===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== WCCA MEMBER GROUPS- PLEASE REPOST TO YOUR LISTS! LIST SUBSCRIBERS- PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY! FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TUESDAY CALL-IN CAMPAIGN!!! All of us are learning that politicians really do NOT like answering questions from outraged voters regarding taxpayer-funded whale killings. Our sources tell us that some very serious heat is being applied at every level- up to and including Vice-President Gore. Folks, there is one thing you must realize: These same politicians are betting that after the initial onslaught of calls and letters, they can breathe a sigh of relief and go back to business as usual. In fact, they're counting on it. Guess what? We're not going to let them- there is FAR too much at stake here. And in order to hammer home the point that they had BETTER listen to the American people, we are asking all of you to zero in on one office in particular- The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). We are asking you to maintain the pressure on the CEQ. They are being overwhelmed with your calls, and folks there are starting to make their OWN noise about Al Gore's whale-killing policies! They are getting frustrated with Mr. Gore's inattention, and it is through the CEQ that Mr. Gore will finally have to respond to the voices of the American people. HERE IS THE PLAN: Make at least ONE MORE CALL to the CEQ this Tuesday and ask to speak to Sally Ericson. If you can speak to her directly, do so. If you are not able to speak with her directly, speak firmly and directly to the person on the phone and MAKE THEM write down your concerns and feelings about the adminstration's whale killing policies. Make sure you tell them that you are a member of the WCCA, and demand that they reply to your concerns! If Sally Ericson is rude to you (as she has been to more than one list subscriber), make a note of it and call your congressional representative. Tell THEM how the White House is treating you and demand they do something about it! If you receive a particularly nasty response (again, this has happened to more than one list subscriber), make a call to Rep. Jack Metcalf's office and tell THEM how you were treated. Of course, be sure to share any noteworthy responses with us, as well. Tuesday is the big day! Let's all work together on this one, folks- call once, call twice, call as many times as you like, but make sure you CALL! Council on Environmental Quality: (202) 456-6224 Sally Erickson's direct phone number: (202) 395-5750. We are pleased to present you with the CEQ fax number, as well. CEQ Fax: (202) 456-2710 OTHER CONTACT INFO: To contact your representative and senator, please follow these links: http://www.hsus.org/forms/search_reps.html or http://www.berkshire.net/~ifas/activist or http://www.popularis.com Jack Metcalf Washington Voice: (202) 225-2605 Washington Fax: (202) 225-4420 Voice: (425) 252-3188 ***** EXCELLENT ARTICLE --------------------------------- Many of you have asked some very pointed (and detailed) questions regarding the Clinton/Gore administration's support of the Makah whale killings. Thanks to our friends at Rangebiome.org for pointing out an excellent article entitled "Japan's Kill-the-Whales Plot." We highly recommend you read this article carefully. http://www.consortiumnews.com/c031799a.html ***** WHALE MEAT- COMING SOON TO YOUR KIDS' SCHOOL? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (From Sea Shepherd Conservation Society) "As mentioned, members of the Makah Indian tribe are feeling rather put-upon lately. They can't imagine why. One Makah woman, feeling "shunned by friends and mistreated by strangers," decided to "educate" the children of Port Angeles, Washington, this week. On May 24, she asked the principal of Blue Heron Middle School if she could come into a classroom and give the kids a presentation on Makah cultural heritage and the importance of whaling therein. The principal said sure. But when she came to the classroom, she brought a little something extra: Whale meat from the three-year-old female Gray whale the Makah shot and harpooned to death on May 17. She distributed strips to all the kids and told them to eat up. That evening, the question "what did you do in school today?" got an answer that a lot of parents were not happy to hear. Principal Ani Fields is now writing letters of apology to the parents concerning the cultural insensitivity of forcing someone else's religion (literally) down their children's throats, not to mention allowing a stranger to feed the kids meat of dubious quality. She is promising to bring in "the other side" to make a presentation to the kids in the near future." ***** HUGE RALLY IN PORT ANGELES! ---------------------------------------------------- A HUGE show of support for the gray whales will be held in downtown Port Angeles. Those of you that couldn't make it out to the highway protests should plan on attending this rally! Grab the family, round up your friends and let's ALL show our support for the gray whales! The Peninsula Citizens for the Protection of Whales (PCPW) will hold a rally at the Clallam County Courthouse in downtown Port Angeles, WA at 10:00 am on June 8, 1999- right before the County Commission meeting. The PCPW recently demanded that the Clallam County Commission issue a resolution condemning the Makah whale killing. This rally will demonstrate to the Commission that such a resolution would have overwhelming support from the public, and would go far to mitigate the economic damage done to the citizens of Clallam County by the Makah whale killers. If there is only ONE rally you are able to attend- THIS ONE IS IT! Spread the word about this event far and wide..... Contact Chuck Owens (360) 928-3048, or Dan Spomer (360) 317-6345 ***** ALLEN INGLING- MAKAH "VETERINARIAN" ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Makah long ago enlisted the aid of Allen Ingling, a self-claimed "expert" on putting animals to death. There is no doubt that you will be outraged by what you learn, but find out just what kind of "experts" the Makah are using to kill these whales. After reading the following article, those of you with ties to the University of Maryland may want to share your feelings with that institution. Mr. Ingling's e-mail address is: ai4@umail.umd.edu The link below will take you to a background article on Ingling: http://www2.seashepherd.org/orgs/sscs/essays/ingling.html ***** ONLINE PETITION --------------------------- We had six separate questions regarding the online petition. Answer: Yes! The online petition at http://www.rockisland.com/~dano/boycott.htm is still valid! Download it, print a few copies, spread them around and mail them in! *****