MasterCards for marine mammals

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


For anti-whaling protestors in Washington state, the buzz is gone. Last year, those decrying the Makah tribe’s annual whale hunt found themselves awash in publicity, sparking a national debate. This year, the animal activists are back, according to the SEATTLE TIMES — but the media is gone. “The implied message is it’s OK for the Makahs to take a whale,” claims Keith Johnson, president of the Makah Whaling Commission.

Help for the activists, however, is on its way from an unlikely source. The anti-whaling camp made an Internet plea for concerned citizens to call up Olson’s Resort in Sekiu, Wash., and charge a donation for food and fuel to their credit cards. (“Unlike the Makah whalers, we can’t run begging to the federal government for tax dollars,” wrote one protester.) Surprisingly, a resort spokesperson said that about 10 donors had called thus far, “mostly people who just got back from whale-watching trips and really loved the whales.” That’s good for the whales, but not for protest-weary Makahs like Johnson. He says, “I can understand many, many people’s opinion of not wanting us to hunt the whale … I would ask those people if they would just leave us alone, just leave us alone.”

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate