FOR RELEASE 10 a.m. March 26, 1999
MAKAH WHALING OPENS THE DOOR TO ICELANDIC WHALING
Sea Shepherd to sail to the Atlantic in 1999
In 1998, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society issued a warning about
theconsequences of resumed whaling by the Makah Tribe of Washington State.
The Society warned that resumption of whaling by the Makah would result in
the resumption of whaling by other nations.
Our prediction and our fears became reality on March 10 with the decision
by the Icelandic Parliament to resume whaling "as soon as possible."
Iceland is not a member of the International Whaling Commission. Iceland
has not been able to whale since 1987 due to threats from the United States
to impose sanctions on Icelandic fish products as stipulated by U.S.
Department of Commerce regulations.
Now Iceland is citing a "cultural" right to kill whales. Iceland is no
longer worried about U.S. pressure because the United States has
compromised its own principles by allowing a whale hunt in the United
States that has not been recognized by the International Whaling
Commission. The Makah do not qualify to whale under the criteria for
aboriginal whaling that requires subsistence necessity and an unbroken
tradition.
Any whaling activities by Iceland will be illegal. The decision by Iceland
means that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society must deploy our large
vessel the Sea Shepherd III to Iceland. We will be keeping our smaller
vessel the Sirenian in Washington State to continue opposition to the Makah
hunt.
"Unfortunately, the damage we feared the Makah would inflict upon global
whale conservation is becoming a reality," said Captain Paul Watson. "This
is not a question of five whales for the Makah. The Icelanders want to take
hundreds of whales,"
"Iceland is now our top priority and the Makah are a secondary problem,"
Watson added.
The Clinton-Gore Administration has sold out the whales with the Makah
decision. Norway and Japan will be increasing their kill quotas. Russia and
China are likely to join Iceland in a resumption of whaling. The United
Sates has lost its integrity as a defender of whales and has given the
whaling nations the justification of cultural rights as a reason to kill
the whales again.
Iceland began pirate whaling operation in 1986 by withdrawing from the IWC
and killing whales outside the international regulations. The Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society enforced the regulations on November 6, 1986 by
sinking two Icelandic kill boats and destroying the whale processing plant
Hvalfjordur. Despite damages of ten million dollars, Iceland refused to
charge Captain Paul Watson when he later flew to Iceland and admitted to
the attack. Iceland was unwilling to expose their illegal whaling
activities by arresting and putting Captain Watson on trial, as they knew a
trial for Watson would mean Iceland would be on trial in the world media.
The United States followed up with threats of economic sanctions if Iceland
resumed whaling. Icelandic whaling has been a dormant industry for fifteen
years.
Now, thanks to the Makah tribe of Washington State, Iceland is back in the
whaling business.
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Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
P.O. Box 628
Venice, CA. 90294
USA
e-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.seashepherd.org
Tel: 310-301-SEAL(7325)
Canada: 604-688-7325
Fax: 310-574-3161
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===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list =====
FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE
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Below is an 'action item' from Project Seawolf. It is vitally important that
we make our voices heard on this issue, and I ask all of you to take the
time to contact Mr. Pombo. In addition, please get others involved! Send
this message to your friends and associates, asking them to make their
voices heard, as well. Mr. Pombo is no friend of the environment. A strong
showing of opposition is VITAL! Whether in California, Florida, Minnesota or
Washington, SPEAK OUT NOW!
Dan
*****
FROM WCCA MEMBER- PROJECT SEAWOLF
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It has recently come to our attention that a Member of Congress in
California, Richard Pombo (R-CA), is taking proactive measures to encourage
coastal whale hunting and marine mammal harvesting to international
audiences. In light of recent actions, it might arise that Pombo will
become a proponant of the Makah hunt here in the US as well.
Apparently, Pombo recently sent a pre-recorded address to an international
meeting of the World Council of Whalers in Reykjavik, Iceland this past
March 27-30, when they met for their second General Assembly. The World
Council of Whalers is an international organization for the support of
sustainable whaling globally. They are centered outside of Victoria, BC
across from Neah Bay.
Pombo addressed the WCW in a video-taped message to announce his support of
whale hunts, stressing the importance of management techniques to marine
resources, preserving cultural identities and bringing the true story of
whalers' lifestyle to the public.
We encourage all California residents familiar with or living in Pombo's
constituency to quickly contact his office and express their extreme
opposition to this advocacy on behalf of whalers.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo (R)
11th Congressional District, California
Rm. 1519 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-1947
(202) 225-0861 Fax
[email protected]
*****
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