IWMC World Conservation Trust is dismayed but not surprised that
our friends the Makah whalers once again came under siege and interference
with their hunt. Those who have threatened them, and those who have
followed words with speedboats, were arrested and deterred from being a
further nuisance, but there is always the worry that more such idioso may
be lurking nearby, waiting to get some notoriety for similar false bravado.
Such incidents point up the lack of respect for cultural diversity that is
still rampant in some quarters. Globalization has a long way to go as a
process of awareness that includes  human compassion for the safety
and feelings of others as they exercise their human rights in a lawful
manner.
Media still do not know what to make
of this, because they are still poorly informed. CNN, as usual, missed the
boat on the first major incident in the Spring 1999 hunting season. Its
female narrator introduced the aerial filming of the incident with the
headline: "Culture clashes with Ecology as a whale hunt takes place
off the coast of Washington." Since ecology is the scientific study of
natural ecosystems, culture was not clashing with ecology here. Rather,
members of a traditional culture were being unlawfully attacked by
outsiders for the legal, routine manner in which Native people were trying
to secure food for their community.
The speed boats of the protesters were
operated in a reckless, crazy manner by people who appeared to have no
regard for either Makah people or for the whale being pursued. The whale,
rather than being "saved" by the outsiders, was run over by them
as it dived. The outsiders were filmed behaving in reckless disregard for
the crew in the dugout canoe, and should have been prevented from getting
out there in the first place. At least they were apprehended, charged with
violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and prevented from further
attacks. A day and a half later, the Makah slipped out of Neah Bay before
dawn, and killed their whale without interference. We congratulate them and
wish them the best as they rejoice in this historic moment, and share it
with their friends.
We applaud the U.S. Coast Guard for
preventing the SEDNA fools from further crazy menacing behavior against the
Makah. We wish the crew from Neah Bay all the best in their traditional
hunt, now and in the future. May they soon meet each whale which is meant
for them, and secure it, and always return home safely in victory, under
the eyes of their ancestors.  |
