JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

2019 Salish Sea Shared Waters Forum

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Thu, November 14, 2019 • 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST

Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel & Conference Center
714 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229

In 2018, Washington State passed the Strengthening Oil Spill Transportation Act (E2SSB 6269) requiring the Department of Ecology (Ecology) Spills Program to take a variety of new steps to promote the safety of marine transportation and protect the greater Puget Sound from oil spills. One of the Act’s requirements is for Ecology to coordinate with British Columbia and Canada to establish the Salish Sea Shared Waters Forum.

The purpose of the Forum is to exchange information to enhance oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response measures to minimize the risk and impacts of spills in the Salish Sea. The Forum will serve as a platform for open dialogue for all levels of government from both sides of the border, including Transport Canada, the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, Tribes and First Nations, environmental groups, and industry. It will address issues such as navigational safety, data sharing, and the impacts of spills on the environment, Tribal and First Nation resources, the economy, and public health. This Forum will provide a platform to discuss and share ideas on these and other issues related to vessel traffic.

The goal is to advance our collective knowledge about current policies and practices, and potential safeguards to protect our shared waters and resources. The Forum will be a non-voting and non-decision-making entity.

The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, of which Washington and British Columbia are founding members, will work with Ecology and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to establish and hold the Forum.

This event will be free and open to the public. Please visit the Task Force website for additional information. www.oilspilltaskforce.org

Agenda here.

Register here

“Boats on the Water”  SAVE THE DATE!  

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Blaine Marine Park, Blaine, WA.

Please save the date and include this as the concluding event for the other events being planned for Climate Action Week and the Season of Creation at the end of September.  “BOATS . . . ” is a gathering, led by the Tribes/Nations of the Pacific Northwest, to call attention to the imperative to restore and protect the Salish Sea.  More details to come.

Liberation for Sk’aliCh’et–tenaut – Lummi Nation

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Press conference at an inter-tribal gathering announcing the intention to sue Seaquarium and its parent companies to secure the repatriation of Tokitae.

More Info:  Kurt Russo 360 312 2292 Lummi Nation and www.sacredsea.org

Until Lolita is Home is a grassroots movement that advocates for the retirement of Lolita the orca from the Miami Seaquarium. By raising awareness about Lolita (and ALL cetaceans in captivity) we hope one day Tokitae (her original name) will see her home waters again. We are an all- volunteer group with “members” located around the world.
Starting in May 2015, Until Lolita is Home (formerly Shut Down Palace) hosted rallies at dozens of locations in the United States and abroad, including the Miami Seaquarium and numerous other Palace Entertainment-owned sites.

Join the Until Lolita is Home Movement
www.facebook.com/UntilLolitaisHome
www.RetireLolita.com
http://josweb.co.uk/
UntilLolitaisHome@gmail.com
www.instagram.com/untillolitaishome
https://twitter.com/UntilLolitaHome

Penn Cove Orca Capture Commemoration

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The day will also include a waterside ceremony, a program including Howard Garrett and Susan Berta of Orca Network, and news from the Lummi Nation on new actions being taken for Tokitae. 

49 years ago over 100 Southern Resident orcas were herded into Penn Cove off Whidbey Island, WA.  Seven of the young whales were netted and delivered to marine parks around the world.  All but one had died by 1987. Originally named Tokitae, they now call her Lolita.  In memory of the nearly 40 Southern Resident orcas captured in Washington State, and the 13 orcas killed during the captures, and in honor of Tokitae, the sole survivor, Orca Network is sponsoring a series of events on Tuesday August 8th to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the 1970 Penn Cove Orca Capture.

Please join us as we commemorate the capture of Southern Resident orcas in Penn Cove and honor Tokitae/Lolita – the only survivor of those captures.

On Wednesday August 8th From 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm, we will be at the Coupeville Wharf with educational displays and information about Tokitae and the orca captures.

From 3:00 to 5:00 the Suva and Cutty Sark will provide ceremonial boat trips into Penn Cove. We’ll travel to the capture sites in Penn Cove for a wreath ceremony to remember the orcas killed in the captures, and those who have died in captivity. If you have your own boat or kayak you are welcome to join us in Penn Cove for a procession to the capture site. We’ll provide flowers and cedar sprigs to toss into the water, or you may bring your own flower or other eco-friendly offering to toss in the water during the ceremony.

Tickets for the boat trip are $75 and registration is available via the Registration button below. 

At 5:30 pm we will hold a program and waterside ceremony at the Coupeville Wharf including Howard Garrett and Susan Berta of Orca Network, and news from the Lummi Nation on new actions being taken for Tokitae.

At 6:00 pm we will honor Toki’s Southern Resident family with a vigil of remembrance for their recent losses and of hope for their recovery. Please join us at the Coupeville Wharf, or at a beach near you, and observe a moment of silence for the Southern Residents and for Tokitae.

After the Coupeville Wharf event, we invite those interested to a no-host gathering at the Captain Whidbey Inn lounge/deck. 

Register here.