===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You've asked "what can we do to stop the killings?", and we are doing our very best to inform you how you can. Each day we will post at least one contact that you should e-mail, phone and write. Folks, with all of us working simultaneously, WE ARE HAVING AN EFFECT! Let it be known that our voices can not be ignored or silenced. KEEP CALLING AND WRITING!!! QUESTION: Has the media REALLY been biased in their coverage of the Makah whale-killing atrocity? ANSWER: Read on, and see how many of THESE items were reported in your newspaper today. ***** REP. JACK METCALF INVESTIGATING COAST GUARD BEHAVIOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Congressman Jack Metcalf is investigating complaints regarding U.S. Coast Guard behavior during the Makah whaling atrocity. Anyone directly affected by recent Coast Guard actions should call Rep. Metcalf's Everett office at (425) 252-3188. This includes those who were affected on land OR sea. Ask to speak with Lew Moore or leave him a message. ***** GORE CAMPAIGN STARTING TO SWEAT -------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to all of your efforts, the people in the Gore campaign are starting to ask some serious questions about this outrageous slaughter. We've just been informed that the Gore campaign has a person who is "handling" the Makah whale slaughter. Sally Ericson, Associate Director of Natural Resources (White House Council on Environmental Quality) Phone: (202) 456-6224 We think that the Council on Environmental Quality deserves to know just how you feel about the Clinton/Gore administration's whale-killing policy. Be sure to remind them that you are a voter, and DEMAND the killings stop now! After you've spoken with them, be sure and remind the GORE 2000 campaign that they'll never see a dime of your money, and that you will be spreading the word of Gore's involvement in the Makah atrocity with all your friends and neighbors. Pass it on to your local and state Democratic offices, as well. NO MORE GORE! "GORE 2000" Telephone: (202) 263-6000 Spread the word and CALL! ***** HELLO, SEATTLE TIMES ------------------------------------- Every credible poll or survey shows the American public opposed to the Makah killings by a ratio of between 3:1 and 10:1. That, folks, is overwhelming NATIONAL condemnation for this taxpayer-funded slaughter. Which makes us wonder on which planet the 'Seattle Times' is currently on. An editor at the the 'Seattle Times' claims that feedback is running "50-50" on the Makah killings. We tend to think they might be fibbing just a bit- and would bet the farm that the Clinton/Gore loyalists who run the paper would just as soon see this entire issue go away. That's where we come in, folks. You might want to ask these people about their incredible lack of coverage on the killings, and the jaw-dropping bias displayed in the few articles they've run to date. We're told that the folks at the 'Seattle Times' actually "care" what their readers think. This might be a good time to see how much they really believe that! http://www.seattletimes.com ***** MAKAH OUTRAGE SPARKING WORLD-WIDE PROTESTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAKAH HUNT LEADS TO CLASHES AT WHALING COMMISSION Japan and the United States are facing off over whales at the annual International Whaling Commission meeting in St. George's, Grenada. The Japanese say the Americans are hypocritical for allowing the Makah Indian tribal hunt while opposing the same right for traditional whalers in Japan. The two nations also clashed over the presence of the activist group Greenpeace as the meeting began yesterday. Japan sought unsuccessfully to bar Greenpeace observers because of a protest against Japanese whaling last November in New Caledonia. Japan claims the resulting delay cost millions of dollars. (Northwest Cable News) ***** FROM WCCA MEMBER 'BREACH MARINE PROTECTION' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHALE ADVOCATES OCCUPY WHALING COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS At 11am this morning, anti-whaling activists from the Breach Marine Protection group occupied the headquarters of the International Whaling Commission, Cambridge, UK. The building was taken over as a protest against the alleged illegal ongoing slaughter of California Gray whales by the Makah Tribe off the coast of Washington State, United States of America. Breach Marine Protection has taken this action because despite the hundreds of messages sent by the global community to the IWC, to date, the Secretariat has failed to respond to the reasonable requests listed below. Background: In 1997, at the IWC meeting in Monaco, the USA made a backdoor deal with Russia to trade Bowhead whales taken by Alaskan Inupiat, for Gray whales taken by the Russians. The USA dared not allow the Makah 'quota' proposal to stand on its own, they knew that IWC Commissioners would vote it down. The USA forced through its proposal on a 'consensus' basis, knowing full well that the Commission would not oppose the Russian element of the quota. The USA then claimed that the IWC had authorised the Makah whale kill, strongly refuted by the Australian