There is only one real difference!
“… for twenty-one years, as a federal agent I’d see a problem, I’d walk into the middle of it and stop it. Not being able to do that in Taiji or do it here at the Dam is extremely difficult.”
I spoke with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s Scott West while he was on location at Bonneville Dam. There is something that we can all do to aid him in this campaign. See for yourself!
Holise: You were in law enforcement. What did you do and how has it contributed to the work that you now do in Sea Shepherd?
Scott: I started law enforcement in the summer of 1987. I was hired as a criminal investigator with U.S. Customs Service and I was sent down to South Carolina where I was involved with the interdiction of drugs being imported into the United States. Then I started doing some work in the control of export technologies. I also, at the same time, was in the Naval Reserve as an intelligence officer and so the export control and my intelligence work kind of duct-tapedtogether.
After a couple of years I decided that law enforcement wasn’t really my thing. It was something I had done out of grad school, and I needed a job. Eventually I realized I wanted to do environmental work and so I decided to go to law school. Well, a friend of mine said that the E.P.A. had criminal investigators so I gave EPA a call and, lo and behold, I got hired in late 1989 as a special agent criminal investigator with the EPA and moved to San Francisco and started working. I said, “I’ll give it six months for an experiment. For what that’s worth, if it doesn’t work out I’ll go to law school.”
At the end of 2008 —- that was nineteen years later —- I retired from the EPA Criminal Investigations and I was a Special Agent In Charge when I retired. Special Agent In Charge is a person who runs a geographically centered office and supervises the investigators, scientists, attorneys, admin people and is the one who makes the decision about which cases will get investigated and referred for prosecution. So, my background is environmental law enforcement and Naval Intelligence and those two things are what I bring to the table for Sea Shepherd.
I first became aware of Sea Shepherd back about ‘88 and, sometime during 1990, I had the opportunity to meet Paul Watson. Sea Shepherd was headquartered down in the L.A. area at the time and I was in San Francisco. California was in my area and I thought Paul might be a good source of information about environmental violations in U.S. territory. So I called him up, told him who I was and that I wanted to talk with him and he said, “Come on down.” He thought that what I did for a living was pretty interesting and so we started talking and as the years unfolded we developed a friendship.
In 2008, he called me up and reminded me that I could retire; although, I had not been planning on it. And he said, “Come on, retire! Let’s put your skills to work for Sea Shepherd.” So, I did and that’s how my background fits into what I’m doing now. I run Sea Shepherd’s Intelligence and Investigations branch. I’ve been leading the ongoing campaign in Taiji, Japan, I did the undercover part at the Faroe’s campaign last year, I’ve done some investigations around the world and now I’m down at the sea lion defense campaign. I bring my law enforcement to bear because I know how the law works, and I’m able to talk to law enforcement officers here, in Japan and anywhere I go. That’s how it all comes together.
Holise: Wow! That’s incredible. Let me ask you, how do you deal with the stress of witnessing the torture and murder of sentient cetaceans over and over again?
Scott: Not very well! [Laughs nervously]
It’s extremely difficult for anybody to watch or anybody who gives a damn. I mean, certainly the people who are doing it don’t have trouble watching it. But for me it’s particularly difficult because, for twenty-one years, as a federal agent I’d see a problem, I’d walk into the middle of it and stop it. Not being able to do that in Taiji or do it here at the Dam is extremely difficult. I internalize a lot of it which isn’t healthy, but otherwise I’d be a madman or my anger would get the best of me and I’d end up hurting someone or going to jail. That’s not good for the cause, so I have to keep it in perspective that we’re not going to win these battles overnight. It’s going to be a long process. A lot of animals are going to suffer and die in the process but ultimately it will be a part of the victory.
Holise: What advice would you have for anyone who wants to engage in a Sea Shepherd campaign?
