Putting People First / October 10, 1994 ======================================= 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 (406) 442-5700 Fax (406) 449-0942 ===================================================================== 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.