The Department of Commerce has released a draft environmental assessment (DEA) on the effect of the Makah Tribe's request to resume
whaling for cultural and subsistence purposes after a 70 year hiatus.  Full information, including entire DEA available from <BreachEnv@aol.com> 

Address comments to: Hilda Diaz-Soltero
                                             Director, Office of Protected Resources
                                             U.S. Department of Commerce
                                             NOAA    NMFS
                                             Silver Spring MD 20910

The Makah, whose land is at the northern tip of the Washington coast  not far from a British Columbia tribe that also wants to resume whaling, want the U.S. government , based on a treaty, to support their proposal to the International Whaling Commission to kill up to five gray whales a year and "strike" (i.e. wound) up to 10 a year.  If a wounded whale gets away, they would then be able to go after another one.  They plan to
use cedar canoes and .50 cal. rifles which forebodes prolonged suffering before death takes place.

The DEA concludes that killing 10 whales a year would not adversely affect the whale population as whole.  What it fails to take into account is that native tribes everywhere, with the encouragement of the Japanese and Norwegians, are likely to resume their whaling rights, and before we know it, commercial whaling will have been reestablished.  It has already started with Japan's "studies" and Norway's openly admitted commerce in the bodies of minke whales.

The U.S. government , once a leader in the movement to save whales from extinction, has backed off from its once strong position.  Vice President Gore actually supported Norway's resumption of whaling.


Captain Paul Watson Needs Your Help             May 29, 1997
Captain Paul Watson was imprisoned in The Netherlands on April 2 because Norway, the country which has just sent out 37 vessels to slaughter minke whales illegally, had issued a warrant for his arrest. He had previously been arrested in Germany on the same warrant, but the German court saw through the false charges and released him.

At his extradition hearing on May 26, Captain Watson was cleared of two charges: entering Norwegian territorial waters and ramming a Norwegian naval ship. (Actually it was the Norwegian ship that did the ramming after firing four depth charges at the Sea Shepherd ship inflicting severe damage.) Fortunately there were media people present who recorded exactly what happened proving the Norwegian charges to be false.

The remaining charge concerns sending a false distress signal, an offense which usually incurs a moderate fine but not imprisonment. Watson has already served more than 60 days for this and the more serious charges dismissed by the Dutch judge.

The Dutch court has postponed a hearing on the remaining charge giving us JUST A FEW DAYS in which letters to Dutch authorities can influence the final decision. Even if you have done so previously, it is urgent that you phone, fax or write immediately urging that Captain Watson not be extradited to answer the remaining minor charge because the Norwegians have already shown that he won't be tried on what actually happened when he opposed Norway's illegal whaling.

There is a good chance that the Norwegian whalers will kill Paul if the extradition goes through on the false signal charge because his organization scuttled one of their ships in the past. and because he is the only obstacle standing between them and a lucrative Japanese market for whale flesh.

Phone ! Fax! Write!

Excellency W. Sorgdrager, The Minister of Justice
and Mr. Ruyters of the Bureau of Internal Rechtshulp
both at P.O.Box 20301
2500 EH The Hague
The Netherlands

Phone: 011-31-70-370-7911       Fax: 011-31-70-370-7900

See also Spring 1997 and Winter 1996-97 issues of "C-paper"

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