Guest Book

Opened: December 3, 1998

10/16/05

Name : Tiffany O.
City : Washington
Country : United States

It disgusts me how people think it is ok to tell people to stop practicing their religion or their traditions because they don't think whaling is right. Well sorry to brake it to you people (who disagree with whaling) but that is part of some religions. Don't we people in America have a right to practice religion! You trying to stop them from whaling is like someone stopping Christians from celebrating Christmas or Easter or even telling the English to stop hunting foxes. Its not our rights to tell people what they can and can't do. What if I told vegetarians they can’t eat fruit or vegetables any more because the are killing plants. See you need to look at it from people who hunt whales side of view before you can say anything. Why can't we just except peoples differences and how they practice their own traditions.

09/29/05

Name : Andrew Rolling
City : Chicago
Country : USA
Email : adn123@hotmail.com

Thank you all.

09/12/05

Name : Eddy
City : Michigan
Country : America
Email : Eddy@hotmail.com

I dont think that it a excellent idea to put the recipes of whale dishes on this site.

09/03/05

Name : Jim
City : New York
Country : USA

I support your right to hunt whales, and abhor the ignorance of the people who claim you are endangering whales' survival, or who feel that your needs are of lesser importance than their "need" to feel green. I am not going to sign my email address because of fear of retaliation from eco-terrorists.

08/15/05

Name : tom
City : LA, CA
Country : USA
Email : gh@as.com

great guestbook

08/12/05

Name : Rosie
City : NSW
Country : Australia
Email : rosie_fay@Hotmail.com

I think it is horrewndus what you are doing to these whales!! They have done nothing to hurt u - and you go along and kill their babies! IT is ruining the oceans and destroying the food chain. I do not care that whales provide food to heaps of people - blah,blah,blah you sould not go out into the seas and kill beautiful whales! Please stop - youre ruining the oceans. Whales are beautiful creatures

08/03/05

Name : Ben
City : Vic
Country : Australia

stop the canardlies killing our whales and feeding them to japanese kid for lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

07/27/05

Name : Layla
City : QLD
Country : Australia

I am 16 and doing a major assignment on Whaling around the world. After reading the rest of your website’s guestbook entries I am enraged that anyone can want the mass murder of these mammals to continue into the 21st century, especially when we have so much more understanding, technology and options than that of our ancestors. It was acceptable for them because it was a vital part of their diet and they did not slaughter on a massive basis like that of Japan and other countries, but these days you have so many options it is just not tolerable and the world needs to stop before any more major destruction can be done to these unique creatures populations. It should not be a concern of tradition, culture or custom, but a concern of what is right and what is wrong in today's modern world. Many cultures have given up yesterday's traditions because in a modern society they just do not function. I think anyone concerned with the murder of these beautiful mammals should be ashamed of themselves.

07/27/05

Name : David
Organisation : NY
City : NY
Email : serafimpervishin@mail.ru

I liked your site and I shall recommend this site to the friends
http://insurance.inshurance-from.com

07/18/05

Name : Daniel N
City : Queensland
Country : Australia
Email : dan_jack@hotmail.com

Hi im now sick of Japan killing wales in our waters and want it stop, i know how important whaling is to so many comunities around the world. The fact is that in this present day we need to stop living in the past. Japan simply can no long slaughter on a mass scale anymore. The sooner they learn this the better. At least 10X more money can be made by whale eco-tourism. Maybe its time to wake up.

07/08/05

Name : Randy Black
Organisation : Kwakiutl Band Council
City : Port Hardy, British Columbia
Country : Canada
Email : ecdev@kwakiutl.bc.ca

Thank you for the information contained in your site.

06/29/05

Name : Nancy Charlton
City : Portland, Oregon
Country : USA
Email : pluscachangeATcomcast.net

I am re-reading Moby Dick for maybe the 20th time in my life, and I did a Google on "whaling." Now I have been saving the whales all my life, but never until now have I realized how necessary whaling is to so many people--including some pretty close to home on the Olympic Peninsula, British Columbia, and Alaska. I would not deprive these people, or the Faroese and others, of their hunts which do not deplete the stocks. Neither would I want to see the great whales hunted to extinction. I have been on several whaling cruises off the Oregon coast but never yet have seen so much as a distant spout of a great whale, but I am glad to know they are out there somewhere, keeping up their part in the ecosystem.

Your site has certainly shown me that whaling isn't an either-or, all-or-nothing proposition. Intelligent management, full use of science and technology undreamed of 150 years ago, together with good will, should make it possible to balance all needs.

We have come to the time when "thar she blows" will evoke nothing more than a boat full of raised binoculars.

Nancy Charlton

06/22/05

Name : Koba
Organisation : Student
Country : Japan

I am living in Australia. I hate the way Australia media and government take up whaling issues. The media use the same film which Japaneses killed whales, over and over, 1000 times a day. People would believe Japaneses are cruel. Actually Japan is not only one whaling country in the world. I want everyone to read this website. It seems Australians never chance to learn how to respect Japanses culture.

06/21/05

Name : Melissa Clifton
Country : Australia
Email : ducky@melissaclifton.com

Stop Japan from their "scientific" killing of whales now!

06/07/05

Name : Alla Furey
City : Victoria
Country : Australia

I hate the way people are still whaling today- I don't understand why they do it. People in future generations will never get to see these creatures alive- they'll only see them mussems. STOP THE WHALING!

05/27/05

Name : Chastity Edgar
Organisation : Student
City : Campbell River , BC
Email : lill_queen_jack5@hotmail.com

I really liked your information because I am doing research on where I'm from and it's nice to know that a lot of people know about Nitinaht but I have to go do my work.
Bye and thanks again for the information.

05/23/05

Name : James Innes
Organisation : Anthropologist
City : Townsville
Country : Australia
Email : jamesinnes@bigpond.com

Its great to see the WCW is still going strong and supporting the rights of people to continue their whaling traditions. I enjoyed the Nelson gathering and hope to connect up with people involved in WCW sometime again in the future.

05/20/05

Name : Nora
City : Tofino
Country : Canada

Hi i like your web site

05/13/05

Name : A. Deshmukh
City : Chicago, IL
Country : USA
Email : RobbyRacer770@hotmail.com

Killing whales for econimic and cultural profit is disgusting. I can't believe you people can sleep at night supporting the murder of these beautiful animals.

05/01/05

Name : Jessie
City : South Australia
Country : Australia
Email : jessiebearwithpurpletoes@hotmail.com

As part of my History studies on Whaling in Japan, this website has helped me a great deal. Although, it would be nice to finjd information that is of unbiased opinion. Whaling should be banned... I recently found out that there was a whaling station about an hour away from where I live, I was greatly disappointed that these activities took place on my home turf... Whaling is completely inhumane and should be made illeagal in all states. It is indecent and cruel.

04/19/05

Name : Johnboo Emmy
Organisation : PLT
City : Lagos
Country : Nigeria
Email : emmaco@37.com

I love everythin about this site.