Scott: It used to be much easier getting onto one of the ships’ crews prior to the popularity of Whale Wars. Now it’s much harder because there are a lot more people aware of it and wanting to do it. There are particular skill sets that are badly needed on the ships. I’d say, learn how to weld. Learn to be a good welder. That would give you a step up. And be persistent!
Also, look at some of these other campaigns that we’re doing now, not just Antarctica. We have the Blue Rage in the Mediterranean. We have work in the Galapagos. We have the Cove Guardian campaign in Taiji. We have this one that just started, this Dam Guardian which will only last a couple more weeks.
But there are opportunities around, also to become an onshore volunteer and become known because we’d much rather put someone on our ships that we know than put on a complete stranger. For people who are interested, get involved in however you can.
Holise: Excellent! And right now, obviously there are some openings at the dam?
Scott: Oh, yeah! All somebody has to do is write to damguardian@seashepherd.org and I’ll respond with an application package. It’s not that hard to get approved. I just need to know who’s down here wearing Sea Shepherd colors.
Holise: Right!
Scott: You have waivers to sign. It’s the onshore application. It tends to turn off a lot of people but those are probably folks that we don’t want representing us anyway.
Holise: Is there anything going on right now at the dam?
Scott: Well, there are sea lions in the water. The traps are open and set but they have to be manually dropped. There were some guys out hazing the sea lions but there haven’t been any trapped in a couple of days. We also have volunteer in Astoria, which is on the coast. The dam is located about a hundred and forty river miles inland. The sea lions get pulled out from the trapped areas in Astoria where they get branded. Then they get poked and prodded for research.
Holise: God! That’s horrible.
Scott: It looks like at least for right now, it’s a little after 7 in the morning here on Thursday morning, it doesn’t look like any sea lions here are in jeopardy.
Holise:Okay. So, let’s take someone like me for example. I’m not able to go there. What can I do?
Scott: You can certainly help spread the word. We now have a Twitter for Dam Guardians. You can pay attention to that. If we report that animals are in the traps, then we encourage everyone to pick up their phones and call the governors of Washington and Oregon. It’s the states that are doing this, primarily the state of Oregon, with permission from NOAAto kill these animals that are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. I’m sure the governors of these states don’t want to be seen as sea lion killers, but that’s what they are and they need to be told that.
The Humane Society has done quite a bit of work over the past several years through the courts. They have been successful for the most part in preventing this from happening but they were unsuccessful recently in court proceedings with the injunction that hey asked for. But the judge limited the numbers that could be killed this year and there’s another hearing in U.S. District Court on the 15th. So you need to follow that and support the Humane Society and their legal acts.
Act Now!
- Follow the Dam Guardians on Twitter
- Volunteer as a Dam Guardian
- Sign up to be a SSCS onshore volunteer
- Visit Save the Bonneville Sea Lions
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber: phone: (503) 378-4582 email: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact.shtml facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber twitter: @govkitz Washington Governor Chris Gregoire: phone: (360) 902-4111 email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govgregoire twitter: @govgregoire
“I’m sure the governors of these states don’t want to be seen as sea lion killers, but that’s what they are and they need to be told that.”
~ Scott West, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Related articles
- Erwin Vermeulen: Impressions on the Bonneville Dam (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- Showdown in Taiji - High Speed Chase Between Cove Guardians and Japanese Nationalists (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- Operation Infinite Patience: April 4, 2012 - Sea Shepherd (shadowwolf32.wordpress.com)
- More Japanese Turn Against Whaling - IPS ipsnews.net (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- Are You a Leader? #Tweet4Taiji #SeaShepherd (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
Scott West and the Dam Guardians have sent out the call for aid via the Dam Guardians Twitter profile!
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber:
phone: (503) 378-4582
email: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact.shtml
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber
twitter: @govkitz
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire:
phone: (360) 902-4111
email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govgregoire
twitter: @govgregoire
“I’m sure the governors of these states don’t want to be seen as sea lion killers, but that’s what they are and they need to be told that.”
