Knitting for Dolphins

Concerned citizens knitting for dolphins can
be reached at: dolphinknitters@gmail.com

Knitting for Dolphins makes national media splash!

Jan Bailey, of Bainbridge Knitting For Dolphins, was quoted in
the Sunday, Feb 25, Washington Post! Read it here.

The word is spreading. So is the support.

Hello Dear Knitters,

From the other side of the nation here in the Northeast, we thank you for doing what you are doing on behalf of the dolphins in the Northwest; and we salute you for using knitting as an integral part of your social statement and vital, ongoing work. May there be peace in every stitch passed through hearts to hands...and in the very fibers of being in every knitter and dolphin.

Keep on knitting in peace.

Susan Bourne, KnittingAllTogether, Vermont

Public Scoping Meeting
Keyport, WA, March 27, 2007

Everyone was surpised by the structure of the “meeting” our Navy offered. To quote one attendee, “It was more like a series of infomercials with slick talking heads at each station.” We were surrounded by armed military dressed in camies and well-manicured prefessionals standing behind name tags. This was supposed to be about keeping dolphins warm.

Pictures and info are still coming in on the "public scoping meetings" of March 27 and 28. Stay tuned. An Associated Press article, triggered by those meetings, circled the planet today (March 29). See one example among hundreds from the UK Guardian here.

Dolphin with acoustic
tracking device

• Why are people across the nation knitting sweaters, hats, and mittens for flippers to keep dolphins warm?

Because the U.S. Navy is proposing to use Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (currently held in the Pacific waters of San Diego) to protect the Bangor submarine base (not far from Seattle) from surface or submerged swimmers. Short of a dolphin 'wetsuit', such life-enhancing apparel would be a symbolic gift for the proposed drafted-dolphins who are used to a much sunnier and warmer climate. To learn more, you can read one article from the science department at USA Today: click here

• Why is it bad to bring bottlenose dolphins to Pacific Northwest waters?

Because bottlenose dolphins don't live in the Pacific Northwest for a reason ... perhaps first and foremost ... it's too cold! Regardless of what type of ways the Navy proposes to try to keep the dolphins warm, the fact is that the dolphins will still have to swim in the water that will likely be many degrees colder than what they have adapted to live in. If they survive the transport (which is inarguably life-threatening and stressful) and if the Navy can keep them alive (would we ever really know?), being alive doesn't mean that they won't suffer - perhaps daily.

• What alternatives are there?

Many ... even the Navy has acknowledged and suggested other alternatives in their proposal.

Thanks knitters!

• Is this a joke?

We think it's more of a tragic irony - and not nearly as preposterous as being expected to believe that dolphins can be transported and kept humanely alive in such relatively frigid waters. When the people say animals and humans "do very well" because they don't die, that doesn't mean they may not be suffering unbearable cruelty.

• Is this a formal group?

No, its just an informal connecting of women, men, teens, and children in the Pacific Northwest who want to make a heartfelt gesture to protect dolphins - and the natural environment as a whole.

• How can people help prevent this from happening?

1) Comments can also be submitted by phone, mail, fax or e-mail until April 11 to:

     Commanding Officer
     Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center
     Attn: Mike Rothe 235,
     53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152,
     phone (888) 510-5476, FAX (619) 221-5251, e-mail NBKEIS@spawar.navy.mil.

2) Bring your comments and attend one or both of the public meetings that will be held in Keyport on March 27 and Seattle on March 28.

(The Keyport meeting will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Naval Undersea Museum, Highway 308 at Garnet Way. The Seattle meeting will be the same hours at Holiday Inn, 211 Dexter Ave.).

Even if you've never picked up a knitting needle and ball of yarn (wool works better when wet), now may be the time! No one will know the difference as long as you look industrious and have good intentions. So please don't be shy and so please feel free to join us at the public meetings that will be held. If you plan on attending or would like more information, please send an email at: dolphinknitters@gmail.com

If knitting is not your thing, we certainly understand. We would love to see you there anyway!

N E W S       (Find a more thorough listing of media coverage here)

There was a surge of news after the two "public scoping" presentations by the Navy on March 27 & 28, 2007. Here are just two example. See more here.
Navy's dolphins, sea lions security plan hotly debated
King 5 TV / Associated Press March 28, 2007 Read more.   includes two good video segments
Navy gets earful on plan to use dolphins for security
reported by KOMO's Kevin Reece & News Services Mar 28, 2007 Read more.   Page includes video segment

 the biggest newspaper in Norway 
USAs marine vil bruke delfiner som undervannsvakter. Dyrevernere hisser seg opp.
KJETIL OLSEN Først publisert: 29.03.07
Susan Scheirman, en av mange kritikere, sier rett ut at dette er dyreplageri. Read more.

Knitting women unite to keep Navy dolphins warm
Mar 2, 2007
By Bryan Johnson
A group of women gathered Friday at the Bainbridge Island Senior Center. They are part of a knitting group growing across the United States. It only It looks like a knitting club. This is much more than knit one, purl two. This is politics. Read more and watch video clip.

Something Fishy: Knitting for dolphins
Posted by Sarah van Schagen
Grist Magazine, WA - Mar 2, 2007
But that be enough reminiscing for now. Let's move on to more recent headlines, like, oh, say, "Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins." I kid ye not. Read more.

Knitters Hope to Needle Navy Into Forgoing New Dolphin Plan

They say efforts to make cold-weather apparel for the mammals are just as absurd as plans to bring them to Bangor.

Kitsap Sun
Sunday, February 28, 2007
By Ed Friedrich  Read more.

Protestors Knit Sweaters For Navy Dolphins
CBS 2 - KCAL 9 - Southern California
Feb 28, 2007
See AP story in context here

Marked for Duty
Navy Pursues Dolphin, Sea Lion Patrols in Puget Sound
By Blaine Harden  Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 25, 2007; Page A03
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. -- If they are allowed to police parts of Puget Sound, this is how Navy-trained dolphins and sea lions are expected to nab terrorists in wetsuits... read more

Ludicrous dolphin plan shows we are scared silly
feature-length article, Sunday Seattle Post Intelligencer,
February 18, 2007,
By Brenda Peterson,
complete article here.

Navy seeks to deploy dolphins to protect Kitsap base
By Associated Press
Feb 13, 2007
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Dozens of dolphins and sea lions trained to detect and apprehend waterborne attackers could be sent to patrol a military base in Washington state, the Navy said Monday.   read more

Navy Eyes Bottlenose Dolphins for Bangor Security Force
By Ed Friedrich, efriedrich@kitsapsun.com
February 12, 2007
BANGOR
The Navy is proposing to use California sea lions and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins to protect the Bangor submarine base from surface or submerged swimmers.   read more

Department Of Defense Official Public Notice

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Swimmer Interdiction Security System (SISS) at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Kitsap County, WA, and Announce Public Scoping Meetings   read more

Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins
USA Today,   read more

U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program
Ahem... quoting ..."The Navy's Marine Mammal Program is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, an international organization committed to the care and conservation of marine mammals. Accreditation by the Alliance means this facility meets or exceeds all the standards of excellence for marine mammal care, husbandry, conservation and education." http://spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/

I mean like really now, what's next?

Hmmmmm. Tune up and sing along

Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action endorses the efforts of Knitting For Dolphins. For three decades Ground Zero has resisted the nuclear weapons arsenal at the Bangor Naval Base on Hood Canal in Washington State. Ground Zero owns land adjoining the base. Many members are now learning to knit.