04/13/05

Name : Balastrude von Mettingete
Organisation : Audabon Society
City : GORE
Country : New Zealand
Email : steady_neddy28@hotmail.com

STOP THE WHALING! ITS CRUEL AND INHUMANE! THEY WILL BECOME EXTINCT SOON! DISAPPEAR OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO WITNESS THEIR BEAUTY AND SPLENDOR! STOP WHALING, WHALE WATCHING IS FAR MORE PROFITABLE AND THE WHALES ARE BETTER ALIVE
YOURS BALASTRUDE VON METTINGETE

04/11/05

Name : Scott McKnight
City : New York
Country : USA
Email : scottymcK.@hotmail.com

I love all kinds of whale meat especially sperm whale and minke, i feel whales are ugly creatures but as long as your killing them tastefully i have no problem with their untimely deaths

04/11/2005

Name : Dariusz Kalwig
Country : Poland
Email : kelvin_keiko@op.pl

I think whaling shoult be banned in all of the world. It's the most unnessesary activity, I have ever heared. Your website is very good, if I mean HTML structure. It is clear, but you try to persuade young people to start whaling career. It is stupidist move. Read www.wdcs.com site, www.oceandefence.com, and www.ifaw.org, www.greenpeace.org. These websites are only small drops in ocean of needs. If you want to see, what's my opinion about whaling, visit my website: WWW.ORCINUS-ORCA.END.PL, or more quality: sword3.250free.com/links/other/whaling_gallery.html\ (it's the same site).
If you want to know my opinion: STOP WHALING NOW !!!
I AM UNDENIABLY AGAINST THIS STUPID ACTIVITY.
I WANT TO JOIN GREENPEACE AND FIGHT WITH WHALERS AT ALL COSTS. I WILL DIE FOR WHALES. NOONE OF WHALERS WILL DISRUPT MY ACTION.
HAVE A NICE DAY :[

04/10/05

Name : dave Frank
City : Utah
Country : usa
Email : unstable_tom@hotmail.com
i hate whaling its sick and wrong. how can you kill whales when it is widely known they are endangered? Please stop the inhumanity! its so cruel

04/09/2005

Name : Dr Anthony.T.O.Ogunmekan
Organisation : Lord Doing
City : Ikate-Surulere, Lagos State.
Country : Nigeria
Email : tope_Ogunmekan@yahoo.it

I so much like ur courage on this site pls keep on doing the lord way. Anyway i can contact the western africa people from my country nigeria to be part of this ORGANISATION, It is very important.
God Bless.

04/04/05

Name : Hugo Inglis
City : Denver
Country : USA
Email : moro_at_2_in_da_morning@hotmail.com

I think that whaling is good as it provides jobs and tasty whale meat at competitive prices. Keep it up

03/17/05

Name : Richard Noon
City : Southampton
Country : England
Email : RichardANoon@aol.com

I have been reading some of the comments in your guest book with interest,
I signed on the Factory Ship Balaena in 1959 as a mess-boy for 6&1/2 months at £9.00 per month, for a twelve hour day or night shift when we were whaling in the Antarctic,
I wonder as I look around how many 15 year olds would be able to do that today

03/02/05

Name: Lew Howell
City: Badgers Quay, Newfoundland
Country: Canada
Email: lew.howell@nf.sympatico.ca

I think a hunt is good as long it is controlled and done in the right way

02/06/05

Name: Robbi Hoy
City: Minnesota
Email: thehoys@charter.net

I was hoping someone here can help. I am trying to locate someone to learn more about the whaling companies of denmark. I am trying to uncover the truth about a family legend that goes something like this...
My ancestor, Behrend Behrendsen was a whaler from Holbol Denmark. One day while Behrend was at sea, the ship he was working on went down. Behrend was rescued and taken to the Falkland Islands on the coast of South America. Behrend sent word home of his rescue saying that he would return soon. Later he set sail on another ship. This too sunk, leaving no survivors. Behrend Behrendsen died at sea while (1867).

Another story says it was in the Baltic Sea that he was lost. I would love to know more about the history to discover where, in fact, he did pass away-is it possible that it was down by South America?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

02/05/05

Name : C-daddy
City : Edmonton
Country : Canada
Email : earthfirst447@hotmail.com

What is it with you people and your fascination with cute mega-fauna. Save the chickens and the cows first and the rest will follow.

01/13/05

Name: Mike Dud
City : Rockfeel
Country : USA
Email : dueman@aol.com

Whaling is wrong. MERCURY LEVELS IN WHALE MEAT ARE UNSAFE AND HARMFUL! STOP WHALING

10/18/04

Name : Kyle
City : London
Country : United Kingdom
Email : kylementalboy@msn.com

Whaling is Unjust, if you think about whales rather like human's, they have heartbeats, blood flows, intelligence and they're the only living organism that doesn't get attacked by other living creatures apart from the animals that you whaler's are, you have made these wonderful and mystical creatures close to extinction and the shear amount of numbers that were killed is disgusting, personally i wouldn't mind whaling if you just left them for 10years, that way they could build up a population and if they didn't die in such agony, their deaths can go from 30mins to as long as 2 hours, they should be able to be killed with a dignity and you should moniter a whale before you kill it as it may be pregnant. thank you
Kyle ( 15 yrs old )

07/23/04

Name : Brett
City : Goleta
Country : USA
Email : ripcurldog@yahoo.com
One hundred years ago, we looked at slavery as an acceptable practise, now we look back and wonder what the hell we were thinking. Your Grandchildren are going to look back at you people and ask they same question about you. If you can live with that, then more power to your whale killing selves. What comes around goes around - you'll get yours in the end.

07/10/04

Name : Red Green
City : Vancouver
Country : Canada
Email : bornfree26@hotmail.com

I believe that there is really room for all of Gods Creatures..........Right next to the mashed potatoes.

06/30/04

Name : Karen Jones
City : Idaho
Country : United States
Email : larrynkaren@supersat2.net

I am all for the whale hunts. The U.S. government has broken enough treaties. The Makahs are not wanting to hunt every whale they see, they are only asking for five in two years, that's only if they can get that many,they may only get one. I pray that the Makah win their case.

05/17/04

Name : Shelley Janes
City : Newfoundland
Country : Canada
Email : shelleyjanes1990@yahoo.com

Hello. I think whaling should be banned totally. I am a youth who is in grade 8 and i am doing research on whaling that should be banned and your website has helped me alot with all the other peoples opinions. Thank you very much and if you have any more information, please feel free to e-mail it to me at the address above.. Thanks

04/12/04

Name : Kaitlin Smith
City : Toronto
Country : Canada
Email : diego262661@hotmail.com / kaitlins_26@hotmail.com

I don't think anyone should have the right to whales, it's inhumane. Whales are the most amazing creatures on this earth and once their gone their not coming back. I want them to be around after I'm gone. They were on this earth before us and they have a right to their lives, it's not for us to decided whether or not we get rip out their guts, no one will ever have that right. It will always be a crime no matter what the government says. Think about that when those innocent whale eyes are starring at you.

02/13/04

Name : Clare
City : NSW
Country : Australia
Email : clareee@msn.com

Personally, i do no agree with the whaling industry, although i do see the sense in preseving a cultures traditions. Whats more important i see at the moment is the preservation of these traditions, and this means the preservation of whales, weather it be through tougher laws or better stratergies i believe somthing has to be done. Modern technology is destroying the whale population through out the world. This has to be stopped. Whaling is not wrong but killing an intire species through lack of understanding and stratagy is!

02/01/04

Name : Jasmine
City : Melbourne
Country : Australia

Hello, everyone. I love whales and I eat whales. But the last time I ate was two years ago. That's really tasty. Why do you think people can't catch even Minkwhales? There are many of them, aren't they? Would really 2000 minkwhales whaling hurt? I think you should not say "it's cruel". Even if you're a vegetarian.Remember, plants and crops also have lives. Why try to reduce world's food diversity? If you believe eating whales is wrong, you don't need to. But you don't need to stop others to eat them as well.

01/28/04

Name: Rachael
Country: England
Email: bighairymoustash@hotmail.com

I think that whaling is the most disgusting thing, it should be banned, no one is trying to ruin anyone elses culture but there is really no need for the hunting and murdering of the most beautiful animal on this earth for "tradition" or for peoples own selfishness. I am not being in the slightest bit arrogant, most species of whale are in danger and they need saving, maybe if their was enough for whaling to take place it would not be quite so bad, but almost every species of whale has at some point in its existence has almost become extinct thanks to the arrogance and selfishnes of mankind.

10/12/03

Name: Kelsey
Organisation: WWF

Hello

29/08/03

Name:Kimberly Ray, San Bernardino, California, USA
Email: Ocngirl458@AOL.com

I am becoming a Marine Biologist. My life passion. I am looking for someone I can debate with or do research with. I'm always open to new information but they must have an open mind.

03/07/03
Name: Janet Hartwick, Salt Lake City, Ut
Email: researcherjanet@yahoo.com

Scientific Laws in Human Development Scientific Results Democracy Occurs Communications, objected to by wrong human development profits communism, bring freedom and kindness.

Read research article

01/07/03
Name: Marcy, CO
Email: N/A

I have known about the whale hunts for some time now, and until a person can be in the position of the natives who are returing to their traditions and culture, I doubt there can be too much understanding.