~ Scott West, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
“I want to live in a world where animals are protected and not slaughtered senselessly … where dolphins, whales, seals are not held in captivity and used for entertainment … I want Sea World to close … I am hoping this can happen in my lifetime. If these kids have their way, it just might … “ ~ Angela Casey
Angela Casey is a third grade school teacher at Lafayette Elementary in San Francisco, California. Being neighbors to the Pacific ocean, she and her students are heavily engaged in maritime education. They discuss the plight of our seas and the issues that pertain to its inhabitants: ranging from pollution, family values of dolphins and orcas to the unethical practice of marine mammal captivity.
As a class project, the children were doing reports on their favorite marine animals —- several of which were sea lions —- when she heard about the travesty of the sea lions who visit Bonneville Dam. Angela said:
“I learned of the Bonneville Sea Lions last month via Save Misty, and have been making my own calls, writing emails, signing petitions, feeling sad & helpless. Not only is this happening in Taiji, the Faroes, etc., but now it is happening on my doorstep!”
Humans have taken so many Chinook salmon from the Columbia River, that they have become endangered. Instead of calling a halt to the excessive fishing, they decided to eliminate the competition: sea lions.
“In San Francisco, we love our sea lions. They have been a tourist attraction at Pier 39 in Fisherman’s wharf since the 80’s. We have the Marine Mammal Center that rescues and rehabilitates sea lions … only to have them swim up to the Columbia to be branded, trapped and killed for eating. Thus, the kids know these animals.”
Angela Casey said that she now has 131 pictures, some of which were downloaded from the Save Misty the Dolphin’s page, How Kids Can Help Save the Bonneville Sea Lions. Many of the drawings have letters on the back of them wherein the children are asking that the sea lions’ lives be spared. She said that she also has more than forty separate letters, as well.
“I saw the post last weekend about getting kids to color the pic. I discussed the situation with the students and they wanted to help. I thought we’d send off those pictures to Oregon and Washington, and that would be it.
“Then, the students wanted to present to the second grades…other teachers noticed what we were doing and asked them to present to their class. At that point, I decided to invite all teachers so my kids have been going around and presenting all week to K-4th grades. It just sort of snowballed. We still have more classes to present to and if all participate, I could expect at least 100 more drawings.
“Cat Jones from Sea Lion Defense Brigade contacted me and asked if the kids could name the branded sea lions. She sent us photos and they named them (you can see that image on the SLDB fb page). We now use the pics of our named sea lions in our presentations.
“The kids have been offering their solutions to the problem: “‘Let the sea lions be, and stop fishing … or fish less.’
“I”m trying to document everything they are saying, as it is very powerful and brings me to tears. I even made a mom tear up when I told her all of that, and that her son … sitting at his desk, drawing his sea lion, hearing the positive response from all of the online communities, said: ‘Ms. Casey, I really think this is going to make a difference!’
“At the beginning of the year, many of my students felt they didn’t know what to do to help the ocean. We shared how we felt yesterday and they feel “Happy” and that they are ‘doing something good.’ One dynamic 8-year-old said, ‘I feel I can change the world!’ Kids usually feel pretty powerless in our society and adults usually don’t help this with all of our rules and impositions, ‘Do this, don’t do that, you can’t … ’ These kids are empowered and inspired and they are inspiring others … including me! I’m amazed, in awe and extremely proud of my students.”
All animals, including the sea lions of Bonneville Dam, have something in common with children —- they are among the voiceless. In an attempt to give these wonderful creatures a voice, the boys and girls of Lafayette Elementary are speaking out. Let’s see to it that their pleas are heard!
Tell your children, your nieces, nephews and neighbors about this Taiji of the USA and send them to How Kids Can Help Save the Bonneville Sea Lions. Write a letter to your children’s teachers and principals telling them how they can get on board this train of compassion. Let’s show the killers of the California sea lions that we won’t tolerate this crap in our own back yard!
