DIVAVEGA EDITORIAL COLUMN

Canadian Values Continue to Erode

2009-03-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Editorial by Amanda Daniell
WFLF Columnist/ Contributor

I saw a comment on Paul Watson's My Space from somebody who said "I hate Canadians. I always have and I always will. Fascists!" I must say I absolutely get his point. I kind of feel like that a lot of the time myself. I have always been a little frustrated with Canadian apathy. Hey, we are a quiet, polite and peaceful group of people. However, in the face of Brazen Wrongs there is nothing more frustrating than passivity.

I read somewhere that truly any government is a reflection of it's people. I have had a hard time seeing this in some instances, but we are supposedly a democratic Country. We have supposedly elected our officials. We supposedly agree with what our Government stands for. One thing our government does not like is activism; not in any form really, and when I think about, I believe a lot of Canadians have felt this way too. They forget how important our freedom of speech is, our right to express ourselves, the values we stand on and take for granted are eroded each time somebody dismisses our right to protest.

Protesters and Activists are not respected and they tend to be looked down upon in Canada. This latest signal from the government is a loud and clear sign of all of our fundamental Canadian values being eroded.

Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Society recently stated this in his last editorial; "My country has freedom of speech until you speak, freedom of expression until you express yourself, and the freedom to hold property until the government takes it from you."

Paul is one to know. He has been so harassed by his government, MY government that he was virtually forced to leave this country and set up residency in the United States. I can't think of anything that stinks of Fascism more than this.

The most recent event, unbelievable as it sounds is that our Government is going to sell his Activist ship to the first buyer who comes along! This is a ship that was wrongly seized by the government last year and held in port for the last year. The Canadian Government seized this ship last year for documenting one of Canada's most tragic crimes, the slaughter of 275 000 baby seals. Our Canadian Government is attempting to charge Captain Watson's crew members for taking pictures of an event in International waters and is now selling a ship they do not even own.

Last I heard, these kind of things happen only in a dictatorship style country. No, I am not kidding. That is called Fascism.

Read Captain Paul Watson's Blog

Take the Harb Challenge

2009-03-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

Salute to Senator Harb

From IFAW:

Please Support IFAW and Senator Harb to end this Seal Hunt once and for all. He is the first Senator to ever introduce legislation attempting to end this insanity and IFAW is right behind him every step of the way. He has personally asked for public help and for us to flood his office with emails and letters of support.

Letters Can Be Mailed Directly To:
Senator Mac Harb
The Senate of Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4

Email: harbm@sen.parl.gc.ca

The Canadian Prime Minister:
pm@pm.gc.ca

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090303/sc_afp/canadaeuenvironmentseals

Please Read Amanda's Post: Second Round of Letters!

Get the Complete List of Senator's Email Addresses HERE!

Neanderthals on Hay Island, Nova Scotia

2009-02-04T02:23:00.000-08:00

I love Neanderthals.
When I think of them in their true and proper civilization, I think of them being relatively in tune with their environment and living in harmony with their land. Their chance of getting stabbed to death by some prehistoric animal like say a Mastodon, was probably as likely as them taking down a Woolly Mammoth.
Balance and Fairness Existed.

So when I take up the great antics of Paul Watson, who often describes his home town East Coast Canadian fishermen as Neanderthals or criminals who go out and kill animals for fun, amusement and a few extra dollars, well I mean no disrespect to the true Neanderthals of long ago. I can no longer disservice animals such as “cows” and “pigs” by name calling evil humans names such as pigs and cows. They are generally so much kinder. And I do feel a slight twinge of disrespect to this long lineage Neanderthals of our past.

However, this name calling gets the message across. Today’s seal killing humans are living with the mind set of a Neanderthal. However they are living out their dream in the wrong time and they are doing so by applying the modern day ethic of killing every thing that interferes in the path of consumerism to their personal seal killing dream. About the only thing that does fit in with their dream is their lack of technology, the clubs and box cutters which are even less advanced than the spears a true Neanderthal would use.

This time it's back to the old fish story. The seals are eating "our" fish so we need to kill them...the seals that is. And this time, they have already started by rounding up their fisher buddies, collecting clubs, bats, scissors, and perhaps even brooms and heading out onto Hay Island, Nova Scotia.

Keep in mind the following information from the Petition to End this Grey Seal Hunt:

"Last year, the Nova Scotia’s government claimed that seals must be killed to protect fish stocks in waters surrounding Hay Island. However, DFO's own scientists say there is no direct evidence that seals negatively impact cod stocks, and they simply do not know if reducing seal populations will aid in cod recovery. Seals eat a variety of fish, most of which are not commercially fished in Canada. Cod accounts for only 2% of their diet. In fact, seals eat predators of cod, which is beneficial to cod, not detrimental."