I love all the living creatures of the world, especially the whales. As an American Indian I can understand the importance of tradition and what it means to the American Indians today, who are trying to surive in a culture not based on their own.

19/06/03
Name: Nick THOMAS, NBA ALLSTAR, Hamuilton, South Africa
Email : nicklittlebro@hotmail.com

SAVE THE WHALES

10/06/03
Name:brad steele, master debater, cambridge, new zealand
Email : bradles138@hotmail.com bradles138@hotmail.com

Do u want to save the whale or do u want 2 kill them

07/06/03
Name:David Stevenson
Email : debiddo@ihug.co.nz

Retarded ideas? I think you have no idea what harm arrogant people like you bring to the world.

I am not at all arrogant for suggesting that people such as yourself might reconsider your culturally intolerant beliefs.

The arrogant people are those who demand that the whaling peoples of the world give away their traditions.

If you are prepared to demand that the whaling people's give away their whaling traditions, are you yourself prepared to give away your own traditions? Let's assume you eat beef and pork. To eat these foods is simply not acceptable to Hindus and Muslims. Are you prepared to give away your culture just because some people from cultures in a different part of the world don't like it? If you aren't, then please tell us how you are not being arrogant to suggest the whalers relinquish their whaling cultures. (And if in your explanation you want to use any arguments related to endangerment, inhumaness of killing methods and such, please do provide facts and figures to justify what you say. The IWCs home page has all of these figures for you, but I'm not sure if you will find that they support your position or not).

>> If any of the precious whale species extinct because of people like you I hold you personally responsible.

None of today's whaling activities threaten any of the "precious" whale species. Indeed it is often noted that human hunting has yet to drive a single species to extinction, although the rampant hunting for oil of years long ago sent a few species dwindling to perilous levels, from which they are yet to recover. Thankfully today scientists understand a great deal more about whale stocks, and also thankfully no such depleted species will ever be hunted commercially under the IWCs highly conservative sustainable management framework, the RMP.

>>I could say a lot about this but I won't waste a lot of time and energy to people like you.

Well, I'm sad that you think it's a waste of time. What the world needs is more information about this issue. At the present time most of the anti-whaling people of the world seem to get their information from sources like Greenpeace. I was surprised recently to read the figure that US Greenpeace alone makes 135 million dollars per year from its anti-whaling campaigns. The meat sold by the Japanese research program in comparison works out to only 36 million dollars. And this is just US Greenpeace. What about Greenpeace internationally? And IFAW and other such "whale saving" organisations? What is the sum total of the anti-whaling donation industry?

Does it not make you wonder if perhaps Greenpeace, IFAW, and all the rest of the "whale savers" are actually just feeding you lies to fill their pockets with your cash? And that anti-whaling governments support such activities to gain easy "green" votes?

>>It is just said to see that some of us are not able to think on long term

Who would that be? The whole point of sustainable whaling IS to think long term. Greenpeace and co. will tell you that whalers only want short term profits. And people believe them.

Do the big beef corporations slaughter their herds of cows on masse in an unsustainable manner in order to haul in their fast short term profits? Or do they take a longer term view, and manage their stocks sustainably?

What is so different about corporations running whaling industries? Why is it that if Greenpeace tells you that whaling corporations will cheat on the rules, deplete the whale stocks, all for short term profit, that you believe it? Would you behave in the same manner if you yourself were in the whaling business?

People need to recognise the Greenpeace and co. propaganda for what it is.

>> It must be some aberrance in the brain to think like you I guess... I don't have any other explanation. Insane.

Enlightened, actually. I used to be anti-whaling myself until I had the courage to open my mind. If you too want to reach enlightenment then perhaps you would benefit from reading the entire IWC home page.
http://www.iwcoffice.org/

I notice that you are from the Netherlands, a member of the IWC. Are you aware of the contents of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the document on which the IWC is founded?
http://www.iwcoffice.org/Convention.htm
As you can see, the convention notes in its preamble that:

"Recognizing that the whale stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling is properly regulated, and that increases in the size of whale stocks will permit increases in the number of whales which may be captured without endangering these natural resources;"

"whaling operations should be confined to those species best able to sustain exploitation in order to give an interval for recovery to certain species of whales now depleted in numbers;"

"Having decided to conclude a convention to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry;"

Are you happy that your government is a member of the body whose convention states those things? Do you personally agree with those three statements from the ICRW? Are you happy that your government has its signature on a convention which expressly justifies the very notion of whaling? Would you like your government to remove it's signature from this convention, and oppose the IWC, in light of the contents of the IWCs convention?

22/05/03
Name: Chantel, Austin TX, USA
Email:

I seriously think they should stop killing the sweet whales. Think of the animal rights it is just like animal abuse. If someone would dare to kill their dog or their cat they could be taken to court.so why should you be able to kill whales.If we work together we could put a stop to this and one day we will.

14/05/03
Name: Scott

Message : awsome whale recipes!

07/05/03
Name: justin michael nelson, one of earth, golden colorado, north america
Email : katanjones23@aol.com

there are better ways to reclame your history than salvaging the old rights. in a hundred years we will look at the oil hunters and the press gangs. there are better ways.

15 /04/03
Name: Arnold Hammari
City/State: Boise / Idaho
Country: USA

I am happy to have stumbled upon your site while surfing. This seems to be quite an emotional issue for some. Others see it more rationally. I was appalled at the hostility which appears to come from those more emotionally involved. In this world we may not all agree on some subjects. I am concerned about behaviors of people who elevate obscure causes above human relations. If I disagreed with whaling I might tell you so, but what gives me the right to say I am more correct or to insult you? I think it was Star Trek IV, where Spock talked to whales that made people think whales were smart. How romantic!

09/03/03
Name: A J, Brabant, Netherlands
Email : para_illusionist@hotmail.com

Message : In reply to:
"Great site. I'm happy to see that the Maori people of my country have found a forum at WCW where their concerns regarding their traditional whale consumption can be voiced. Back home in New Zealand these concerns are virtually never reported in the media. All the media reports is the typical Greenpeace-donation-grabber type headline criticising whaling peoples around the world, based on misinformation and illogical, emotional nonsense.

I think it is very very sad that our government fails to recognise the traditional customs of Maori, instead choosing to adopt the Greenpeace policy of "No whaling!", "Whaling is despicable". There is no reason why Maori should not be permitted by the New Zealand government to continue traditional whale consumption related practices - no harm will come of this. It is sad that the Government is not interested in sticking up for the people they are supposed to represent. While our government opposes the sustainable management schemes proposed for whales, at the same time they presently are pushing through similar management schemes for the use with other marine resources. How hypocritical is that? Hopefully one day a government with some principles will be elected, and hopefully it will come in a day in the not too distant future.

Keep working, keep talking. At the end of the day, the people (including some who appear on this BBS) who hold illogical, intolerant beliefs with regard to the issue will be forced to rethink their retarded ideas."

Retarded ideas? I think you have no idea what harm arrogant people like you bring to the world. If any of the precious whale species extinct because of people like you I hold you personally responsible. I could say a lot about this but I won't waste a lot of time and energy to people like you.

It is just said to see that some of us are not able to think on long term and that some miss the ability to create an expanded view of an entire, complete situation.

It must be some aberrance in the brain to think like you I guess... I don't have any other explanation. Insane.

03/05/03
Name: Lauren Smith, WA, USA

Im interested in doing my Term Paper on whaling in the Northwest. This is a great site! Thanks

02/23/03
Name: Fernando López-Minrones ( freelance writer) , Madrid, Spain
Email : fernandomirones@airtel.net

I need information about traditional whaling communities that nowadays practice whaling. My intention is make a film about it to show the all the points of view of this activity.

Please, help me; in what places in the world I can film authentic whalers?

Halmahera?, Dominica?,Norway? ...

12/28/02
Name: Mary Weatherwax, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
Email : mary.weatherwax@yebb.com

Looking to buy and antique whaling harpoon.
Thanks

12/04/02
Name: David Stevenson, ex New Zealand, now Japan
Email : debiddo@ihug.co.nz

Great site. I'm happy to see that the Maori people of my country have found a forum at WCW where their concerns regarding their traditional whale consumption can be voiced. Back home in New Zealand these concerns are virtually never reported in the media. All the media reports is the typical Greenpeace-donation-grabber type headline criticising whaling peoples around the world, based on misinformation and illogical, emotional nonsense.

