SysOp's Arsenal/SysOp's Arsenal 1 (Arsenal Computer).ISO/govwatch/pp941010.txt

Text File | 1994-10-16 | 9KB | 201 lines

Putting People First / October 10, 1994
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Washington Report

FROM THE TRENCHES

by Kathleen Marquardt
Chairman, Putting People First

...A weekly opinion column about the struggle against "animal rights" and
   eco-extremists.

Copyright@1994 Putting People First
Permission to reproduce this column is freely granted on the condition that
credit is given to Putting People First.

Putting People First is a nonprofit organization of citizens who believe in
western civilization; that we need to return to common sense in man's
relationship with his fellow man; and that public policy should be based on
science and rationality, not emotionalism.

Putting People First
PO Box 1707
Helena, Montana 59624
[phone]
Fax [phone]

=====================================================================


MENTORING MALEVOLENCE



     Animal rights and Green extremist Rodney Coronado, who has been
on the run for over a year, was arrested last week on an Indian
reservation outside Tucson, Arizona.  And recently, Paul Watson of the
Sea Shepherd Society lost an appeal in Norwegian court and, along with
his wife Lisa DiStefano, is supposed to serve 120 days in jail.

     While Watson spent his time sinking fishing vessels and bragging to
the media about it, Rodney Coronado, suspected of spending his time
secretly bombing research laboratories, is quoted as saving he is the
one who actually sunk some of the vessels Watson took credit for.

     Both men are lawbreakers.  Both are doing their dastardly deeds "on
behalf of the animals."

     Watson had been Rodney Coronado's mentor.  In fact, Coronado got
his start on the Sea Shepherd II.  Sea Shepherd I, Watson's first boat,
was funded by a $120,000 gift from Cleveland Amory, the man famous for
the cat and the curmudgeon books, and $50,000 from Great Britain's Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

     Coronado claims that when he was 12 years old, he saw a film of
Greenpeacer Watson trying to stop a seal hunt, and "...immediately knew
that what I had to do, those were the people I wanted to work with and
that was the avenue that I wanted to take.  It was no bulls***, just
getting out there and doing what had to be done."

     Coronado and Sea Shepherd cohort, David Howitt, scuttled the
Icelandic whaling vessels that Watson took credit for --bragging that he
had done it and then daring Iceland authorities to do something about
it.  In taking about the planning of the sabotage in Iceland, Coronado
said that he and Howitt never had qualms about destruction of property,
that "direct,  decisive action was the only recourse."  He boasted, "it
was in defense of animals that were so above us in terms of morality
that they didn't have a sense of violence for the sake of violence.  We
had to deal with the humans..."

     Paul Watson, a rotund man who is very articulate and verbose, likes
to be in the limelight.  Coronado, although quite attractive, has stayed
in the background, quietly going about his business which, according to
the authorities, includes  charges of use of an unregistered explosive
device, theft and unlawful possession and destruction of government
property, interstate arson, and interference with commerce by threats of
violence.
          Both Watson and Coronado are lawbreakers who, in these times
of political correctness, are hailed as heroes.  Watson has received
standing ovations on television programs for telling about his criminal
activities.  He has been honored at universities.  He has been feted and
praised for his actions of sabotage.

     Coronado, on the other hand, has been praised but not as publicly.
Earth First Journal has given him lots of press, but because he does his
deeds in the dark of night and sneaks away, he doesn't get invited to do
the Today Show or be featured in People.

     According to the authorities in Norway, Watson and DiStefano were
sentenced to 120 days in prison for the attempt to scuttle the whaling
vessel Nybraena the day after Christmas, 1992.  Court papers note that,
"the way in which the accused had marketed the incident for the purpose
of propaganda is a particularly aggravating circumstances."

     New proceedings against Paul Watson will begin shortly in Norway
for several acts of piracy committed this year.  In January, Sea
Shepherd claimed responsibility for the attempted scuttling of the
fishing and whaling vessel, the Senet.  Then, this summer, the Sea
Shepherd vessel Whales Forever, rammed the Norwegian coast guard vessel,
the Andenes while it was attempting to make Whales Forever leave
Norwegian waters.

