Stand for Something
If you were “alive and kicking” during the 80’s you likely remember the various “save the seals” campaigns. Anyone with more than a few brain cells left will recall the video footage of idiots with clubs crushing the skulls of harp seals in order to profit from their pelts. One reason we don’t see these films in our fully televised world of today is because of the work of Captain Paul Watson. Him and his followers have put an end to a lot of killing within a variety of continents and saved seals, whales, dolphins and more since the 1970s. Seems Mr. Watson’s radical attitudes of how to save the lives of wildlife is sometimes at odds with others, like Greenpeace, who seem more conservative in how they attempt to disuade killers. Greenpeace uses words, politics and “witness” campaigns to try and do good, whereas Captain Watson uses his own ship as a battering ram to completely sink whale harvesting ships - sometimes taking his own life, and that of his crew, into jeapordy. To date he’s rammed about five ships and sunk over a dozen, all without causing a single human casualty.
I first read about the good Captain in an amazing article called The Whale Warriors that was printed in an issue of National Geographic’s Adventure magazine. The story reads like an amazing adventure movie. But the reality is that Captain Watson and his crew are the only line of defense to preventing companies from harmful killing and harvesting of wild life. While reading the story on an airplane, I was nearly moved to tears to see the dedication of this man and his attempts simply to do what is right and just.
Since reading the story, I have not forgotten about this group. I’ve bought the t-shirt, I’ve joined his Sea Shepherd Conservancy and I’ve sent money for no reason at all except because I know this is a great cause. Living on the east coast I have seen whales, I’ve swam with dolphins and I know that any monies I send this group are not going to buy the leader a faster Mercedes. This is probably also a good time to note that I’ve spent a good portion of my life in Wisconsin and I certainly realize that not all hunting is bad - there is such a thing as balance, but these killings are clearly not about HELPING the wildlife. The most recent email I’ve received from the group outlines there largest effort so far and attempts to raise $3 million to take the battle to the Japanese whale killing ships in the Antartica this December. So while we will all be worried about what’s left on our gift list or how many shopping days we have left, there will be two ships headed into some very cold waters and even colder weather in an attempt to do right and protect the lives of some of our planets most beautiful creatures. It’s called Operation Leviathan and they could really use your financial help.
Do what you can, when you can. And yes, they are a 501-c3 foundation, so your contribution is tax-deductible!
-pjc