TO KILL A WHALE

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TO KILL A WHALE

by Gerean Pflug

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Diesel powered ships

fueled by money, greed

and humans paid to crew

hunger to kill for pay

mega sized pointy spears

of monolith resistant steel

built-in hooks with jagged edges

spools of ropes and cording

explosive penthrite-tipped

cannon powered violent action

heartless slaughter intended

body piercing harpoon style

into ideal depth of the flesh

nylon cords extend

tight and quick is what it takes

to pull the pin of delivery

grenade ladened weaponry

detonation of their payload

obliteration of the body

agonizing screams of pain

desperate thrashing

a futile fight to survive

the  slow death lasts

up to a half hour or more

while hanging on to threads of life

the shots and injuries continue

empathy non existent

compassion withheld

 at last the lower jaw relaxes

flippers cease to paddle

active motion slows

flotation no longer possible

the sink begins

once innocent, sentient, living beings

majestic royalty of the seas of an entire planet

now spirits passed on to the ‘nother places

lifeless, nameless, mammoth bodies

hauled by ropes

attached to arms of men

through life blood thickened waters

ultimate bounty is declared

liquid assets pending

cash prizes collected

goods liquidated

to meat markets hidden

behind signs that proclaim

“It is finished.”

in the name of scientific research.

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Written by:  Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits, all rights reserved

Copy permitted with a link back to this page.

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Japanese whaling ships

under the guise of scientific research

slaughter hundreds upon hundreds of endangered whales each year.

They kill the planet’s wildlife in protected whale sanctuaries.

This is not only illegal, it is immoral.

The suffering inflicted upon the whales is unspeakable.

They feel.

They suffer.

We suffer as equals.

Blessings on those who out of empathy and compassion

 give voice to living beings who cannot speak for themselves.

Blessings on International Heroes:

Captain Paul Watson,

the crew and volunteers of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

and every individual of the international community

who take action in support of their work.

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NOTE:  The above writing is inspired by the work of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Follow The Sea Shepherd on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/TheAnimalSpirits?ref=hl#!/seashepherdconservationsociety?fref=ts

Additional Resource: “The Inner Lives of Whales” ~  Society for the Advancement of Animal Wellbeing

BLOGGERS CALLED TO ACTION

I am writing this post in support of the efforts of Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  This is a call to action to the WordPress blogging community.  For the past few days, many of us have followed and posted about the status of the 12 orca whales trapped in the ice in Quebec.  The Facebook and blog posts were flying faster ‘n speeding bullets and the comments were off the charts.  Meanwhile, Captain Paul Watson and the crew of The Sea Shepherd fleet were preparing for their next dangerous and sure-to-be-bloody battle on the front lines of the war on poachers who are planning to begin the slaughter of literally thousands of whales within the next 10 days.

This plea for help is being sent out to all of those who claim dedication to the welfare, protection and convervation of our planet and our wildlife.  I challenge all bloggers to begin utilizing the written word as a mighty tool . . . to raise public awareness to the highest levels of action, to reach influencial members of society and to demand action by world leadership, who currently are not illustrating the level of concern necessary to stop these heinous, criminal acts against our oceans, the animals that live there and to the human species.

We are living in desperate times.  These times require that all available humans dedicate themselves and their abilities to the channeling of passionate intensity for the entirity of at-risk whales.  Those on the front lines, such as The Sea Shepherd, are putting their lives at risk in defense of 1000,s of innocent, precious lives.  They need immense amounts of support

When I read Captain Watson’s letter below, I felt embarassed and ashamed that it had not been ridiculously obvious to me that MY help is needed.  I fight my own negative thoughts daily that whisper to me, “You are only one person.  You don’t have enough power.  You will not make a significant difference.”  But, that is a lie.  Every action taken with intention is MIGHTY and every action taken with intention makes a difference.  I believe that in a state of passion, we can unite and make a “SPLASH” that is heard across all of the oceans of the world.  I can.  I will.  You can too.  Will you?

In ten days the Japanese whaling fleet arrives with their harpoons to inflict an agonizing and brutally prolonged death to hundreds of whales. The Sea Shepherd units will be there to attempt to stop them.  This is an URGENT request for assistance.  Digital animal welfare supporters ALL need to “strap on a set” and ring louder bells from our laptops, blogs and all other possible social media network platforms.  If the pen is at least as mighty as the sword, then take up your pens.  Let your voices be heard.  Become a mighty warrior for the whales from where you stand.   THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

Many Blessings on all who take action to protect

and to give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits

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MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON OF THE SEA SHEPHERD

COPIED FROM CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON’S FACEBOOK PAGE 1/10/2013

“When nature is the enemy, the world rallies to save the whales from being trapped in ice or stranded on the beach. I am happy that people are so compassionate and so eager to lend their help. I am… happy that the media covers the plight of the whales, like the orcas trapped in the ice in Canada or pilot whales stranded on the beach in New Zealand or a lost whale that wanders up the Thames River. I love whales and to see people rally to them to save and protect them fills my heart with joy and gives me hope for humanity. But what I don’t understand is why such passion and concern is displayed for 13 orcas in the ice off Quebec or the three Grey whales caught in the ice a few years back in Alaska yet the fact that Japan intends to kill 935 Minke whales and 50 endangered Fin whales and retains the option to slaughter 50 endangered Humpbacks and this elicits the response by many, not all, but many, of the people who rally to the trapped whales to turn a blind eye to the slaughter by the whalers.

What is it that makes people accepting of the death of whales by harpoons yet so concerned about the threat of death by ice or stranding? Why are those who thankfully volunteer to go to the whales in the ice to help the whales lauded as heroes yet those who try to block the harpoons are called extremists. I am glad there are selfless people willing to rescue whales in trouble and they are indeed heroes but are we the lesser for trying to save whales from a horrific death by these savage harpoons. Is it that we humans like to display our compassion in the face of nature but we submit to the violence of our own kind when humans murder the whales.

We are presently in the Southern Ocean trying to save the lives of 1035 whales and for this we are vilified, made to look like criminals and accused of being extremists and some of these accusations come from people who have expressed concern for the fate of the Orcas in the ice off Quebec. Thankfully it looks like the Orcas have been freed but in ten days the whaling fleet arrives with their harpoons to inflict an agonizing and brutally prolonged death to hundreds of whales. We are here to stop them and we will, but it is sad to think that our support base would be so much stronger if we were down here to rescue whales from being trapped in the ice and not from the harpoons of the Japanese whaling fleet.”

References:

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/notifications?id=477803525602859#!/seashepherdconservationsociety?fref=ts

Captain Paul Watson on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/notifications?id=477803525602859#!/captpaulwatson