Today I want to pay credit to a few real activist heroes out there. These people are often forgotten as they spend their time actually doing things. They don’t have the PR resources to raise money or promote their present needs. These people are the front line soldiers in the fight to save the earth so valuable to all of us.
Esmond Bradley Martin is yet another high profile activist murdered. Mr. Martin, renowned for his work investigating the trade in illegal elephant, was killed at his home in Kenya. Police called it a burglary gone bad, but with political unrest in Kenya at the most violent in years, I wouldn’t put it past illegal traders to take the opportunity to wipe him out.
http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-kenya-conservationist-killed-20180205-story.html
I hope another dedicated individual will take his place, as men and women with courage will always be missed.
On another front I was dismayed to see the Keystone Pipeline activists were sentenced to jail time today. I believe that they all took the actions they did because they were “the right thing to do”. I was not asked to join, and oil pipelines are not my passion, but I was happy to see the support the protesters initially garnered from the public. Most media coverage and “noise” seemed to stop when the activists were arrested after finally having to make their stands. Now that they have been punished by the justice system of the United States, I was proud to see that they accepted their punishments after they had their say in court. They didn’t agree, but they were courageous enough to defeat the system within the system. None of them whined or ran away. It is refreshing to see young people not afraid to question authority. Not afraid to act. Not afraid of consequences…Way to go, you could teach us old folks a thing or two.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/feb/06/seattle-activist-sentenced-in-4-state-oil-pipeline/
May I suggest that Sea Shepherd spend some of the millions in their legal war-chest to help these folks out. I know Paul Watson claims native spirit… might I suggest he translate some of that native love into cash help. Help those who stood in his stead.
Perhaps Paul could write a poem or use some of his literary talents to keep their plight in the news. We earthlings lost Keystone but the fight will go on. We must meet the enemy on every front and I just hope there will be brave activists that continue to step up. The rest who are too afraid… should stand aside and allow those that do, to do.
I wish I could help more, but as most know, I’m presently fighting a legal battle with the Sea Shepherd Society over my right to use a video archive I donated a year before… How dumb am I?
It’s a stupid fight that cannot help the very animals we have both sworn to protect. I can agree to disagree. I’ll start over, I’m launching a new effort: www.gaianetwork.net .
GAIANetwork.net 