But he points out there are still U.S. rules limiting his organization's ability to donate research vessels, computers, satellite tags, and other much-needed equipment to like-minded Cuban groups.
If President Obama does remove Cuba from the list, which he's widely expected to announce this weekend, "it will absolutely pave the way toward removing those barriers," says Whittle.
He has worked closely with Cuban marine biologists in one of the island's primary marine reserves, the Gardens of the Queen, off south central Cuba.
The reserve is famous for its flourishing sea life -- including thriving coral reefs visited by "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper in 2011.
Whittle says removing Cuba from the notorious list, "should also give Cuban scientists and environmental agencies more access to grants and loans from international development institutions that they can use to upgrade environmental protection programs and facilities on the island."