New Year, New Perspectives

Dear lovers of whales,

We are all saddened by the recent death of the young whale off our Long Beach shore. Some of us are convinced offshore wind projects are to blame; others—not so much.

I’m convinced the main threats to whales are ship and boat props, fishing and netting gear, and climate change.

On one side, does NIMBY color our perspective? Conversely, are there counter-scientific results that might give credence to sonar threats to whales?

Years ahead, after further scientific investigation and replication, we can look back and have a clearer picture.

Many of us are convinced—our side—is correct.

But history is full of convinced people who later become unconvinced of their certainties. So, let’s all keep an open mind.

As we welcome this new year, it is most important that we see ourselves as stewards of all wildlife.

We should support conservation efforts whenever we can: clean shores, safe forests, clean air, and clean water. We mammals can and need to protect each other and all beings with which we share this blue planet.

Thank you, and Happy New Year,

Be well,
Leebythesea