Gulf Rescue Campaign
Monday, May 17, 2010

The British Petroleum (BP) deep-sea oil breach in the Gulf of Mexico is turning into the largest and most destructive oil spill in history. It is a priority emergency and a massive assault on a major marine ecosystem. While BP may be morally and legally responsible for causing this disaster, it is impractical and unwise to leave the rescue of all marine life in the Gulf to a private corporation. We all need to come together to address this, and we need to do it quickly.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is calling upon all able organizations to join us in sending vessels with trained crew to support large-scale efforts in the Gulf of Mexico to rescue oiled sea birds, turtles, and other marine species. Together we have the resources, skills, experience, and passion to make a huge difference in the number of lives and species that can be saved from this disastrous oil spill. We can provide the offshore facilities needed to complement onshore rescue efforts for the finding, capture, treatment, and transport of marine animals viable for rescue.

“Sea Shepherd and other organizations have ships,” said Captain Paul Watson. “These groups, as well as governments and corporations, have resources. We need to mobilize these resources now. This is going to be a long, dirty, and fatiguing process, but we must act, and we must act now.”

Although the Sea Shepherd’s Steve Irwin is en route to the Mediterranean to defend bluefin tuna from poachers for Operation Blue Rage, and the Bob Barker is in Tasmania, we are now working to secure a third ship in Europe to bring to the Gulf to address this disaster. Our crew will be fully trained in HazMat and rescue operations on land and sea, and we will be able to accommodate experts and equipment needed to search for, capture, and rescue oiled marine life in the Gulf. We will work with BP, local fishermen, and the U.S. government to support their efforts and those of other approved personnel and nongovernment organizations. We will need donations of fuel, supplies, dispersants, cleaning detergents, towels, blankets, and we need volunteer crew, especially volunteers with experience in rescuing and cleaning birds and animals contaminated with oil. (NOTE: anyone interested in donating supplies or services, please email: gulfrescue@seashepherd.org)

Sea Shepherd has a long history of helping with oil spill cleanup and marine rescue operations. For example: we supported the cleanup after the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound in Mar 1989 and spilled over 10 million gallons of crude oil. Our Operation Oilstorm Y2K was initiated with the sinking of the oil tanker Erika in December 1999, which produced a slick that eventually covered 125 miles off the Breton Coast of France. The rupture of the Petrobras Oil Col pipeline in Rio de Janeiro in January 2000 saw Sea Shepherd volunteers coordinating wildlife rescue efforts, and Sea Shepherd Brazil (ISSB) contracted with Petrobras to develop an oiled wildlife rescue plan. In January 2001, Sea Shepherd’s patrol boat Sirenian was the first vessel on the scene of the Jessica oil spill in the Galapagos, and our volunteers spent weeks rescuing and cleaning oil-soaked birds, seals, and marine iguanas. Again in September 2005, the crew of the Sea Shepherd’s Farley Mowat rescued and cleaned birds, iguanas, and other marine species, coordinated the shore-cleaning operations, recovered floating debris, and removed dangerous mooring lines around the wreck after a diesel spill in Academy Bay at Porto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Our ships and dedicated volunteers have accomplished amazing feats through the years, but this disaster in the Gulf needs more than we alone can give. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is appealing for cooperation and assistance from additional nonprofit organizations, governments, corporations, and all concerned individuals. While we will work with the U.S. Government and BP to support their efforts, we are also appealing to them for help with coordinating equipment, qualified personnel, and onshore facilities to complement our offshore work, and to help expedite appropriate clearances for us and other organizations who can bring unique and truly helpful expertise and equipment to help with these rescue efforts.

Sea Shepherd welcomes donations from the public for our “Gulf Rescue Campaign” to help us rescue and protect marine wildlife and habitats. Charity Navigator has recognized Sea Shepherd with a 4-star rating indicating that it is amongst the best nonprofits when it comes to responsible fiscal management and effective use of funds for campaigns.

Source | Volunteer

“I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.  I didn’t want to pay my fare and then go around the back door, because many times, even if you did that, you might not get on the bus at all. They’d probably shut the door, drive off, and leave you standing there.  I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

Gandhi said, whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Lennon said, never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic. Rosa Parks said, I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move. I say, our time here is confusing and complicated, yet we keep moving in the unknown.

Executive: We must confess that your proposal seems less like science and more like science fiction.
Ellie Arroway: Science fiction. Well you’re right, it’s crazy. In fact, it’s even worse than that, nuts.
[angrily slams down her briefcase and marches up to the desk]
Ellie Arroway: You wanna hear something really nutty? I heard of a couple guys who wanna build something called an “airplane,” you know you get people to go in, and fly around like birds, it’s ridiculous, right? And what about breaking the sound barrier, or rockets to the moon, or atomic energy, or a mission to Mars? Science fiction, right? Look, all I’m asking, is for you to just have the tiniest bit of vision. You know, to just sit back for one minute and look at the big picture. To take a chance on something that just might end up being the most profoundly impactful moment for humanity, for the history… of history.

