NORTON META TAG

Showing posts with label grind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grind. Show all posts

10 April 2014

Forbyder kosher og halal slagtning, Danmark provokerer religiøs vrede & Sea Shepherd's Operation GrindStop opdatering 9 & 3 April 2014

DANSK lovgivning kræver human slagtning af dyr? Virkelig?? Så hvordan kan de tillade grind til at fortsætte på Færøerne? Åbenlys hykleri og religiøs diskrimination eksponeret i, hvad der formodes at være på af verdens mest civiliserede nationer. Fra + NPR og + Sea Shepherd .....

4 min 5 sec
Rituelt slagtet lam leveres på en halal slagter butik i Haag, Holland, i 2011. Danmark, Sverige og Norge er blandt de lande, der kræver dyr skal bedøves inden slagtning.  Hollandske lovgivere tog emnet op i 2012.
Rituelt slagtet lam leveres på en halal slagter butik i Haag, Holland, i 2011. Danmark, Sverige og Norge er blandt de lande, der kræver dyr skal bedøves inden slagtning. Hollandske lovgivere tog emnet op i 2012.
Peter DeJong / AP
I en konflikt, der sætter dyrevelfærd mod religiøse rettigheder, har Danmark besluttet, at alle fødevarer dyrene skal bedøves, før at blive dræbt. Flytningen effektivt forbyder de rituelle slagtemetoder foreskrevet i både muslimske og jødiske tradition.
Finn Schwarz, formand for den jødiske menighed i København, og Benyones Essabar af dansk Halal diskutere den nye regel slagtning på dansk tv.
Finn Schwarz, formand for den jødiske menighed i København, og Benyones Essabar af dansk Halal diskutere den nye regel slagtning på dansk tv.
(Ja, det er det samme land, der for nylig lavet nyheder for at dræbe en "ekstra male" giraf i zoologisk have og.)
For biolog og dyrevelfærd aktivist Peter Mollerup, spørgsmålet slagtning er temmelig ligetil.
"Dansk lovgivning fortæller os, at hvis du ønsker at dræbe et dyr, bør du gøre det så hurtigt og smertefrit [som] er muligt, "siger Mollerup. Og det kan simpelthen ikke gøres, hvis dyret er ved bevidsthed, når det er dræbt. For ham, selv om forskellen mellem liv og død er et spørgsmål om et par ekstra sekunder, må dyrevelfærd komme før religion.
"Jeg har [dyb] respekt for de mennesker og deres måde at tænke på Gud, men det må ikke gøre ondt enhver levende væsen, "siger han.
jøder og muslimer, i mellemtiden, hævder, at der er tegn på, at hvis det gøres, kan rituel slagtning være lige så human som konventionel slagtning. Den danske minister for landbrug har inviteret de lokale religiøse ledere til at indsende dette bevis, som de lovede at gøre.
På det praktiske plan, er reglen ikke ændre meget for Danmarks jøder og muslimer. Den sidste danske slagteri er villige til at give afkald på bedøvelse inden slagtning lukket ned i 2004. Siden da har Danmarks anslået 8.000 jøder importeret alt kosher kød.
Og mens de fleste islamiske myndigheder enige om, at bedøvelse ikke er ideelt, siger mange, at dyrene bedøvet før slagtning stadig anses halal, så længe hjernerystelse er ikke dødsårsagen. Ifølge denne fortolkning, 99 procent af fjerkræ slagtet i Danmark er og vil fortsat være halal. Og mens der virker for mange af Danmarks 230.000 muslimer, dem med bekymringer om, hvor omhyggeligt religiøs tradition følges kan vælge importeret kød.
Danmark er ikke det første land til at påberåbe sig en stun første regel: Sverige og Norge har haft lignende forbud mod bøger i årtier. Men Danmark træk er den seneste udvikling i en diskussion, der synes at være voksende højere i andre dele af Europa. Hollandske lovgivere tog emnet op i 2012, og selv Storbritanniens top dyrlæge er nu at gøre ved at foreslå hans land ville gøre klogt i at følge det danske eksempel.
Da Europa vokser mere sekulære, siger Finn Schwarz, formand for "religiøs tradition" er ikke længere et gyldigt argument for meget af noget, siger han.
Benyones Essabar med gruppen er enig.
"Religion sig i Europa, spiller ikke den store rolle ... det gør i andre lande. Så hver gang vi taler om noget, som [har ] med religion at gøre, "siger han," det vil altid blive set på som noget fra middelalderen, og noget, der ikke har nogen videnskabelig plads i vores moderne dage. "
Muligheden for, at Danmark herredømme kan sprede sig til andre lande, eller andre traditioner , er Essabar største frygt.
"Nu har de forbudt rituel slagtning," siger Essabar. "Det næste skridt, de diskuterer, er faktisk forbyde omskæring af drenge."
Og alligevel både Schwarz og Essabar tøve med at bruge ord som "islamofobi" eller "anti-semitisme", når vi diskuterer disse spørgsmål. Essabar rammer det som "en masse mennesker bange for forskellige ting," men Schwarz ser det som en nem måde for politikere at score point med en overvejende sekulær offentlighed.
"I dag er vi ... lever i en meget kompleks verden, og vores problemer i Danmark, ligesom alle andre lande, er meget komplekse, "siger han. "Hvad skal vi gøre med arbejdsløshed Hvad skal vi gøre med de børn, [ikke] få en uddannelse Men disse spørgsmål -? Omskærelse, slagtningen - det er så nemt . . Og alle kan have deres egen mening "
Men der kan være en lyspunkt for Danmarks religiøse mindretal i alt dette. Under en af de mange nyere tv-debatter byder denne Jøde og muslim på samme side af bordet, Schwarz rakte ud for at klappe Essabar på ryggen.
"Jeg er helt enig," Schwarz sagde. "Det er dejligt, at vi kan blive enige om noget en gang imellem." April 3, 2014

