We're called Southern RIGHT whales because we're always right. We call him George Wrong Bush.
Whale and manatee populations on the US east coast have beached
themselves in protest as ocean temperatures rise and Bush opts out
of global treaties to stop climate change.
Off the coast of Cape Cod, 55 pilot whales have stranded
themselves on a mud flat and are suffering from sunburn and
sunstroke. Some of them were in shock, probably because when they
are out of the water, their own weight can crush internal organs.
Twenty of the whales have already died and rescue workers expected
they would have euthanized another 28 Tuesday evening because they
were too exhausted to swim back to open sea.
One rescue worker overcome with emotion at the sight of the
dying whales said it was desperation that drove the whales to beach
themselves. "When will Bush see that he is responsible for
destroying not just life ON Earth, but under the seas as well?"
said the heartbroken rescue worker.
Six endangered manatees beached themselves in Florida on Tuesday
in an attempt to appeal to Florida Governor Jeb Bush to talk some
sense into his brother President Bush and tell him to attend the
Earth Summit meeting which will take place in less than a month in
South Africa.
Jim Huffstodt, an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission says the manatees are exhausted from
mating. "These poor girls, the only way they can escape the
attention of the males, who are very persistent, is to ground
themselves or go up on the beach." But several spectators swear
they heard the manatees moaning "Baaaad Bush" in unison.
These protests on the east coast follow a massive squid protest
on the coast of California last week.
Hundreds of jumbo flying squid washed up along the San Diego
coast which are normally found in the eastern Pacific ocean. Some
believe the arrival of the squid is related to the El Nino climate
phenomenon which sends warm tropical waters farther north than
usual. Although it was climate that brought them to the shore of
California, their mission was sending a powerful message to the US
government to adopt clean renewable energy and stop the assault on
the planet.
A local fisherman who ensnared one of the squid close to shore
said "With its dying breath the squid said: 'People think I'm just
a dumb squid, but I'm smarter than George Bush when it comes to
climate change'."
Yet Bush is not alone in the dirty energy camp. Australia also
announced that they would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate
change and aquatic life in the Pacific have not taken the news
well.
Southern Right whales have maintained a high-spirited protest in
Sydney harbour for the past two days. The three adult whales are
maintaining a vigil in sight of the Sydney opera house and are
attempting to restrict boat traffic in the harbour. They want the
Australia government to take a new route at the Earth Summit and
support plans to bring clean, green energy to developing nations -
a solution to climate change that all mammals can appreciate.
Just last week there was another massive protest on a beach near
Albany, Australia where 58 false killer whales beached themselves
in protest to Prime Minister John Howard's statement in Parliament
that it would not be in Australia's interest to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol.
Although the marine mammals have caught on to the protest
tactics quickly, the squid are leading the way.
A giant squid, 18 metres long and weighing as much as 250
kilograms, washed up on a Tasmanian beach last week protesting
Australia hiding behind the US policy on energy and climate
change.
Reports are also coming in from Canada, another Bush backing
country at international negotiations on climate and
environment.
Although a small group of politicians in the Canadian parliament
are pushing their leader to adopt the Kyoto Protocol, the Prime
Minister is stalling and slow to take up any action to prevent
climate change. The news is out and we have received some reports
of a pod of humpbacks heading straight for the Canadian
coastline.
These bold and brave moves by the oceans great creatures is a
last warning to take up action at the Earth Summit that will stop
climate change and provide the world with clean, renewable energy.
They seem to care more about the fate of the planet than our own
governments. Support their heroic action and keep an eye out for
beaching protests in your country.