     Watson is also being charged with misusing the Mayday signal.  He
transmitted the emergency signal every hour in his flight towards
Shetland.  While signalling Mayday, Watson refused all offers of
assistance.

     Norway has asked U.S. officials to "take the necessary  steps to
bring Sea Shepherd's illegal activities to a halt."  A year ago, Putting
People First had petitioned Attorney General, Janet Reno, to have Watson
arrested in southern California on his way to Norway with the stated
purpose of sinking more whaling vessels.  Perhaps the U.S. will honor
the extradition treaty between U.S. and Norway, and turn Paul Watson
over to the Norwegian authorities.

     Rodney Coronado was indicted by a federal grand jury in Michigan
for the 1992 Animal Liberation Front (ALF) attack on research lab at
Michigan State University which destroyed 32 years research data and
caused $125,000 of damage.  According to federal authorities, Coronado
is a member of ALF, one of the FBI's top ten terrorists organizations.
     We at Putting People First as well as quite a few other
organizations have been calling for action against these pirates and
punks.  We met with attorneys from the Justice Department who basically
told us that one man's piracy was another man's legal recreation. In
other words, they were too busy to care about a few injured fishermen in
Norway, they had bigger fish to fry -- they are throwing people in jail
for failing the "glancing goose" test -- disturbing wetlands that are
often do arid as to be called deserts by the rest of us.

     So the crime sprees of Rodney Coronado and his mentor, Watson, may
soon come to an end.  But there will be young wanna-be terrorists to
take up the mantle.  At least, for a while, we should have a little
quiet -- if not peace.


GRASSROOTS RADIO

               IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING...

"Fantastic!"

     That's how John Crohan, president of the Talk America Radio
Network, summed up the premiere broadcast of Grassroots Radio hosted by
Kathleen Marquardt, which aired nationwide Oct. 3.

     Early feedback indicated that listeners agreed with Crohan as word
spread like a prairie fire across the country.  By the end of the week,
inquiries expressing interest in the show were beginning to come in from
radio stations nationwide.

     Response to Grassroots Radio is expected to mushroom this week when
Marquardt broadcasts live from the floor of the National Association of
Broadcasters Association in Los Angeles.  More than 3,000 station
managers are slated to attend that annual event.

     Grassroots Radio broadcasts live Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m.
EST, or may be rebroadcast on tape delay.  The show is available from
three communications satellites: C-5, Galaxy 6 and S-3.

     What sets Grassroots Radio apart is that is it more than a forum
for airing gripes.  Each program provides listeners with the means by
which they can take action and be part of the solution.

     Grassroots Radio is extending a Charter Advertisers' Package as
follows:

     *30-Second Commercials             *60-Second Commercials

     3x week/13 weeks  $ 65/spot        3x week, 13 weeks  $125/spot

     5x week, 13 weeks $ 55/spot        5x week, 13 weeks  $100/spot

     *For 26 weeks -  5% discount       *For 52 weeks - 10% discount

*    Advertisers committing to 26- or 52-week periods will be guaranteed
     the above Charter rates throughout those periods, no matter how
     many additional stations choose to pick up Grassroots Radio.


*    Product exclusivity will be considered for Charter Advertisers.

*    Marquardt will consider personal endorsements or narrating a
     commercial.

*    Charter advertisers may qualify for Bonus Spots for every spot
     purchased on other shows on the Talk America Radio Network.

     Organizations may also choose to make a tax deductible contribution
to the show.  As they wish, these contributors will be recognized for
their support during the show.

     Please urge a local radio station to pick up Grassroots Radio.
Stations need not be on the Talk America network to do so.  If your
local station is interested, give us the names and phone numbers of
those to contact at the station, and we will follow up.

For more information, call Harry Black, project coordinator at Putting
People First at 406/442-5700.