[Paddlewise] Anti Whaling Panel in Seattle

WHALE GUARDIAN NETWORK MEETING REPORT
SEATTLE, WA June 30th 1998


A June 30th meeting of Sea Shepherd’s Whale Guardian Network was attended
by approximately 120 people in Seattle, Washington.  Media present included
KING 5 and KCPQ (FOX) 13 TV (both TV stations remained on location for the
entire 3-hour meeting), print journalists from the Seattle Post
Intelligence, the Seattle Times and the Associated Press.  Televised
coverage included segments that same evening on both stations; KCPQ FOX 13
ran the story as a lead item.

Speakers present included Lisa DiStefano and Michael Kundu of Sea Shepherd,
US Congressman Jack Metcalf, gray whale documentary producer Steph Dutton,
Makah Tribal Elder Alberta Thomsen, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok of the Center for
Whale Research, Canadian naturalist with Prince-of-Whales Tours Anna Hall,
Deer Harbor Charter Tours Owner/Operator Tom Averna, Friday Harbor Port
Commissioner Brian Calvert and PAWS’ Will Anderson.   Also present were WA
State Senator Gary Strannigan and WA House Representative Mike Wensman

The panel presented an excellent cross section of concerned opinions who
were critical of the Makah Whaling Commission’s hunting plans.  Opinions
expressed came from a consortium of business owners, environmental groups,
researchers, animal welfare groups and political representatives.  The vast
majority of attendees were peripherally familiar with the issue, but many
expressed alarm that the hunt was actually occurring this year.  The level
of interest in the room was thus that 90% of the attendees remained for the
2 1/2 hour presentation.   

Prior to the meeting, a group of seven native rights/Makah supporters held
a small outside of the facility; while they did speak to the media, the
prevailent reaction was that this meeting was not about native rights, but
about the preservation of whales.  Makah elder Alberta Thompson, the only
member of the Makah tribe present, gave a summary statement which disarmed
the protesters prior to the onset of the formal panel presentation.  

There was a minor outburst by one protester during the intermission; the
focus of their concern had shifted from alleged ‘racism’ allegations to the
observation that oppressed indigenous groups did not warrant the same level
of outside support that gray whales appear to be receiving.  After a short
on-camera debate, the protester left.  The protesters were disarmed by the
presence of a Makah tribal elder as a guest of our meeting.

To date, the television coverage has been positive and supportive of the
anti-whaling stance; the meeting has generated building interest and
concern about the issue, and spurred plans to potentially set up a similar
event in Victoria, B.C. and Port Angeles, WA in the near future. 

Michael Kundu
Project SeaWolf/Arcturus Adventure Communications
"The Source for Extreme Adventuresports Photojournalism"
respond to ProjectSeaWolf_at_seanet.com

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