11/26/02
Name: Eckehard Bockwoldt, Northern Germany, Germany. Multimar Wattforum Tönning
Email: e.bockwoldt@multimar-wattforum.de

In our Nationalpark-Informationcenter we are just planning and building a new permanent exhibition about whales, small Porpoises and big Sperm Whales are the main themes.

But we also want to show something about whaling nowadays, mainly subsistence whaling. So we need pictures, only a few photographs of native people whaling in a traditional way. Can somebody help me?

Please contact me!

Kind regards
Eckehard Bockwoldt

10/02/02
Name: Holly, Dunedin, New Zealand
Email : hol48@hotmail.com

I do not like the whaling that goes on! I agree with all those who also are against whaling. It's horrid!

It's also disturbing-whales are magnificent creatures and should be respected.

08/19/02
Name: Erban Jakobsen, KTW, Denmark
Email : erban85@hotmail.com

Dear fellow whalers.

I represent an organisation located in Denmark called KTW. We have enjoyed your site very much and we would like to express our support to whaling as a culturally and economically important buisness.
In our struggle for the re-introduction of the art of whaling in Denmark and Greenland it is of big importance to us to find friends and allies all over the world.
Please visit our website @ www.killthewhales.webbyen.dk . Sorry, but our English version is down at the moment...
Yours sincerely,
Erban Jakobsen, President of KTW Denmark

08/18/02
Name:: Audrey, Golden, Colorado, USA
Email : Audity618@hotmail.com

You people are disgusting.

Whales are magnificent creatures and to kill them off so inhumanely is a disgrace to man kind. there are other ways to achieve your oil markets and get protein to people in the arctic. don't be fools. these creatures have done nothing wrong. they live in all places of the world and for one nation to claim the rights to kill them is wrong. they are everyone's animals, not just each nations. Live and let live.

07/31/02
Name : Brooke Ursa Baskett, Holland, Mi, USA
Email : ursa_broken@hotmail.com

I can understand that certain cultures have a tradition of whaling, and although I don't agree with it I believe they should be able to preserve their own heritage. However, if they insist on preserving this heritage, then traditional ways of hunting should also be observed. No one's ancesters subsisted on whales hunted down in motorboats using harpoon guns.

As for commercial whaling-- I think it's a tragedy that anyone could exploit these intellegent, sentient creatures for profit. They don't have anatomy that allows for the dexterity to produce any tools of defense against humans, but does that give you the right to kill them?

06/20/02
Name: Carly Griffiths, New Zelalnd
Email : carlygriffiths@yahoo.com

Keep it up I think that u r doing a great job

05/31/02
Name: Matthew, England
Email : gloomzday@talk21.com

Im afraid to say you people are scum.

Yes my message may have overtones of immaturity but i hope you are satisfied when the worlds whale population is being strangled to the excess.

I guess you would love to be stabbed in the flesh by a murderer and left to die in agony for minutes...even hours.

What a way to die. I bet they love it.

05/28/02
Name: Charles Menadelook, Diomede, Alaska, United States
Email : cbm_whaler@yahoo.com

Message : I have read through your guest book and I agree with alot of what is being said about whaling and I am an aboriginal whaler myself. To all the people who think that whaling is unjust and uncaring I say this.

I have so much respect for whales and want to see them survive to the days of my grandchildren and their grandchildren. To speak of respect for the whales this way is to say that I prepare every year before whaling by cleaning my home, our freezer and anything that would be in contact with the whale. This is not for hygene only but to show the whale that If I am blessed with their presence that they will have a house that is clean to choose from. I believe that they choose you and you do not choose them. You have to be deserving of their flesh and that to take a whale is such a blessing.

Our village did not land a whale for over 63 years for one reason or another and the day we landed our first whale it changed our village because it gave us a sense of our identity and to who we really were.

I thank everyone that supports whaling not for killing but for the blessings that the whale bestowes on our families and our children.

04/24/02
Name: Ole Heinrich, Nuuk, Greenland
Email : sajare@greennet.gl

"Action Alert - Greenlandwhales being killed one-by-one

PETA, People Eating Tasty Animals, has received news that 3 Greenlandwhales have been killed by local killerwhales and fear that the slaughter will continue as long as the killerwhales are in the area.

Killerwhales have attacked and killed at least three Greenlandwhales around Qeqertarsuaq - Disko Island. They were attacked, flensed and eaten by the killerwhales in the area. More Greenlandwhales have been attacked and presumed killed and eaten by the killerwhales.

The Greenlandwhales has been killed and eaten by the killerwhales despite fears about high level of contaminants. Significant quantities have also been fed to some of the babykillerwhales.

Greenlandwhales are covered by the global moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the IWC in 1986.

"As the IWC imposes zero quotas on all commercial hunts of whales and no aboriginal quotas are awarded for Greenlandwhales, we believe that the hunts of Greenlandwhales in Greenland is in fact illegal", states Uusaqqak Mattaaq, spokesperson from PETA. PETA strongly urges the authorities in Greenland and Denmark to put an immediate stop to the kills.

PETA is calling on the public to help save the Greenlandwhales. Please write to the Home Rule Premier of Greenland and ask them to stop the killings immediately.

01/25/02
Name: Tony Clark, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Email : koolaidgangster@yahoo.com

What, exactly, do you mean when you write that "Canada is one of the world's largest whaling nations"? Does that mean that Canada is one of the largest nations in the world, or that Canada is one of the largest whalers in the world?

As a Canadian, I find comercial whaling (i.e. non-native) to be abhorrant; the implication that Canada, and Canadians in general, support whaling an insult.

Editor's Note: Canada is third in the world in terms of the number of whales killed for food each year, behind Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Canadian government fully supports its whaling peoples in the Constitution of Canada.

01/16/02
Name: Jim Demoruelle, Ville Platte, LOUISIANA, USA
Email : goldust_farm60@hotmail.com

Keep defending your rights to whale.

12/20/01
Name: Mike Cross, Naperville, IL, USA
Email : mc3@intersurfer.com

whaling is cruel and unhuman. why do you think it is necessary to mass-kill wonders of the deep? you people have no hearts

11/28/01
From: Hannah Champney + Laura Herbert, Reading, UK
Email : chocolateisbest@hotmail.com

We think that whaling should be banned, because it is totally cruel, and unnecessary. Thank you for listening to our opinion.

11/24/01
From: Bill Wallace, Salisbury, MD, USA
Email : bnlwallace@dmv.com

Keep up the good work, very nice website.

11/18/01
From: Carrie, Troy Middle School, Troy/Pa, Austinville
Email : Bsb_lover58@hotmail.com

Awsome site you have here I'll have to tell freinds and family. I h a good site for pepol to veiw. WWW.Google.com You have to check it out.
11/18/01
From: Wendy Ropata, Aotearoa
Email : wengaro@wave.co.nz

The more pressing concern is not whether whale meat should be considered a food resource but whether or not there will be a resource available. All people with any interest in whales should pressure industrial nations that poison our oceans with thier waste, to adopt a more responsible attitude to marine life.

Whale meat is increasingly showing signs of poisoning due to ingestation of industrial waste. Not only are whale and other cetaceans threatened by these insidious toxins, but I would presume that those who eat sea mammal product may eventual suffer some health risk. More emphasis should be placed on protecting our marine species by all those with the ability to promote change. Whalers and non whalers, you have a common cause.

Kia ora koutou.
( :

10/05/01
From: Darrel Hallbick, Wimberley Tx, USA
Email: sappa@prismnet.com

I wanted to share with people that we share common concerns and are conducting Sweat Lodge Ceremony see Centers at www.austinholistic.com

Thanks namaste,
darrel

8/17/01
From: Brent Cook, QLD,: Australia
Email: hexen711@hotmail.com

Stop Whaling!

