[Paddlewise] whale hunt

Steph,

Thanks for sending me an email which clarifies the call for kayakers to
impede whaling boats. The approach seems to be in the mainstream of normal
citizen participation and so i wish you well and will do what i can to
support your effort.... starting with a letter to who ever it is that's my
Congressman....

the web links that Keith posted will be helpful for us want to be
letter-writers....on either side of this issue.

bye bye bliven

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Keith Attenborough wrote:

'A simple step is to express you opinion to your legislator.  Most have
e-mail
available, to make life easier.  One list of all Congressional e-mail
addresses
is:
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

Another, less friendly, is:
http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/congress/conemail.txt

It doesn't take long, and it does make a difference.'
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===================================================
Steph Dutton wrote:



Hi Larry;
We are trying to coordinate with other land and sea based groups.  I believe
that several Canadian whale watch vessels are coming over to protest along
with lots of others from the states. We'll keep you posted as things get
closer.  It is not my intention to ask anyone to put themselves or their
craft in jeopardy.  I do think the most effective thing we can do is to make
a strong showing  in the town itself and especially in the harbor.  It is
quiet, protected water and the hub of activity at the mouth of the Strait.
I have to believe that the vast majority of people in this country will be
against the killing of whales in our waters, the Olympic National Marine
Sanctuary, once they hear about it.  If we're able to publicize it by
bringing media attention there in strength, the Makah will stop the hunt.


In the meantime, congressman Jack Metcalf of Washington will place a
resolution before the House to stop the hunt and it has a good chance of
getting enough bilateral support to work.


Please contact your own representatives and urge their support.  As you may
now be aware, Heidi and I have made a serious offer to the Makah:  Heidi to
provide license preparation school to their candidates for Coast Guard
commercial licensing, me to assist them in writing developmental grants for
cash and vessels to build a whale watching industry and instruction in
finding and following whales.  We've gotten no reply yet.  As well, a
lawsuit filed by Metclaf and others to stop the hunt should be adjudicated
within a few weeks.  So, the pressure is on and we need to keep it there.
My best hope is to go to Neah Bay in late September and help organize a huge
party to celebrate the Makah's decision not to hunt, but rather to watch,
the whales.


I do urge caution on the part of those who consider this to be only a tribal
concern.  Japanese and Norwegian whaling intersts are funneling money to the
Makah and other native whaling associations and their interests cannot be
considered selfless.


Thanks for your interest,


Steph Dutton
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