===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE ------------------------------------------ This update contains a number of very important items- we apologize in advance for the length. We urge all of you to forward the following update to as many concerned parties as possible. WCCA member groups; please repost to your membership! ***** FROM SEA DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL -------------------------------------------------------- SEA DEFENSE ALLIANCE SABOTAGED! In the past week Sea Defense Alliance has come under attack. Our various efforts to regain control of our seized boats have been compromised because of the actions of a few individuals. The funds generously donated by supporters, including all of the money donated to the Josh and Jake legal defense fund, have been stolen. The efforts to return October 1st to the front lines with new vessels have been temporarily halted. Even the name of the group- Sea Defense Alliance- has been taken from its founder, Jonathan Paul. A hostile takeover has occurred, stripping everything from the front-line activists. Who is responsible? Joe Dibee Ben White John Sellers These three individuals have sabotaged the efforts to save the whales. Over the last few weeks these individuals sent faxes to paralegals and lawyers working on getting our vessels returned - stating that we had no authority to legally do so and to halt all work. With the aid of attorney Helga Karr, all but $20 dollars was removed fraudulently from our bank account. This includes the entire amount raised for the Josh and Jake legal defense fund that YOU generously donated. The rest of the funds were going towards securing a vessel this week to thwart the efforts of the Makah whaling team. The efforts of Joe Dibee, Ben White and John Sellers have hampered our efforts to stop the whale hunt off of the Olympic Peninsula. Be warned, these individuals are going to continue on, calling themselves Sea Defense Alliance, and asking for your support. We would recommend steering your funds and efforts elsewhere as well as remove all links to Sea Defense Alliance web pages and contacts (this includes www.sedna.org, as well as sedna@envirolink.org and Jdibee@envirolink.org). These individuals are keeping activists off of the water and have not shown their faces on the frontlines, essentially aiding the Makah whaling efforts to kill gray whales. We will not be stopped by others quests for greed and power. These attitudes are no better than the people who are throwing harpoons and firing anti-tank weapons at innocent whales. We are dismayed and very disappointed at this hostile takeover and we apologize to those who gave us donations which were fraudulently removed from our account. As of now our lawyers are working to get the money returned so it may be used toward Jake and Josh's legal fund and toward the upcoming hunt. So, as the 3rd season of the Makah whale hunt arrives, a new group will be on the water defending the whales. Sea Defense International has been created to bring direct action to the waters on behalf of the animal nations. After spending a total of 18 weeks between October and May on the waters off of the Olympic Peninsula, the only members of Sea Defense Alliance who were on the front lines return, this time under a new, tighter organization. Jonathan Paul, Josh Harper, and Jake Conroy – those who helped lead the front line charge last season- have been forced to leave Sea Defense Alliance and now return as Sea Defense International, an organization dedicated to preserving the oceans and its inhabitants, based on direct action and veganism. We will continue to focus our immediate attention on the whale slaughter that continues off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. In light of the recent Beluga Whale slaughter in Russian waters that has led to the commercial sale of whale meat to Japan, Sea Defense International's long term plan is to obtain the resources to tackle these issues on the high seas. Sea Defense International is presently securing vessels for the upcoming whale hunt. As our activists head onto the waters and into the courts, we will need your support to keep us going. Any donations, equipment, or volunteer efforts would be greatly appreciated. We are also in desperate need of an individual who can prepare a web page for us. Feel free to contact us at: Sea Defense International PO Box 401 Williams OR 97544 Seadefense2000@hotmail.com 206.208.0593 **PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS AND LISTS** ***** FROM SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY -------------------------------------- Two statements from Paul Watson: 1) The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society supports Johnathan, Josh and Jake and we are appalled that a hostile takeover has been executed against the activists and founders of SEDNA by those who did so very little to oppose the whale hunt. To steal funds from a legal defense fund just weeks before a trial is a dispicable act. We saw who was active on the waters off Neah Bay. It was Jonathan, Jake and Josh. Joe Dibee was good for snickering comments and criticisms of everyone but Joe Dibee. Helga Kahr did little but criticize everyone else and Ben White with his pathetic group called People for the Makah and Whales could not figure out whose side he was on. I saw Joe out on the water once, and I never saw Helga or Ben out there. I saw Jonathan, Jake and Josh out there every day for over six months. It has come to our attention that Joe, Helga, and Ben have written to the U.S. Attorney challenging the ownership of 'Bulletproof' and the SEDNA inflatable. This will certainly provide the excuse for not returning the vessels this autumn. I would like to request that everyone gives their support to the real activists in SEDNA and condemn thepencil pushers who have stolen the campaign funds. 