One
of the foundations of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is that
one person can make a difference.
Because of Dian Fossey the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda were saved.
Because of Birute Galdikas, the Orangutans of Indonesian have been
protected. Because of David Wingate the Bermuda storm petrel is not
extinct.
We encourage our volunteers to embrace individual empowerment. One
person can change the world and that is a fact.
One of our early crewmembers, Alex Pacheco left us to become the founder
of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Another crewmember
Peter Woof led campaigns to oppose the damning of the Franklin River
in Tasmania and yet another, Astronomer Dr. Ben Zuckerman who is also
a Sea Shepherd Board member photographed the first planet outside
of our solar system.
Sea Shepherd is an organization of visionary, resourceful and aggressive
individuals.
One of our long time members Bruce Foerster demonstrated this principle
this week when Belize surprised everyone by voting against all five
Japanese motions at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting
in St. Kitts & Nevis.
Everyone had assumed that Belize was a bought and paid for nation
recruited by Japan. But Belize was the first nation to realize that
doing the bidding of Japan could have grave economic consequences
for the tourism industry.
Belize Hotel owner Bruce Foerster certainly made Belize aware of the
consequences. In an e-mail dated May 21st, 2006, Bruce gave Belize
an ultimatum.
It looks like Bruce’s protest along with other concerns expressed
from the tourism sector in Belize reached the government’s ears.
Belize did no favours for Japan and the Belize vote was 5 for 5 for
the whales.
We think that Bruce contributed towards this decision and we urge
all people who care about whales in the Caribbean and Pacific island
nations that supported Japan to request that their governments reconsider
when the IWC meets again next year in Anchorage, Alaska.
It is time for honour to be restored and for the people to speak out
in defense of the whales that their politicians sold out. In every
Caribbean island nation polled, the majority of people are against
whaling.
We know that St. Lucian and Antiguan politicians are being wined and
dined and given expensive trips to Japan. We know that Japan is dumping
cheap cars on the islands and we know that the police of St. Kitts
have become an extension of the Ministry of Japanese Security.
But the people have the final say and if the whale loving and environmentally
concerned people of the islands speak out, these whorish politicians
can be tossed out and the reputation of the nations can be restored.
The people do not want their nations to be Japan’s bitch.
Bruce Forester has set a good example. He used his position of a person
who provides jobs in the tourism industry to make it clear to the
government of Belize that supporting Japan’s pro-whale killing
stance is unacceptable.
Apparently they listened. See below.
www.Seashepherd.org
Captain Paul Watson
Founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Phone:
360-370-5650
Fax:
360-370-5651
Mail:
P.O. Box 2616
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250 USA
Belize
pro whaling?!
by Bruce Foerster on 21 May 2006
[from his letter to the Belize government representatives]
Gemtlemen;
I understand that Belize will be attending the International Whaling
Commission meeting next month and intends to vote on the side of Japan
to scrap the moratorium on whaling? Please let me know if this is
indeed true as I vehemently object to such a decision.
Commercial whaling has reduced the worlds whale population to only
about 1% of it’s pre-whaling numbers and I and millions of people
like me do not agree that whaling of any kind ( outside of aboriginal
whaling on a tiny scale ) should be permitted or ever tolerated.
As a business owner here in Belize I am ashamed that you would betray
the world’s few remaining whales by helping authorize their
slaughter and should you indeed pursue this I will immediately sell
my large resort and take all of my capital out of the country, compromising
the 100 full time positions which this resort provides and the millions
of dollars we invest annually into the local economy. I simply cannot
tolerate such a destructive move on your part and will not live nor
invest in a country which pretends to care for the environment but
in reality cares only for the dirty money that they can earn by voting
to destroy the relatively few whales that these butchers have not
already painfully and mercilessly slaughtered.
You are risking a huge economic backlash and a tourism boycott should
you make the mistake of voting for the destruction of these rare and
intelligent mammals!
I await your
response with great anticipation,
Sincerely,
Bruce Foerster
Managing Director - Jaguar Reef Lodge
President - Jungle-Sea Ventures Ltd.
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