A proposal by The Human-Dolphin Foundation, Maui Hawaii, USA
in association with the Cetacean Studies Institute, Byron Bay, Australia

Conceived by Dr. John Lilly, M.D.,
Developed by Michael Bailey; Original Draft (Version 1.0) 6/4/93;
Version 2 by C. Scott Taylor (10/2/00)

The rights of man have slowly developed over the last few centuries. The rights that are enjoyed today in various countries have been defined and developed as laws. Past history teaches us that our rights evolved through certain stages; the unconscious acceptance of a lack of rights; the conscious awareness of the need for adequate expression of rights; formulation and definition of fundamental rights; the establishment of governmental and legislative structures by which rights become protected thru law.

As each group of humans, through its own experience, learned to feel its lack of sharing in the benefits of laws and their administration, each developed adequate spokesmen or spokeswomen for its cause. These individuals were either inside or outside the group needing relief.

This same situation can now be seen reflected in the lives of Cetaceans. Recognized as having brains which are in some ways more biologically complex than humans, and having complex social structures, languages and social behaviors which are also at least as complex as humans, the question arises:

The size and complexity of the Cetacean brain has been known for many years. Only recently has microscopic analysis shown that their cellular densities and connections are as large and complex as our own.

The future of many species of whales and dolphins is in question. The Baiji, or Yangtze River Dolphin, the Vaquita found in the Sea of Cortez, and the North Pacific Right Whale are but a few species whose chances of being completely exterminated from our earth, by both passive and active human-caused means, in the next two decades is almost a certainty.

To ensure the survival of the Cetaceans, in light of the continuous onslaught by human beings, it is essential that Cetaceans be recognized for what they truly are:
non-terrestrial intelligent lifeforms.

Lifeforms which do indeed have the same inherent rights that human beings have to survive and to live in peace.

To attain this goal, it is essential that the Cetaceans attain a status in human society in which they are recognized as the intelligent lifeforms they are.

Purposes of a Cetacean Nation:

1) To foster greater understanding of the minds and consciousness
of whales and dolphins;
2) To develop methods and technologies to enhance interspecies communications
between humans and cetaceans;
3) To gain recognition from the international human community
of the inalienable rights of cetaceans, which include:

-freedom to live in a healthy and clean environment
-freedom from mass specicide by human hands
-freedom to live in their aquatic world and nurture their young
-freedom to express their own thoughts on their future

These would include:

1) Development of communications and understanding between cetaceans
and humans- be it through modern acoustic technologies,
understanding of echolocation, possible holographic sound communications
or through concepts such as human-dolphin mind connections

2) Recognition of the need for Cetacean Nation representation in human
political and industrial society. This may be best begun by obtaining,
through signed statements of support from Non Governmental Organizations,
the general recognition for the need for Cetacean representation in the human world.

3) Organizing of electronic databases, libraries and international forums
for the advancement of communication studies between human beings
and cetaceans.

4) Worldwide distribution via the mass media, electronic communications networks
and through personal communications, current information on the technologies,
techniques and existing and past projects whose purpose has been to enhance
human-cetacean understanding and communications.

The eventual goal is to have cetaceans represented as a nation
within the framework of the United Nations. This goal will most likely only be fully
achieved once consistent communication links with any one
of the many species of whales or dolphins has been established.

Political & Legal Recognition

One possible series of steps involved with the gaining of recognition for cetaceans
within the United Nations would be:

Step 1) Recognition by individual human beings of the need for eventual
cetacean representation at the United Nations and other global forums;

Step 2) Gaining recognition, via letters and endorsements for the Cetacean Nation
from Non-Governmental Organizations and other geo-political groups;

Step 3) Gaining Non-Governmental Organization status for the Cetacean Nation
- initially represented by human beings as spokespeople;

Step 4) Recognition within human governments and within international conferences
and forums for the need to explore and research the possible methods of establishing
consistent communications with cetaceans so that they may receive the recognition
of deserved status;

Step 5) Recognition and validation of the Cetacean Nation through the passage of
resolutions at international conventions, conferences, or similar forums;

Step 6) Recognition, via letter or other endorsements, from one or more member
countries within the United Nations for such representation;

Step 7) Recognition of cetacean species as a nation and a separate group
of intelligent, sentient beings that should be afforded the fundamental rights
to survival and happiness in keeping with those afforded human beings
in modern democratic societies.