2) Lisa Distefano, the international director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was today charged with negligence in operating an inflatable boat near the Makah whale hunt on May 18. The Makah have stated that they intend to hunt whales on October 1, 1999. Therefore it should come as no surprise that she has been ordered to appear in a Tacoma Courtroom on October 1, 1999. It appears that the Federal Attorney's office is not above playing politics in choosing a court date with the express objective of preventing a protest utilizing the powers of their office to do. Sea Shepherd anticpates that there will be further charges against other anti-whaling activists and they will also be ordered to appear before the courts on October 1, 1999. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to hold a Sea Shepherd inflatable and two outboard motors and is seeking forfeiture as a penalty for conviction. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society welcomes the opportunity to defend our position in a court of law and the Society is confident that the government will fail to win a conviction. ***** FROM PROJECT SEAWOLF -------------------------------------- Re: Michael Kundu's campaign for Marysville Council. Challengers to his campaign have now raised the issue of Michael's past role with Sea Shepherd as an attack on his viability. An editorial this Wednesday in the Marysville Globe from a woman (suspected to have been ghost-written by his opponent) accusses Kundu of being a radical environmental extremist who has no place in government leadership. The letter closes with a comment that... "I hope members of Sea Shepherd will not retaliate against me for bringing this information to press." While Kundu's opponent is presently in hot water involving a conflict-of-interest violation of the RCW, the disclosure of Kundu's Sea Shepherd history is going to be used by the developers, salmon protection opponents and wise-use supporters who are vehemently opposed to seeing him in office. Public support seems to be on Kundu's side, but developers and his opponent are attempting to move the neighboring Tulalip tribe against him as well, and it is suspected that an anonymous mass "hit" mailing will be released against him prior to the November 2nd election. These are going to be typical of the kind of attacks pro-whale candidates will face as they enter the political areana. Those who are able to take some supporting action in Kundu's campaign (Snohomish County residents for letter-writing, direct mail businesses or political contributions to fund a mail campaign) are encouraged to contact WCCA. Other political candidates are particularly encouraged to take note of these activities. A sample of the letter is in WCCA's possession for those interested in seeing it. Michael Kundu, Director Project SeaWolf/Arcturus Adventure Communications P.O. Box 987 Marysville, WA 98270 "A federally-registered 501c3 Non-Profit Environmental Advocacy Group" ProjSeaWolf@earthlink.net ***** FROM WORLD WHALE POLICE ----------------------- It was a daunting task to bring a seaworthy boat to conduct direct action against the Makah whalers in the Spring of 1999. The World Whale Police brought its patrol boat TIGER on site and made a considerable difference by saving the lives of numerous whales by interfering with the actions of the whalers and by providing a focal point to increase public awareness. These actions were an exercise of commitment driven by my heart and gut, and we have taken it on willingly with much success and satisfaction. The performance of TIGER offshore and the entire success of the WWP during it's thirty plus days Spring campaign has far exceeded expectations. Our thanks go out to those who were and are now so supportive of our actions. Especially our friends in Sea Defense Alliance and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, who the World Whale Police worked so closely with on a daily basis. All the activities of the World Whale Police have been conducted on a volunteer basis and financed completely by me personally. I purchased and refurbished TIGER, I paid all transport costs, fuel cost, moorage costs, and repair costs for the spring campaign, and all administrative costs for the organization. Thus far I have expended over $12,000. The World Whale Police is a homegrown Northwest organization dedicated to saving the gray whales from death