By Andrea O’Ferrall
We had our final anti-cruise action for the 2022 season on October 1st. It was a team effort, with members of 350 Seattle, Extinction Rebellion and Seattle Cruise control taking part. I brought dolphin and orca costumes, a sound system and words to share. Will brought signs and banners. Bridgid, Josh and Sandra came in their Red Rebel Costumes. Others, some new to activism and some old hands were there to speak out against cruises and speak up for life on earth. Some that couldn’t make it in person were there in their words I shared.
The Red Rebels led us, walking at a slow, graceful pace. Group members lead us in chants — their voices booming the call.
No Jobs — on a dead planet.
No economy — on a dead planet.
No vacations — on a dead planet.
No cruises — on a dead planet.
One heckler yelled out, “get a job!” and I pointed out that it was Saturday and that we had jobs.
When we arrived at Pier 66, we spread out across the plaza and I began to speak. I had asked members of our group to share why they would be at a rally to end cruises. I went first.
I am here because I see clearly the connection between human behavior and the climate chaos we are experiencing. Our use of energy and resources has not been and is not sustainable. We are overloading earth’s systems to the tipping point. The natural disasters that are occurring with increasing frequency will not stop if we continue with business as usual. We need to stop destructive behaviors. Cruise ships could be an homage to the idea that bigger is better, that humans can go wherever they please and do whatever they please without regard to the ecosystems they are trampling. I am here to bring attention to the problem and end help people understand the danger we are in and the need to change course.
As I spoke, others passed out flyers with sea life facts and cruise harms.
Will- I am here for all of the people feeling hopeless in this world. I completely believe that action is the antidote to despair — that people working together can accomplish more than any one person thinks is possible. The climate and ecological crisis is a problem of mind-blowing complexity and the only way we can tackle such a problem is by acknowledging this and showing up to work towards a solution. This oppressive system that is killing us is perpetuated by a handful of people. I know that if we join all of our passion and creativity together to change this system, not only will a livable future for all be possible, but it will be unstoppable.
I would like folks to consider the product that is being sold to you when buying a cruise package. The promise of an escape to untouched nature in remote areas is a fabrication. Humans have been connected to the land since time immemorial and at present there is no part of the earth that is unaffected by our presence. It is the commodification of “pristine” natural beauty that has us destroying the very thing that we’re going to see.
We passed out flyers with the message that cruise passengers should enjoy their trip but please make it their last.
My name is Josh Holmes. I am of Cherokee, Basque, and Scottish descent and a member of the Cherokee Community of Puget Sound. I humbly ask that you consider my reasons for being here today:
I am here because we are living during a time of choice, the largest choice humanity has ever had to make. The choices we make now will determine whether or not human life will continue on this planet. Because we chose to disregard natural law, we are now learning nature is not forgiving. We have only just started to experience the disasters caused by our actions; this means our children and grandchildren will suffer even more than we will.
I am here because each of us has a choice and our choices will dictate how much suffering the generations to come will endure, or even if they will survive. I feel this responsibility deep in my heart, and I know many other folks do too. Our children’s survival depends on our actions and our choices right here, right now. Think of 7 generations in the past, and seven generations yet to come. What did your ancestors do? And what can you learn from them? What will you do for the 7 generations that come after you?
I am here because our survival is dependent on our cooperation with each other, on our ability to work together, to come together as one human family. To save ourselves we must stop hurting the earth and we absolutely must understand what we do to the earth we do to ourselves. The only way we will survive is to come together. One human family. Please remember we are not exempt from natural law. We are all relatives. All our relations.
A cruise offers fun and exciting activities, exotic locations, good food and drink, and servants that cater to your needs and desires. It is an opulent escape from the harsh and stressful realities of everyday life. It is luxury.
We are children of the earth, and as with all children there comes a time when we need to start acting like grownups. A grownup does not sacrifice fulfilling future needs for luxuries now; no, a grownup makes sure that what we will need in the future is saved and protected and preserved. But we are all still children of the earth and have a lot to learn.
The Red Rebels, in their striking costumes, drew attention in.
Rebecca– Why I am here at the cruise free Salish sea rally? The slogan “protect what you love” really speaks to me. I’ve lived in the Seattle area most of my life. The Salish Sea, especially the Puget Sound, has always struggled under the assault of industrial and maritime activity while I have lived here. Now we have added to that mega cruise ships that burn the dirtiest fuel not for essential services, but for luxury. Ships that not only contribute to global warming but intensify that damage to ecosystems and habitat of the Puget Sound.
Mega cruise ships are taking us in the wrong direction. We need to work to clean up the industrial pollution of the past, limit maritime activity and restore damaged habitat and ecosystems so that all beings — human and animal life — can thrive here.
Many people continued to go about their business. Passengers were disembarking worried about finding their rides to the airport. Others were preparing to go on their cruise, dropping off luggage, anxious to get in the right line and follow the correct procedure. Just like in every day life, folks are caught up in the moment, unwilling or unable to look at the disaster surrounding us with more looming ahead.
Bridgid– I am here today because I live in Seattle on the shores of the Salish sea. I believe that I — and all of us resident humans — have a deep responsibility to the health of the Salish Sea and the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest.
I’m passionate about the beauty and fragility of this unique marine environment, and know that the Salish Sea cannot stay healthy if mega-cruise ships plow its waters.
I am here as an Earth Being. We humans in our essence are Earth Beings and have no independent existence apart from the other Earth Beings — the plants, the fungi, the animals, and insects — the air, water and soil, and the living Earth itself. The other Earth Beings can survive without us, but we cannot survive without them. And this includes the marine phytoplanktons that provide 50% — 80% of the oxygen we need to breathe. Ocean pollution, warming and acidification threaten their survival. Cruise ships create an outsize portion of this pollution. And so cruise ships are part of what threatens our survival too.
After we shared our reasons for being there, we spread out across the plaza for the die-in. I shared the assorted comments that Seattle Cruise Control members had given at the Port Commissioner meeting on World Tourism Day. The Red Rebels walked silently through the fallen bodies showing their love, and rage, and grief.
When I finished sharing anti-cruise comments, I began to sing The People Gonna Rise Like Water, adapted for a cruise ship climate action. It was the signal for the die-in to end.
The people gonna rise like water
We’re gonna face this crisis now
I hear the voice of my great grandaughter
saying stop these cruise ships now.
Everyone rose up and joined in the song.
We followed the Red Rebels out of the plaza, chanting and singing and waving out signs. Just one group in a large movement making the necessary efforts to change people’s hearts and minds as others do their part to change laws and still others work on the transition off of fossil fuels.
As we left, a man leaning on a car got my attention. I could see that he and the man standing next to him had logos on their jackets, but in the flurry of activity I didn’t make out what they said.
“That was really well done,” he said. I smiled and gave him a heartfelt thank you as I joined the procession.
Andrea
October 2022
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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