Military Murders Marine Mammals!
        Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) testing  by the United States Military is resulting in the mass stranding of Whales and Dolphins.  Surveillance Towed  Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar (SURTASS LFA) is used by the military to detect submarines.  Recent reports have linked the US Navy trials to the deaths of dozens of whales and possibly 200 dolphins in the Mediterranean. The Navy is even using the birthing waters around Hawaii to test the sonar threshold of nursing cows and their young.  In two weeks, two baby whales have died during these tests.
        The name LFAS itself is very misleading.  While the sonar system is "low frequency" it is also extremely loud. At maximum output the system can generate sound up to 230 dB.  That is 10,000 times louder than a 747 taking off.
        Underwater, these sounds travel tremendous distances.  The first tests were called "The Magellan Tests" because they were sounds heard around the world.
        Test results by the military are classified on the topic, but researchers propose that LFAS is not only an detection system, but a weapon as well. It is speculated that LFAS could function to stun or kill the crew of a submarine in much the same fashion that some whales employ sonar to stun prey.
        Oh goodie!  Just what we needed.  A shiny new way to kill lots of people.  Who cares if we snuff out the Whales, Dolphins, Sharks, and some ugly, less popular fish at the same time?  More folks then the military anticipated evidently. Swimmers have been jumping in the water around the sending vessels in order to disrupt testing.  Coast Guard Cutters are harassing the protestors.  The situation is heating up.
        Add your voice to the national scream of protest.  Just say No to the deployment of LFAS!
         Call,  fax, and write your Senator, your Congessman, the President, and anyone else you can think of.

        E mail your protest with the following heading in the subject line:

                         SUBJECT:  HCR 134 HD1 STOP SURTASS LFA
         

                          We, the undersigned citizens and organizations protest in the strongest possible terms over the Navy's Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) research experiments and plans for further deployment of SURTASS LFA (LFAS) in the waters off the Big Island of Hawai'i and the World.

        Our concerns regarding the effects of LFAS experiments on the marine environment and cetaceans in particular cannot be understated.  As an elected representative of the United States, a country with an unparalleled reputation as a world leader in environmental protection, we ask you to take immediate and decisive action to halt the deployment of LFAS in Hawai'i and worldwide.

         The March, 1998 "soft" testing by the Navy have had a devastating impact on cetaceans in Hawai'i. One baby humpback whale died and another presumed dead after being observed deserted by its mother, in a previously undocumented and highly active and distressed condition.  The baby whale was recorded to breach over 250 times and pectoral slap over 670 times in a period of seven hours.

         Whales, dolphins, sharks and other marine creatures have been observed by independent scientists and experts behaving in entirely bizarre ways during the test operations.  Reports and eyewitness accounts are available on your request.  We know from previous usage of LFAS in Greece that whales have been killed.

         We believe that the Congress of the United States must convene an Emergency Congressional hearing into the activities of the Navy and the extent,  ramifications and future direction of LFAS research and deployment.

          The precautionary principle has been a keynote of responsible environmental management worldwide, a principle which has been completely ignored by the  Navy.  To subject marine creatures who once lived in a peaceful sonic environment to these experiments is a crime against nature.

          That the Navy did this work in a sanctuary at a time when humpback whales are calving and breeding demonstrates an unethical, appalling lack of responsibility and concern for non human species.

         It is illogical to state, as the Navy has in various arenas, that the only way to monitor the effect of LFAS sound on marine creatures is to expose them to these experiments.  This is the rationale used by Nazis in World War 2 and led to the Nuremberg trials for crimes against humanity.

         The Navy's actions in Hawai'ian waters have led to a global outcry which will not be silenced.   There is genuine revulsion by people all round the world that our Navy should be using taxpayers' funds to harm and terrorize cetaceans and other marine creatures who live in a sonar environment.

         We urge you to demand an Emergency Congressional Hearing into the Navy's LFAS protocol, its raison d'etre and the extent of LFAS experiments and deployment.  We urge you to say "NO" to LFAS and to support the widest possible dissemination of your views and other's position so that Americans and concerned global citizens learn of this new and frightening threat to marine ecosystems and the planet.

         Finally, we would say with respect that this is an issue with the potential to galvanize communities, individuals, organizations and nations into action.
        Already, the response to the LFAS testing has been nothing short of astonishing.  It is clear the protest will only increase until there is a guarantee from the US and world governments that American and international waters will be protected from this new and sinister weapon.

          As we stand poised at the beginning of a new century, it's time to review humanity's relationship with non human species - to stop experimenting on,  torturing, maiming and killing innocent creatures for the sake of developing new weapons of war.  You have the tools of change in your hands, I urge you to use them.  Please do not forsake cetaceans and our planet at this critical time.

         I, the undersigned, support the resolution before the Hawai'ian representative known as HRC 134 HD1 and all future legislations and actions taken to prevent further use and deployment of LFAS in the US and Worldwide.

          Sincerely,
         

        Name,
        city,
        state/province,
        country,
        date.

        For complete documentation please visit :

        Please email a copy of your protest letter to 
         

        Here is a partial list of people to annoy .........
         

        President Bill Clinton president@whitehouse.gov

        Vice-President Al Gore vicepresident@whitehouse.gov

        Govenor of Hawaii: Ben Cayetano gov@aloha.net
        phone (808) 586-0034 fax (808) 586-0006

        State Senator: David Tarnas reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov
        phone (808) 586-8510 fax (808) 587-0390

        Dept Land and Natural Resources State of Hawaii Chairman Mike Wilson: mwilson@pixi.com
        phone (808) 587-0400 fax (808) 587-0390

        Joseph Johnson Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Email:Jsquared@nosc.mil
        phone (703) 919-8959

        Senators: Danial Inouye senator@inouye.senate.gov
        DC fax (202) 224-6747 Honolulu fax (808) 541-2549

        Congressmen: Neil Abercrombie neil@abercrombie.house.gov
        Honolulu phone (808) 541-2570 Hono fax (808) 533-0133 DC fax (202) 225-4580

        Richard Williamson -  Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment): >ASN(I&E) -  e-mail: williamr@spawar.navy.mil
        Ph. (703) 695-4533; Fax: 693-1165Phone (619) 524-3470

        Diana H. Josephson, Principle Deputy (I&E) -  e-mail: Josephson.Diana@hq.navy.mil
        Ph. (703) 693-4527

        Elsie Munsell, DASN ES - e-mail:Munsell.Elsie@hq.navy.mil
        Ph. (703) 614-1303

        Robert (Robin) Pirie, ASN (I&E) -  e-mail: Pirie.Robert@hq.navy.mil
        Ph. (703) 695-4533

        Dr. Kurt Riegel, Director of Environmental Technology -  e-mail: Riegel.Kurt@hq.navy.mil
        Ph. (703) 695-3363,

        Lew Shotton, Director of Environmental Planning & Natural Resources - Ph. (703) 614-1295,
        e-mail: Shotton.Lew@hq.navy.mil

        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);e-mail: tmcintyr@kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov

        Patsy Mink DC fax (202) 225-4987 Hono phone (808) 541-1986 Hono fax (808) 538-0233

        Kate McGinty, White House Office of Enviromental Quality -
        phone (202) 456-6224 fax (202) 456-2710
        White House
        1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
         Washington DC 20006

        Ann Terbush, National Marine Fisheries Services Office of protected species - fax (301) 713-0376
        1335 East West Highway Silver
        Springs, MD 20910