Jim SpearsEnvoying Whales
October 20th 2008 13:43
After a year of searching, five months of exciting rumours Sandy Hollway has been officially unveiled as Australia's Whaling Envoy. With a resume including the Sydney Olympics and Cyclone Larry recovery Sandy Hollway's diplomatic skills continue to pave the way to his success. Although not quite as attractive as the name Sandy suggests he might still taste glory.
Lucrative contracts established between The Whales and Australians have brought mutual satisfaction over decades with whale watching enterprises forming a healthy chunk of Australian GDP. The appointment of former Hawke Chief of Staff, Hollway is not surprising *wink* but he has no delusions about the size of his task saying "I think we might be past the point where the definition of success is a complete halt [to whaling]" Hollway's realistic assessment is sure to be raised in "talks" with The Whales in coming weeks.
Out in the ocean there has been caustic optimism, Claude the humpback "If we have to spend another season swimming for our lives your little envoy might not mean much. Sure we feel safe now but safety is a seasonal concern for us."
Reports of anti-human sentiment among whales continue to linger but Claude was philosophical "The goal is to make the world a peaceful place...I'd say to [whales] that an anti-human stance is counter-productive being pro-whale means being pro-human...it is time for old prejudices against land based mammals to be forgotten."
An undercurrent of fear is obvious as one whale, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "All day, all night. Explosive tipped weapons. These guys are learning. I'm edgy, nervous all the time. To hear it will be this way forever is frustrating." 29,000 lbs of frustrated edginess is frightening in any environment.
Face to face meetings have been delayed and early talks will be song based to guarantee the safety of all participants. Combating the groundswell of anger among ordinary whales will be the first test of Hollway's diplomatic skills.
Lucrative contracts established between The Whales and Australians have brought mutual satisfaction over decades with whale watching enterprises forming a healthy chunk of Australian GDP. The appointment of former Hawke Chief of Staff, Hollway is not surprising *wink* but he has no delusions about the size of his task saying "I think we might be past the point where the definition of success is a complete halt [to whaling]" Hollway's realistic assessment is sure to be raised in "talks" with The Whales in coming weeks.
Out in the ocean there has been caustic optimism, Claude the humpback "If we have to spend another season swimming for our lives your little envoy might not mean much. Sure we feel safe now but safety is a seasonal concern for us."
Reports of anti-human sentiment among whales continue to linger but Claude was philosophical "The goal is to make the world a peaceful place...I'd say to [whales] that an anti-human stance is counter-productive being pro-whale means being pro-human...it is time for old prejudices against land based mammals to be forgotten."
Anonymous Whale #1
Face to face meetings have been delayed and early talks will be song based to guarantee the safety of all participants. Combating the groundswell of anger among ordinary whales will be the first test of Hollway's diplomatic skills.
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