Beached Whales die due to Sonar Testing

"INSIGHTS"

A Conscious E-Zine

The Killing of Earth's Whales by Sonar

US Navy, and NATO test Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) system to detect diesel and nuclear submarines.


Photograph was supplied by Misty Gay, Director of Education for the Catalina Island Conservancy and Annette Shears, Director ofVolunteer Services.


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The information you are about to read in this article is not pleasant, and is very sad. It questions the wisdom of the scientific quest, and makes you want to stop this unbelievable madness.

"Insights", as a Conscious E-Zine, presents issues and ideas that are not always pleasant, but need to be expressed due to their severity, and need for awareness.

The internet has become a global voice and by presenting this awareness we can better question our own actions, and how that may impact our surrondings and our planet. It is clear beyond doubt that current ideology is allowing not only the killing of ocaen life, but indigenous people, forests, rivers and waterways, and ultimately our own species. As writer and publisher for "Insights" I too try to express my opinions, as we all should, now that we have access to a global communications medium. If you think that our planet is not in serious trouble then this article will pin point a devastating look at what technolgy and poor thinking is doing to the oldest living creatures on Earth.

I wish with all my heart I could weild the power to stop this activity. I want it to stop. We should all want it to stop. Why must it continue?Please use this information to help others become informed.
Willard Van De Bogart - Publisher "Insights"


"BEWARE, THE BEACHED CANARIES*" What Stranded Dolphins and Whales areTrying to Tell us About a Global Emergency Beneath the Sea"

By Bobbie Sandoz

(*The death of canaries taken into coal mines warned the miners of troublebelow.)

In the last few months, hundreds of dolphins are washing up dead alongEuropean shores while dolphins and whales are again playing with people inHawaii after two years of ignoring them following our government sonifyingthese high level beings in their own Marine Sanctuary. This grateful returnof their friendliness toward humans in Hawaii is clearly an act offorgiving the unforgivable. In January, hundreds of dolphins stranded alongour eastern coast, while a superpod of orcas off California circled a groupof boats to flirt and play with the people aboard, then remained afloat on the surface as the sun set on their fins. A similar contrast occurred lastsummer when a group of San Juan Orcas appeared in time to appreciate ahuman concert given in their honor, showing particular interest in AmazingGrace, or forgiveness without merit, while hundreds of their gray whalecousins washed up dead on west coast shores.

Although these events contribute to an uneasy yet growing pattern of marinemammal strandings juxtaposed to their kindness to us, there has been littlemedia coverage of this disturbing phenomenon or a true investigation of whyit is happening. Are we so indifferent that we don't really care or isthere a massive cover-up....or both?

To add to the disquiet of these events, independent scientists stronglydisagree with government-funded "experts" on the true effect of anextremely intense and apparently lethal force going into the ocean calledlow frequency active sonar (LFAS) that appears to be leaving a trail ofcorpses in its path. Yet, in spite of the controversy over its safety, ourgovernment is pushing forward to deploy this risky technology in 80% of theworld's oceans in an apparent effort to get it underway before the publiclearns more about it.

Will we remain cooperatively in denial, uninformed, and dangerously silentin the face of this potential planetary holocaust as we have in the past,or will we awaken in time to stop this serious threat to all marine life?And, if we fail to respond, what will the consequences be for our ownsurvival and souls?

In view of a possible cover-up buttressed by our indifference, could it bethat the intelligent dolphins and whales are making their way to our publicand popular shores before dying in order to serve as "beached canaries"that warn of something amiss in their hidden world beneath the sea? If so,will their massive deaths at our feet pull us out of deep moral slumber orfall on the cold hearts of an uncaring species? **The LFAS Story**Following a brief yet troubled period of LFAS testing at levels far belowthose planned for actual use that resulted in trauma and death, thisreckless technology is in the process of being pushed toward prematuredeployment in 80% of the world's oceans.

Sadly, slick propaganda programs dispensed by in-house "experts" havesucceeded in convincing a slumbering media and uninformed populous that thedolphins and whales are unaffected by intensely explosive blasts rippingthrough their ocean home with sustained intensity for hundreds of miles,causing damage and death in their wake.