by the Makah whalers. This fall the WWP will again be a presence offshore to act in a direct manner to stop the killing. Sixty days from now TIGER will be at the Point of Arches and vicinity on patrol, ready to pounce. Our commitment to saving the whales has not changed, but our financial situation has. The non-profit corporation, the World Whale Police, is out of funds. This is a direct appeal for funds for fuel and moorage costs for the Fall 1999 anti-whaling campaign and future campaigns for as long as the hunt continues. At this time, the World Whale Police is the only local Northwest group planning return to the waters offshore at the Makah reservation this fall. In order for our direct action to continue, we need your support. It is critical that you get involved by making a contribution now. Here is an outline of moorage and fuel costs for the Fall 1999 campaign. Costs for future campaigns will be about the same: remember, the Makah are allowed to hunt for four more years, twice a year. The World Whale Police is committed to being there each spring and fall to do what we can to prevent the death of more whales. http://www.worldwhalepolice.org/fall99CBAx.htm This does not include routine maintenance or possible repair costs which result from the intense demands placed on equipment run this hard each day. Contributions towards a repair fund are also sorely needed. Last Spring the manifold on TIGER fractured and cost nearly $1000 to replace. I know that a great many of you support the anti-whaling activities in principal. TIGER and the World Whale Police are on site representing your will, acting on your behalf. Your financial support is essential to our continued effectiveness. We are glad you share our concern for the safety and future of the gray whale population. I myself am concerned for all that is threatened in the natural world. Opposing the Makah whale hunt is my personal bottom line, and it is where the World Whale Police are making its stand for animal rights. Whales are people, too, and must be protected. Let me say that it makes no difference to us whether or not some corrupted body such as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) or some government agency, such as the US Commerce Department, says it is okay to kill these fine, ancient sea mammals. WE KNOW IT IS NOT, AND WE WILL NOT STAND BY AND ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN WITHOUT TAKING DIRECT ACTION. This is a wake up call and an appeal for your support. The direct action anti-whaling efforts of the World Whale Police cannot continue without your financial support. We are not in the T-shirt business. We are there to save whales. Without you sharing some of the responsibility, we cannot continue. Your support is needed NOW to protect the whales this fall. Thank you, Bill Moss, World Whale Police ***** GORE TAKES ANOTHER HIT ---------------------- Environmental Group Will Endorse Bradley Ex-Senator Termed 'Superior' to Gore David S. Broder Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, September 14, 1999 In a blow to his cherished reputation as a champion of the environment, Vice President Gore has lost the endorsement of the Friends of the Earth's political arm to his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, former senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey. The Friends of the Earth political action committee will announce its endorsement of Bradley at a news conference today, signaling what it calls "both disillusionment with Gore's environmental performance over the past seven years and recognition of Bradley's superior environmental credentials." Kiki Moore, press secretary to the Gore campaign, did not comment directly on the news, but said, "Al Gore has long believed in and worked for a balanced approach to making a clean and healthy environment a reality for America's working families." Eric Hauser, Bradley's spokesman, said, "We're very happy to get this support, because it reflects Bill Bradley's ability to get big things accomplished." Friends of the Earth is a 30-year-old organization with a membership of 20,000--one of the smaller groups in that sector. Regarded as being somewhat left of center on the spectrum of environmental organizations, it has concentrated more on international issues than the larger environmental groups. Its statement says that during their years on Capitol Hill, Bradley had a higher rating than Gore from the League of Conservation Voters--85 percent, compared with Gore's 66 percent. But it faults Gore even more for being "part of an administration which has done significant international environmental damage." The group says Gore and the administration have done "poorly on his signature issue, protection of the ozone layer," by accepting legislation last year that "weakened the phaseout date for the dangerous chemical methyl bromide." The law delayed that date from 2001 to 2005. The organization also says that in negotiations the past two years on the updating of the Montreal agreement of 1987, the administration "opposed the stronger ozone protection measures sought by European nations." Ironically, Gore has been criticized