delegation and others. Agencies within the USA went on to sanction the harassment, maiming and slaughter of 34 Gray whales over the next 5 years. On the 17th. May, the Makah harpooned, then shot to death a 35 ft juvenile Gray whale within Washington State's Olympic Coast Marine Sanctuary. Breach Marine Protection holds the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the US Government directly responsible for the Makah whaling precedent, which could open up world-wide whaling for the Japan, Norway and many others. Without the IWC 'consensus' in 1997, none of this would have been possible. Although thirteen Commissioners spoke against the Makah Gray whale 'quota' and only five spoke in favour, the IWC still allowed the US - Russian backdoor deal and made it possible for the US authorities (NMFS/ NOAA) to claim they had the right to approve the Makah's grizzly inhumane intentions. The IWC Secretary Raymond Gambell's written statement of the 5th. October 1998 (NOT put out in a general press release) that "The IWC has specifically not passed a judgement on recognising or otherwise the claim of the Makah Tribe, since the member nations were clearly unable to agree" came far too late, and in our opinion, intentionally so. Although the Commissioners refused to bring the issue back to the table at their 1998 meeting, the IWC has the power to change their Monaco decision at their Commissioners' meeting in Grenada which starts today. Breach Marine Protection therefore demands the IWC rights the wrongs it has done to the California Gray whales, and the world-wide whaling precedent it has set by: a) placing the Makah whaling issue on its agenda at Grenada in isolation. b) the Commissioners taking a clear, public, open and pressure free vote purely on the USA Makah whaling proposal. c) now that Gray whales have been killed by the Makah before the IWC meeting , the IWC holds the USA Government fully responsible for undermining the IWC - an international Convention - and the international community, and uses any redress open to the Commissioners under to it International Law or by applying IWC sanctions against the USA. d) replacing the Secretary of the International Whaling Commission with someone who can interpret the true wishes of the IWC Commissioners. Note: Breach Marine Protection, AFA and other plaintiffs brought a lawsuit (Metcalf v Daley) against three named defendants, all officials of the US Government agencies NMFS/ NOAA, to test the legality of their authorisation of Makah whaling in 1997. The case was lost in a court in Tacoma, Washington State, in 1998. This decision to find for the defendants is now under appeal to the 9th. Appeals Court. BMP and others allege that by authorising the Makah to slaughter Gray whales, these US officials violated the US NEPA, WCA and Marine Sanctuary Acts, and International Law. The Appeals Court has also been asked to deal with the withholding of pertinent documents by these agencies to both the plaintiffs and the Tacoma Court. BMP expects a hearing date for this appeal in the very near future. also... WHALE ADVOCATES BEATEN AT PEACEFUL PROTEST ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a result of a peaceful protest by Breach Marine Protection at the International Whaling Commission offices this morning, two of the activists have been attacked by a security guard. Toni Gabbey, a 27 year old female, was punched in the face, kicked to the floor and alleges sexually assault. Michael Trickett, 52 years of age, was also punched in the face and a chain was wrapped around his neck. Both have suffered physical injury. The police arrived and sent for bolt croppers to cut free the protesters who had chained themselves to various parts of the building. They were finally dislodged and the police said they would take a statement and release the Breach activists if they gave up their protest. The whale advocates refused, saying the purpose of the protest was to force Ray Gambell, Secretary to the IWC (presently at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Grenada) to listen to the demands made previously by Breach Marine Protection and the International Community. As a result, the activists have been arrested and are now in custody... ...BMP's Campaign Director, David Smith has contacted Cambridge Police and asked for the activists to be medically examined on their arrival. UPDATE: Upon arrival at the police station, Toni Gabbey, one of the protesters, collapsed and has been hospitalized for possible concussion. Breach Marine Protection, Int. email: BreachEnv@aol.com Tel/Fax: +44 1405 769375 http://members.aol.com/breachenv/home.htm Breach Marine Protection, US Email: USA Breach@aol.com PO Box 532 Woodbury, CT 06798 USA ***** ABC NEWS- COVERAGE BIASED? --------------------------------------------------------------- A list subscriber has informed us that ABC News is taking comments on their media coverage of the Makah whale killing. You can pass on your impression of their coverage by e-mailing: abc-complaints@starwave.com ***** LAST ITEM ---------------- Stay tuned- tomorrow has the makings of a very busy day! Keep the faith- WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! *****