it's a wonderful world.: March 2012

Newman grabs the microphone and directs a joke at the Greens “ah the reason the buses take so long is because all the bikes are blocking the roads” ....oh fuck off newman. I just want to cry. To shoot him. To call rape. Anything to bring this evil man down. The red nosed old fatty behind me is cheering him on and the very young liberal in his very old mans suit laughts along. suddenly i find myself hating them too. Hating all of them. Hating myself for flying all the way from Melbourne to try and make a positive impact in this fucked up world. Newman will win and I”ll be hating some other newman like devil running for premier in some other unfortunate part of the world. This is my life as a campaigner. And occasionally I wonder if I’m just as brainwashed as the man taking bribes from the ‘manipulative –best mate of the guy who has ‘nothing’ to do with anything bad’.

This though passes quickly as I look at the people around who are supporting me who radiate kindness, selflessness and passion for equality and acting out for what’s right. They work seven days a week for minimum wage just because they know its what’s right.

How do we know? Because we’re not being bribed and I personally have nothing to gain. We do it for love. We do it because its right to stand up for lives that can’t speak for themselves. Rivers. Plants. Ecosystems. Anybody who’s ever stood in the middle of one of the worlds old growth forests will know what I mean when I say those trees are worth more than you or I. That smell, the smell of tranquillity and oneness with the nature can’t be found anywhere else. The sound of hundreds of years of progression, everyday working hard to capture light, water and nutrients to become the home of so many animals and the backbone of the ecosystems that enable life on earth.

This is why I’m in Brisbane defending wild rivers.

This is why you should put your hand up for that which is bigger and more important than you, because without it, there is no you, me, us or them.

There’s only the silence of despair.

Interview with Libby Miller from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

1. Can you tell us a little about how you got involved in Sea Shepherd and what influenced you to make the decision to leave your stable life? (and what it was you were giving up?)

I've always dreamed of saving the oceans; dolphins and whales have been my passion since I was a tiny girl. Living in Seattle, which has such a magnificent ocean atmosphere, I was able to get involved with lots of different groups and people that are working toward the protection of our natural environment. In early 2010, I took a course to become a certified marine naturalist and through that course I started meeting Sea Shepherd people (the course was offered at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington which is where SS is headquartered). In November of 2010, I went to Japan to serve as a volunteer Cove Guardian for SS and after three weeks was asked to serve as the Campaign Leader for the remaining three months of the dolphin slaughter season. SS offered me my dream and after much agonizing, I decided that I simply could not say no to this opportunity. If I had, I know I would have deeply regretted it.

2. Why Sea Shepherd and not another environmental organisation?

SS is headquartered near my hometown of Seattle and I was friends with many of their people. Although I was involved with other groups, SS was the organization that offered me the opportunity to go to Japan and then continue on with them by joining the M/Y Steve Irwin.

3. What was life like on the Steve Irwin?

Life on the Steve Irwin was incredibly rewarding and incredibly difficult; the work is very physical and strenuous and the hours are long. But the exhaustion is worth it because, for me, I thrive when I'm working for something that means the world to me. I strongly believe in the protection and conservation of the oceans and I'm willing to do what it takes to make that happen. The Steve offers such a nurturing environment; being surrounded by like-minded activists is an experience like no other.

4. Was it all enjoyable or where there times when you just wanted to be on land.

For the most part, it was all enjoyable. Of course, the couple times I was sea sick were a nightmare but I never had a desire to be off the ship. The day I left the Steve was one of the hardest of my life.

5. Do you have any regrets? maybe missing the dog?

Sometimes I wonder if I was insane to leave the amazing life I had in Seattle. There are times when I do miss what I had: a loving husband, a nice home, a great career, a dog and two cats that meant the world to me. I do sometimes long for that stable environment but then I remember all the things I've experienced in these past two years and I remember the cause; the reason I'm out here fighting, and I realize that I truly did make the right decision.

6. Can you tell me a little about the book you're writing and when its going to be released?

The book I'm writing is about the past two years of my life, which have consisted of full time activism. It covers a bit about my past and some things that happened to push me in the direction I went. It also details the ultimate decision to leave my life in Seattle and pursue activism. A release date hasn't yet been set but it will be sometime this year.

7. The Sea Shepherd was in melbourne this weekend? Can you tell me a bit about what It's like for the people on the ship finally coming into port?

I've never done an Antarctic campaign so I don't know what it's like to be at sea for 80+ days straight. But I know that coming into port in the Mediterranean was always exciting because we went to some fantastic countries that I might not have had the opportunity to see otherwise. We went to Spain, Scotland, France, Italy. We sailed the Straight of Gibraltar and saw Morocco and the Hebrides Islands. Coming into port and getting to spend some time on land in a foreign country is like no other experience in the world.

8. What are the main challenges the organisation faces? do you feel like you're making progress?

There are many challenges that all environmental NGO's face. Raising funds is always a big issue but fortunately, there are many people out there that are willing to support these organizations. Education is another big one; there is a large portion of the population that doesn't believe that over-fishing is an issue or that killing whales, dolphins, sharks, etc. is something that is wrong. Adults are typically so set in their ways and I strongly feel that the education of the next generation is what is truly going to make a difference in the environmental movement. I do feel that progress is being made, however. When I was younger there really wasn't much of a movement at all and the people that were out there doing it, like Captain Paul Watson, were considered radical. There's now a large movement and people are aware of the issues and I believe that most are genuinely trying to make a change.

9.How can people get involved and help?

There are so many ways for people to get involved. Extreme life changes and putting yourself physically on the front line are not necessary and depending on the person, those measures may not be appropriate. I really have no responsibilities (children, etc) so for me, I enjoy being out in the field and actively fighting despite the danger. But sometimes people underestimate the power of online petitions, emailing and calling to express your opinion, etc. Most NGO's are always looking for good people to get involved in all aspects.

10. What was the most amazing moment of your time so far with the organisation? Any interesting moments?

There have been so many interesting and amazing moments; so many experiences and opportunities. These past two years have been the best of my life. It is a difficult way of life, there is no doubt, but I find that it's worth it for me. I gave up a lot but I've gained so much more. One day in the Mediterranean, we launched a small inflatable boat to approach several tuna fishing vessels. The fishermen became very aggressive toward us and were throwing chunks of metal at us and hitting us with their water cannon. It was a very intense situation and there was a moment when things moved into slow motion for me and I thought to myself: "I'm here. I'm really here doing this. My life is in danger right now and I wouldn't change it for the world."

11. Do you get frustrated with those who hunt the whales and dolphins?

It's hard to not get frustrated when people refuse to see why killing dolphins and whales is wrong. However, I know that the 'other side' also gets frustrated with activists for not seeing their side of the story. What needs to be remembered by everyone is that each country does something horrific to animals and the planet that they should be ashamed of. It's not one country wreaking havoc; it's humans. The fact that I'm against whaling and dolphin killing does not mean that I am against Japan. I lived in Japan and it was the most amazing country I have been to. I loved being in Japan and I miss the country and the people. Most people don't realize that the United States is also a whaling nation; our indigenous people still whale in the far north. Australia fins sharks in the Great Barrier Reef and serves shark fin in restaurants around the country. The bottom line is that every country has a dirty little secret.

12. Do you think you'll go back to your life in The States?

At this point, I have no plans to return to the States in the next couple of years. I'm sure at some point I'll go back to visit family but I don't intend to live there again for quite some time yet. However, I do deeply miss Seattle; it is such a magical place and it will forever be in my heart.