7/30/01
From:: Neil Hammari. SanFrancisco, California, USA
Email : nitai4@hotmail.com

Hello. I am looking for sponsors to help me finance a solo row from SanFrancisco to Japan. I would like my trans-Pacific row to be a statement in support of Japanese Scientific Whaling.I will begin building the boat this fall, and hope to lauch her and start her sea trials by November, 2001. I will bear all those costs on my own, but I hope for help in provisioning, equiping, and keeping satelite e-mail contact, as well as support on the other side, in helping me find speaking oportunities in both Japan and the US.We all must work together to ensure the freedom of the seas, and the opportunity for fishermen to survive. Any ideas or comments?

Please contact me, nitai4@hotmail.com Thanks! Neil Hammari

07/16/01
From: Frank McPeek, Seattle, USA
Email : whales4ever@oemsoftware.com

Please do not kill the dwindling heard of 92 resident whales that remain in Puget Sound. I realize that it is easier to hunt these whales while they are in these protected waters but many of them are still young and it is like shooting fish in a barrel. I applauded your tribe taking the recent injured but alive whale that washed upon your beach and beleive that you could cull an older whale that migrates instead. I have continued to boycott Neah Bay and Sekeu and have pressured my politians to work against your nation every step of the way. I do appreciate you posting both sides of the issue.

Sincerely, Frank McPeek

06/11/01
From: Minna Turunen, University of LAPLAND, Rovaniemi, Finland
Email : minna.turunen@urova.fi
PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE and forward to whom it may concern!

http://finnbarents.urova.fi/question_form/

QUESTIONNAIRE for Improving the Flow of Information from the Arctic Council This questionnaire clarifies the knowledge and views of the local inhabitants, indigenous peoples, decision-makers, and scientists living in the arctic region on the activities of the Arctic Council. The aim of this questionnaire is to find the means for improving the flow of information from and the visibility of the Arctic Council.

This questionnaire is a part of the independent research conducted by the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland and its results will be given for the use of the Arctic Council Secretary. The results of this questionnaire will be available on the Arctic Council homepages - http://www.arctic-council.org/ - and in popular magazines.

All experiences and opinions are valuable in order to develop the flow of information from the Arctic Council!

Minna Turunen
Senior scientist
Arctic Centre
University of Lapland

Paula Kankaanpää
Professor, Director
Arctic Centre
University of Lapland

06/08/01
From : John Thomas Voisey, Largo, USA
Email : JTVoisey@msn.com

My ancestors were whalers. Were it not for their rugged persistence, our family would not be here this day.
Keep up the great work for whaling.

05/11/01
From: Yuyu, Japan

Great website!!!
I really can't understand anti-whaling people's unreasonable argument. It has been scientifically proved that it is okay to catch whales. Keep on this good work to let everybody know why we are allowed to catch whales.

Sincerely,
a whale eater

04/05/01
From: Don Wilkins, Prince George,BC, Canada
Organisation : BC Trappers Assoc.
Email : wilkins@fc.schdist57.bc.ca

Keep up the good work!

03/30/01
From: Erlingur Hauksson, Reykjavík, Iceland
Email : erlingurhauks@simnet.is

Keep up the good work.

03/26/2001
From: Piatarihi Bennett
Organisation: Ngati Whakaue ki Maketu
Email: piatarihi@hotmail.com

Tena Koutou katoa nga tangata mai nga hau e wha.
My name is Piatarihi Bennett. I am a under-graduate student studying environmental applied science. I was a representative at the whalers forum held in Nelson of last year. I would like to extend greetings to all peoples who attended the succesful forum. The conference sparked off an initiative amongst the rangatahi (youth) of my tribes Ngaiterangi & Ngati Whakaue to better organise themselves to become more active in the future of our natural resources in the ocean. Many thanks go out to Chief Happynook and his wife for creating this opportunity for my people.
Tena ano koutou, kia kaha, kia maia (be strong and bold) naku na Piatarihi Bennett

03/22/2001
From: Rex and Meda Snyder, Barrow/Fairbanks, Alaska
Organisation : Inupiaq Traditional Whalers from Barrow, Alaska
Email: fsrds@uaf.edu

Enyoying Maktak in Alaska! One of our concerns in Alaska's Arctic waters is the current threat of off-shore oil development, which is not proven safe in Arctic waters. If there are any major spills, especially during heavy storms or heavy winter off-shore ice conditions, it would be nearly impossible to clean up. Thereby jeoporadizing the delicate marine ecosystem, it is imperative we keep an eye the on industry. Keep up the good work WCW!

03/13/01
From: Curtis Coates, Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
Email: oogibah_15@yahoo.com

Good site. I am doing a project on special intrest groups and I stumbled accross yours. I am intrested in helping you if someone would send me any amount of information on how to join... and I will leave my e-mail below if you don't see it above...

03/05/01
From: Amalie Jessen, Indigenous Survival International - Greenland City
Nuuk , Greenland. amalie@gh.gl

Dear all friends who attended WCW in Nelson, New Zealand After having dived in my paperwork since I got back from a very giving meeting in Nelson and experienced an amazing hospitality and warmth, I am sending my gratitude and best regards to all participants at the food for soul meeting.All the best from Amalie Jessen, Gert Mulvad and the boys Inunnguaq and Jakob, who got so many small friends in NZ.

02/23/01
From: jairam, mumbi , maharashtra, India jairambalakrishnan@hotmail.com
When whale is said to be a mammal why can not it survive on land?

01/09/01
From: Roxanne, Student, Florida,USA swamppie@earthlink.net

Hello. My name is Roxanne and I am 13 and in the 8th grade. I have been doing a school project on whaling. I have been looking at your website, and I was horified! The reason why is because I am studying to be a marine biologist and specilize in marine mammals. I belive that it is awful that people can rejoyce in being a killer of whales! I hope you know that the whales came into this world before humans did. So now we are killing them because some want to show that they are superior! Well take this into consideration. What if humans had come to this world first and then the whales appered and began to kill us off. How would you fell. So now I leave you with these words I have wrote, please think them over and stop or at least lower whaling.

Thank you.

12/12/00
From: Clint Shoemake, Boardman, OR, USA. spittingweasel@hotmail.com

Save the whales! Collect the whole set!

12/05/00
From: KERI STEPHENS, NGATI TAMA IWI TE TAU IHU, NELSON, NEW ZEALAND keri@tasman.net

Keep up the good work whalers

12/02/00
From: Bill Wallace, Salisbury, Maryland, United States of America billwall@dellnet.com

You present a very well done website. Keep up the good work.

11/17/00
From: Jennifer Birch, Brisbane, QLD, Australian s327080@student.uq.edu.au

Well, well , well.
I see most of the individuals that sanction whaling are men still driven by the need to hunt and torture other mammals.
I am very upset by the media release here in Queensland tonight stating that Japan is now increasing her "scientific" whaling to include hunting in Antartica and slaughtering Sperm whales now as well. Where does this end???
I am so angry I could scream. Why don't they just stick to Tuna and wasabi? You bastards!!

11/07/00
From: Glenn Hema Inwood, Wellington, New Zealand gahi@clear.net.nz

Congratulations to the World Council of Whalers and the work it has done on educating the great masses on the real whaling issue. Safe travels to Aotearoa for those councillors who are attending the third conference here. Haere mai.

10/29/00
From: Parker L. Dozhier, Media -- Fur Trapping Publications, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, USA HeTraps@aol.com

I write for the wild fur trade, The Market Report in THE TRAPPER, and have a burning interest in other cultures beyond those of us who trap and hunt for part of our livelyhood. One of my closest friends is Steve Boynton, a Washington DC attorney who represent those involved in Whaling, for this reason I feel close to the industry. Would like to hear from those of you within the industry -- some insight, customs, sayings, beliefs. Also interested in sealing -- particularly those who have read some of English's works and Hinkie's.

