marnee
Nevada, US

How long have you been a cyberactivist?

About five years.

Why did you become a cyberactivist?

During my first semester of graduate school, a new friend in the Hydrology department showed me a weekly on-line newsletter she received from Edie.net.  The purpose of the newsletter is to highlight certain environmental issues from around the globe.  It probably sounds naïve now, but at the time I didn't know that such a newsletter existed.  I was so impressed, I signed up immediately.  Edie was my first exposure to environmental activism in cyberspace, and since then I have incorporated on-line activism into my everyday life.  Typical of University experience, I learned as much from the people I met as I did from the classes I took.

I became a cyberactivist because the Internet is an excellent way to connect with people from different places and cooperate in pursuit of common goals.  I work hard to improve the political and physical environment in Nevada, but Reno is definitely not the epicenter of any international environmental movement.  Because the environment is the one thing that unites and sustains us all, I think it is responsible to learn as much as possible about important issues both in the U.S. and around the world.  I receive environmental news and information from a number of Internet sources including GRIST magazine, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Save Our Environment.org, World Resources Institute, Nevada Conservation League, and of course Greenpeace.  I use that information to supplement my own education and to provide a dedicated environmentalist perspective to interested friends and family members.  I also use that information to take action. Because of the Internet, I have been able to participate in campaigns that aim to protect endangered species, conserve wildlife habitat, keep snowmobiles out of Yellowstone National Park, prohibit drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, defend the U.S. Clean Air Act, improve clean water regulations, prevent the use of genetically modified crops, and address climate change.  As a cyberactivist, I can lend my voice to organizations whose values I share, and I can bring about change by joining forces with people who share my commitment to protecting the natural world.

What's your secret? How did you gather so many recruits?

Hmmm… What a great question. Is it my winning smile? My razor sharp wit? Shockingly, no. My secret is a devoted group of friends and a wonderful family. When I decided to join this campaign, I initially contacted about 130 friends and family members with information about the circumstances in Iceland. It took a long time to compose the e-mails and make the phone calls, but I thought it was important to convey to each person that their pledge mattered, and I took seriously the request by Greenpeace to avoid mass appeals. With the exception of one person, everyone who wrote back was enthusiastic about supporting Greenpeace, promoting tourism over whaling in Iceland, and helping me reach my goal. In fact, three friends told me that they did indeed have plans to visit Iceland within the next two years and were reconsidering their travel plans pending the outcome of the whaling situation. It made me realize, not for the first time, how fortunate I am to be surrounded by compassionate (and adventurous) people who recognize the importance of ecological stewardship. As time passed, I continued to add people to my list, and some of my friends even offered to forward the information to others who they knew would be interested. I then sent out a second e-mail to everyone thanking them for their support and updating them on the results of the pledge drive. Also, I threatened with bodily harm those who had not signed. Very effective! Really though, I think the people in my life know how passionate I am about the environment in general and about animal welfare in particular, and they were happy to make a difference by taking the Icelandic whales pledge.

If you could create a banner about whaling and hang it anywhere in the world, what would it say and where would you hang it?

There is a common Japanese expression that is used to account for human behavior and cultural phenomena: "It can't be helped." My banner would hang at Tsukiji, the Great Tokyo Fish Market, and it would include a graphic image of a whale killed by men. It would say: "It can be helped. Don't eat whales."

Why do you want to stop Iceland from whaling?

I want to stop Iceland from whaling because I respect the right of whales to live a dignified life unhindered by human exploits. I stand in due awe at the evolutionary process that gave rise to their ancestors and continues to mold them today. I do not believe that human beings stand atop some imaginary pyramid of importance and authority. I do believe, however, that human beings have a unique consciousness and with that consciousness comes responsibility. It is the responsibility of those who are fortunate to exercise restraint and to ensure that all creatures, but especially large animals and predators, are not only spared extinction, but are given a chance to thrive in their natural habitat. The tragic reality, however, is that the pressures of human population and consumption continue to hasten the demise of one species after another. Because we humans are accountable to noone but ourselves, it is often a matter of ease and convenience that we choose to exploit animals rather than protect them. I want to save the lives of whales because they deserve to survive, and they need our help.