Thus, in contrast to government claims of safety, outraged boat captains,swimmers, independent researchers, and environmentalists have observed thistechnology to be highly disruptive and deadly to marine life, even at theconsiderably lower decibels used during brief public testing than thoseplanned for actual extensive and classified use.

Even more frustrating, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),established to protect marine life, appears to be aligned with thegovernment-funded "experts" promoting LFAS. They also appear to be ignoringrequired protocol in order to prematurely slip the U.S. Navy a permit toharass and kill whales which will serve as the green light needed tounleash this risky technology into full and unfettered, classifieddeployment.

Eerily, the NMFS is also the organization assigned to oversee the testingdone on the "beached canaries" stranding on our shores. Yet, while theypublicly serve as the protector of marine life, behind the scenes they seemto prefer keeping these strandings in the category of an "unsolved mystery"to risking discovery of a possible connection to sonar exposure by checkingtheir ears for rupture or their tissue for signs of explosion andshredding. Instead of conducting these revealing tests, they offer vagueexplanations that don't hold up, while focusing their search for answerssolely on viruses, red tides, and other toxic algae that were neither inthe problem areas nor have caused this kind of cetacean carnage in thepast. In view of this seeming bias in favor of LFAS and the dual role itcreates for the NMFS, should they ever concede to test the ears or tissueof stranded marine corpses for sonar exposure, the public would be wise toinsist that non government-funded and independent researchers bear witnessto their exams.

It's also important to notice that the brain and tissue fissures, lesions,and ruptures as well as mass starvation consistently found in these andother recent marine mammal corpses resemble the symptoms of sonar exposuredescribed by the Marine Mammal Commission when in 1997 they predicted thatlung and tissue hemorrhage and trauma in marine mammals (and fish) as wellas cavity explosion and hearing loss causing subsequent starvation waslikely to occur if LFAS was employed worldwide as proposed.

So why is the connection between these known symptoms of sonar exposure(similar to microwave explosions) and those found in stranded marine mammalcorpses being ignored -- especially when sonar activities are rumored to betaking place in several of the affected areas?

And, now that we are on the brink of full deployment of this unexaminedforce, will the American public awaken in time to make the connection,check its validity, and if there is a connection, stop the madness? Or,will we remain drugged by our usual denial and the silence of fear andapathy as we have during other holocausts at human hands, enabling yet moregovernment crimes against nature and others as well as ourselves?

Could this be the pivotal point at which humans decide if we willorchestrate our own self-destruction with our typically passive response toimpersonal government actions or rally as caring individuals in time touncover the path of our more conscious, courageous, and higher selves aswell as a safe and golden future for our world, ourselves, our children,and our grandchildren?

I was pondering these questions one day as I swam in a bay amidst 50dolphins who approached and circled me, then stayed to play for over anhour. I was surprised by their visit in view of my mood, since they usuallyavoid me when my thoughts are weighty. But, on this particular day theyswam near me to play, show off their babies, and engage me in beguiling andflirty gazes. I reflected on my decade of friendship with these high- levelbeings and the notable lessons I had learned from them that I had notlearned from humans about how to be a more loving and joyful human being.I wondered as I swam if my species would have the wisdom to allow the sweetgrace of these bright and loving beings to serve as mirrors reflecting ourneed to seek a higher place in ourselves where we might act as kindlytoward others as cetaceans do. I also thought of the American Indian elderspredicting that whatever happens to "the great beast" -- or whale -- willalso happen to humanity, and I wondered which fork in the road of ourforecasted futures we would take -- the Apocalypse or golden age.

Then it occurred to me that as humanity stands at the portal of the newmillennium, it is in our power to select which road we will travel. We cancontinue to kill the saints and sages in our midst or change the course ofhuman history by surrendering our self-centered ways to their more loftyand loving teachings.

