Lolita Update #1
Lolita - Orca of Hope

March 1, 1999

Dear Friends of Lolita~

Please send any ideas or news to tokitae@bellsouth.net. Now for the latest news and coming events in the Lolita campaign.

1. MOTHER'S DAY DEMO On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9th, from Noon to 1 PM, you are all invited to join the MOTHER'S DAY DEMO in front of the Seaquarium. We need a strong turnout to let the world know that Lolita needs and deserves to return to her home waters, that her family will in all likelihood recognize her and welcome her back, and that Lolita herself could have a calf or two in the next few years, if returned home. The demo will be a non-disruptive, completely legal assembly of people on the lawn beside the road. There will be signs, banners, kids in orca costumes, music, poetry, and who knows what will be added by Mother's Day. We are appealing especially to mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and kids. Karen Munro (wife of Washington Sec. of State Ralph Munro), who has never before joined a public demonstration, has confirmed that she will be there. We will gather before the event about a half mile from the Seaquarium at a bayside site, and have a picnic with music afterwards. Please spread the word. At this point the Lolita campaign is not financially supported by any large organizations or funding sources. We are appealing for your help to provide printing and mailing costs and to purchase newspaper ads to publicize this event. The timing of this Mother's Day Demo is critical, and the campaign needs financial help to make it a resounding success. The Tokitae Foundation is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization. The address is 920 Meridian Ave. #2, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

2. Lolita on TV in Seattle TONIGHT - Monday, 3/1 on Channel 13 @ 10pm. For those in the Seattle area, there will be a special segment on "Q13" TV news tonight at 10 pm Monday, March 1, about the Lolita campaign. This has been in the works for several months and they've gotten some great footage and interviews for it.

3. Lolita on TV across the US (Miami 3/6, 3 pm WSVN-7; Seattle 3/13, 4 pm KOMO-4) The powerful one-hour documentary "Lolita - Spirit in the Water" is now playing all over the US, and is scheduled to appear in 130 markets. It will play in Seattle 3/13, 4 pm KOMO-4; Miami 3/6, 3 pm WSVN-7. For a partial list of other cities where "Spirit" will be shown, email tokitae@bellsouth.net. Each city has the option to show the video twice, so a little public pressure can probably accomplish that.

4. Lolita benefit in Coupeville Many thanks to all who joined in and helped with the Lolita benefit events at the Captain Whidbey Inn in Coupeville on January 31. Sec. of State and Mrs. Munro were there along with fellow Tokitae board member Kelley Balcomb-Bartok and a room full of friends of Lolita. Special thanks to Jan, Lynn and Sea Raven from Port Townsend, who performed Lynn's song for Tokitae at the benefit.

5. Wild orcas approach Keiko On 2/24/99 a pod of killer whales was reported approaching Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, where Keiko is in a bay pen,. The big question is: What will Keiko do when he hears wild whales for the first time since 1979?

6. Vet says Keiko is just fine, thanks On January 24th Dr. Lanny Cornell, Keiko's veterinarian, told the Whales Alive conference in Maui that Keiko was perfectly healthy and physically ready to rejoin his wild counterparts. 7) Some notable quotes Here are some relevant quotes: "The eyes of the world are on this community, we must rise to the occasion and do the right thing"....Miami-Dade County Executive Mayor Alex Penelas (about saving the Tequesta Circle, a mysterious recent archeological discovery threatened with destruction to build a condo). "I've heard people say saving the circle is like another Free Willy campaign"....Miami City Mayor Joe Carollo. "Aquariums, particulary marine mammal circus acts, are bound to disappear as the public is educated and revolts against it."...Jean-Michel Cousteau. And finally, from today's (March 1, 1999) Portland Oregonian: "This entire Icelandic adventure -- the one critics said could harm or even kill the 21- or 22-year-old whale -- seems, instead, to agree with him."... "The [Free Willy/Keiko] foundation's mission, particularly as it anticipates merging with Jean-Michel Cousteau's environmental foundation this year, evolves at a rapid rate. Still, Keiko and the possibility of release this summer or next come first."

Much is going on to help bring Lolita home and to inform and advocate for her and her family Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to help Orca Network continue this work. Thank you!