ASEN CAMPAIGN UPDATE: COASTAL & MARINE ENVIRONMENTS
LIE EXPOSED: MAKAH WHALERS ARE IN JAPAN
– FEDERAL FUNDS BEING USED TO SET UP COMMERCIAL TRADE
– CONGRESS ATTEMPTING TO KILL ANTI-WHALING RESOLUTION
The Makah tribe of Washington State, who intend to start killing gray whales off the Washington coast this fall in a proclaimed bid for cultural revival, sent a representative to Japan this week to negotiate terms of trade for “mammals.” Japan hunts whales in violation of the International Whaling Commission’s ban on commercial whaling, in force since 1986. From Japan, the Makah’s representative will go on to next week’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Oman in order to continue to push the Makah’s asserted right to “ceremonial” whaling. Pro-whaling forces in the U.S. are lining up behind “traditional whaling” and attempting to block anti-whaling opposition. Last Friday, U.S. Congressman Jack Metcalf (R-WA) introduced House Resolution 425, urging the United States to strengthen its position against commercial whale hunting by renegade whaling nations. But on Wednesday, Rep. Don Young (R-AK), known for championing the demands of trade over environmental issues, successfully maneuvered the Resolution from the House International Relations Committee to the Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.
“This is the full-court press,” said Lisa Distefano, International Director for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “The whalers know that the “traditional whaling” approach is their best bet to kick open the doors for commercial whaling at the IWC meeting next week, and they don’t want Congressman Metcalf’s resolution to get out of committee. The Makah’s IWC reps could not have timed their Japanese trade junket worse. The Makah have completely blown their cover. We have been saying for three years that their proposed “cultural revival” whale hunt has nothing to do with culture and everything to do with money, and now they’re displaying their true intentions to the world.” Makah Tribal Council representative Keith Johnson, accompanied by a representative from another tribe, is meeting with Japanese trade officials to discuss terms of trade in “mammals,” according to the minutes of the Makah Tribal Council, which do not further identify the commodity in question. The Makah hunt for the Eastern Pacific gray whale is scheduled to start on October 1st. James Baker III, head of the U.S. delegation to the IWC, earlier secured $200,000 in federal funds for the Makah’s lobbying efforts in support of a “ceremonial” hunt.
“The ‘coastal whaling’ proposal being put before the IWC next week is supposed to be all about cultural tradition,” says Michael Kundu, Sea Shepherd’s Pacific Northwest Coordinator. “We should thank the Makah for finally showing everyone what’s really behind that initiative. Congressman Metcalf’s resolution has got it right, and Congressman Young and the current administration should now know they have been had. Every conservation group in the U.S. should get on the phone to Don Young and let him know that H. Res. 425 needs to be sent to the floor for a full vote of Congress immediately.”
CALL NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE CHAIR REP. DON YOUNG NOW AND TELL HIM YOU WANT H. RES 425 APPROVED AND SENT UP FOR A VOTE AND FOR THE U.S. TO MAINTAIN ITS PRINCIPLED STAND AT THE FOREFRONT OF INTERNATIONAL WHALE CONSERVATION. EMPHASIZE THAT THE MAKAH HUNT IS NOT A SUBSISTENCE HUNT.