GrindStop 2014 Opdatering

Sea Shepherd nylig afsluttet en scouting tur på FærøerneSea Shepherd nylig afsluttet en scouting tur i Færøerne
Foto: Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd nylig afsluttet en scouting tur til Færøerne. Fire medlemmer af Operation GrindStop 2014 hold tilbragte flere dage besøger dræbe strande og afprøve nye værktøjer og enheder. Vi bliver klar til tilstedeværelsen af hundredvis af onshore og på havet frivillige, der vil blive stående vagt på strandene i over fire måneder for at slå alarm, blande sig, og dokument skal en Grind forsøges der.
Sea Shepherd besætningen mødt med Politimesteren og flere medlemmer af den færøske politistyrke. Vi havde en hjertelig samtale, hvorunder politiet forsynet os med oplysninger om de love og forordninger for at observere og samtidig beskytte trummerum. Vi forklarede politiet, at vi ville stå vores jorden og forsvare hvaler.
pressen berettede om vores bevægelser, og vi gennemførte flere interviews med medier.
Sea Shepherd stødt på flere færøske lokale, der viste åben fjendtlighed mod vores tilstedeværelse og årsag, men vi mødte andre, der deler vores ønske om og vilje til at afslutte slagtning her.
Mange personer har allerede anmodet ansøgninger om optagelse i besætningen, men måske ikke har hørt tilbage fra GrindStop 2014 holdet. Vi organiserer kampagnen på nuværende tidspunkt, og alle, der allerede har kontaktet holdet skulle snart høre fra os. Vi har brug for dig, og vi har brug for mange flere frivillige til at tage udfordringen op og stå i forsvaret af hvaler og delfiner. Operation GrindStop 2014 har ét mål, og at det er at se nogen hvaler dræbt på Færøerne. Skulle en slagtning (Grind) forekommer, Sea Shepherd vil gøre alt, hvad vi kan for ikke-voldeligt interferere med slagtning. Nogle af os kan have til at gå i fængsel, men det er en lille pris at betale for at redde en hval eller delfin. Det er endda muligt, at en blodtørst-forrykte hval killer kunne overfald frivillige. Vi vil være parat til at forsvare os selv, hvis det er nødvendigt. Hvis en Grind sker, vil vi grundigt dokumentere og udsende de barbariske begivenheder. Verden vil være at se, og vi vil vise sandheden af slagtning. The Grind er historisk på Færøerne, med poster går hundreder af år tilbage (selv om brugen af motorbåde, selvfølgelig, er af nyere dato). Grind tilhængere vil hævde, at uden den historiske forbrug af hvalkød, folk ville ikke have overlevet, og at hvalerne menes at være en "gave" fra Gud. Den aktuelle virkelighed er imidlertid, at ikke en eneste person på Færøerne ville gå sultne, og helt sikkert ingen ville sulte, hvis ikke flere hvaler blev dræbt. Faktisk hvalkød er meget giftigt (fra kviksølv og kemikalier deponeret i havene af mennesker), og det er almindeligt på Færøerne for børn og kvinder i den fødedygtige alder til at undgå indtagelse af kødet. Desuden er yderligere bevis belægning, som stærkt forbinder forbruget af kødet til Parkinsons sygdom. Den nederste linje er, at Grind er helt unødvendigt, usund, barbarisk, og skulle slutte kommerciel hvalfangst i udstillinger af historiske museer. Færøerne har en kultur rig på litteratur, arkitektur, kjole, musik, kunst og dans. Der er ikke behov for færingerne at klamre sig til slagtning. Den sande "gave" af hvaler på Færøerne findes i de levende hvaler og små hvaler. Færinger har et valg og en mulighed. På grund af tilstedeværelsen af onshore mandskab i løbet af kampagnen, vil vi også have en historie at fortælle. Historien kan være en af harmoni med havene, hvor Færøerne er et indbydende sted for turister og verden rejsende. Eller historien kan være en af barbariske forældede skikke tvingende sund fornuft, og dermed gøre Færøerne et sted at være undgået af turister, og hvis produkterne skal undgås.