David Drumlin: I know you must think this is all very unfair. Maybe that’s an understatement. What you don’t know is I agree. I wish the world was a place where fair was the bottom line, where the kind of idealism you showed at the hearing was rewarded, not taken advantage of. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that world.
Ellie Arroway: Funny, I’ve always believed that the world is what we make of it.

The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker has shut down illegal whaling operations in Antarctica. The ship with its volunteer crew has caught up with the Nisshin Maru factory ship and is actively blocking its slipway. The Nisshin Maru will be unable to process whales as a result of Sea Shepherd’s efforts.

The Bob Barker intends to stay in this position off the stern of the Nisshin Maru until the whalers return home or until they run out of fuel. Sea Shepherd’s other ship, the Steve Irwin, is racing to the area to join the action.

Four other whaling vessels are in the area surrounding the Nisshin Maru and Bob Barker. They include: the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3 as well as the notorious Shonan Maru 2, which one month ago today sank the Sea Shepherd Ady Gil in an act of blatant aggression.

Says Captain Chuck Swift, “As we sit in the shadow of this cetacean death machine, I’m proud to captain this ship and fine crew on such a noble mission. We will end these illegal operations once and for all, thanks to support from our staff and supporters the world over.”

Sea Shepard News

Statement On Sea Shepher’s Ady Gil Attack

The recent news regarding the crew of the Sea Shepherd is just another example of the allegiance I have to a group of people fighting on behalf of one of my most personal issues – our animals. The protection and conservation of our planets whales is something I will never stay silent on. Included are some of the videos as well as reports on the latest clash. As always, it’s up to you to form your own conclusions on who is at fault. The key issue with me remains; the action of my friends and extended family within the crew of the Sea Shepherd vs. the inaction of those who have sat back and allowed the brutality and harm to our whales is a debate I’ll never back down on. While often it may seem I take a more spiritual and idealistic position on animal issues, make no mistake, I am fully educated and aware of the dominating laws at hand here. Whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is illegal. The harpoon vessel – the Yushin Maru, has been whaling in that territory for a solid amount of time. There is no question about the fact that the actions of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Whale Sanctuary not only break the law, but continue to obstruct countless other laws the longer they stay and the more whales they kill. The Sea Shepherds unconventional methods of madness are aimed only at those who harm and brutally murder for no reason. Let me make this extremely clear – the crew is well aware of the risks involved in their participation on board – they fight on despite it because their work has nothing to do with them – they are in it for the cause. Protecting the welfare of those who can not is paramount. With that – I continue to stand by them and their continued work and efforts.

JL, 1/09/10

Australia Tells Japan: Stop Whaling
Paul Watson: Sea Shepherd’s Stern ‘Warrior’ Defies Japanese Whalers

A brief holiday message from me to you all. This was not the first take…

holiday message from jamie leigh on Vimeo.

…this was. Slight distraction. Sometimes you need that second take to get it just right. It’s my official holiday message – I can’t mess around!

holiday message outtake (clapping) from jamie leigh on Vimeo.

For J.

for john from jamie leigh on Vimeo.

3rd times the charm… last one, I promise.

a bloggy holiday wish and thank you from jamie leigh on Vimeo.

Thistle was on the brink of starvation when our team found him with nearly 200 other wild mustangs who had been removed from the range, fenced in, and then left to die on a desolate ranch.

But I could see from his beautiful, expressive eyes that his spirit hadn’t been broken by the neglect. We brought him to The HSUS’s Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas.

Trust me — what happened next will warm your heart.

Watch Thistle’s uplifting story, then please make a special holiday gift to our 2010 Animal Survivors Fund.

Thistle is a survivor. But he — and the thousands of other animals we helped rescue this past year — wouldn’t have made it without people like you.

The Humane Society of the United States desperately needs to raise $1 million by December 31 for our 2010 Animal Survivors Fund. It’s big — but it’s a fraction of what it takes to run our sanctuaries and rescue operations, our campaigns for stronger laws to protect animals, our undercover investigations that expose cruelties hidden behind closed doors, and so much more.

Click here to see Thistle’s incredible journey — then make your tax-deductible holiday gift today to support all our life-saving campaigns and programs.

Thank you for everything you do for horses and for all creatures.

Sincerely,  Holly Hazard Chief Innovations Officer  The Humane Society of the United States

Not really plucked from a cabbage patch after all – even though I still have my theories.

Spent time with my aunt who shared with me old home movies and photographs of my family on my dads side.  In these photos you see my grandpa and grandma whom I never got to meet.  Just a few shots I snapped out of the hundreds I saw.  A chapter of my book I never had a chance to read until now.

From top to bottom

My grandma and grandpa at a dinner party with guests.

My dad.

My grandpa in an army snapshot.

My grandma.

Grandparents wedding photo, I love the top hats.

My grandpa.