10/13/00
From: David Hicks, dhicks@hotmail.com

Jonathon Paul
You cannot both support native rights, and at the same time oppose the Makah hunt, unless, of course, you suscribe to the old, tired colonial notion that "native rights" are those beliefs, practices, and jurisdictions which your narrow, euro-american understanding of the realm of native world-view and culture permits. You know nothing of the makah world, Johnathon. You know precious little on the spiritual plane, if you are serious in your proclamation that a vegan lifestyle is somehow ethically pure: are you so blind that you cannot see that all life is sacred, from the seemingly inanimate to the grandest, most animate? And if, through some flash of insight, you should at last see this to be true, do you suppose you'll still eat supper tonight? Or does the realization that our very subsistence must necessarily result in the death of a being, with spirit, mean we may no longer eat? The limits you place, from your presumed higher moral ground, on what constitutes life and what does not reflect more on your coddled perception of the natural world, and less on the way things are, and the way they are understood by peoples who know the balance of nature, and all of her beings, in ways you clearly are not ready to comprehend. It is to be expected that reasoned words will not reach you: nonetheless, some of us continue to try. Can you not see the very un-ecological basis of the sort of hierarchical thinking you embody, wherein whales are viewed as "especially special"? The statements you make, in this guestbook, and in other forums, demonstrate clearly a mind bound by the deepest preconceptions of the western mind: your're nothing new, Johnathon...the makah have had to deal with self-proclaimed moral agents before; they know you're mindset well. You should learn to listen before you speak, Johnathon: it will involve you having to step off your soapbox for a time, but this will be a necessary step if you expect anyone to take seriously what you have to say. The choice is yours: but at present, I would caution that you are the embodiment of a dangerous, damaging thread of western thought. As you intentionally foster prejudice towards the makah, and peoples whose only "crime" has been their millenia of evolution to a diet of marine mammal meat, and oil, you remind us all that the dark forces of racism, and colonialistic thought still find those ready and willing to serve.

10/01/00
From: Minoru Tomita, Secretary of House of Councillors Japan, Chiaba, Japan tomita@america.net

Anyone to help me
I have seen TV programs in Japan that accusing the world especially the America's critisizm for Japanese whale hunting.
This TV program was Oct01, channel 10.
Attendance was Hiroshi Nakata the house of representative and Morishita the Goverment Fisheries Agency.
summary they described
1) Japan to chach whale regaly permitted
2) Rather Whale to abondon other fish ecology
3) Whale eat other fish about half billion ton, other hand human catch only 90 million ton of it.
4) whale is the one reason to extinct other fish.
5) Critisizm of whale will not be only one, it stared for tuna and next will be all fish where the Japanese catching.
6) whale data only available by Japan, other country speaks without data.
many other speaks
With this session most of other attendances surprise and state for fear of no more fish supply for Japan and agreed to against world (America's) appeals.
I would like anybody help me to have fact on above items.
And help me to logical counterargument against this TV @programs.
I am against whale hunting in my mind and no eat the meat as most of people.
But some campaign will mislead the many.
Thanks
Minoru Tomita

09/30/00
From: Jonathan Paul, Ocean Defense International, USA oceandefense2000@hotmail.com

I am a supporter of Native rights. I am also a supporter of the earth and all her animals. The Makah are being used by Japan in order to increase worldwide whaling under the guise of culturalism and tradition. Now within two years commercial whaling will now begin and the Japanese, Norwegians, Russians and the Makah are all behind this new type of "sustainable whaling". The Makah hunt is not about culture it is about money and big game hunting. The IWC never permitted this hunt because they never found the Makah to need the meat for subsistance. Those who claim the IWC permitted this hunt are lying for I have the documents on paper that we have from the secretary of the IWC. Now the Makah cry culture for their bullshit hunt the Japanese are crying culture also. The Makah whalers have no repect for the whale and have been beaten down by westernization that all they see is money, money and more money. It is a sad thing that the Makah allow themselves to be exploited by the Japanese in order to exploit whales for commercial use. I also feel that all humans should be responsible and be able to change their ways in order to allow speicies to regenerate into healthy popoulations. It was the culture of whites to enslave Africans...since it was ok then is it ok now? The Makah can still keep their traditions but why do they feel they need to kill in order to do that? WCW you are living a lie and you are responsible for the continued killing of these magnificent beautiful creatures whose spiritual knowledge far exceeds the naive,narrow minded unspiritual lifestyle of all humans on this planet.

09/26/00
From: Myles Kroll, Bellingham, WA, USA myles_kroll@hotmail.com

I'm very interested in the World whaling. I wanted very much to have a couple or more penpals whom are true Whalers to correspondence with. i don't have any penpals from the Whaling countries worldwide. if you are a true English Speaking Whalers, please reply back to me with your name, address, and email address with your Whaler's job to be. OK. Please reply back to me ASAP. OK. Please true Whalers worldwide reply to me. OK. bye all.
Myles K.

09/22/00
From: karl barnes, World Wide Fund for Nature, New Zealand, Auckland N.Z, New Zealand

46 waller ave, bucklands beach

09/19/00
From: Alice Anderson, Te Kupenga o Ngati Hako Inc., Hauraki, Aotearoa. hako@xtra.co.nz

Kia ora
We are an ancient tribe located in the Hauraki area. (This is in the Coromandel Penninsular) Our iwi has a special relationship with tohora (whales) and we would like to find out more about whales and the issues associated with whales around the world. We would also like to find out about the protection of indigenous taonga (such as whales bones, teeth) under international law. At present the local Department of Conservation are developing protocols associated with whale strandings and the traditional use of indigenous taonga.
We look forward to reading more about the issues and concerns associated with tohora.
Naaku noa, na
Alice Anderson
Resource Management Adviser
TE KUPENGA O NGATI HAKO INC.

07/26/00
From: James Innes, Townsville, Australia james.innes@jcu.edu.au
This site is impressive and unlike some conservation sites provides a very balanced view of the issues. I think that some sections of the conservation movement do not realise or care that the only reason they are able to act they way they do now is because in many cases their forebears took over the land and sea from the indigenous peoples who are struggling to assert their sovereignty over their lands throughout the world. Hunting of whales and dugongs is one example where indigenous peoples are asserting their rights to their land and sea.

6/26/00
From: Hazel Cook, Port Alberni B.C, Canada eh! Sherah_17@yahoo.com Sherah_17@yahoo.com

Cool site!just looked at it and it's cool. I made it in the paper! Keep on going with the whaling spirit no matter what the other people are saying. I'll stick up for you again. cu!

06/19/00
From: Kevin Sudeith, Junkbiz.com, NYC, USA kevin@junkbiz.com kevin@junkbiz.com

Hello, I am offering some antique hand made flensing knives, spears and a harpoon, which I thought some of you might be interested in seeing. They may be seen at the following link: http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid&userid=kevin@junkbiz.com&include=0&since=-1&sort=2&rows=25

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin Sudeith

05/04/00
From: Tom Rogers, Topsham, Maine, USA

I am a hunter, whalers are hunters. You are doing an honorable deed. Do not be intimidated or ashamed. You are lucky because people will believe that whaling is part of your culture and heritage. A great many whites have strong whaling heritage also, such as the Basques and Norwegians. And do not forget the racist policies against the Japanese. It is their heritage too. Guard your freedom and your rights and Happy Hunting.

ps, sure would love to try a whale steak, Jacques Cousteau said it is good. (Calypso Log, August 1994, page3)

04/28/00
From: Caroline, Fife, Wa., USA CGoodrich@webtv.net

It is interesting that people still really believe this Hunt is for Culture. This hunt is in fact a back door opportunity to re-introduce Commercial Whaling by Japan and Norway. If people posting to this list really want to have a view of both sides, there is the SeaShepherd Society, World Whale Police, Ocean Defense International, Peninsula Citizens for Whales, to name just a few Websites to check out. Most important to mention is that the International Whaling Commission, not to be confused with the Makah Whaling Commission, did not and never has sanctioned this hunt. One reason was that the Makah Tribe was so divided they couldn't even come to a decision. In short no matter how you look at it this Hunt is illegal. Please read the Treaty of 1855, it states the Makah can Whale along with the people of the United States. At that time Whaling was a big deal.

The citizens of the United States no longer whale and no longer wish to whale, so why are the Makah!

Whaling? One could say this was discrimination. As far as being racist that was last year tactic by the Public Relations firm the Makah has hired. This year everyone is an Activist of the worst kind and Keith Johnson will pray for us. In the mean time the Whales will suffer and so will all those who respect life and believe it is not for sale.

