News from the whale hunt; activist's charges dropped; muktuk sucks

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===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list =====

 

FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE

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COAST GUARD GETTING SHELLACKED IN COURT

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We have just received word that all charges against Cheryl Rorabeck-Siler,

incurred for her actions in interfering with the illegal Makah whaling

activities in 1999, have been dropped!

 

Confirmation and details to follow...

*****

 

 

 

MORE REASONS NOT TO SUCK MUKTUK

Makah should take note- but probably won't

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Thursday, May 4, 2000

 

Whale eaters hit with mercury scare

 

By Kimio Kamoshita

Mainichi Shimbun

 

In a yet another blow to the nation's pro-whale hunting lobby, scientists

have detected mercury some 1,600 times above the government-permitted level

as well as large amounts of dimethylmercury and cadmium in whale meat that

is widely available in delicatessens. Dimethylmercury and cadmium cause the

so-called Minamata and Itai Itai diseases.

 

" I've never heard of such high levels of dangerous chemicals being detected

in food, " said Tetsuya Endo, a lecturer at Health Sciences University of

Hokkaido, who leads the research team.

 

" The extent of the pollution may be enough to cause acute mercury poisoning.

 

" The product should be taken off the shelves immediately. "

 

The team studied 15 ready-to-eat boiled whale liver and kidney dishes that

were sold in Tokyo and Wakayama Prefecture last July.

 

On average, 275 parts par million (ppm) of mercury and 11 ppm of

dimethylmercury were found in liver products, while corresponding figures

detected in kidneys were 35 ppm and 3.15 ppm.

 

Provisional permitted levels of the chemicals set by the Ministry of Health

and Welfare are 0.4 ppm for mercury and 0.3 ppm for dimethylmercury.

 

A boiled whale liver product contained the highest level of mercury at 645

ppm - about 1,600 times above the safety limit.

 

Large amounts of cadmium, a substance that causes Itai Itai disease, were

also found at an average 3.03 ppm in the liver dish and 11.8 ppm in the

kidney one - way above the tolerated levels, Endo said.

 

" We are probing whether people would suffer from acute mercury poisoning by

eating the products with the highest levels of contamination, " Endo said.

 

" Although I don't think whale livers and kidneys are something people eat

everyday, it is essential to act now. "

 

Endo said the team would carry out DNA tests on the products to determine

from what species of whale they were taken from.

*****

 

 

 

WORLD WHALE POLICE UPDATE - May 4, 2000

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For Immediate Release

 

As we reported in our last update, the World Whale Police Patrol Boat TIGER

was destroyed, when the coast guard rammed us on April 17th.

 

This was TIGER's 3rd and apparently final campaign season, it was the only

protest boat on the water in the fall of 1999 that patrolled the hunting

area.

 

We need to get back out on the water as soon as possible, as there is still

another month of whale hunting left. So far this year, no whales have been

killed.

 

If anyone out there has any contacts to help us find a replacement boat, or

is able to donate funds to help out with the cost of the boat and fuel, we

would be very grateful.

 

Since this boat is to be used off shore in the hunting area, we are looking

for a mid 1970's 21' - 22' hardtop, deep V boat, preferred boats are

Glasply, Reinell, Fibre Form or Bell Boy.

 

Please note that this boat will be used to keep the whales away from the

canoe and will not be entering the Moving Exclsuionary Zone and therefore

the risk of seizure or ramming by the coast guard is little to none.

 

Due to legal expenses relating to Bill's inditement and Julie's medical

expenses resulting from the actions of the coast guard, we are in need of

funds. We are currently researching a few boats in the $2500-$3,000 range

that may be workable.

 

You can reach us at: P.O. Box 94

Sekiu, WA 98381

 

telephone: (360)963-0717

cell phone: (360)561-7492

 

Please help us help the whales.

 

Bill & Julie

*****

 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE DECADE

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" Whalers suck. "

Don Munson

May, 1999

 

 

 

 

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