I am sure if I read any commentaries from Captain Watson I would read something about this being more of an excuse to go out and release some primitive need for killing babies, walking out with their clubs and their knuckles dragging and their smokes hanging out of their swearing mouths.

Keep in mind these are babies being killed. They are only several weeks old and completely helpless. Keep in mind also, their is no reason for this whatsoever. This is complete insanity. And how about timing? The EU is in the process of deciding on a ban of seal pelts from Canada. One of the major decisions impacting this is whether this is considered humane or not. Can you imagine the European Parliament ruling this humane?

I would say there is very little reason to write the Canadian Government as they don't listen to reason, sanity or even pleas. However you could cc them a copy of the letter you may want to write to the European Parliament, reminding them that the Canadian Government is incapable of making humane decisions for animals, especially seals. Canada has one of the worst animal laws of all developing nations. They have shown this to the world through their Great Canadian Seal Hunt.

If you would like:

Please write a Letter here to the following European Union Representatives
Glenys Willmott ,
Heide Ruehle ,
Christel Schaldemose ,
Christopher Heaton-Harris ,
Diana Wallis ,

I found these most recent email address’s from CATCA who has spoken with sympathetic ministers in Eastern Europe, especially Poland. Here are a few (you can Blind Carbon Copy) email address to some of the main decision makers in the European Union Seal Ban.

There are many more addresses, here http://www.catcahelpanimals.org/2009sealcampaign.html

I have a copy of my letter below if you would like to copy, edit or use it as a template in any way.

For more Information:
Anti Sealing Coalition:
http://www.antisealingcoalition.ca/GreySeals/email_campaign_hay_island_2009.php
Sea Shepherd Editorial:
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-060226-1.html
Danish Member of the European Parliament Gitte Seeberg brought back footage of the seal hunt to EU and is active in trying to help bring about the ban; Video Footage here: http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/eu_representative_condemns_hunt.html

New Year 09

2009-01-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Lush Supports Sea Shepherd In Canada if you are not directly involved in animal activism or habitat protection there is a good chance you won’t even know the seal hunt exists. In fact, there is a good chance you won’t know a lot of things exist. Canada is truly filtered from the main world for a variety of reasons. For one thing, good journalism is expensive business, not to mention the costs to political and corporate greed. Why would a government bring up something as obnoxious and cruel as a seal hunt and allow their political stance to be bloodied? Why would the media bring something to public attention when their credentials may be tarnished? After all the media is here to make money, not simply to share facts. And the Government is here to be re-elected, not to dive into the promises they made to get elected in the first place. Hence, many “ugly” topics such as the seal hunt are covered up as the media remains quiet and the public remains deafeningly guilty in their silence.

In this detached hush, who is there to protect the seals, whales, dolphins, sharks and cucumber’s of the sea? One thing Sea Shepherd never steers away from is political turmoil and they always navigate into is troubled, steamy and brewing waters. Sea Shepherd is the most avant guard, powerful force in the protection of marine habitat. In addition, they listen, watch and observe what is going on in the political arena. They are not only the worlds greatest force for animals, they are our best source of journalism. Watch the news and you’ll hear about main stream topics that happily affect the general population; tune into Captain Watson’s media updates and you’ll get to understand the essentials; the bones of politics and public relations, not to mention the quirky insights he has from years of experience.

Thank you to a wonderful year of Sea Shepherd's finest harvest: saving the lives of hundreds of marine animals all over the globe. And now they continue to focus on the gentle giants of the oceans....

“Sea Shepherd has tackled overwhelming odds with insufficient resources, won many victories, and saved the lives of thousands of whales. In the 2006–2007 Operation Leviathan campaign they were over 500 whales short of their illegal quota. The Steve Irwin covered a total of 20,090 nautical miles (37,205 kilometers) and made 3 return trips from Melbourne, Australia to the coast of Antarctica in 3½ months. In total, the ship was at sea for 83 days between December 5, 2007 and March 15, 2008. http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/

In December, they have already had the Japanese Whaling fleet on the run for over 1000 nautical miles, launched stink bombs at them and are now refueling to end the Japanese Whaling industry once and for all. http://www.seashepherd.org/operation-musashi/campaign-updates.html#editorial

Sea Shepherd is a Godsend, to all of us.
God Bless, Universe Bless, Earth Bless Sea Shepherd. We all love them and we ALL need them. May they have the best Year EVER.