In addition to these philosophical motives, there are scientific reasons to be concerned about commercial whaling. Every species on Earth is part of a dynamic ecosystem that exists as an experiment by nature to establish and sustain a delicate balance between life and death. It is the membership of each type of plant and animal that ensures the persistence of all the others. Mutually beneficial relationships exist between predator and prey, and disruptions to one population will oftentimes trigger an adverse response in the system. For example, marine biologists in the north Pacific found that the decimation of whales 50 years ago by Japanese and Russian whaling fleets caused a long-term collapse in the food chain that has affected the populations of Alaskan seals, sea lions, and otters. Continued whaling by Iceland could lead to similar problems in nearby waters.

Another reason to protect whales is global biodiversity. The world is losing species to extinction at a record pace, and large mammals are particularly at risk. When a species dies, the world has forever lost the unique product of millions of years of adaptation, and when that extinction takes place by the hand of man, then the natural selective process has been superceded by egotism. The subjective importance attached to the existence of individual species varies from person to person, but I want to stop Iceland from whaling because, for me, the intrinsic value of whales is immeasurable. I do not wish to live in a world of artificial monocultures, whether it is in the high desert of northern Nevada or on the cold seas around Iceland.

In order to flourish, any given animal species must maintain a minimum number of individuals to ensure genetic diversity sufficient to deflect disease and undesirable traits. If the population dips below this threshold, then the species is at risk of inbreeding at least and of extinction at most. At the same time, it is desirable for a species to maintain a minimum number of individuals in order to cope with food shortages and environmental disturbances to their habitat. Iceland announced in 2002 that it intends to hunt minke, fin, and sei whales. According to the World Conservation Union, fin and sei whales are endangered, and North Atlantic minkes are near-threatened. How many whales will be killed before Iceland is satisfied? An argument could be made in support of sustainable harvests, but no such model has been proven to work in the long run, and the Asian market appears insatiable. It's important to convince Iceland to stop whaling so that whale populations in the north Atlantic have a chance to recover.

Why Iceland? Iceland managed to refrain from whaling for 13 years, which shows that they are willing to cooperate and capable of desisting. Of the countries that kill the most whales, (Japan, Norway, and Russia/U.S.S.R being the other three) Iceland has traditionally killed the fewest. Perhaps an example could be made of Iceland. If Iceland replaces whaling with tourism, then at least part of the supply will diminish, and whale lives will be spared. Iceland could be the poster child for a successful transition from economic dependence on resource exploitation to economic dependence on resource conservation. I think it's possible for one government, for one country, to make a difference in the international arena. In light of recent news that Norway intends to triple the number of whales killed each year, it is especially important for other nations to exhibit solidarity in opposition to commercial whaling. Who knows, if Iceland stops whaling, then maybe Norway would reconsider its position, and maybe there would be enough pressure on Japan to comply with international rules.

In the end, I want to stop Iceland from whaling for all of these reasons. I believe it's the right thing to do. I value their presence on this earth, and I love knowing that they are out there. I believe in ecological stewardship. Human beings are the source of accelerated extinction rates of other species, and only human beings can choose to curtail the decline. I believe that variety is the spice of life and that my own life is richer because whales are living in the oceans. And finally, I believe that Iceland can be convinced to change its collective mind.

Why do you want to sail on a Greenpeace ship?

Every time I think about the possibility of me sailing on a Greenpeace ship, I can't help but smile. I think of the story I wrote when I was nine years old about a young girl who rallied her neighborhood friends to go pick up the trash in the park one summer day. I think about a report I wrote in the 7th grade in which I discussed mountain lions and listed the reasons they should not be hunted. I think about the first time I heard that members of Greenpeace put themselves in harm's way. I think about all the things I've done as an adult to try and limit the impact of human beings on the planet. And I think about how happy I am to have discovered the thing that ignites my passion and gives me focus. I want to sail on a Greenpeace ship because I greatly admire Greenpeace, and I'd really like to make a difference. I want to contribute my time and efforts to this cause, and I'd like to share the experience with interesting, zealous people who will, without a doubt, make a significant impact on my life.

Yes, a few times.

