===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list ===== FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS: PLEASE REPOST TO MEMBER LISTS ------------------------------------- LOCKE TO WHALES: "DROP DEAD" Governor sells out Washington citizens, faces growing scrutiny of campaign contributions (Excerpted from press release from Governor's office: November 24, 1999) "OLYMPIA- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has concluded the state has no authority to regulate hunting of gray whales along the state's coastlines... "This study investigated whether the state has a role in the Makah tribe's hunt of gray whales," Locke said. "The state has no jurisdiction in this issue, and we must respect the tribe's treaty rights to hunt gray whales." The [Washington Department of Wildlife] concluded: -The North Pacific gray whale represents a robust, healthy population that is either at or above recorded historic levels. -Management of gray whales and other marine mammals is under the authority of the federal Department of Commerce, and the state has no authority to regulate gray whale population. -Although some whales have been seen feeding along the Pacific coast from California to southeast Alaska, there are no records to indicate these whales remain in Washington throughout the year or that they become separated from the rest of their group. -The management agreement between the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Makah tribe provides safeguards to protect local feeding groups of whales in waters of Washington. WHAT TO DO NOW -------------- We encourage YOU, the people who are bravely fighting the illegal Makah killings, to CONTINUE to contact Governor Locke with your feelings. While you're at it, you might ask him to explain: The several thousand dollars in campaign contributions he accepted from Denny Miller and Associates, the Makah Tribe's public relations firm The campaign money he accepted from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Various contributions from other Native Rights PACs, and thousands of dollars of "soft" money funneled through various Democratic Party state funds. People to contact: GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE Legislative Building PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Internet: www.wa.gov/governor/ E-Mail: governor.locke@governor.wa.gov Tel 360/902-4111 Fax 360/753-4110 Dr. Jeffrey P. Koenings, Director Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Building 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091 Phone 360 902-2234 Fax 360 902-2947 director@dfw.wa.gov Rocky Beach (yes, this is a real person) Wildlife Diversity Manager Same address as above 360-902-2510 SECRETARY OF STATE RALPH MUNRO Legislative Building PO Box 40220 Olympia, WA 98504-0220 Internet: www.secstate.wa.gov E-Mail: mail@secstate.wa.gov Tel 360/902-4151 Fax 360/586-5629 WASHINGTON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRISTINE GREGOIRE 1121 Washington Street SE PO Box 40100 Olympia, WA 98504-0100 Internet: www.wa.gov/ago/ E-Mail: emailago@atg.wa.gov Tel 360/753-6200 Fax 360/664-0228 COMING SOON: Gary Locke: The best governor money can buy! *****