[recoznet2] Fw: [FN] THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE ECO-RACISTS
From: Mike Wicks [EMAIL PROTECTED] From AREAN; [EMAIL PROTECTED] THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE ECO-RACISTS When I first confronted Sea Shepherd and its supporting organizations, over the issue of how they were handling their confrontation with the Makahs, I thought I was just dealing with people who were just opportunists who were using a tactic to win their issue. It seemed that they felt that they already had the support of most environmentalists and animal rights people and that none of these people would ever dare question anything they did. So they set out to increase their support base by joining with those who would be against anything that any Native people did. This was not the first time I had seen such people use what ever they felt they could use, including racism, to win their "issue". For that is an old "American" tradition. Winning a "issue" is more important than how you win. But the more I found out about these people, the more I find myself realizing there is much more to all this than I ever realized. Sea Shepherd and its supporting organizations represent a growing rightwing turn in parts of the environmental movement. It was in 1997 that Sea Shepherd recruited the extremist rightwing anti-tribal activist Jack Metcalf in the campaign against the Makah people. Metcalf had a long history of not only being anti-tribal, but also a racist organizer for the "Wise Use" movement who was out to work in the interests of the corporations and white property owners. His goal was to open up public and tribal land to the interests he represented. Thus, he saw working with Sea Shepherd against the Makah people as a good opportunity to expand his campaign against the treaties between the First Nations and the U.S. Government. Sea Shepherd gave him what he wanted by also threatening those treaties. Then Sea Shepherd, and its supporting organizations, set out to arouse a racist backlash, not only against the Makahs, but also against Native people in general. The reason they went after Native people in general was that they hoped to force other Native people to side against the Makahs by making them suffer for the actions of the Makahs. Paul Watson made this very clear when he stated that "if the Makahs take a whale then all Indian people would suffer." Watson even went so far as to use Americian "patriotism" to advance his campaign in the same way it is used to arouse the Americian people against so-called foreign enemies. The idea was to create the image of the American people vs the enemy being the Makahs and Native people in general. The result in all this was a racist backlash that was carried on in the newspapers, radio and tv. Later it included many death threats, a bomb threat to a Native school, the harassment of Makah children, the harassment of Native people throughout the state of Washington and so on. Now I read in Sea Shepherd's web site that Sea Shepherd, Sea Defense Alliance and other such organizations have been showing up at recent campaign rallies of Sen. Slade Gorton and at one in Friday Harbor presented him with awards. Sen. Slade Gorton is another long time anti-tribal activist who many environmentalists know for his work in the interests of the timber and mining companies. In a letter posted by Sea Shepherd from Sen. Gorton he says; "I am more convinced today than ever before that we must bring common sense back to the relationship between this country, our laws and Native American tribes. All Americans should be subject to the same laws." If you do not understand what he is really saying let me explain it. He is using terms that have been used by not only by anti-tribal people but also by people against such things as civil rights which says that anything society does to correct any of the wrongs done to any group of people is some how taking rights away from white Americans. In this case it means eliminating the treaties between the First Nations and the U.S. Government. Sen. Gorton is a supporter of the Bush presidential campaign. And I find it rather interesting that Bush's father, the warmongering former president and former head of the CIA, on June 22 named Paul Watson a "Daily Point Of Light". In issuing this award Bush states "Your acts of generosity and community action exemplity the spirit of service and set a standard of excellence to which people of all ages can aspire." Given the service to the corporate community of Bush as the head of the CIA, as Reagan's Vice-President and then as President, we all know the type of service Watson was awarded for. Then yesterday I was sent a poem (see below) that was sent to a member of the Puyallup Nation by the Sea Defense Alliance "commander" Athena McIntyre that shows just how far the racism and hate has gone by some of the so-called environmentalists. I do not view all environmentalists as racist, even though this is how some have seen my words. I view myself as an environmentalist and I view the actions
Re: [recoznet2] SMH - Moving from words to action
Talk about hitting the nail on the headWell said Trudy---Should be on the front page of all tomorrow's dailies.:) Laurie. Laurie and Desley Forde [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: Trudy and Rod Bray [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, August 30, 1999 11:17 AM Subject: Re: [recoznet2] SMH - Moving from words to action I think it is because Aden Ridgeway and Lowitja O'Donahue are better people than Howard is and they therefore tend to believe he is sincere - at least in part. He can be very convincing and his words often seem very reasonable. I believe it is something he has learnt to use to get what he wants. Sociopaths often dupe the same people over and over again because they are so good at it. They betray no doubt in what they say because they have no conscience and therefore are very convincing. Trudy tim dunlop wrote: I think you're right, Trudy, and I agree with Robert Manne - as per the other article you posted - that we've been tricked. Howard is the most cunning and deceitful politician I know of and ANYTHING that has his approval is by definition tainted and probably the opposite of what is needed. The upsetting thing is that the likes of Aden Ridgeway and Lowitja O'Donahue (esp the latter) are willing to go along with it. Tim Trudy wrote: I have marked ### the paragraph that makes wonder about the value of the 'regret' and question what exactly it is that Aboriginal peoples have received from the 'compromise' - are they just pawns in "blindsiding the Labor Party" and Howard's political games? --- Trudy = --- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words:unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/ --- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words:unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