Feel free to add any other reason why you think you're the right person to represent our cyberactivist community on board the Esperanza:

First of all, I have to believe that, based on their recruiting efforts thus far, each of the other four people who are competing for this bunk are talented, enthusiastic individuals who would be outstanding representatives of Greenpeace's cyberactivist community on board the Esperanza. However, I really, really want to go! If you are looking for a person who is dedicated and well informed, always eager to learn, adventurous, well spoken, and brunette, then look no further. I'm originally from New Mexico, then southern California, and now Nevada. I love rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, sea kayaking, and camping. I give pretty bad haircuts, but I'm an excellent cook. I travel, near or far, at every opportunity. I have just finished a Master's degree in Environmental & Natural Resource Science at the University of Nevada, and I am just about finished with a Master's degree in Environmental Policy. My science degree focused on water issues, chemical pollutants, ecology, and conservation biology. My policy degree has focused on environmental law, international environmental policy, and policy-making in the U.S. The title of my current thesis is: "A Scathing Indictment of George W. Bush's Environmental Policy."

Please consider two additional factors when making your decision about this campaign. First, I live in the high desert of northern Nevada. I am utterly landlocked, with no whales in sight, and yet I care very deeply about this issue. And I am not alone. I think it would make an interesting story to have a desert native represent Greenpeace during a campaign about commercial whaling. It would also provide an excellent opportunity to emphasize the effectiveness of large-scale cyberactivism in this modern world. Second, I live in the United States. Since the argument on which this campaign is based centers on the promotion of wilderness over the sale of whale products, it makes sense to select an individual who comes from a country with plenty of available tourist dollars, and one that opposes commercial whaling. Adventure tourists from the U.S. spend more than anyone else in the world, so it makes sense to appeal to them for serious consideration of an Icelandic vacation.

But wait! Here's what others have said about my ability to represent Greenpeace's cyberactivist community on board the Esperanza:

"I have been close friends with Marnee Benson for about 25 years. In that time, I have seen many character traits and skills that would make her the best choice for the Esperanza. Marnee has tremendous focus in setting and achieving her goals. I can think of no instance involving her education, her career, or her sport activities in which she did not excel. What's more, Marnee brings joy, spark, and laughter to interpersonal relationships. Put simply, the voyage would be a lot of fun with her on board. Finally, Marnee has worked hard to launch a career in environmental activism, and I believe she would use her experiences on the Esperanza to energize others to fight for environmental causes." - Shirley Brothwell, Washington, D.C.

"I believe that Marnee Benson is by far the best candidate for the Greenpeace campaign to stop commercial whaling in Iceland. She has always been the most devoted person to the environment that I have ever known. Even as a child, she showed a great interest in the environment and it's creatures. Not only is she extremely dedicated, she has a passion for protecting the environment that exists as strongly in very few people. She has also done much work to influence and convince others to treat the environment with the utmost respect. My entire life I have memories of Marnee explaining to me and other family and friends why it is important to do things one way and not another because it is best for the environment. Thanks to Marnee, it has been ingrained in my head to conserve water. Also, I never knew how awful certain weed killing chemicals were for nature until she explained it to me. Because I trust her and believe her information to be 100% fact, I no longer use weed killer, I no longer use an abundance of fresh water for daily chores, and I have begun recycling among other environmental friendly practices. Most importantly, the point I'd like to make is that her life dream is to be involved in a project such as this. I think she would be a real asset to Greenpeace, and I know she would make a big difference on board the Esperanza. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering Marnee for the Greenpeace campaign to stop Icelandic whaling." - Anna Mesiti, New Mexico

"There are many reasons that in the five years that I have known Marnee Benson, she has become one of my closest friends. Marnee has a great deal of regard for preserving our environment and the utmost concern for the well being of animals. She is organized, highly educated and well informed. She is gregarious, charismatic, creative and fun to be around. She is a superb listener that offers sound unbiased advice. And very importantly, she is honest and extremely conscientious about her actions. Greenpeace would be honored to have her represent the cyberactivist community on board the Esperanza to promote tourism over commercial whaling in Iceland." -Laura Zirelli, Nevada

Lastly, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to work on this campaign and for the opportunity to earn a bunk on the Esperanza. If I am chosen to represent the Greenpeace cyberactivist community on this voyage, I promise I'll do a great job, and I can assure you that it would be an experience I will never forget.