Can Environmental Activists Own 300-ft
Yachts and Private Jets?
November 26 - Seattle, WA
"OneWorld Challenge announced today
that they had joined with The Waterkeeper Alliance in an effort
to protect and restore the quality of the world's waterways,
and to preserve and protect the world's oceans from polluters.
Waterkeeper Alliance is the international umbrella organization
of over 90 Waterkeeper programs throughout North America, Latin
America and Europe. Waterkeepers patrol their waterways, respond
to citizen concerns, identify environmental problems and devise
appropriate remedies and advocate compliance with environmental
laws."
Tatoosh
Photo Latitude/Richard
On the surface, this might sound like a
good thing. If you look a little deeper, however, we think it
stinks. OneWorld gets its money from Craig McCaw and Paul Allen.
Three years ago, while on our annual New Year's working vacation
in St. Barts, we raced against McCaw, who raced his 118-ft daysailer
Extra Beat. We're friends with some of the crew, who told
us the family was staying ashore in a villa, and that the family's
private 727 was being kept in St. Kitts because it was too big
for the little strip at St. Barts. As we recall, Allen - or at
least his 200-ft motoryacht - was also there.
Two years ago, Craig and brother John were
back at St. Barts for New Year's, but with two new motoryachts.
One of them, Le Gran Bleu, was well over 300 feet. The
other, Tatoosh, was right about 300 feet. That year we
raced against Bellatrix, a new 72-ft boat that was carried
aboard Le Gran Bleu as deck cargo. Both Le Gran Bleu
and Tatoosh carried sportfishing boats, subs, and other
boats.
Last year, only Tatoosh, now owned
by Paul Allen, showed up for New Year's at St. Barts.
We don't have a problem with people making
a lot of money, and keeping the money in circulation by spending
it on boats and planes and stuff. However, we have no stomach
for individuals who could easily be considered guilty of wretched
excess - to say nothing of habits the environment can't possibly
sustain - pretending to take the high road on environmental issues
and preaching down to the rest of us. It's sort of like the Rev.
Jessie Jackson, having fathered a child out of wedlock and then
covered it up, giving spiritual guidance to President Clinton
after his dalliance with Monica. What incredible hypocrisy! Given
their ultra, ultra extreme consumptive lifestyles, if McCaw and
Allen want to donate to environmental causes, we suggest they
do so privately. (In fairness, it should be noted that Tatoosh
and Le Gran Bleu both were reportedly built to be operated
with minimum pollution.)
As for Waterkeeper Alliance, we think they
ought to be ashamed of themselves. No matter how badly you need
the money or support, sometimes it's best just to say 'no thanks'.
What do you think about this?
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