Achievement of Goals

The possibilities of this seven step plan being achieved are significant, providing there is sufficient interest and support from human beings who wish to accomplish these goals on behalf of our cetacean co-species.

To initiate this global endeavor, the wide base of dolphin communications studies and all forms of Human-Cetacean interaction needs to be consolidated, compiled and libraried in such a manner that researchers and laypeople may have access to the developments in these areas.

The Human/Dolphin Foundation library of information and materials is being consolidated, the Cetacean Studies Institute archives are now included, along with libraries of information garnered from others who have also engaged in Cetacean communications projects and endeavors.

All manner of Cetacean related research has been compiled, libraried and analyzed. This research and information includes:

- Scientific research papers

- Video, film and still photographic images of Cetacean activities

- Video, film and sound recordings of cetacean/human interactions

- Proven and possible usages of existing and future communication technologies

- Personal accounts and experiences of human/cetacean communications through the physical human body

- Personal accounts and experiences of human/cetacean communications through the mind

- Other cetacean communication research, observations, information and materials, including: oral histories from indigenous peoples; objects of the material cultures of peoples throughout history related to Human-Cetacean contact; the archives of whaling companies, activist groups and oceanographic organizations; and records from therapy programs conducted with Dolphins.

Cetacean databank and information center:

The Cetacean Studies Institute

Many of the current cetacean-human communication efforts are limited in their scope, due to their limitations in information availability.

For example- Lou HermanÕs students, at The Dolphin Institute, Hawaii, periodically publish scientific research papers on their communications studies, yet these studies are very seldom read by others who are conducting musical or acoustic interaction, or who are developing communications and interactions via swimming with cetaceans in their aquatic realms.

There are also people who are working towards engaging in mind-connections with dolphins and whales, who are unaware or do not know how to access information pertaining to acoustical, visual and cue-based communications at oceanariums such as Marine World Africa USA, Sea Life Park and the Kewalo Marine Lab.

Many of the people who are working towards trying to develop new technologies, methods and strategies for human-cetacean communications are unaware of the advances and results being made by others.

Moreover, many of these researchers and investigators are also unaware of the methods of communication that have been implemented and used by Dr. John Lilly and the Human-Dolphin Foundation, and some of the efforts of Dr. Lilly are being needlessly replicated by others.

In order to expedite the needed breakthroughs in human-cetacean communications, reduce duplication of efforts, as well as develop consistent communications with cetaceans, an electronic databank and information center needs to be established.

The Cetacean Studies Institute has begun this massive effort.

The role of this databank is:

1) To compile, organize and library existing information from the United States, Europe, Russia, Australia and other parts of the world where cetacean studies have been conducted

2) To create an electronic database for easy access worldwide so that those wishing to understand and access the existing human knowledge on cetaceans can do so from their own countries with relative ease, via the internet.

3) To organize forums and study groups of cetacean researchers and interspecies communications enthusiasts so as to determine the best steps towards establishing consistent human-cetacean communications links.

Summation:

A concerted effort is needed at this time to offset the recent trend toward the return to commercial Whaling.

A strong effort must be made to bring the protection of all Cetaceans, large and small, under the aegis of the United Nations.

A mature consideration of the task at hand recognizes the requirement for a strong program of education, using all available sources of credible information, to inform the general public of the importance of all Cetaceans.

A serious effort is required to design strategies, develop programs, and empower individuals to proceed with these initiatives.

Funding is required, a will to pursue these goals to their end, and a group of dedicated individuals, willing to serve these goals, must be identified, educated and supported.

There is no time to waste.
It's up to us.