04/27/00
From: Kylie Wright, Geelong, Victoria, Australia cute_1@start.com.au

Safe the whales, don't kill them

04/20/00
From: Dana Kremling, Lakewood, washington, united states. tkremling@hotmail.com

thanx it helped becuz i have to write a speech as an enviromentalist against the makkahs hunting whales. if u can help at all please do.

03/08/00
From: Kerrie, Melbourne, Australia. knolankn@netscape.com

I'm currently researching a paper in International Politics. To explore whaling legislation and possibilities for future international laws concerning whaling. I Found the site extremely helpful.

03/02/00
From: Alison Fletcher, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, USA. lizardlegs80@aol.com

I was doing a project for my Native Cultures of North America class and I found this site very helpful. This is a great site and I will pass it on to all my friends in class. Thank you for creating this site!

02/03/00
From: Mike Two Horses, CERTAIN, Tucson, Arizona, Suburbia. ndnhistory@earthlink.net

Hmmm...Andrew, though I like your definition of your location (the 'County of Orange, Republic of California' thing...I grew up in the Village of Encinitas, Shire of San Diego, Kingdom of California myself...), I'm a little confused about some of the other statements you've made...

Although I'm quite aware that lots of the members of the Family Primates use tools and teach other members of their genera and species to do the same (including us), I wasn't aware of any studies showing that our Cetacean friends had done so. In fact, I'm fairly certain that there isn't really any convincing evidence that Cetaceans actually 'communicate' at any level that could be considered sapient (remember, there's a difference between 'sentient' and 'sapient', and I think it's one that's confusing a lot of people).

At any rate, and regardless, considering that there are lots of folks who don't spring from the same cultural background as most of the EuroAmerican folks here, what qualifies as 'meat' as opposed to something we're supposed to make friends with is a cultural variable. As a believer in cultural relativism, I don't think it's appropriate for one culture to insist that another culture accept and live by its ideas of human/animal relationships.

I'm not from a whaling culture, but I'm sure not going to tell the Makah or the Nuu Chah Nulth or Inuit or Inupiat or Chukchi peoples that they're all wet about their traditional ideas of what is and isn't appropriate to eat. If you don't want to eat whale meat, by all means, don't do it! I won't try to force feed you buffalo meat, either. But I'd also appreciate it if those people who've made a CHOICE to be 'vegans' would kindly not insist that you, I, the Makah, or anybody else do so as well.

mth

02/01/00
From: Andrew, County of Orange, Republic of California. geog1@hotmail.com

I'm torn. One side tells me that it's about jolly fu**ing time we allowed native cultures to run their own affairs. Haven't we all but wiped them off the face of the planet? Those who were strong enough to survive the ceseless onslaught of oppressing invaders should be left to carry on their own cultural and traditional practices for once. But then again, the smarter humankind gets, the more we realize how ignorant we all are. There is always more evidence showing that humans are not the only animals with feelings, or social systems. Whales, dolphins, primates, and even squid and octopus show incredible amounts of intelligence. These creatures can solve complicated problems, teach each other how to use tools and even communicate among themselves. So it's a cop out to say that whales are "just another form of meat". So are we. But serial killers get put in jail while environmental rapists get fines once in a blue moon. I suppose my official stance is that!

I have no official stance. The issue is too clouded to take any side and be "right". I think that groups like the Makah are conducting themselves in the best way that they can and I applaude them for revitalizing their culture when many tribes (especially in North America) succumbed to the genocide the government tried so hard to complete. But I do think that other creatures (particularly with high intelligence like whales) have a right to live and continue evolving. Besides, if we destroy all other creatures except ourselves, how can we continue to evolve? I think a good book that might help anyone struggling with this issue is "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. It's one of those books that should be assigned to everyone at birth.

1/30/00
From: Vi, Ucluelet First Nation Treaty, Ucluelet, Canada. vmundy@island.net

Great informative web site......

1/21/00
From: Carol Anne Hilton, Hesquiaht First Nation, Canada. danashleek@home.com

The spiritual and sacredness of food has been lost to the american dream but has been retained by aboriginal peoples across the world. The power and respect given to food sources is beneath white culture in the pursuit of ever faster food. We would never genetically alter a whale. It is perfect and we eat perfect food.

01/03/00
From: G Newman, B.C, Canada. gabn@telus.net

I cant believe that there anyone so ignorant that they beleive killing a majestic highly intelagent creature is not a crime against everything humanty stands for....are u so ignorant and blind that u believe a whale should have no rights based on its apearence?

is it not smart enough? is it to mean ...there creatures of this earth the same as u and i..

how would u feel if creature smarter & more powerful that u were to decide they have some pratical use for your childs dead bodies..or they believe its good sport...Who are u to judge what a whale feels to see its mate or child or whole family grusmly murdred be fore its eyes?

I sincearly hope that u are able to live with those terms that u would have other creatures live by..i would have no part in such a deeply destructive pointless act and phylosiphy..how truly pathetic

sincearly G. NEWMAN B.C victoria canada

10/29/99
From: Randel Perry, Bellingham, WA, United States. rule62@telcomplus.net

"As an Environmental Policy major at Huxley College I have a great curiosity for how the governments of the world deal with native rights in re: natural resources. As a human being I have a deep respect for the right of all peoples to sustain their cultures and beliefs. I support the concept of sustainable use and think that the so called advanced countries of the world could learn a lot from traditional aboriginal cultures."

10/26/99
From: Patrick McAlister, Canada. Patrick.McAlister@home.com

"The time has long passed since you needed to kills whales for food. Let them live in harmony with their world."

08/08/99
From: Neil Gregory, Vice-President, Anti-Whaling Society, Victoria, Canada uni@bc.sympatico.ca

"How pathetic that the Japanese have bought so many 'spirits'. I have followed this issue for quite some time, and I know the truth. This is not about anything spiritual, it's about money. The public's hesitancy to oppose anything Aboriginal has not gone unnoticed by the Japanese. This is why Aboriginals have been recruted to work for them under the guise of reclaiming lost pride & spirituality. Although presently in the limelight, the Makah are not the only co-conspirators. Japanese talent scout Tom Happynook has been busy lobbying the South Pacific also. It seems he's teaching others how to get what they want by using key words like racist, and oppression. You people aren't fooling anyone, and if all of the press you are getting has you feeling pretty important, keep in mind that the ugliest stories get the most press. Only earthquakes and serial killers have had more coverage."

07/14/99

From: Amalie Jessen, Indigenous Survival International - Greenland and Department of Industry, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland amalie@gh.gl

"Dear Guests,
this is to aknowledge the great effort WCW have done and still working on Makah whaling. Congratulations.

"I am also very impressed on the general work and the results WCW have gain until now since its start few years ago. I am especially satisfy with the way the WCW have gathered people with pro-user interests. It is very educational. Thanks to Tom Happynook and Milton Freeman and other people working very hard."

06/06/99

From: Demaris Garceau, Seattle, Washington, USA demarisg@hotmail.com

"I am a graduate student in the Master of Science in Resource Management at Central Washington University. I am writing my thesis on the conflict that sometimes arises between cultural resource management desires vs. natural resource management desires. I am looking at the Makah and whaling for my case study. I am interested in discussing with people their views and research. I am also interested in the anthropomorphization of the whale and how that has changed the public's perception of whales, thus making them taboo. I am curious about how this came about, and the ramifications. I am interested in learning more about whale biology, anatomy, neurology, and behavior, and about whale stocks. I am taking a neutral position, mainly interested in examing the conflict, the issues behind the conflict, and conflict resolution possibilities. I do not necessarily want a flood of opinion, but rather facts which I can use in my research. I might find opinions useful later if I decide to do a survey re: people's perceptions of whales and whaling."

06/03/99
From: herbert henrich, johannesburg, south africa henrich@global.co.za

"it is nauseating to read visitor's support for further butchery and slaughter of graceful and intelligent animals. no makaah, norwegian or japanese has pressing economical needs to satisfy. robbing mankind of our common natural wealth is criminal. 'traditional and tribal needs', 'scientific research' are poor excuses for selfishness and greed. africa as a mainly underdeveloped and economically disadvantaged continent tries to protect endangered species as best as can be done with limited resources. why then must the world's richest nations allow and spearhead mankind's return to destruction of magnificant fellow creatures when no pressing need dictates such action?

