Segregated Toilets? Selma Alabama in the early - TopicsExpress

Segregated Toilets? Selma Alabama in the early Sixties? Apartheid South Africa from 1948-1994? BUT Sandoy in the Faroe Island in 2014? Well, that’s something completely surprising and unexpected. But apparently it is not a joke. Segregated toilets have been officially established in the Faroe Islands by order of Mayor Brandur Sandoy who seems to think that because his last name is the same as that of the island, that it gives him the power to legislate and impose segregation. He has commissioned the posting of official signs proclaiming segregation. He is also a member of the Løgting (The Faroese Parliament). So not only has the city council approved segregation, it appears that the Faroese Parliament is in agreement unless they take measures to censure Mayor Brandur Sandoy, which they have not yet done. Sea Shepherd will be investigating if this is a human rights violation. It must be strange for Grindstop Land crew leader Rosie Kunneke coming from South Africa to see a sign like this, bringing back memories of the ugliness of apartheid, something that was also a tradition and a part of South African culture for many, many years. Thanks to Nelson Mandela, Apartheid was abolished. Thanks to Martin Luthor King, Malcolm X and all the volunteer freedom fighters of the Sixties, segregation was defeated. The last time I saw a sign like this myself was when I was in Durban, South Africa as a seaman onboard the Norwegian freighter “Bris” in 1969. Now it is ridiculous to even begin to compare restrictions to toilets under Jim Crow and by the former South African National Party government, BUT discrimination is still discrimination, and once the door to a little discrimination is cracked open, the floodgates of hate can sometimes not be easily closed. After 1994 with the collapse of apartheid, I never expected to see such a sign again, and especially not directed at Sea Shepherd volunteers who are simply concerned and compassionate citizens from around the world. Perhaps Sea Shepherd supporters should stage a “sit in” or “shit-in” to non-violently protest Faroese segregation. The police can bring in their plastic hand-cuffs to arrest unlawful cases of trespassing on a public toilet or unlawful dumping.. So be aware that if you visit the Faroe Islands you better be prepared to swear allegiance to the Grind. If you are a volunteer or even a supporter of Sea Shepherd you will have to piss on the street because the Mayor has ruled that compassionate people are simply not allowed to use the “public” facilities on Sandoy. Meanwhile the Spitfire will soon be arriving from Scotland after a long open water crossing. The Brigitte Bardot is patrolling offshore. Land based volunteers are manning look-out (hopefully within reach of some bushes or rocks in the event of an emergency) and the offshore crew in the small fast boats are on standby waiting for the weather to improve. But bad weather is bad weather and it impacts the whalers also and the Sea Shepherd crews have already demonstrated that they can go where others fear to venture. That may even include venturing into a segregated public toilet to take advantage of the facilities just to see what Mayor Sandoy will do. It would be an interesting social experiment. The Judge: Why did you enter the facility? Defendant: I had to go to the bathroom. Judge: Did you not see the sign that said you could not enter said facility? Defendant: Yes Sir, I did sir, but it was there or the street and I do consider myself a visitor and a member of the public. Judge: You are hereby sentenced to 30 days for unlawful dumping. This is an egregious violation of the laws upholding discrimination against any and all who dare to demonstrate compassion for pilot whales. There will be no mercy from this court. Defendant: But..... Judge: Take him away, send in the next terrorist. Seriously however despite the intend the sign says not welcome so it will not be illegal for the crew to relieve themselves. They are just unwelcome to do so.