Saturday, Aug 15, 2009

Current Headlines: Can My Voice Be Heard?

Our Hearts Are Saddened…

Not long ago, I wrote a post after watching a cable television show, The Whale Wars, on Animal Planet.  With tears in our eyes and lumps in our throats, my daughters and I watched tonight’s episode as a beautiful Minke whale was murdered.  A defenseless, beautiful, and peaceful mammal suffocated in its own blood for nearly 20 minutes until it died.   The man at the hand of the harpoon trigger… I wondered who he was and how he slept at night.  Did he feel any remorse or guilt?  As hard as this is to admit, in writing and for all of you to see, I wondered if this gunman was going to hell for his actions.

Watching the film of the murder of this whale was unbelievably sad.  It changed me.  I looked at my daughters and felt the need to try do so something… anything…

For the first time in my life, I wrote a letter to the President of The United States of America.  I have elected to send copies of my letter to my local congressman, The International Whaling Commission, and the CEQ Chair, Nancy Sutley. 

I fear, my voice will make no difference.  I am just one person… and not an influential one at that.  I’m just a mom…  just a lover of the planet…  just a lover of animals.

But, what else can I do?  Like most other Americans, I don’t have the liberty of excess time or money to pursue the injustices of the world.   I have to take care of my family, our home, and our lives.  I can’t crusade about the earth protecting nature.  But, oh, how I wish I could. 

Say what you want about environmentalists, but I happen to love them.  At least they have the courage to live their passion and express their beliefs.  Say what you want about Paul Watson and his vigilante ways, but I happen to admire him.  He has the guts to dedicate his life to a cause that he believes in.   Say what you want about me for crying over the death of whales… but, know that all I have is compassion and love in my heart.

Should you have any interest in this topic of commercial whaling being disguised as “research,” I have researched some articles that you might find eye-opening:

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2009/2009-03-13-03.asp

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3537283-earthrace-boosts-antiwhaling-force-against-japans-antarctic-whalers

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3826638-whale-wars-activist-heroes-or-ecoterrorists

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-spilman/whale-wars—eco-terroris_b_211993.html

My daughters are proud of me for writing the letter.  And, I hope that I showed them that change is up to us.  I talked to them about protecting our planet when they grew up and their generation takes charge of our world.  They said they would. 

I hope they can… because, although my generation is trying… we’re just not quite doing enough.

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