Re: [recoznet2] Fw: [FN] THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE ECO-RACISTS
Trudy, have you read any editorials from around the Washington state area? Have you read the letters to the editor of sections of newspapers? Have you noticed that Indian people don't have a voice in the area? Did you realize that it will be ANOTHER treaty that the US has broken if they say the Makah cannot hunt whales? (not that this makes much of an impression on the US populace, every treaty has been broken) Does the poem suggest anything about the supporters of Sea Shepherd? (it was posted on the "Seattle Insider whaling forum" and was removed recently,) There are more buffalo being killed by whites in Yellowstone, than what there are Whales being killed by Makah. Do you think that the Dalai Lama knows what Sea Shepherd are up to? Who would make a fake Makah site, twisting words to make the Makah look like murderous pigs? (no offense to pigs intended :) Kill an Indian save a Whale has been a popular expression. If you want to follow up on who wrote the message, send an e-mail to the latter person... bayou@... I believe Arthur j miller wrote the piece...I will track him down if you can't. There are ways and means of saving whales. I have read too many articles and personnel accounts of Sea Shepherd et al to believe that they are doing good (regardless of their intents) If you give your permission, I'll send your response to the mailing list I got this from. What did Watson do at the Knee? I've seen just as many "smears" of the Makah, than what I have of Watson...in fact, if I wasn't on so many Indigenous lists, I probably would only see "smearing" of the Makah...newspapers, TV, radio haven't touched on the lies Sea Shepherd has purported. "Later it included many death threats, a bomb threat to a Native school, the harassment of Makah children, the harassment of Native people throughout the state of Washington and so on." I can put you in contact with some of these people. peace p.s. for what it's worth, I haven't made my mind up on how I feel about this issue. I do know the it has improved and renewed pride in the Makah people, as much as Sea Shepherd et al has tried to suppress it. pps I know there are generalisations here... don't attack them...they aren't meant as anything else Liam, Who exactly from the below wrote the smear piece? It is a very dishonest thing to do to associate the things George Bush did and stood for and because he praised Paul Watson, insinuate that Watson holds the same views and is guilty (by association) of what Bush did. To wit: A message from the Dalai Lama The natural environment sustains the life of all beings in the world. However, nearly everywhere these days it is undergoing extensive degeneration. Therefore, it is more important than ever that each of us makes whatever effort we can according to our capacity to ensure the protection, restoration and replenishment of our environment and its inhabitants. When the environment becomes damaged and polluted, there are many negative consequences. Oceans and lakes lose their cool and soothing qualities and the creatures depending on them are disturbed. The decline of vegetation and forest cover causes great harm not only around its immediate surroundings but even in far away and unrelated areas. Rain no longer falls when required, the soil dries and erodes, forest fires rage and unprecedented storms and floods arise. We all suffer the consequences. I am happy to lend my support to those who, like the volunteers of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, seek to protect our oceans and our fellow creatures like the whales who live in them. And it is my hope that through understanding the interdependence of the world and all the beings that live in it, people will adapt their behaviour in such ways that the potential of our bounteous natural realm will be nurtured and preserved. His Holiness The Dalai Lama 29 September 1998 I guess the Dalai Lama will now be painted with the racist brush because he too believes in saving whales. It seems to me that people who write stuff like you posted are desperate to excuse what they are doing by attacking others with a different viewpoint. If the Makah want to kill whales then they should feel secure enough in that they don't need to turn everyone who doesn't agree with them into racists. Disagreement is not racism. I think that Paul Watson, who braved the bullets at Wounded Knee is being smeared with racism very unjustly. It smacks of insecurity on the part of the Makah about what they are doing. Turning Paul Watson into a racist is not going to make them feel any better. Liam wrote: From: Mike Wicks [EMAIL PROTECTED] From AREAN; [EMAIL PROTECTED] THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE ECO-RACISTS When I first confronted Sea Shepherd and its supporting organizations, over the issue of how they were handling their confrontation with the Makahs, I thought I was just dealing with people who were just opportunists who were using a tactic to win
[recoznet2] Y12 seeks opinions on the draft reconciliation document
