Ben White, a fierce defender of animals, dead at 53

[Guest guest]

[A guy like this deserves to live to be 100. Life

definitely isn't fair. Rick]

 

 

 

 

Ben White, a fierce defender of animals, dead at 53

 

Monday, August 1, 2005

 

Source >

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/234771_whiteobit01.html

 

 

By M.L. LYKE

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

 

FRIDAY HARBOR -- A fierce crusader who fought for

decades to save animals has lost his battle to save

his own life.

 

Surrounded by family and friends on San Juan Island,

Ben White, 53, died Saturday afternoon after a

six-month struggle with an aggressive form of

abdominal cancer. Never one to back down from a

challenge, he said recently that he faced death with

curiosity, not fear. " It could be a whole new

adventure. "

 

 

Karen Ducey / P-I

Ben White

White was renowned internationally for his passion and

his daring feats.

 

He swam under cloak of night to cut open

dolphin-holding nets in Japan, scaled New York

buildings to hang anti-fur banners, jumped in front of

naval ships in Hawaii to stop sonar emissions, and

slept atop old-growth trees to protest logging in the

Northwest.

 

In Seattle, he protested the capture of sea lions at

the Ballard Locks by locking himself to the cage used

to hold them, then did what he always did -- called in

the media to press the cause.

 

Ironically, his most famous action was one of his

least dangerous. In 1999, he marched as head turtle at

the 1999 World Trade Organization protests, standing

on a truck bed and declaring, " Welcome to the

revolution. "

 

White, an arborist by profession, masterminded the

turtle costumes, scrounging cardboard and latex paint,

organizing work parties. He warned his turtles they

would be " shelled " if they misbehaved. The costumes

became the international emblem of opposition to the

WTO.

 

A well-read man of wry humor, White called the turtle

protest " a stupid publicity stunt that worked. "

 

Those costumes will resurface at White's memorial

procession later this week, when they will be worn by

eight members of his honor guard. The young men and

women he trained as arborists for his " Natural Guard "

will be pallbearers. Helping escort his coffin to the

San Juan Island community cemetery will be marimba

players and drummers.

 

Fellow animal activists say White brought imagination

and an independent spirit to the cause.

 

" He was a source of inspiration and courage, " said

veterinarian Dr. Elliot Katz, president and founder of

In Defense of Animals. Katz and White once planted

themselves in front of Japanese tourist buses to block

their entry into Marine World.

 

White compared keeping whales and dolphins in

captivity with shutting a human inside a closet for

life.

 

On July 11, the veterinarians organization awarded

White a lifetime achievement award for his work saving

animals. Previous recipients include environmental

activist David Brower and primate researcher Jane

Goodall.

 

White was born in Virginia, son of an Air Force

officer. He protested the Vietnam War, even as his

father served in it. His animal activism took fire

after an eye-to-eye encounter with a dolphin off the

Kona Coast decades ago.

 

" I was suddenly aware that the entire world is

conscious, " White said.

 

White lay in grace yesterday on San Juan Island in a

custom coffin of cedar, yew and juniper made by local

friends.

 

He is survived by his ex-wife, Ann; his daughter,

Julia May; his son, Benjamin Lewis White III; his

brother, Wesley; his sister, Beverly Mefford; his

mother, Jean, and his father, Benjamin Lewis White Sr.

 

Donations can be made to the Ben White Fund at

Islanders Bank, P.O. Box 909, Friday Harbor, WA 98250,

or to the Animal Welfare Institute, P.O. Box 3650,

Washington, D.C. 20027.

 

P-I reporter M.L. Lyke can be reached at 206-448-8344

or m.l.lyke.