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In
the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest, there is a place where
hundreds of islands flow out of the forest green sea…a place where
one of the world's most beautiful, powerful, and majestic creatures
can be found, Orca, the killer whale. This is also a place where
something incideous is happening….
In
1995, there were a total of 99 Southern resident orcas. Today, however,
there has been a tragic decline, with nearly 25% of the population
dying over the past 5 years. What is causing this crisis?
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| Although
these inland waters on the surface seem quite pristine and undisturbed,
nothing could be further from the truth, for surrounding what appears
to be untarnished wilderness is our modern civilization including
the industrial centers of Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and
Victoria, and all that that imposes. We are polluting the air, the
land, and the sea with PCBs, DDT, and Dioxins. These poisons are entering
the food chain, finding their way up from small fish, to larger fish,
and finally to orcas, who are at the top of the food chain. |
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The
orcas who live here, by no choice of their own, have become urban
whales and are the most contaminated whales in the world, containing
over 200 times more toxins than the average human being on the planet
!
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| By
itself, this toxic overloading is a major cause of concern, but couple
it with a food shortage and you have a lethal combination. Chinook
salmon, the main food source for the Southern Resident orcas, used
to be plentiful here, but their numbers have been severely depleted,
almost to exinction. This primarily due to the building of hydroelectric
dams and habitiat loss on the salmon's prime river runs and spawning
grounds. |
What's
really incideous about this is the double whammy the orcas are facing:
They don't have enough food so they are having to live off their fat
reserves and their fat reserves are loaded with toxins.
Add to this ever increasing impacts from the
noise and exhaust of vessels, from huge Navy and cargo ships, to oil
tankers, and cruise liners, to pleasure boaters and whale watchers…all
of which only further complicates the orcas already precarious fight
for survival. |
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The
Southern Resident orcas are giving us a wakeup call. Like canaries
in a coalmine, they are showing us that something is seriously wrong
and that we need to take action now before they disappear forever!
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| Our
short film "Orcas in Crisis!", which we produced in 2003, helped
in getting Canada and the US government to place the Southern Resident
Orcas on the endangered species list. In addition, the "Save the
Whales Again!" Team will be leading a filming expedition back
to Puget Sound for an updated segment that will become part of our
feature length documentary. |
Please
join us in our quest to save this wondrous place!
Please Donate today!
Here's
what else you can do:
1.
STOP THE ORCA POISONING
Scientific
evidence has demonstrated that orca whales are threatened by the high
levels of toxic contamination of their environment and food. It's time
to ensure a safe marine habitat for orcas and all marine life. Write to
Governor Locke, Office of the Governor, PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002.
Demand that the "TOXIC SIX-SIXTY-TWO" (6 toxic sediment waste areas, 62
sites) be cleaned up immediately. Send a copy with a cover letter asking
for action to your senators and congressmen.
2. ASSURE ORCAS' FOOD SUPPLY
Chinook salmon are a mainstay in the southern resident orca diet. Adopt
a salmon stream, river or even an entire watershed. There are organizations
and grassroots efforts you can join for hands-on watershed restoration
projects. Involve your family, friends, business accociates and other
social groups to join with you.
3. SAVING WATER SAVES ORCAS
The water we waste or save is essential
to the salmon who in turn are essential to the survival of the southern
resident Orcas. You can help by installing a water-saving device on every
water source in your home now. Whenever you can, install fixtures such
as showerheads that do better than the 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) that
serves as the current industry and government standard. Reduce your use
of hot water, make it a priority in your conservation efforts, as it will
have the greatest return (energy + water) for effort.
4.
SAVING ELECTRICITY SAVES ORCAS
Buy one
or two energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs every paycheck and replace
the standard bulbs until your entire home is completely equipped. Electricity
produced by hydropower uses the water salmon need to spawn. Without the
salmon, the southern resident orca whales will become extinct. If you
own a business, contact your utility today regarding the many programs
that support, subsidize and help you plan your water and energy conservation.
If you work at a business, encourage and practice conservation.
5. STOP
TOXIC RUN-OFF
Most of
the toxics we use on our lawns and in our homes run off into rivers and
the marine environment where salmon and orcas feed. You can reduce and
eliminate toxic substances in your home and on your lawns, including cleaning
products, lawn chemicals and pesticides. Use non-toxic alternatives and
ensure that any toxic chemicals you have are taken to your nearest toxic
waste disposal site.
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