1232892
9781566915083
Neil M. Levy In the early 1970's, Neil M. Levy and his bride Jane bought a Land Cruiser, drove from California to the Panama Canal, sold the car, and began a journey throughout South America, stopping in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. After his return home to the San Francisco Bay Area, Neil was confident he had conquered his accursed wanderlust. Over the next two decades, that seemed to be the case-he became a law professor, the father of three, and a homeowner. Then Neil was offered the chance to write Moon Handbooks Micronesia, and his wanderlust returned stronger than ever. Because of his life-long love of the ocean and appreciation for the island lifestyle, he considered Micronesia an ideal subject. Neil headed off for a months-long tour of the islands and returned home a changed man. Since that first fateful trip, he has traveled extensively throughout the South Pacific, but Micronesia has always held a special place in his heart, and he has returned many times. During his travels, Neil has become increasingly worried about the sustainability of the resources and culture of Micronesia. He's joined with Gary Greene, professor of Marine Geology at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories to found The Atoll Project (TAP), which seeks to prevent the construction of causeways that block the natural flow of ocean water between atolls. He has also spent summers researching and writing about the rights of Native Polynesians. He's applied this knowledge to become an expert on the legal rights of indigenous people and an advocate for Native Hawaiian community groups. (Some say that had there been better surf in South Dakota, he might have become an expert on the law of the Sioux tribes as well.) With their children grown and on their own, Neil and his wife Jane can now travel back to Micronesia guilt-free. Jane has become an expert on the islands herself, contributing to the diving, arts and crafts, and suggested reading sections of this book. Her frequent forays into the Pacific have resulted in an ongoing love affair with manta rays. When not traveling in the South Pacific (or elsewhere), Jane and Neil continue to reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.Levy, Neil is the author of 'Moon Handbook Micronesia', published 2003 under ISBN 9781566915083 and ISBN 1566915082.
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