Yet before we can claim this higher potential, we must address what kind ofspecies we truly want to be and which future we wish to create. We mustthen commit to becoming and creating whatever we choose. I also realizedthat to succeed in doing this we need look no further than to the model ofloving kindness the dolphins and whales offer or the manifesting tools thedolphins revealed to me in "Listening to Wild Dolphins" which I have woveninto my suggestions for how we can respond to the LFAS challenge.

PATTERN OF STRANDINGS THAT MAY LINK TO LFASACTIVITY:

EUROPE - In February, 2000, 100s of dolphins began washing up on Europeanshores.

THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE - On January 21, 2000, Katie Couric asked on "TheToday Show" why hundreds of dolphins are beaching along the Atlanticcoastline. Although brain and other tissue lesions have been found in thesecetaceans, one of the symptoms predicted by the Marine Mammal Commission in1997 for LFAS exposure, ears are not being checked. In view of thefar-reaching effect of sonar exposure predicted by independent researchers,some suspect apparent NATO sonar in the general area may be the cause.

FLORIDA - On January 3, 2000, Associated Press reported that scientistswere trying to determine why dolphins have been washing up dead onnorthwest Florida shores over the last month. Although a previously severeoutbreak of red tide did not kill dolphins, it appears that only red tideand other toxins are being examined as a possible cause, rather than alsoinclude an examination of their ear canals to prove or disprove theimportant variable of possible sonar exposure.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS - In early October, 1999, scientists in the waterheard sonar sounds, followed by multiple cetacean strandings in the area.Government-funded ear canal testing expert Dr. Darlene Ketten from WoodsHole Oceanographic Institute, was summoned by many groups to run ear canaltests, but results have not yet been revealed. If they are, citizens mustdetermine if anyone other than government-funded scientists were present inorder to neutralize any conflicts of interest.

THE CANARY ISLANDS - A total of 21 whale strandings in 1985, 1988, and1989 were linked to visible US Navy maneuvers. These were the only timesthat whales were reported to strand in the Canary Islands. (Nature, 1991)Award-winning French biologist Dr. Michael Andre, free from ourgovernment's influence, learned from necropsies while studying the declinein sperm whales in this area that two of the whales (who were involved inthe increasing whale collisions with boats in the area) were deaf assuspected.

THE ATLANTIC COAST - In 1987, dolphins exposed to 235 decibels of sonarstranded and were found to suffer from tissue and lung explosion. (Thisinformation was allegedly found by Dr. Joe Geraci and buried in reports onfile.) Since this revelation, there has been a great deal of resistance toobtaining autopsies that check for these types of problems, also predictedby the Marine Mammal Commission in 1997 (possibly based on Dr. Geraci'sfindings) to be a consequence of LFAS.

THE HARO STRAIT, SAN JUAN ISLANDS - In the Summer of 1996, 195 decibelswere sent into this key waterway used by orcas, porpoises, seals, and othermammals, followed by an increase in strandings of these mammals. ABC Newsrecently reported that the previously thriving orca population from thisarea is now in enough trouble to be considered eligible for the EndangeredSpecies list.

THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA NEAR GREECE - In 1996, twelve Cuvier's beakedwhales documented to be exposed to NATO sonar at 150-160 decibels werefound stranded. At the same time about 200 stranded dolphins were suspectedof suffering from tissue explosion. (Nature, 1996) LFAS levels to be usedby the U.S. are reported to be 180 decibels in areas near shore and couldgo considerably higher, once deployment is underway and this program isclassified.

THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS - In 1998, three whale calves and one dolphin calfwere found dead or abandoned during and immediately following sonartesting, even though in 15 years of research this phenomenon had never beenobserved. One of these was a distressed whale calf who breached 230 timesand pectoral slapped 658 times in front of Dr. Marsha Green's research teamin a four-hour period before the sun set on his distress. In addition, apod of dolphins was observed by naturalists familiar with normal dolphinbehavior huddling unusually close to the shore near the surface andvocalizing excessively while the sound was on.

