I am a 53 year old Grandmother, with many fears about the way we are abusing this earth.
One of the worst forms of abuse is the mistreatment of Mother Natures creatures. The horrible
plight of the marine mammals is one of my biggest concerns.
My personal mountain is to see that criminally abusive places like Marineland Niagara Falls,
Canada, are closed down, the animals either released, or moved to a more humane, caring
facility. Unfortunately, due to the horrific capture and imprisonment of many of these animals,
they will be unable to be returned to the wild.
I would like to give credit for most of the pictures to a wonderful young lady, Kate...I couldn't have done
this without your help. Kate went to Marineland in Niagara and took all the photos. She has my deepest gratitude,
and respect.
I would like to thank my good friend Paloma
who is doing these translations for me. She
is a wonderful friend and has my utmost respect
and gratitude.
The opinions here are my own, and no one else is responsible for what I say. My personal opinion is that
John Holer needs to be arrested for cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. Not to mention the injuries
suffered by a protester when he ran her down with his truck. Even though
Holer left the scene, hit and run, he was released, and the protesters were
jailed. John Holer is the owner of Marineland Niagara Falls, Canada. If ever a human being deserved to
be thrown to the sharks, this "man" does.
I feel very passionately about the illegality of the tribe of Makah Indians of Neah Bay, Washington.
Some people say that I'm wrong......is it wrong to want an end to the murder of gentle
creatures such as the whales? If so, then I stand accused and guilty. I fail to see how resumption
of the slaughter of the whales will bring this group of people anything more than money. I guess
that's what matters......the all mighty dollar.....
Now the United States is again leading the world ��.this time in a headlong rush down the path of self destruction.
When the last of the leviathans are gone, then will the Son of God appear. Opening the way for the environmentally ignorant,
economically arrogant nation of Japan to flaunt the rulings of the International Whaling Commission is foolhardy.
The IWC has enacted rulings and guidelines to protect this most gentle species�..one so like the species of man.Recently, I have lost good friends, because of my beliefs and dedication to preventing the Makah Indians plans
to return to a life of slaughtering of marine mammals. To those people, and you know who you are, I apologize for anything
I may have said that caused you hurt. I stand by my beliefs, and will not apologize for them, only in the manner
I have expressed them.
There has been much discussion over the Internet, and in various places, concerning the legality (or illegality)
of the Makah hunt. This excerpt is taken from the records of the IWC meeting this year. Please note the absence of
any mention of the Makah people in the approved aborigional hunt list.
Catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling
In 1997, the Commission agreed to the following catch limits for several stocks subject to aboriginal subsistence whaling. The only
change to these made this year was for the catch of humpback whales by St Vincent and The Grenadines.
Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales (taken by Alaskan Eskimos and native peoples of Chukotka) - The total
number of landed whales for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 shall not exceed 280 whales, with no more than 67 whales
struck in any year (up to 15 unused strikes may be carried over each year).
Eastern North Pacific gray whales (taken by those whose "traditional, aboriginal and subsistence needs have been recognised") - A
total catch of 620 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 with a maximum of 140 in any one year.
West Greenland fin whales (taken by Greenlanders) - An annual catch of 19 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
and 2002.
West Greenland minke whales (taken by Greenlanders) - The annual number of whales struck for the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
and 2002, shall not exceed 175 (up to 15 unused strikes may be carried over each year).
East Greenland minke whales (taken by Greenlanders) - An annual catch of 12 whales is allowed for the years 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001 and 2002 (up to 3 unused strikes may be carried over each year).
Humpback whales (taken by St Vincent and The Grenadines) - for the seasons 2000 to 2002, the annual catch shall not exceed two
whales.
The taking of calves or females accompanied by calves is forbidden. The Scientific Committee continued to make progress towards
developing new management regimes for aboriginal subsistence whaling; this work has been given high priority by the Commission.
This clearly indicates that the Makah hunt is not recognized as a legal hunt.
There has also been much discussion over the status of the gray whale. Again, directly from the International Whaling Commission:
Status of whales
Despite a long period of protection, several populations of great whales remain highly endangered and number 500 or less. These
include all bowhead whale stocks apart from the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock that numbers over 7,000; gray whales in the
western Pacific (those in the eastern Pacific, by contrast, number over 20,000); all stocks of northern right whales; and various
stocks of blue whales. Some of these small Arctic bowhead populations are subjected to direct catches outside IWC regulations (a
bowhead was taken in 1998 by Canadian Eskimos), are killed by ship strikes or are bycaught in fishing gear. Their status will be
considered as a priority subject by the Scientific Committee next year. The Commission passed a Resolution calling on
Governments to take action and in particular not to authorise takes from such stocks.
In the weeks to come, I will be adding much more to this page. Please come back often,
and if you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to put them in the bottle and e-mail
me.