From: Dan Spomer To: Makah Whaling Update List Date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 12:18 PM Subject: Makah Whaling Update (May 12, 1999 AM) > >===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== > >FROM SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - > >May 11, 1999 > >ACTIVISTS KEEP U.S. WHALE HUNTERS AT BAY >Coastal whaling cancer spreads to Japan > >The long-threatened whale hunt by the Makah Indian tribe of Neah Bay, >Washington, almost became a reality Monday but was foiled by pro-whale >activists on the water. "We continued to press the would-be whale hunters >today as a close escort of activists, whale watching craft, and local >citizens made sure the hunters' boats got nowhere near any migrating Gray >whales," said Lisa Distefano, International Director of the Sea Shepherd >Conservation Society. "We will continue to do so, despite the outrageous >attempts of the Coast Guard to crush all dissent against the horrendous >U.S. government policy that is allowing this travesty to go on." > >The Coast Guard pounced on Sea Defense Alliance activists Monday after >reportedly being told that activists were brandishing guns. The Coast Guard >detained and searched several boats and arrest two activists. The report >proved false. > >During last fall's Gray whale migration, the Makah falsely reported to >authorities that Sea Shepherd activists had taken several Norwegian >journalists hostage. (A police assault and rescue operation was called off >at the last minute when an official got one of the surprised journalists on >the phone, who found the report highly amusing.) On Monday, the Makah >Tribal Council had more trouble keeping its story straight after the >attempted kill when Whaling Commissioner Keith Johnson said the tribe was >"just practicing" while whaling captain Wayne Johnson asserted that "if it >wasn't for those protestors, it would have been over with." > >As the Makah began hunting in earnest, Japan lifted its ban on the hunting >of Bottlenose whales in the Sea of Japan, off the coast of the island of >Hokkaido, a practice that has been forbidden since 1972. > >"At the moment the Makah hurled their first harpoon, their trading partners >in Japan decided to press their claims for 'small-type coastal whaling,' >and the U.S. now can say nothing against it," said Sea Shepherd President >Paul Watson. "The whaling nations are seizing on and spreading this cancer, >courtesy of the Clinton administration. What is happening now is what we >said would happen when the U.S. cut a deal to get around the aboriginal >subsistence requirement of the International Whaling Commission in order to >get a hunting permit for the Makah, a tribe with no subsistence need for >whale meat." > >This afternoon on the floor of Congress, Representative Jack Metcalf (R >-WA) condemned the Makah whale hunt and the Administration's complicity in >permitting it. > >On board the Sirenian in Neah Bay, Washington >===================================== >Sea Shepherd Conservation Society >P.O. Box 628 >Venice, CA. 90294 >USA >e-mail: seashepherd@seashepherd.org >Web Site: http://www.seashepherd.org >Tel: 310-301-SEAL(7325) >Canada: 604-688-7325 >Fax: 310-574-3161 >===================================== >***** > > > >FROM KOMO-TV >------------------------- >May 12, 1999 > >NEAH BAY - The whales can relax for another day. There will be no harpoons >thrown today. > >A member of the Makah tribal whaling commission, Arnie Hunter, says the crew >is taking a day of rest after a couple of days of rowing its canoe in the >ocean. > >The crew threw its harpoon at a whale Monday. Yesterday's hunt was cut short >when a rainstorm moved in. > >Two anti-whaling activists who were arrested Monday face assault charges in >Port Angeles. They were released yesterday after their first court >appearance. > >In other developments, one of the anti-whaling boats, the Sea Shepherd's >"Sirenian," towed a Makah fishing boat back to Neah Bay this morning. It >apparently ran out of gas or had some other problem. > >And another tribe, the Puyallups, are sending their canoe to Neah Bay today >as a sign of support for the Makah. It's due to arrive this afternoon. >***** > > > >FROM AUSTRALIANS FOR ANIMALS >-------------------------------------------------------- >EMAIL TO CFN >12th May, l999 > >Given the very serious nature of the Makah's unforgiveable attempts to >slaughter whales; and given the complete lack of any response.. much less a >proper response from the major US environmental groups in relation to this >issue, I've come to the conclusion this is " SPIT THE DUMMY TIME". > >Maybe you guys and gals who sit in your comfortable air conditioned hot shot >techno offices on big fat salaries - money that comes from the good old >general public who still believe in Santa Claus - don't think that Americans >or people of the world have a right to know what is going on in regard to >what is arguably the most serious whale issue on earth. We do. > >Think about it. The almighty United States of America is not only allowing >the murder of whales in its coastal waters; but is also setting a precedent >which will see the IWC become nothing but a paper tiger. Thereby downing >not only its own major environmental protection laws but also a critically >important treaty if the whales are to survive. Actions that affect the >whole world. > >The thought of Americans remaining silent over the prospect of whales being >killed in their own country's waters is not a possibility for most of us out >here in the colonies. We know the American public has spoken loud and clear >showing their generosity and concern for the whales.. for other beings. > >Major American environmental groups have an obligation to be publicly >accountable. > >They have an obligation to answer their colleagues and the movement. They >have an obligation to the world. To people everywhere who believe in our >movement, in activism, in our struggle for the rights of those who cannot >speak with whom we are intimately connected. > >Therefore they have a powerful moral and spiritual obligation as well. > >They have an obligation to fight tooth and nail to stop the killing of >whales in US waters. > >All these obligations appear to have been completely avoided and evaded by >these groups. I remind you all that AFA, an Aussie grass roots group had to >initiate the historic lawsuit against the US government to stop the Makah >kill. A lawsuit which has cost us blood, sweat, tears and money we >definitely don't have. What did the big US groups contribute ? Nothing. > >So unless there is a public reply to my questions regarding the Makah issue, >AFA intends putting out a global press release ( a sign on release >possibly ) calling for a public inquiry into the failure of the major US >environmental and marine groups to take adequate steps or to campaign to >stop the killing of the Californian gray whale in the coastal waters off >Washington state. > >If these groups maintain their silence, then they are just as guilty as the >Government, the bureaucracy and media in murdering the whale. > >Sue Arnold. >***** > >