Washington whale hunt

X-Sender: (Unverified) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 11:11:17 -0600

Subject: Makah Whaling Update and Contact Info

Precedence: Bulk List-Software: LetterRip Pro 3.0.2 by Fog City Software, Inc.

Dear Friend of the Whales,

In 1995, all of the crew on board the conservation ship Edward Abbey were privileged to meet a young, friendly whale we named Buddy. Buddy is a resident Gray whale off Cape Flattery, Washington, who feeds along the cliffs there year-round.

This October, Buddy may be blasted to death against those cliffs, near the reservation at Neah Bay.

We cannot let this happen. This letter is going to be short and to the point. This is the call to action you have been waiting for.

You and I both know where we stand on this issue, or you wouldn't be reading this. This is not an abstract environmental issue being debated by scientists and politicians thousands of miles away. This slaughter will happen in Washington state waters! Once whales are killed here, the status of the U.S. as a whale-protecting nation will be fatally compromised. Global whaling will begin again in late 1998 because the United States

Can you clear this up for me, David? I might be reading these two quotes wrong, but it seems like this second one is answering your question of 'why bring up sushi'. If Japanese whaling interests are eager to see whaling conducted in US waters, then it doesn't matter which species is killed, the PR benefits them directly anyway. Once the US is hunting gray whales, then they will have a stronger legal claim for hunting other species of whales (tastier ones) in their own waters.

Or somebody in the Japanese whaling lobby. From all these quotes, it seems reasonable to infer that foreign interests have actively encouraged Makah whaling, not for Makah cultural heritage, but for their own PR. There is a lot of talk here about respecting ancient cultures, but doesn't anyone find it sad that Japan might be manipulating this whole event, and manipulating the affairs of the tribe, just for their own industrial purposes? That they are *using* the Makah?

From reading the quotes above, I get the impression that once the hunt has been established, there will be no more need for the Japanese to support the Makah hunt, because they'll be doing their own whaling. Once the PR battle is won, the Makah will be unable to sell their gray whale meat for the price originally paid. They will wind up with a revived whaling culture, and no customers.

Now if the Makah refrain from any trade in whale products, as they have said in other quotes, then this won't be an issue. But the PR battle will still have been won in Japan's favor. It will be of great interest to me to see what use the Makah actually make of the whale carcasses they collect.

Then take it up with them and leave the Makah in peace.

?????????????? Reasonable? Perhaps. Bloody useful? MOST DEFINATELY! ;P

There is a

If that's the case then why aren't you looking at who benefits from AR money and intransigence?

Their culture is not for sale that I've heard.

They have stated over and over that they don't plan to sell the whales.

If Makah get to eat whale, THEY will be the victors.

Why?

and what business is it of ours, really?