06/02/99
From: Jae, Seal and Whale munchers (Baffin Island division), Iqaluit, Nunavut jae7@nunanet.com

"Congratulations to the makah on a hunt well done. No one in the world should have to go through what the Makah have gone through to eat traditional foods from a sustainable source. It wouldn't be too far fetched to suggest that in 1999 the cultivation of turnips poses a greater ecological threat to our environment than does whale eating. It has been a great source of disapointment to me to witness the animal rights groups getting away with the same hate mongering tactics they used twenty years ago to wipe out the traditional hunting economies of the arctic and sub arctic, focusing on stereotyping and misrepresenting indigenous culture once their paper thin ecological arguments became visibly frayed.

"Paul Watson has shown once again that hate mongering works and our media have shown their willingness to play along. In 1946, Julius Streicher was hanged at Nuremberg for inciting hatred against a minority in the pages of his anti-semitic newspaper Der Sturmer. Today it seems that Paul Watson can not only get away with what Streicher was hanged for but can sell the rights to his carefully stage managed 'life story' to Hollywood. This is a very low point for environmental conciousness in the advanced industrial nations."

05/25/99
From: Marcus Erickson, Seattle, Washington, USA. EricksonM@connext.com

"As a resident of Washington State, I wish to offer a perspective of the recent Makah Indian Tribe's killing of a gray whale.

"The recent 'victory' of the Makah's first whale kill in over 70 years revealed two things to me: how self-centered the Makahs truly are and the real warriors/heroes are those like Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Society.

"The Makah only succeed in having an overwhelming majority of people from all over the world and even some tribal members despise them. If they truly need to hunt to feel connected to their 'tribal traditions', why are they pursuing the gray whales with modern weapons and boats? Reviving whale sacrifice is an idea that could only have sprung from someone addled by decades of alcohol abuse sitting around drunk in a beerhall. It makes even less sense than reviving the Aztec rites of human sacrifice. That was an aboriginal 'right' too. If the Makah are having esteem problems, it would make more sense to attack the root of the problem directly-- alcoholism.

"Every day the Makah make up some new excuse for killing the whales. On 1999 May 15, they said 'Whales and Makah are warriors; if you were a whale would you not prefer to be killed warrior to warrior rather than dying of starvation?' To start, the whales are unarmed; the hunters have speed boats, harpoons and assault rifles -- hardly a fair fight. Next, whales are peaceful creatures. They have come to trust man, and will come right up to the whale watching boats to let people touch them. They don't kill humans. They are clearly not warriors. Killing a whale is as manly an act as killing a friendly puppy or a lion chained in a cage. Even the Makah's claim the killing is for sustenance reasons doesn't hold water. They explain 'Surely it was better that a whale die than a Makah starve'. However, the Makah look exceedingly well padded. They need not more fatty blubber in their diets, but less alcohol and more exercise.

"The Makah claim whaling is a part of their cultural heritage. They also kept slaves. Intelligent and culturally advanced people determined long ago that both 'cultural traditions' are barbaric and motivated only by greed. The Makah's covert agenda for returning to whaling is really about the commercial gains possible from selling meat to the Japanese. This has been proven by U.S. government documents secured by an animal rights groups.

"The Makahs cry 'racism' when the world responds in force to their barbaric act of senseless killing. This tiresome response is not unlike the spoiled child who throws a temper tantrum when he or she doesn't get their way or their selfish behavior is questioned. The Makahs must learn that cultural heritage is an evolving thing-- it is not static.

"I hope the Makahs will realize how incredibly unpopular their so-called 'return to tribal traditions' is with not just the majority of residents of Washington State but the world in general. And I hope that the efforts to reverse the ban on commercial whaling fails miserably."

05/21/99
From: Richard Watson, Canada. rwatson@csbsys.com

"It is very sad that you find it necessary to do this whale thing. You can carry out your traditional rites and processes without actually offending your fellow mankind with you barbarisms by completing the kill. Think about it."

05/19/99
From: Sean Kerins, Te Ohu Kai Moana, Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

"Congratulations to our respected friends the Makah on the wise sustainable use of your resources and the excercise of your Treaty rights. We wish you well in the future enjoying and practicing your Treaty rights."

05/19/99
From: Laila Jusnes, Harpunens Venner, Oslo, Norway. laila.jusnes@st.dep.telemax.no

"My best wishes to the Makah tribe. Congratulations onyour successful hunt! Keep up the spirit!"

05/19/99
From: Athol Chase, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld, Australia. a.chase@mailbox.gu.edu.au

"My congratulations to the Makah on their successful hunt. Don't let the opposition get you down! May your culture grow stronger."

05/18/99
From: Janice S. Henke, Henke & Associates, Ltd., Argyle, New York, USA. rahenke@capital.net

"My heartfelt congratulations to the Makah whalers and the Neah Bay Community.

"I am proud to have made your acquaintance and wish the Tribe all the best in hunts to come. You have stood up for your rights and you are using the resources denied to you for so many years. Now rest, and plan ahead for the next time, and may you always return home safely with your whale. Please know that many of us around the world are cheering for you now. Ignore the taunts and narrow minded words of your enemies, for they are too wrapped up in themselves to have decent respect for the wonderful diversity of culture which you are upholding.

Good job!"

05/18/99
From: Eugene Lapointe, IWMC World Conservation Trust, Switzerland. iwmc@ibm.net

"Congratulations to the Makah Tribe. Your successful hunt constitutes a major victory for respect and reason over the non-sense spread by extremists such as Watson and the likes. The positive result of the hunt was made possible because of your commitments to your culture and traditions, because of your perseverence, but mainly because of the dignity you have displaid in the adversity created by those mounstruous attacks you were exposed to by the crazies."

05/18/99
From: David Wiwchar, Port Alberni, Canada. wiwchar@island.net

"WAY TO GO MAKAH WHALERS!! You are to be congratulated for your perseverance and for ignoring the silly emotional arguments of uninformed protesters, and proving that culture is everything (something Americans and Canadians cannot understand as they do not have a culture)."

05/17/99
From: Stephen Mitchell, BC, Canada. stephenm@kscu.com

"Why the Makah Nation need to further deepen the pitiful image the world holds for native Indians is beyond my comprehension. Surely native Indian tribes must have something good they can contribute to the world other than tourist-art."

05/11/99
From: David Morano, Sarasota, Florida, USA. dmorano@compuserve.com

"This organization is barbaric. The hunting of whales is an anachronism. The tribal claims of the Makah are pathetic excuse to try and reclaim their heritage that was lost due to whale hunting in the first place!"

05/11/99
From: Frank McPeek, Seattle, Washington, USA. fmcpeek@earthlink.net

"I own the whales as much as any human on this earth and I don't want my whales to be killed. You are setting the native American people up for a fall by encouraging them to hunt for whales. The backlash will be felt in many ways including the loss of federal funds, tourist dollars and even in fishing dollars. I have been to Neah bay several times, renting camping spots, salmon fishing and as a tourist - spending thousands of dollars in my lifetime not counting the funds from my friends and relatives. We will never spend another cent in their community and I will fight all efforts of these tribes to secure federal funding and tax breaks.

"You are misleading a whole generation of native Americans in to thinking that this will help them. If this truly a positive idea, you won't be afraid to publish this letter."

04/21/99
From: John Wickenheiser, Carleton, Michigan, USA. sammy@tdi.net

"I visited your site researching about whaling for high school English project related to book 'I Heard The Owl Call My Name'. Interesting! I learned a lot. Thank you."

04/15/99
From: Laura Cavazos, Student of Fisheries Management, Texas, USA. redfish33@hotmail.com

"Interesting site. It is refreshing to see the issue of whaling addressed as the fishery it is, instead of as a forum for the protection of one species at the expense of all others."

12/4/98
From: Lillian Selvik, Harpunens venner, Steigen, Norway. lselvik@online.no

"Hello dear friends. I'm happy to sign your guestbook and wish you all the best. Keep the whaling spirit!!!!"