Happy New Year Sea Shepherd Supporters.
Let's rise like ice, to the top.
This world needs something to believe in something....it needs to believe in anything.

Resource: Sea Shepherd

Whale Wars

2008-11-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

About the two coolest things you can do right now to be not only involved in, but ahead of the environmental movement is to become Vegan and to support the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Both are grass roots society’s that have deep roots in the protection of our earth’s fragile ecosystem.

Every second word I hear now a days is about being green. Yet the hardest, but most effective choice in actually being green is to halt the use and abuse of all animal products. This is one of the cornerstones of environmental teachings and has now become a United Nations guideline for the optimal choice in living green. Somebody driving their gas guzzling Hummer around all day still doesn’t come close to the C02 emissions that a meat eating human being does.

In the same way that eating meat is just not hip or cool, Greenpeace is also sliding in popularity among the modern activists. Greenpeace has done a lot of great things and continues to do so, but their multi million dollar industry doesn’t get close to the activities and accomplishments that Sea Shepherd does. Paul Watson immediately turns their small and limited funding into direct action against illegal fishing operations. But Greenpeace has their hands tied with their multi million dollar beneficiary’s. Greenpeace, cofounded by Captain Watson himself, became too much about publicity and politics for Paul, so he started fresh by becoming a Shepherd of the Sea, so named by The Georgia Straight in the 1970’s.

Paul Watson, Shepherd of the Sea, advocates for the animals of the planet and specializes in the unregulated, unchartered areas that are ocean bound. Captain Watson is also a Vegan. So are his crew and so are all of his working ships while out on the frigid Antarctic waters. Captain Watson supports Veganism because he loves life. He loves this planet and lives his truth as he risks his life repeatedly while protecting the whales, dolphins, seals and all the other unknown species that still have some remaining habitat left. If you want to get a glimpse into the life and work of this legendary, yet still largely unknown man tune into Animal Planet on November 7th IN the US and November 9th in Canada. . This 7 part series called Whale Wars shows the real life adventures that he and his crew endure and live through in dealing with the mofia and corporate style fishing industry. This is no movie. This is real the thing: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/

Amanda Daniell

Congratulations to Paul Watson

2008-10-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd's
Executive Director Kim McCoy!

They had a fabulous interview on this morning's Today Show.

Here is the link to the clip!
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/18424824#27453795

Tribute to Whale Wars

2008-10-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

All of the most beautiful qualities possible in a human being are expressed through human beings such as the Dali Llama, Nelson Mandela and activist Paul Watson...
These qualities unite these men:
Selflessness

Courage

Devotion to something outside of oneself....

All three men share these actions. They are Vegan. They believe that a human being can be judged by the way they treat the most vulnerable animals on earth. And they do not make compromises in their intelligence, humanity or security in order to defend the love and life of other beings.

Tomorrow morning, activist and leader in the environmental movement, Paul Watson will be on the Today Show...." Watch Paul Watson on Television - Captain Paul Watson and Executive Director Kim McCoy will be appearing live on the Today Show Thurs October 30th on NBC between 8:00 - 9:00 AM. They will discuss the new TV series Whale Wars about Sea Shepherd which will be premiering on Animal Planet on November 7th at 9 PM ET/PT."
http://www.seashepherd.org/

On November 7th, Animal Planet will be airing the journey of Sea Shepherd in their series called Whale Wars. Please check here for more information:
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-081002-1.html

And here for the trailer to Whale Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbROlabBfUU

Also.
Paul Watson sent the following memo to all of his Facebook friends. If you would like to read and participate in this Antarctica Time Capsule please read his message below:

Sea Shepherd Time Capsule in Antarctica

"To all My Facebook friends:
Hi Everyone,
At the end of November I am taking our ship the Steve Irwin south once again to intercept the Japanese whaling fleet along the coast of Antarctica.
This is Operation Musashi and our objective is to save the lives of as many whales as we can.

This will be our fifth voyage to the remote and hostile shores of the continent at the bottom of the world, and we intend to do better than the last campaign where we saved over 500 whales and the campaign before that, when we saved another 500 whales.

Over a thousand whales are swimming free, very much alive, because we confronted and shut down illegal Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

This year I have a special offer for our strongest supporters. I intend to place a sealed Time Capsule on the top of Scott Island in the Ross Sea. Inside that Time Capsule will be Postcards, Business Cards and Photos with notes from people of the present addressed to people of the future about our efforts to protect whales.

