SKAALVIKFJORD, Norway (6 Sep 2002) -- As the world's ecological equivalent of Osama Bin Laden, the last thing Norway needs is a home-grown, publicity-seeking scientist with a PhD and no common sense provoking another round of hostility against its defiance of the international ban on commercial whaling. So when Norwegian whale expert Nils Oeien casually suggested killing Keiko, the famous killer whale that has come to symbolize conservation throughout the world, Norway's Fisheries Ministry rushed out a press release to assure the world that it most definitely was not in the business of killing orcas, especially one whose "crime" is a fondness for the human species, a sentiment that few, if any humans, would share. "Killing Keiko is not an option," stammered a visibly upset Dag Paulsen, a spokesman for the Norwegian Fisheries Ministry who declined to confirm rumors that a gag order had been slapped on Oeien. There's another problem and it's a familiar one: Too many humans. Hundreds of enthusiastic Keikophiles have descended on the fjord where Keiko arrived a few days ago after a one-month, one-thousand mile swim from Iceland and authorities fear thousands of people will show up over the weekend to "interact" with their favorite Hollywood superstar. Meanwhile, "Free Keiko" staff members continue to urge the public to leave Keiko alone but local business interests in Skaalvikfjord appear to be more interested in capitalizing on the presence of a Hollywood star than cooperating with conservationists. | | Keiko's happy, the kids are happy, Norway's whaling officials are NOT happ Within 48 hours of Keiko's arrival, enterprising commercial tour boat operators had already launched "Free Willy" safaris and now high-priced whale watching boats (anything that floats) constantly surround the world's biggest (literally) superstar. Still, it could be worse. Imagine the crowd control problems if Keiko had decided to kick back in that other whaling country. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