Kampagnen har hav-og landbaserede komponenter. De hav-baserede stillinger er besat. Vi har brug for frivillige til onshore besætning. Som medlem af et dedikeret team af internationale Sea Shepherd aktivister, vil du hjælpe Sea Shepherd beskytte grindehvaler, Atlantic White-sidet delfiner, Rissos delfiner og marsvin - de fire arter dræbt på Færøerne i deres barbariske "traditionelle" drev jagter (kaldet "Grind" fra ordet "Grindadràp" eller hval kill, med henvisning til de vigtigste arter dræbte, som er Pilot Whales).
siden optegnelserne begyndte, mere end 265.000 små hvaler er blevet dræbt på Færøerne. Siden juli 20 th , 2013 har 1.499 delfiner og hvaler blevet dræbt i færøske Grind jagter. De fleste af de Grinds sted mellem slutningen af juni og slutningen af oktober. GrindStop 2014 vil finde sted fra begyndelsen af juni til oktober 1 st .
hvaler og delfiner har brug for dig. Deltag i kampagnen i dag.
For Oceans,
Scott West
og GrindStop 2014
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/04/09/291887381/banning-traditional-animal-slaughter-denmark-stokes-religous-ire http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2014/04/03/grindstop-2014-update-1570 

Banning Traditional Animal Slaughter, Denmark Stokes Religous Ire & Sea Shepherd's GrindStop 2014 Update 9&3APR14

