Washington gray whale hunt update

[Guest guest]

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

 

FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE

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DRAFT EA UPDATE...

 

NMFS is now saying that they require " at least two more weeks " to read and

respond to the massive numbers of comment letters written on the Makah

whaling draft EA. A " job well done " to all of you who submitted letters!

This would be a wonderful time for you to contact your congressional

representative and ask them to keep an eye on what has been (so far) an

incredibly biased process.

 

Look for NMFS to announce a decision sometime in early May, and stay

tuned...

*****

 

 

 

CENSUS BUREAU BYPASSES WHALERS

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Bad news looms for American whale fisherman and rickshaw drivers

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bad news looms for American whale fisherman and

rickshaw drivers: Their out-of-date vocations may disappear from the U.S.

Census Bureau's list of job categories.

 

In reporting last year's count of the population, the bureau is categorizing

Americans into some 33,000 occupations. But some traditional jobs are likely

to drop off the radar for future head counts because no one is around to do

them.

 

``Whale fisherman,'' for example, is headed for the scrapheap of census

history, since there are no whaling fleets operating in U.S. ports after an

international ban on commercial whale hunting.

 

Many of the world's remaining whale fisherman are found in Japan, which

maintains fleets for what it calls ``scientific'' whaling.

 

Nor is the outlook for ``rickshaw driver'' bright, barring unexpected trends

in immigration.

 

According to the Census Bureau, its job list reflects the responses given to

its employees over the decades as well as data contributed by the Labor

Department (news - web sites).

 

The actual number of Americans who say they drive rickshaws or dry squid for

a living will not be known until sometime next year. But if the bureau can

find someone engaged in a certain line of work, however obscure, it is

likely to retain the classification.

 

Some jobs with Asian associations are being tallied, while others are not,

with no apparent rhyme or reason.

 

Chinese teachers and judo and karate teachers are recognized by the Census

Bureau. But Japanese and Korean teachers, as well as people who teach other

Asian languages or martial arts, have not made the cut.

 

And although there is a listing for tea tasters, none exists for tea

growers, tea processors or tea ceremony teachers.

 

But the situation could change for the next census, in 2010, if the 2000

results show that new categories are needed.

(March 30, 2001)

*****

 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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" I look at the movement, I look at how little we are even willing to ask for

and so often don't even get that. We are not leaders anymore. The public for

the most part is far in advance of its so-called leaders in the

environmental movement. "

 

Sam Hitt, Forest Guardians founder, upon his retirement.(April 2, 2001)

*****