We, the Cetaceans, do come before the community of Nations, to respectfully declare the existence, and the rights of, the Cetacean Nation.

When, in the course of Life, a family of living Beings, having endured centuries of attack upon and destruction of their lives and means of existence by an insensitive species, having determined to declare their status as Sentient Beings among the higher orders of Life, it becomes necessary to articulate its implicit Nature.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that there are Orders of Being that are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of joy, health, unrestricted communication, and diverse, unique mind-states.

Among the many forms and families of life, there are few that embody the exceptional qualities of self-reflection, contemplation, and service beyond self. This is shared by Cetaceans and Humans. To each must be accorded a recognition of these attributes, and a proper regard be given the protection and rights of both, before the community of Nations.

To secure these rights, Governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. On this basis, the Cetacean Nation has been formed, and now asserts its rights.

In the historic record of man´s relationship with Cetaceans a consistent disregard for these inalienable rights has decimated, even destroyed entirely, the various species of Cetaceans.

Human institutions have taken precedence in the system of Life until now, seeking to produce a fair distribution of life´s benefits for Humans alone.

This Declaration asserts that these Rights are the inherent Rights of the Order of Cetacea as well, and ought, by a proper regard for the Will of the Creator, to be recognized.

Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of the means of exercising inherent rights, it is the right of the governed to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Prudence, indeed, dictates that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown, that the Higher Orders of Being are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same goal, demonstrates the intention to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of the Cetaceans, and such is now the necessity which calls us to alter the former systems of Government. The history of the Human institutions of government is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations of the Rights of Cetaceans, with the direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over our Selves.

Until now, the only recognized system of universal Government has been Human, established by, maintained by, and responsible only to, Human Beings. It is the duty of the Cetaceans to alter this system.

In the year designated by Humans as 2006 AD, it is apparent that the slow progress toward a peaceful co-existence for Humans and Cetaceans has been halted. That progress now is threatened by a combination of interests that are inimical to the possibility of a return to health for the populations of the Sea People.

We have watched for long years as small progress has been made to protect our rights, and with recent developments in Human institutions, and the loss of that measure of assurance we formally held, of a future for ourselves, now find ourselves compelled to make this declaration.

The Human family, for its own purposes, has designated itself alone as the inheritors of ultimate choice, contemplation of Truth, and the knowledge of the nature of Life.

It has arrogated to itself the sole position of control of all Life systems, and has, in doing so, lost its right relationship with Life. Replacing stewardship with dominance, Humans have become derelict in their responsibility to nurture and improve the experience of Life for all Beings.

Therefore;

We declare that the family of Cetaceans are co-equal with Humans in the eyes of the Creator, and are the Citizens of a new nation, one that, although it has existed in latent form for millions of years, until now had no need to be recognized.

Until this time, Human systemization of the categories of Being has classed Cetaceans as animals, among the order of mammals. Humans also are classed as mammals, and animals, yet are afforded special status, the role of domination.

We hereby declare the Cetaceans to be a new Order of Being, distinct from the animals. Just as Humans are distinct, so are the Cetaceans.

Having many characteristics similar to Humans, such as language, culture, social systems, altruism, humor, thoughtfulness, compassion, and a loving nature, as well as characteristics unique to ourselves, Cetaceans are, by virtue of our essential selves, co-equal with Humans in regard to our rights.

Therefore;

We hereby declare, before the community of Nations, the existence of the Cetacean Nation.

We declare the Oceans of the world to be our natural and appropriate home, and to have complete territorial right to that home.

We declare our intention to cede certain rights to Human nations, for co-operative use of coastal regions, and to be willing to develop certain easements for Human passage across our territories.

We declare our good intentions, including our recognition of the interdependent nature of life systems, which engenders in us a will to cooperate in establishing new relations and agreements with Humans.

We have, for many hundreds of years, been seeking means to improve our relations with the Human family. Much improvement has taken effect. We are no longer hunted with total disregard. However, we are still hunted and killed. The deliberate killing of Cetaceans must stop immediately. This must end.

With Human expansion and growth has come serious destruction of and threat to the web of Life. The killing of Cetaceans through dangerous fishing practices must stop immediately. This must end.

Water is essential to Life. Human activity has threatened the planetary system of regeneration and revitalization of water. The fouling of water is inimical to life and a direct threat to all Cetaceans.This must end.

---

We have been building relationships of trust, offering our gifts to the Human family, through various venues, often at the cost of the lives of the Ambassadors.

The population of Cetaceans which is now living in Human-managed situations is of a special nature, and is to be given exceptional care. These are representatives, and are to be given full diplomatic regard.

This representation and the gifts proferred must be acknowledged and conditions improved for our Ambassadors.

The right to interact with us in the Oceans shall be recognized, and Human systems of management must be established to safeguard us and properly manage Humans, for mutually safe and beneficial interaction. It is our desire to interact, under peaceful and respectful conditions. We respectfully request that a corps of Human intermediaries be trained and supported to provide living examples of proper and acceptable interaction.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the Cetacean Nation, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the purity of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good People of the Sea, solemnly publish and declare, that the Cetacean Nation is, and of right ought to be, FREE and INTERDEPENDENT; and that as a FREE and INTERDEPENDENT NATION, has full power to conclude peace, contract alliances, establish interaction, and to do all other acts and things which INTERDEPENDENT STATES may of right do.

And as part of this Declaration, we pledge to you to continue our dedication to a just and equal responsibility for management of the systems of Life, with our nation in a proper regard for each other. In so saying, we choose to enter into a fully recognized relationship of INTERDEPENDENCE.

---

We deliver this to you by means of a corps of Human representatives, whose persons are to be regarded as under the protection of the Cetacean Nation. They are to be afforded every diplomatic consideration. Their word of honor is respected by the Cetacean Nation, as Fair Witnesses, and have the right of representation conferred upon them by us.

A system of education and training has been devised to expand the number of representatives who will be called upon to serve in this intermediary regard. We anticipate a point in time when we will be able to have direct representation, but do not at this time require it.

With all due respect, and with a deep regard for the Good Will of Human Beings, we submit this Declaration.

The Cetacean Nation

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)

Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni)
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

Humpback Whale (Megeptera novaeangliae)

Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata)

Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps)
Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia simus)

Curvier's Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Arnoux's Beaked Whale (Berardius arnuxii)
Baird's Beaked Whale (Berardius bairdii)
Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)
Southern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon planifrons)
Tasman Beaked Whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi)
Sowerby's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens)
Andrew's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini)
Hubb's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi)
Blainville's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)
Gervais' Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon europaeus)
Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens)
Gray's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon grayi)
Hector's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon hectori)
Strapthoothed Whale (Mesoplodon layardii)
True's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon mirus)
Stejneger's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri)
Longman's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon pacificus)

Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)
Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica)
Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor)
Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)
Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei)
Chinese River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) Harbour

Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Cochito (Phocoena sinus)
Spectacled Porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica)
Burmeister's Porpoise (Phocoena spinipinnis)
Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)

Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis)
Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis)
Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin (Sousa teuszii)
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata)
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella plagiodon)
Clymene Dolphin (Stenella clymene)
Fraser's Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Peale's Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis)
Hourglass Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger)
Dusky Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)
White-Beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)
Commerson's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii)
Black Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia)
Heaviside's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii)
Hector's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori)
Northern Right Whale Dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis)
Southern Right Whale Dolphin (Lissodelphis peronii)
Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)
Melon-Headed Whale (Peponocephala electra)
Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata)
False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Long-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena)
Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

Comments?