===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE PROTEST: STOP GORE'S WHALE KILLING POLICIES! So you couldn't make any of the previous protests or rallies? Here's one for YOU! Date: Friday, June 18 Time: 4:00 pm Place: Seattle Center Flag Pavilion. The "Town Hall Meeting" is outside at the Seattle Center Flag Pavilion. The "doors" open at 4:00 pm, program begins at 5:00 pm. It is suggested that only two signs - either "Gore Kills Whales" or "Environmentalists Against Gore," be displayed. Shape/Size/Color doesn't matter, but a unified message is important. Protestors will be meeting at the base of the Space Needle as early as 3:00 pm. Get tickets by calling 903-1715, ask for Brian. Do not tell them you will be demonstrating! If asked, say you heard about this from the Patty Murray campaign group. Tickets can be picked up at 615 2nd Ave. Suite 370 by 6:00 pm tomorrow or at will call at the event (may be long delays at will call). You must provide your full name and photo ID to get a ticket and to be admitted. If you need more information, send an e-mail to Sandy or Mark at Sandy@safepassing.org Rumor has it that a contingent of pro-whaling people will try and make a show of force as well. With that in mind, we felt it important to include the following, courtesy of the Progessive Animal Welfare Society. --------------------------------- Suggested Ethical Guidelines for People Opposed to Makah Whaling In response to many examples of overt racism by our fellow opponents of Makah whaling at demonstrations, vigils, protests, and during letter writing and sign-making, we call upon everyone to reflect and self-examine how each has expressed him or herself in opposition to all whaling, including that done by some members of the Makah tribe. We propose the adoption of these ethical guidelines drawn upon our personal traditions and experiences. This will not lessen our determination and effectiveness in achieving our goals. It will give us strength and consistency. Pledge to follow these minimum principles as your beginning point. 1) I will act with dignity and seek to avoid shouting matches and violence, both verbal and physical. 2) Using the examples set by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and others, I will strive to separate the act I oppose from the person doing the act. I recognize the immense difficulty of loving a person committing an act that gives me profound personal pain. 3) I acknowledge that anyone, of any culture, can fall victim to racial stereotyping. I will not stereotype individuals of another culture and will challenge anyone attempting to stereotype me. 4) I will attempt to the best of my ability to understand my opponents motives. I will seek empathy, attempting as best I can to understand their pain and history while recognizing the limits each person in every culture has in doing this. 5) I will seek to understand before seeking to be understood. 6) I acknowledge my imperfections and failings. These are things I share in common with my opponents. 7) I reject hate as a pathway to my goals. 8) In the event I choose the sacrifice of civil disobedience, putting my very life between the harpoon and the life of the whale, I pledge I will not threaten nor physically harm those who are attempting to kill. 9) I will remain true to my personal vision of an environmentally sustainable and humane future that includes all life sharing this Earth. I pledge to continuously self-examine my own lifestyle choices to make sure that vision becomes reality. 10) I will take responsibility to gently remind others of these essential principles. Submitted for consideration, Will Anderson PAWS Wildlife Advocate ***** STATE'S VOTES MATTER TO GORE ------------------------------------------------------ by Seattle Times staff When Al Gore arrives in Seattle tomorrow, it will mark his eighth visit here since he and President Clinton won re-election in 1996. This time, he's here to announce that he's running for president. OK, so before coming here, Gore will have made this same announcement in Tennessee, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York and California. But clearly he thinks Washington is important to his election bid, despite its paltry 11 electoral votes. Why does the veep come here so much, anyway? Backers say it's because Washington is a bellwether of the West Coast and was crucial to both of Clinton's elections. Others say it's because he wants to tap into those software billionaires - especially after his Democratic opponent, Bill Bradley, beat him to the punch in April by raising more than $200,000 here. "I think the Bradley people came out here and organized and had a great fund-raiser and created quite a buzz," said Paul Berendt, the Democrats' state party chairman. "To a certain extent I think they caught the Gore people off guard . . ." Gore and his wife Tipper will broadcast live for the Larry King show on CNN from Seattle Center at 6 p.m. Next will be a somewhat undefined forum on technology at 6:30 p.m. at the Seattle Center Pavilion, open to the public. Later that night, Gore will have a private fund-raiser at the Highlands home of Nick and Leslie Hanauer (he's a vice president of Pacific Coast Feather, which makes down comforters). Maybe Gore comes here because he can't take the state for granted, though Washington voters haven't picked a Republican for president since 1984. Here's a warning sign: Mayors from 171 cities announced they were endorsing Gore earlier this week, but only one, Tacoma Mayor Brian Ebersole, is from Washington. ***** THE NEW AND IMPROVED (BUT STILL COWARDLY) GOVERNOR LOCKE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those of you who have written Governor Locke have expressed your frustration at his reprehensible cowardice by refusing to take a position on the Makah whale killing. Below is the most recent reply from his office. It is important to note the line "A federal government interpretation of an 1855 treaty between the Makahs and the United States...", as this is the first time Governor Locke has opened the door to the possibility that something might be wrong! In the next update: A wonderful reply to Governor Locke's shameful lack of backbone. Stay tuned, and stand by to respond to the Governor with YOUR letter! "Thank you for contacting Governor Locke's office regarding issues surrounding the Makah Tribe's hunt of gray whales off Neah Bay. The Governor appreciates the time you took to let him know your opinion on this matter. While Governor Locke was saddened to see a whale killed, he respects the right of the Makah to exercise their federal treaty rights. Various treaties between Indian Tribes and the United States government established the hunting and fishing rights of the Tribes. A federal government interpretation of an 1855 treaty between the Makahs and the United States gives the Makah Tribe the right to hunt gray whales. Any action to modify the treaty would need to be negotiated between the Tribe and the federal government. The Governor has no jurisdiction in this matter. To pursue this issue further, you may wish to contact any or all of the organizations and individuals listed below. Thank you again for your comments. Sincerely, Constituent Services Office of the Governor" The Makah Tribal Council PO Box 115 Neah Bay WA 98357 (360)645-2201 The International Whaling Comission The Red House 135 Station Road Impington, Cambridge, UK Cb4 9NP E-Mail: iwcoffice@compuserve.com Phone: 44 (0)1223 233971 Fax: 44 (0)1223 232876 The Honorable Slade Gorton United States Senator 10900 NE Fourth Street, Suite 2110 Bellevue WA 98004 E-mail/Web Site: http:www.senate.gov/~gorton/webform.html Telephone number: (206) 451-0103 (202) 224-3441 The Honorable Patty Murray United States Senator 2988 Jackson Federal Building Seattle WA 98174 E-mail: senator.murray@murray.senate.gov Telephone number: (206) 553-5545 (202) 224-2621 *Jay Inslee - First District Rep. E-mail address not available (202) 225-6311 *Jack Metcalf - Second District Rep. askjack@hr.house.gov *Brian Baird - Third District Rep. brian.baird@mail.house.gov *Doc Hastings - Fourth District Rep. E-mail address not available (202) 225-5816 *George Nethercutt - Fifth District Rep. grnwa05@hr.house.gov *Norm Dicks - Sixth District Rep. E-mail address not available (202) 225-5916 *Jim McDermott - Seventh District Rep. E-mail address not available (202) 225-3106 *Jennifer Dunn - Eighth District Rep. dunnwa08@hr.house.gov *Adam Smith - Ninth District Rep. E-mail address not available (202) 225-8901 *****