As I sit here on the aft deck of the gaianetwork trawler: Wii Seeks, I can watch fireworks from all directions, but it doesn’t take long before I begin to question it all. There we were, blasting sonic booms and showering the local waters with carbon debris, and me enjoying the show immensely. I sat there wondering at my fascination. BUT after my ears were violated, and blast waves began hitting my body, I went for ear plugs, and a heavier coat. After I returned, I sat and began to wonder about the whales and other wild life.
Do foxes look to the heavens and enjoy the show while explaining to their kids that not all explosions kill you? In Disney’s latest hit, maybe, but in reality no way. House pets run for the hills… if I recall.
Once again, with my butt planted back on the deck bundled in a heavier coat and ear plugs, I had to wonder about the whales.
Now you have to be Neanderthal to not know the whales are highly auditory. Everything they do involves sounds… intricate sounds, some imperceptible to us highly advanced humans. Until recently they were able to communicate across great swathes of ocean. Much like city lights make “star gazing” impossible, and sitting next to a highway makes “listening to nature” futile, the whales can’t talk, hunt, or procreate in marine chaos. Like it or not, we are that chaos.
I’d like to just figure that fireworks are fleeting and cool. They are a great family event that I have in my life often looked back at with love. But birthday’s like the 4thare times for reflection. Maybe we as a species can change, and all be better off for it? Maybe, just maybe we will learn that greed for money does not bring happiness now or in the future? It just eats things up. Like it or not we only have one earth and no place to go when we wear it out. We need to start thinking conservation, not think of new and better ways to use things up.
I was viewing the local parade, and met a new friend I have made here. He is very political and anti-Trump, but that is not important here… What he said after watching the festivities was: ” your tribe is heavily represented…” meaning of course, orca lovers. I agreed. Everyone wants to do something, and it is good knowing that locals are doing so many positive things in so many different ways. They are doing important things today, and I was invited here to help out.
Friday Harbor is no different than where I grew up on Cape Cod. I learned quickly that everyone blames someone else. I didn’t have to be a scientist to realize quite quickly that the whales are being exploited by all parties concerned, one way or the other. No blame, fact.
If you don’t know it already, the Southern resident Orcas are missing, and after 60 days of absence, maybe, god forbid, the SOUTHERN RESIDENTS are gone for good? Has business ceased or whale watching operations gone broke? Is it the end? Questions each one of us can answer.
I would like to believe otherwise, but maybe if one believes as I do that all nature is connected in a biological and spiritual way, maybe these creatures are actually telling us something? Like communicating to us… Maybe it is a warning we should all heed. I’m just saying…..
It is time for change here. Let the public vote on local orca restrictions. It worked for jet skis. I know I am old fashion, but jet skis have no place in nature, just as dune buggies shouldn’t be squashing tortoises in the desert. We, Americans are one year older. Let’s get smarter.
First let’s hope the Southern Residents return for San Juan’s sake; I just hope they have found a more peaceful place to live. Whether you see them again or not, I hope this “scare”will wake us all up.
Working with anyone who will have us, we at www.gaianetwork.netare continuing or effort to set up what we are calling NEIGHBORHOOD ORCA WATCH. Our initial tests have been positive and a recent volunteer from UC Santa Cruz has been sorting through IT issues. Other local orca groups have voiced their support and I feel this is a way to help all concerns citizens, whales and humans. We’re just watching, and you can watch too; we plan to stream LIVE and in LIVING COLOR!
N.O.W. will be operated locally and will be an inclusive and not an exclusive operation when finally functional. All are welcome.
We will be testing and lining up volunteers over the next month hoping to launch phase one in August.
All donations of cash, time, or professional help will be accepted at www.gaianetwork.net
Thank you
Peter Brown
GAIANetwork.net 