We want people in the centuries to come to understand that some of us were concerned for the world we will be passing on to them.
The Time Capsule will be addressed to people 7 generations ahead of us in year 2350.

I will need the cards by November 15th, 2008. Send them today to Sea Shepherd at P.O. Box 2616, Friday Harbor, Washington, 98250 USA.
There is no charge for this but if you do send a donation, I will send you a picture back of your Time Capsule being placed on the moonscape on the top of Scott Island.

Scott island is a large rocky island in the middle of the Ross Sea. It is one of the most remote and hostile places on Earth, surrounded by ice and subject to extreme cold and winds. The surface is moon like the top where the Time Capsule will be located is reachable only by helicopter. Our Time Capsule will not be easily tampered with. The capsule itself is a sealed steel tank, waterproof and welded shut from all air and elements. Your cards and photos will be well preserved inside for centuries.

We need your help. Taking a ship and a crew of volunteers to Antarctic waters is expensive but saving these magnificent gentle and intelligent beings is worth the costs and the hardships.

Send a check/cheque, become a monthly donor or donate online if you can.
Check www.Seashepherd.org for details of Operation Musashi.

Send me a card as soon as you can so we can deliver your message to future generations that we cared and we acted.

Thank-you
Captain Paul WatsonFounder and President Sea Shepherd Conservation Society"

No Peace with Greenpeace it Seems - Captain Paul Watson

2008-06-19T16:42:00.001-07:00

Many of you know this already, but for those who don't....

Captain Paul Watson founder of the Sea Shepherd Society recently asked Greenpeace to cooperate in protecting the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary. Greenpeace has declined to respond as usual. Greenpeace, although cofounded by Captain Paul Watson himself, has decided to put their efforts into profit building rather than whale and environmental protection.

As you know, I am a huge supporter of Sea Shepherd.....
Please Check out my Letter Writing Section in my Facebook group Doubloons for more information.

I am doing everything in my power to help raise funds and bring awareness to their campaigns.

Please notice Paul Watson's My Space Blog as posted below to reference his response to a non responsive Greenpeace reply....

In addition....

The International Whaling Commission is about to meet in Santiago, Chile to decide the fate of thousands of whales. Sea Shepherd is banned from entering due to their progressive and heart felt attitudes of saving whales.

If you are interested in writing a letter to Greenpeace asking them to cooperate with Sea Shepherd or sending in a message to your local paper to bring awareness to this issues, it would be extremely helpful....

The Antarctic Whaling Season is not far away. The Japanese Whaling fleets will be out illegally navigating through whale sanctuary's and illegally slaughtering thousands of whales by harpooning them in the bellies and blowing them up from the inside out.

Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace is now the only person on this entire planet (as well as all of his wonderful volunteers) who are trying to protect these sanctuaries and save the lives of whales...

Find out more about his cause at http://www.SeaShepherd.org

Inspirations: Sea Shepherd Offers the Olive Branch to Greenpea

2008-06-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Olive Branch or Not?
By Amanda Daniell

I just read Captain Paul Shepherds FANTASTIC News Release and request for peace from Greenpeace.

I must admit, the first time I heard that Greenpeace was refusing to share the coordinates of the whalers with Sea Shepherd, I was appalled.

I think it is very inspiring that Sea Shepherd is willing to lay down their differences of tactics and work together towards a common goal.... ultimately saving the lives of thousands of whales.

Paul Watson is hopeful that between the two ships, if Greenpeace chooses to share and cooperate, they could stop between 80 - 100% of the killing of these precious whales that are harpooned and violently killed by the Japanese fleets each year.

After all isn't that what thousands of people pay Greenpeace to do? As a 'foundation' are they not obligated to put aside their personal criticism's and work towards the common good of saving and preserving natural life and habitat? With a publicly announced offer from Sea Shepherd asking for cooperation, how can Greenpeace refuse? If Greenpeace presents themselves as a legitimately concerned organization of peace and protection, ignoring an opportunity to prevent such useless slaughter is not only irresponsible but outrageous.

I am wondering if there would be anyone willing to write a letter to GreenPeace asking them to "accept the olive branch of peace" that Paul Watson has graciously offered, asking them to start coordinating efforts with Sea Shepherd? They might feel a little more compelled to listen with some extra incentives such as how they will look publicly if they denounce this offer yet once again. Perhaps we could encourage Greenpeace to consider this offer, for the sake of whales and the sake of our planet.

I think writing a letter as a concerned citizen, asking Greenpeace to forgive, move forward and to work with Sea Shepherd would be a proactive way to participate in ending the Japanese slaughter of whales over the course of next year....

What do you think?

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