by many Republicans and business groups for his role in negotiating the Kyoto agreement on global warming, and the administration has delayed in submitting it for a Senate vote because of that opposition. Brent Blackwelder, president of the Friends of the Earth's PAC, said that if the administration had pressed domestic energy conservation measures more vigorously, it could have led the effort for an even stronger agreement. By contrast, the group said, "Bill Bradley has proven himself an effective legislator, not afraid to take on tough issues and savvy enough to create coalitions to get results." It cites Bradley's work as Senate sponsor of a 1992 law that overhauled water policy in California and other western states. It also noted that Bradley filibustered to stop measures that would have opened a wilderness area in Utah and the Alaska Arctic Wildlife Refuge to mining and energy companies and had opposed new timber operations in protected areas of the Pacific Northwest. The major tax bill Bradley helped push through the Senate in 1986 "reduced subsidies for timber cutting." A lobbyist for another--and politically neutral--environmental group expressed surprise yesterday at the Friends of the Earth statement, saying that the voting records of the two Democrats were "almost identical" but that Gore was "one of a handful of go-to guys" always available to help on issues of concern to his organization, while Bradley engaged more selectively. Nonetheless, the Friends of the Earth statement says, "Examination of the track records of both Gore and Bradley leads us to the conclusion that Bradley's record is superior and one of achievement more than rhetoric." The organization concludes: "In addition, there are serious disappointments in Gore's performance as the environmental point-man for this administration." ***** MAKAH BLOW OPEN THE DOOR FOR WORLDWIDE WHALING ------------------------------------------ A recent agreement between Russia and Japan to allow the commercial hunt of beluga whales has re-ignited international trade in whale meat. The agreement, which marks the first ever commercial hunt of belugas, is being denounced by conservation groups, including Greenpeace, The World Wide Fund for Nature, Russia's Marine Mammal Council, the Russian Society of Animal Protection and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Conservationists are condemning the agreement on the grounds that the trade is not sustainable and could threaten many whale populations worldwide. In addition, they say the hunt sets a huge precedent for the commercial hunting of small whales and dolphins. Several groups have joined together to draft a protest statement addressed to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Although Japan is currently the only country besides Norway engaged in commercial whaling, there has been no international trade in whale meat since the International Whaling Commission banned international trade in 1986. As part of the deal, the State Fishery Committee of the Russian Federation has issued permits for 200 beluga whales 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 have yet to authorize the trade. The permits must be issued before customs officials will allow the whale meat to leave the country. Legally, there is nothing that prevents Russia from issuing the permits as beluga whales are covered under a Convention on International Trade provision that allows limited trade, provided that it is not harmful to the whale populations. However, some Convention on International Trade 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 no 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 beluga whale meat. 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 for more than 30 years. The result could be 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 the International Fund for Animal Welfare Commercial Exploitation and Trade Program, "and a dangerous step backward for Russia's developing conservation efforts and threatened beluga whale populations." "If this hunt goes through, there will be other requests coming to the Russian government to hunt belugas. Before long we could have a hunt of a couple thousand Belugas," Steuer said. "Once you start commercial whaling in any species, you have to make sure all of the bells and whistles are in place, that all the regulations are there from A to Z. Every time we have had a commercial hunt of whales there has been over-exploitation." The whales will be used for the consumption of meat and blubber. According to Steuer, the Russians are being paid $400 a whale by the Japanese company. What the beluga meat will sell for in the Japanese marketplace is unclear, since the Japanese have not traditionally eaten beluga. "Something rare and new usually brings a high price," said Steuer. Currently, most whale meat in Japan sells for the equivalent of a higher-priced steak in the U.S. market. (CNN, September 9, 1999) ***** THEY SAID IT... (UNBELIEVABLY) ----------------------------- "Well, your country let the Makah tribe kill whales." Russian Embassy spokesman, in response to a phone call yesterday protesting the beluga hunt. *****