How many kids do you know who like salmon? On their behalf, sign my petition: Take the Pledge to Help Save the Sea Lions Being Killed at Bonneville Dam and be sure to add your comments if you are signing for a minor.
Also See:
- Branded, hazed and killed for eating fish: the tragic life of sea lion C779 (The Examiner)
- Scapegoating + Bad Math = Devastation for Federally Protected Sea Lions at the Bonneville Dam (Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)
- Impressions on the Bonneville Dam (Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)
- Save Misty the Dolphin on Facebook
Related articles
- Wildlife officials capture and kill two California sea lions near Bonneville Dam (oregonlive.com)
- Bust Up The Dam and Save The Sea Lions!- (abolitionistveganlife.wordpress.com)
- Erwin Vermeulen: Impressions on the Bonneville Dam (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- 2 salmon-eating sea lions killed at Bonneville Dam (king5.com)
- #California Sea Lions Killed for Being Hungry (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- URGENT! 3 Bonneville Sea Lions already killed (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- Sea Lions Marked for Death at the Bonneville Dam (cyberwhalewarrior.com)
- 2 salmon-eating sea lions killed at Bonneville Dam (staradvertiser.com)
By Sandy McElhaney
Woodbridge Animal Advocacy Examiner
His name was “C779”. At least that was the name that was seared into his flesh by a hot branding iron on April 9, 2008. He was a California sea lion living on the Columbia River. Like other California sea lions, he had a dog-like face, was incredibly intelligent and he vocalized by barking. Following a 12 month gestation period, he was born to a mother and a father. He nursed anywhere from six months to a year. In the wild, he would have lived about 17 years — had he not been put to death on April 12, 2012 by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) officials for the crime of eating endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam.
C779, along with many of his brethren, caught the attention of state and federal wildlife agents because he had the audacity to eat fish! Fishing, especially salmon fishing, is a big multi-million dollar business in Oregon. While sport, commercial and tribal fishermen are encouraged to partake in the netting of salmon — even endangered salmon, the prized catch is off-limits for sea lions.
It is a poverty that a sea lion must die so that a salmon can live, only to be caught & killed by a sport fisherman at the Bonneville Dam! Oregon & Washington state officials are trapping sea lions NOW! Please call the Governors’ offices and tell them to CALL OFF THE CULL! Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber:
- phone: (503) 378-4582
- email: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact.shtml
- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber
- twitter: @govkitz
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire:
- phone: (360) 902-4111
- email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govgregoire
- twitter: @govgregoire
Don’t let them tell you this is a “federal” matter - THE STATES APPLIED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR AUTHORIZATION TO KILL THE SEA LIONS!
For more information go to: http://savemistythedolphin.blogspot.com/2012/04/advocates-guide-to-scapegoated-sea.html
Be sure to sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/director-office-of-protected-resources-noaa-don-t-kill-the-bonneville-sea-lions
via Save Misty the Dolphin
27 to go! PLEASE Call Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber at (503) 378-4582 & Washington Governor Chris Gregoire at (360) 902-4111 AND TELL THEM TO CALL OFF THE CULL! As of today, April 9, 2012, 3 California sea lions have been lethally injected at the Bonneville Dam for the crime of eating salmon! The states have approval from a federal judge to kill 27 more! THIS IS YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS HARD AT WORK! PLEASE MAKE SOME NOISE! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Share this photo everywhere!
By Sandy McElhaney - National Examiner
On March 15, 2012 the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, authorized the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington to take lethal measures to remove up to 92 California sea lions from the Bonneville Dam. Per the letter signed by James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, the animals identified to be predators of endangered salmon can be shot by qualified marksmen:
Continue reading on Examiner.com Controversial federal bureaucrat signs death warrant for 92 California sea lions - Washington DC Animal Advocacy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-washington-dc/controversial-federal-bureacrat-signs-death-warrant-for-92-california-sea-lions#ixzz1qEpNrtRp