CALIFORNIA- Since the open testing in California began in 1997,sonar exposed whales immediately began to strand in increased numbers. Inaddition, there was a report of uncharacteristically aggressive behaviorwhich is known to be a symptom of LFAS exposure. More recently, The MalibuTimes reported in January, 1999, that more than 150 gray whales were founddead due to starvation along their migratory route where testing took placein 1998. Starvation can be a result of deafness, but ears were not checkedin these cetaceans, even though the cause of death has remained a mystery.

AUSTRALIA - Rumor has it that the Australian government has questioned aconnection between observed US Navy and NATO maneuvering and strandings offtheir shores.

UNKNOWN - In view of indications that brain and body tissue explodes andbody cavities (bladders, lungs, and ear canals) rupture when exposed tosonar blasts, it is plausible to assume that most affected marine mammalswill sink to the ocean floor, rather than make their way to a beach inorder for us to view their plight. And who knows what the effect this riskytechnology has on the thousands of other, smaller forms of marine life,less able to withstand such a powerful force.

For More Information and Evidence of LFAS Problems:
GENERAL INFORMATION:

LEGAL INFORMATION AND CURRENT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE US NAVY:

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

ASK YOUR LOCAL ABC AFFILIATE TV STATION TO AIR: "WHEN THE WHALES STOPSINGING"
This excellent news special report on the Navy's Low FrequencyActive Sonar (LFAS) was filmed by Dan Noyes of KGO TV News:ABC TV in San Francisco. Ask your ABC station manager to call KGO News inSan Francisco to request a copy of this two part special to air in yourvicinity. KGO News has agreed to send out copies of this video to other ABCstations, and to give them permission to air it. It is a short video, only10 minutes long, and can be run as part of a news program.
INTERVIEW AUTHOR AND PANEL OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS ON LFAS
These people sincerely hope they are wrong about their concerns regarding the potential danger ofLFAS, but believe people should know what they have uncovered in the eventthey are not wrong:
Dr. Marsha Green (OMI/Marine Biologist/ Professor)610-670-7386
Lanny Sinkin (Attorney) 808-961-9100
Dr. Lee Tepley (Physicist) 650-961-7440
Dr. Linda Weilgart (Independent Marine Biologist) 902-479-1861
Cheryl Magill (LFAS Activist) 650-429-2116
Bobbie Sandoz, MSW (Author) - 808-524-6775
Dr. Naomi Rose, (Director, Humane Society of the United States - HSUS)

WAYS TO RESPOND

We must first face the seriousness of the threat LFAS poses to marine lifeand ourselves. For only then, will we break our silence and engage in clearbut gentle action with the urgency this issue deserves.
We must then let our Congressional representative, ultimately responsiblefor this program, know of its possible consequences and insist that theystop all forward movement of this program until it can be proven that itwill not cause the massive destruction concerned non-government scientistsand citizens fear.
We must then insist on extensive and highly monitored necropsies ofcurrently stranded mammals, including full ear exams -- since such testscould expose possible sonar exposure. Only by having this information willwe know if the sonar technology is connected to these deaths as manyenvironmentalists suspect.
We must then insist that the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS)halt all movement toward deployment of this unexamined power.
We must demand that the possibility of a conflict of interest on the partof NMFS be seriously scrutinized in view of their apparent bias and seemingpartnership with the U.S. Navy in this risky government operation they havebeen charged with overseeing.
We must send copies of all correspondence on this and other protests tothe media, our president, and congressional representatives -- since suchletters give witness to our concerns and constitute our greatest power toinfluence or reverse government decisions we do not approve.
Some, including myself, will view this issue as important enough toorganize a peacefully powerful march in Washington since visibility andnumbers are imperative to change in this country.
Hopefully, responsible media will invite the listed panel of independentexperts who have uncovered evidence that points to potentially serious andillegal errors and omissions made in the process of testing and activatingthis technology they consider far more dangerous than claimed.
Teachers may wish to introduce this topic in their classrooms and invitestudents to uncover, lobby for, and implement solutions. In doing this, weenlist the spirits and insights of this national treasure to help us becomeour best selves while teaching the art of kindness, cooperation, andfriendship with our global family. *Those aligned with spirit can inspirecontinuous prayer for all concerned -- including those in control of thisformidable technology who genuinely believe in its merits and their rightto employ it without sincerely inviting the public's awareness, opinion, orapproval. Hopefully, clergy of all faiths will be moved to hold prayervigils to bring this matter to a unifying, loving, and safe resolution.Although everyone was surprised that we moved through the millenniumwithout incident, few noted a possible connection between this unexpectedpeace to a massive and powerful prayer vigil organized by MarianneWilliamson and James Redfield.
Many will want to participate by using one of the manifesting tools Ilearned from the dolphins for creating the world we desire. To do this weneed to identify exactly what we want instead of what we don't want andthen place all of our energies, prayers, and focus on drawing that pictureto us. This focus becomes even more powerful if we unite our combinedenergies as the dolphins do to create a large and harmonious group holdinga common dream with love and joy in our hearts.