DANISH law requires the humane slaughter of animals? Really???? Then how do they allow the grind to continue in the Faeroe Islands? Blatant hypocrisy and religious discrimination exposed in what is supposed to be on of the worlds most civilized nations. From +NPR and +Sea Shepherd .....
4 min 5 sec
Ritually slaughtered lamb is delivered at a halal butcher shop in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2011. Denmark, Sweden and Norway are among the countries requiring animals to be stunned before slaughter. Dutch lawmakers took up the issue in 2012.
Ritually slaughtered lamb is delivered at a halal butcher shop in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2011. Denmark, Sweden and Norway are among the countries requiring animals to be stunned before slaughter. Dutch lawmakers took up the issue in 2012.
Peter Dejong/AP
In a conflict that pits animal welfare against religious rights, Denmark has ordered that all food animals must be stunned before being killed. The move effectively bans the ritual slaughter methods prescribed in both Muslim and Jewish tradition.
Finn Schwarz, president of the Jewish Congregation in Copenhagen, and Benyones Essabar of Danish Halal discuss the new slaughter rule on Danish TV.
Finn Schwarz, president of the Jewish Congregation in Copenhagen, and Benyones Essabar of Danish Halal discuss the new slaughter rule on Danish TV.
(Yes, this is the same country that recently made news for killing an "extra male" giraffe at the zoo and .)
For biologist and animal welfare activist Peter Mollerup, the slaughter issue is pretty straightforward.
"Danish legislation tells us that if you want to kill an animal, you should do it as quick and painless [as] possible," says Mollerup. And that simply can't be done if the animal is conscious when it's killed. For him, even if the difference between life and death is a matter of a few extra seconds, animal welfare must come before religion.
"I have [deep] respect for those people and their way to think about God, but it must not hurt any living creature," he says.
Jews and Muslims, meanwhile, argue that there is evidence to suggest that, if done , ritual slaughter can be just as humane as conventional slaughter. The Danish minister for agriculture has invited local religious leaders to submit that proof, which they promised to do.
On a practical level, the rule doesn't change much for Denmark's Jews and Muslims. The last Danish slaughterhouse willing to forgo stunning before slaughter shut down in 2004. Since then, Denmark's estimated 8,000 Jews have imported all kosher meat.
And while most Islamic authorities agree that stunning is not ideal, many say that animals stunned before slaughter are still considered halal as long as the concussion is not the cause of death. According to that interpretation, 99 percent of the poultry slaughtered in Denmark is, and will continue to be, halal. And while that works for many of Denmark's 230,000 Muslims, those with concerns about how carefully religious tradition is being followed can opt for imported meat.
Denmark is not the first country to invoke a stun first rule: Sweden and Norway have had similar bans on the books for decades. But Denmark's move is the most recent development in a discussion that seems to be growing louder in other parts of Europe. Dutch lawmakers took up the issue in 2012, and even Britain's top veterinarian is now making by suggesting his country would do well to follow the Danish example.
As Europe grows more secular, says Finn Schwarz, president of the , "religious tradition" is no longer a valid argument for much of anything, he says.
Benyones Essabar with the group agrees.
"Religion itself in Europe doesn't play the big role ... it does in other countries. So every time we speak about something that [has] to do with religion," he says, "it will always be looked at as something from medieval times, and something that doesn't have any scientific place in our modern days."
The possibility that Denmark's rule could spread to other countries, or other traditions, is Essabar's biggest fear.
"Now they've banned the ritual slaughter," Essabar says. "The next step they are debating is actually banning the circumcision of boys."
And yet both Schwarz and Essabar hesitate to use words like "Islamophobia" or "anti-Semitism" when discussing these issues. Essabar frames it as "a lot of people afraid of different things," but Schwarz sees it as an easy way for politicians to score points with a mostly secular public.
"Today we are ... living in a very complex world, and our problems in Denmark, like all other countries, are very complex," he says. "What should we do with unemployment? What should we do with the kids that [don't] get an education? But these issues — the circumcision, the slaughtering — it's so easy. And everyone can have their own opinion."
But there may be one bright spot for Denmark's religious minorities in all this. During one of the many recent TV debates featuring this Jew and Muslim on the same side of the table, Schwarz reached out to pat Essabar on the back.
"I totally agree," Schwarz said. "It's nice that we can agree on something once in a while."
April 3, 2014