passing this on - please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED] i have answered the questions, but if you want to respond also, just cut and paste the questions cheers susanne __ Year 12 Aboriginal Studies PAS Major Research Assignment My name is Marco Ranauro and as part of the successful completion of my year 12 PAS Aboriginal Studies course I'm required to complete a Major Research Assignment. My Assignment is focusing on the draft document for reconciliation between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals which was created by the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation. This survey is a part of my assignment so the completion of it is much appreciated. 1. What do you know about the Draft Document for Reconciliation? If you know nothing why do you think this is so? I know about the document because i am connected to the internet and subscribe to lists that circulate this sort of information - without email, i would be less informed - i know people who are uninformed yet they read newspapers, watch tv etc - If people don't know about the document which has turned into a movement, then the government is remiss in its unbiased public ed programmes 2. What is your understanding of the word Reconciliation? reconciliation my definition: (check the dictionary for the differences if a hyphen is added) re-conciliation is a federally funded assimilationist platform, hopefully subverted by locally devised and enacted policy and process, involving an exchange of human understanding, resulting in mutual and individual healing, in preparation for a mutually thriving co-existence reconciliation is a healing process between citizens, not a political process for governments to subvert into national documents that attempts to bind indigenous peoples to 'british' law and custom, instead of the choice of their own sovereign laws and traditions 3. Why do we need a document for Reconciliation? we don't - politicians are desperate to appear 'reconciled' with our indigenous citizens because very soon there will be global eyes on Oz - also the government wants to appease CERD which is complaining about the government's ongoing genocidal practices - the colonial war is still going we need a sovereignty movement - where all peoples, young and old are sovereign selves who determine their own lives through choice - this document represents late 90's assimilationist practices by individuals who are predators upon theignorance, trust or powerlessness of many australian people 4. Do you believe Australia needs a National Reconciliation document to help aid reconciliation? Why/Why not. No - because the document is not about healing or co-existence - it is about assimilation and more of this we don't need - it has already cost indigenous peoples and migrants their language, culture and customs - not to mention their lives for 7 generations so far 5. Please circle what sources have given you information about the draft document? TV/film Newspaper radio news/Current affairs other internet and some tv but manily protest meetings and speeches at rallies etc 6. Explain what relevance this document has for: a) yourself none, other than to hopefully alert 'our' citizens to the genocidal practices that many of 'our' population practice - but i fear that it will influence uncritical ozians as it is the only platform funded b) An Aboriginal person you cannot reduce indigenous australia to one group - there are 66 countries in NSW alone - homogeneity has been debunked now for decades and its failings are well documented - everyone is different so no group usually speaks for all of its members as consensus is a rare commodity indeed - only seen it once myself with a group of 300 - this goes for political parties, groups, families, schools, classes etc compare aden ridgway and isabell coe - both indigenous - but one is a recognised and paid politician and one is not - why is this so - both are doing the same thing - isabell comes from the aboriginal tent embassy and aden from the democrats - but isabell is not given the credibility that aden enjoys - the reason is the crux of the problem - one system is privileged - the coloniser's system - the debate could almost be reduced to the arguments of these two people with additions to cover some other points not yet raised c) The Australian Society it is clear that those citizens who support assimilation are publicly backing the document however it is equally clear that many indigenous australians and many non indigenous australians do not support reconciliation as a political process and certainly not as something that needs to be 'signed by anyone' - in fact, tomorrow 1/9/99 an historic federal court case will be heard in sydney - the 'issue' - whether genocide is admissable under 'our' common law - in this situation isabell and aden become opponents because the government will not admit to genocidal
[recoznet2] SMH - Letters to the editor
http://www.smh.com.au/news/9908/31/text/letters.html Some thought provoking letters to the editor today. Trudy --- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words:unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
Re: [recoznet2] Letters to the editor
irene watson the programme whiteys like us, a good historical document glad someone thought of filming the process, i hope it goes some way in explaining to white people about how onerous the role of educating them about their own racism is and even furhter in finding ways of doing it well without further traumatising us nungas into the overall process -- From: Trudy and Rod Bray [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: RecOzNet2 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [recoznet2] Letters to the editor Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999 9:01 AM The Motion of Regret has unleashed a flurry of letters to the editor. Unfortunately, it seems to have flushed a lot of racists out of the woodwork. Read them at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/9908/28/text/letters.html Trudy PS Does anyone who watched 'Whiteys like Us' last night have any comments? --- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words:unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/ --- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words:unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