If we succeed in gathering together a large enough group to lovinglyconcentrate our intention on this dream until it is fulfilled, we willdiscover a power beyond anything we have yet witnessed on this planet. Andonce we learn to do it, we will no longer feel the need to quarrel andfight among ourselves and against others -- or develop weapons considerablymore dangerous than the "enemies" we fear.

Nor will we continue to allow our businesses, government, or military totreat us like children, while excluding us from the management of ourlives, our country, and our world as they fund and implement plans withoutour knowledge or permission. Once we exercise the power of our own voicesand visions to reclaim self-governance, we will no longer view big businessinterests or our government and military as separate from ourselves ordangerous to our lives or planet.

How perfect that we can use this unique yet effective manifesting tool thedolphins have shown us to safely return their ocean home to them andself-governance to ourselves. Let's experience this radical new power bytaking our first steps on the path to a better future and the world of ourdreams.

Author: Bobbie Sandoz
March, 2000
Phone: 808-524-6775 Fax: 808-538-0423
Website:

E-Mail: bsandoz@aol.com


Another Indication:

Subject:Bahamas, the Navy, and dead whales
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000
From: "Steuer, Karen"

Dear All,
As some of you will be aware, there has been a mass mortality ofcetaceans in the Bahamas over the last few days. As of Saturday, atleast 12 beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris and Ziphiuscavirostris), 1 minke whale, 1 dolphin, and 1 unidentified balaenopterid(Brydes or fin) had died, with other ziphiids stranding live and beingpushed back out. Mortalities occurred between Grand Bahama and theAbacos; given the number and isolation of islands in the area, it isvery likely that not all carcasses have been located.

The mortality coincides with US Navy exercises in the area; theexercises appear to have involved explosives detonation, although activeacoustics work *may* have been conducted also. There is no confirmationthat the latter occurred in this area, or whether LFA activity wasinvolved. (LFA = Low Frequency Active acoustics, a highly controversialanti-submarine technology which has been the subject of much debate inthe marine mammal field. Recall that a NATO LFA exercise in the Med iswidely believed to have been responsible for a mass mortality of beakedwhales a few yearsago).

As of this morning (Monday), five ziphiids had been secured andnecropsied by Ken Balcomb (who lives on site) and Nan Hauser/HoytPeckham (Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation, Maine; who flewdown on Saturday).

Darlene Ketten (Harvard/WHOI) arrived yesterday to extract ears fromthese animals and any others which become available. Charley Potter(Smithsonian Institution) is also on site.

An aerial survey will attempt to locate other carcasses today.Needless to say, there are a lot of unanswered questions here, and weshould be demanding answers ASAP: Did the Navy submit an EA to NMFS onthis exercise? If so, did NMFS comment or simply allow this to goahead? Was LFA or other acoustics "experimentation" involved? Does theBahamian government have a role in this?

I'll let you know more as we hear it at our end -- suggest we startapplying pressure to NMFS and the Navy ASAP to ensure that this doesn'tcontinue until we get some answers.

Karen L. Steuer
Director, Commercial Exploitation and Trade Program
International Fund for Animal Welfare

HERE IS MORE!
Whale Deaths Immediately Follow US Navy Sonar Buoy Tests In Bahamas
http://sightings.com/politics6/testbaham.htm


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