GrindStop 2014 Update

Sea Shepherd recently completed a scouting tour of the Faroe IslandsSea Shepherd recently completed a scouting tour of the Faroe Islands
Photo: Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd recently completed a scouting tour of the Faroe Islands. Four members of the Operation GrindStop 2014 team spent several days visiting the killing beaches and testing new tools and devices. We are getting ready for the presence of hundreds of onshore and at sea volunteers who will be standing guard at the beaches for over four months in order to sound the alarm, interfere, and document should a Grind be attempted there.
Sea Shepherd crew met with the Chief of Police and several members of the Faroese police force. We had a cordial conversation during which the police provided us with information about the laws and regulations to observe while protecting the grind. We explained to the police that we would stand our ground and defend the whales.
The press reported on our movements and we conducted multiple interviews with media outlets.
Sea Shepherd encountered several Faroese locals who showed open hostility toward our presence and cause, but we met others who share our desire and determination to end the slaughter here.
Many individuals have already requested applications to join the crew, but may not have heard back from the GrindStop 2014 team. We are organizing the campaign at present time and everyone who has already contacted the team should soon be hearing from us. We need you and we need many more volunteers to rise to the challenge and stand in defense of the whales and dolphins.
Operation GrindStop 2014, has one goal and that it is to see no cetaceans killed in the Faroe Islands. Should a slaughter (Grind) occur, Sea Shepherd will do everything that we can to non-violently interfere with the slaughter. Some of us may have to go to jail, but that is a small price to pay to save a whale or dolphin. It is even possible that a bloodlust-crazed whale killer could assault volunteers. We will be prepared to defend ourselves if necessary. If a Grind occurs, we will thoroughly document and broadcast the barbaric events. The world will be watching and we will show the truth of the slaughter.
The Grind is historic in the Faroe Islands, with records going back hundreds of years (although the use of motorboats, of course, is more recent). Grind supporters will argue that without the historic consumption of the whale meat, the people would not have survived and that the whales are believed to be a “gift” from God. The current reality, however, is that not a single person in the Faroes would go hungry, and certainly no one would starve, if no more whales were killed. In fact, the whale meat is highly toxic (from mercury and chemicals deposited into the oceans by humans) and it is common in the Faroes for children and women of childbearing age to avoid consumption of the meat. Also, further evidence is surfacing that strongly links consumption of the meat to Parkinson’s disease. The bottom line is that the Grind is totally unnecessary, unhealthy, barbaric, and should join commercial whaling in the exhibits of history museums. The Faroes have a culture rich in literature, architecture, dress, music, art, and dance. There is no need for the Faroese to cling to the slaughter.
The true “gift” of the whales in the Faroes is found in the living whales and small cetaceans. The Faroese have a choice and an opportunity. Because of the presence of onshore crew during the campaign, we too will have a story to tell. The story can be one of harmony with the oceans, in which the Faroe Islands are an inviting place for tourists and world travelers. Or the story can be one of barbaric outdated customs overriding common sense, thus making the Faroes a place to be shunned by tourists and whose products are to be avoided.
The campaign has sea- and shore-based components. The sea-based positions are filled. We need volunteers for the onshore crew. As a member of a dedicated team of international Sea Shepherd activists, you will help Sea Shepherd protect Pilot Whales, Atlantic White-Sided dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and Harbour porpoises - the four species killed on the Faroe Islands in their barbaric “traditional” drive hunts (called the “Grind” from the word “Grindadràp” or whale kill, in reference to the main species killed, which are Pilot Whales).
Since records began, over 265,000 small cetaceans have been killed in the Faroe Islands. Since July 20th, 2013, 1,499 dolphins and whales have been killed in Faroese Grind hunts. The majority of the Grinds take place between late June and the end of October. GrindStop 2014 will take place from early June through October 1st.
The whales and dolphins need you. Join the campaign today.
For the Oceans,
Scott West
and the GrindStop 2014 team

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/04/09/291887381/banning-traditional-animal-slaughter-denmark-stokes-religous-ire

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2014/04/03/grindstop-2014-update-1570

28 August 2011

Sea Shepherd Prevents Pilot Whale Bloodshed in the Faeroe Islands 26AUG11

AN update from Sea Shepherd on their successful campaign to stop grind operations in the Faeroes, check this out and donate to Sea Shepherd if you can.

Operation Ferocious Isles Pilot Whale Defense Campaign is a Success

"Sail forth - steer for the deep waters only,
Reckless O soul, exploring, I with thee and thou with me,
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
And we will risk the ship, our selves and all."
- Walt Whitman
 
Photo: Bill RankinPhoto: Bill RankinSea Shepherd Conservation Society’s Operation Ferocious Isles pilot whale defense campaign is almost over and it looks like our objective has been achieved. Not a single whale or dolphin has been killed on the beaches or in the waters of the Faeroe Islands under our watch this July and August.

Earlier in the summer, the Faeroese police ordered that no grinds (pilot whale drives and slaughter) would be allowed for as long as the Sea Shepherd ships were in Faeroese waters. Thus, our mere watchful presence prevented any killings this summer saving hundreds of whales as a result. Not a dramatic campaign by far, but enormously successful nonetheless.
It remains possible that whales may be killed after the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot leave patrol, but June, July, and August are the three most notorious months for the slaughter of the whales as they are peak migration months. Our objective was to prevent the killing of any whales during this period and that objective has been realized, therefore, Operation Ferocious Isles has been extraordinarily successful.

Additionally during the duration of the campaign, the crews of our two Sea Shepherd ships were able to meet and speak to hundreds of Faeroese youth. We were pleasantly surprised to find so many young people in opposition to the grind.

Sea Shepherd had hoped to make a public presentation but unfortunately, our request was denied by the Faeroese government, although our presence generated a great deal of publicity both in the Faeroes and in Denmark.

