===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== REGARDING ARTHUR J. MILLER AND HIS SPAMMING ------------------------------------------- A NOTE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS: Several of our subscribers have had the misfortune of running across e-mails from a particularly hate-filled individual; one Arthur J. Miller. The WCCA has been a target of Mr. Miller for some time now, and we encourage you all to ignore to his slanderous and race-baiting techniques. For the record, his "group" consists of nothing more than a few disgruntled extremists who enjoy sending out unsolicited hate mail to whale protection advocates. However, rest assured that his activities have been brought to the attention of state and local authorities. SHOULD YOU HAPPEN to become the target of his attacks, we encourage you to bring the matter to the attention of his Internet Service Provider as well as your own ISP. Further, feel free to bring the matter up with your own local law-enforcement agency. If you need further assistance or support in this matter, please contact us by e-mail. We would be happy to put you in contact with the necessary legal resources to halt these shameful, cowardly attacks. The WCCA looks forward to the day when hate and racial tension cease to become the weapons of choice for the whale-killers. ***** SHADES OF THE MAKAH BACKDOOR DEAL --------------------------------- MOSCOW, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Japan and Russia have cut a whale of a deal for 200 tons of Russian beluga whale meat and blubber, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) denounced today from its Moscow office. This deal launches the first-ever international commercial hunt of beluga whales, and reopens the international trade in whale meat, a trade IFAW says is not sustainable and threatens whale populations worldwide. As part of the deal, the State Fishery Committee of the Russian Federation has issued permits for 200 beluga whales to be hunted in the southern section of the Sea of Okhotsk. While the Russian government has sanctioned the hunt, the Russian authorities for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have yet to authorize the trade. CITES permits must be issued before customs officials will allow the whale meat to leave the country. Legally, there is nothing preventing Russia from issuing the permits, as beluga whales are covered under a CITES provision that allows limited trade, provided that it is not harmful to the whale populations. Such a decision is highly questionable here, where very little is known about the whale stocks being hunted, and the CITES authorities in Russia appear to have reservations about the trade. Valentine Ilyashenko, Deputy-Chief of the CITES-Russia Authority office, has required the Russian supplier to guarantee that not more than 200 beluga whales will be killed, and to allow for DNA analysis of the meat prior to shipment to ensure that it is strictly beluga whale meat. In response to the sanctioned trade, Russian marine mammal scientists and conservation groups joined together today to draft a protest statement addressed to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The group included prominent members of Russia's Marine Mammal Council and the Russian Society of Animal Protection, as well as IFAW. Scientists are particularly concerned about the effects of the hunt on the beluga populations at stake. ``Very little is known about the status of several of the stocks covered by the Russian quota,'' said Peter Meisenheimer of the International Marine Mammal Association, ``and all but the Bering Sea populations are considered depleted. Any unmonitored take from these stocks could have serious consequences for the population.'' There is also much concern regarding the way the hunt is being carried out. Beluga whales have not been hunted in Russia in over 30 years. The result is a mismanaged hunt burdened by lack of experience, insufficient equipment and no independent observers. ``This trade in beluga whale meat signals a dangerous step forward for Japan's commercial whale trade,'' said Karen Steuer, Director of IFAW's Commercial Exploitation and Trade Program, ``and a dangerous step backwards for Russia's developing conservation efforts and threatened beluga whale populations.'' SOURCE: International Fund for Animal Welfare ***** PORT ANGELES RALLY AND PROTEST REPORTS -------------------------------------- For updates and information on the Port Angeles rally and protests this past week, you may visit: http://www.safepassing.org or http://www.stopwhalekill.org Newspaper coverage can be found at: http://www.seattle-pi.com/pi/local/maka30.shtml ***** ANOTHER CANDIDATE SPEAKS OUT FOR THE WHALES! -------------------------------------------- Recently, we made you all aware of Michael Kundu's candidacy for local office in Washington state. (Thanks to all of you for sending in your contributions- what an overwhelming response!) Well, Michael's candidacy inspired several other local candidates to contact us, letting us know that THEY were fighting for the whales as well! We will be able to bring more details about this growing political groundswell soon, but for now, we are honored to introduce you to another whale hero! Brian Calvert, long time whale advocate, is seeking re-election as Port Commissioner for the Port of Friday Harbor, Washington. Calvert has used his position as Commissioner to work on the Free Lolita Campaign and condemmed the Japanese captures. A long time opponent of the Makah Whale hunt, Calvert hosted seminars around the state, bringing together the core of the opposition for public discussion. As the hunt unfolded, Calvert was on the scene, serving on Sea Shepherd vessels and doing aerial observations in his plane, "Sky Shepherd". Calvert is largely responsible for the political alliances with our Congressman and Senator. he has been cited by Captain Paul Watson as a "Guardian Defender of the Pacific Grey Whale". It is imperative to future pro-whale campaigns to keep Brian Calvert in office. Letters of support and contributions can be sent to: Committee to Re-elect Brian Calvert PO Box 1083 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 ***** THEY SAID IT... (LYING THROUGH THE TEETH) ----------------------------------------- "Today we take further action to protect our shores and preserve our precious oceans for our children and grandchildren," Gore said. "From small fishing villages on the New England coast to communities across America that rely on food from the sea, we are all linked to the oceans. We must protect them for our families and for our future." (Al Gore, the individual most responsible for the killing of whales in Washington state, September 3, 1999) BUMPER STICKER O' THE DAY ------------------------- Seen on a growing number of cars in Friday Harbor; "SAVE THE WHALES- VOTE REPUBLICAN!"