Significant campaign achievements include increasing international awareness of the whaling that takes place in the Faeroes, provoking controversy and discussion amongst the local people, increasing spending for the Danish Navy and police during the Sea Shepherd’s time in Faeroese waters, and most importantly, preventing a single grind from taking place.
The two Sea Shepherd ships will return to Great Britain to begin to make preparations for a return voyage to the Antarctic waters to once again intervene against illegal Japanese whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
The Steve Irwin will host a fundraising event on the Thames (river) in London on September 13th.

Photo: Bill RankinPhoto: Bill Rankin The crews of the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot are very happy with the results of this year’s campaign and are anxious to return and once again intercept the Japanese fleet to prevent them killing whales off the coast of Antarctica.

“Over the past few months we saw whales, we deterred whales from approaching the islands, we prevented the killing of whales by just being here. We could not be any more pleased with the results of the campaign. Zero kills translates into a perfect campaign and we are extremely happy with the results of our efforts this summer,” said Captain Paul Watson.

This has been a very busy year for Sea Shepherd beginning with our victory over the Japanese whaling fleet by driving them out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary a month and a half before their season ended and preventing them from killing 83% of their intended kill quota. Since our victory in the Southern Ocean, we have captured poachers in the Galapagos, confronted tuna poachers off the coast of Libya, protested at the 63rd Annual International Whaling Commission meeting in Jersey, exposed the atrocities of the seal slaughter in Namibia, helped catch the criminals who viciously clubbed seal pups in New Zealand, reduced the number of dolphins killed in Taiji, Japan by half, and now, we can relish in this victory for the pilot whales here in the Faeroes.

Never before has Sea Shepherd been so active and effective on a truly international level.

And the reason for our successes is your continued support. We do the best we can with the resources available to us and increased support translates into increased activism.

Our support base is steadily growing thanks to the momentum of recent documentary films featuring Sea Shepherd including Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson, Minds in the Water, and Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist. And of course, thanks to Animal Planet’s hit television series Whale Wars now in its fourth season.

“What gives me such satisfaction is knowing that because we have intervened, because our ships have been on the water around the world, that so many marine lives have been saved,” said Captain Watson. “When I think of a mother whale and her calf swimming free in the sea because we silenced the harpoons this year, I feel deeply and warmly satisfied, that all our efforts have been worth the rough seas, the long voyages, the dangerous confrontations, and the political harassment. And to be at sea surrounded by hundreds of pilot whales that we were able to keep away from the killers onshore – that was the highpoint of our summer.”

Read more in Captain Paul Watson’s An Open Letter to the People of the Faeroe Islands.
Beneath The Fae'roes Sky  
The Northern lights were dancing, 
On the waves across the sea.
The stars of heaven hovered,
Across our shimmering galaxy.
A refrain from down the ages,
So in haunting in its song.
These ancient isles shall tell us,
Our love must make us strong.
The wind it swirled around me,
As we stood there off the shore,
And listened to their song,
Like we never heard before.
The whalers they may find them,
No choice may ours to be.
Yet we defend life proudly,

For this truth will set us free. 
Memories recalled across the years,
Of rages and of strife.
Of cetacean misery,

And the horrific waste of life.

We wondered where love was,
In the face of so much pain.
I looked into the sea below,
To find it once again.

We travelled the wide oceans,
Heard many call us names.
With harpoon and gun and hatred,
The insanity of human games.
 
Some used the whales for glory,
Some use them for their gain.
But Sea Shepherd intervenes,

To cleanse the cruel human stain.
Is it not our place to wonder,
As the sea does weep with tears,
And all the ocean’s creatures,
Look on with mortal fear.

It is ours to hold the trident,
It is ours to hold it long,
It is ours to voyage forward,
Our love must make us strong.
 
With the trident in one hand,
In the other, the shepherd’s crook,
We try to regain the balance,
To return what man has took.
And as the cold wind carried,
The whale’s  song into the night.
We closed our eyes and dreamt,

Until the morning light.

We saw the pilots swimming,

They did swim into our lee,
It was in this magic moment,
Came this song from mother sea.
 
Our hearts were all a dancing,
On the waves, out on the sea.
The whales turned from the shore,
And from the islands they did flee.

A host of ghosts on the beaches,

So haunting in their song,
These ancient isles have shown us,
That our love has made us strong.
 
-By Captain Paul Watson, inspired by and with lines borrowed from “Beneath a Phrygian Sky” by Loreena McKennitt
Photo: Bill RankinPhoto: Bill Rankin Photo: Bill RankinPhoto: Bill Rankin