The 4-week Journey of Moby Dick
I want to tell you a tale. A tale about how 1 animal can change the world. And you know what...? It is true. This happened in 1966.
He came from the place were the sea was covered with ice. He was a Baloega (?), also known as a white whale. For some reason, he left his home and came to the North Sea. But he didn't stop there. He went on and swam to the Rijn. The Rijn was in that time one of the biggest rivers of all and heavily poluted. Yet, somehow, he continued his journey and went to Germany.
In Germany they called him Moby Dick and he got very famous, However, they knew he didn't had any food there and tried to stunn him. This was very dangerous, because the drug they used could make him stop breathing and let him drown within a minute. However, no one know why, they continued with the plan. They shot... and waited.
After half a day, they stopped looking. They gave up and went away. Not long later moby Dick showed his face again... In the Netherlands! He saw to the IJsselmeer; the biggest lake that was once known as the SouthernSea of Holland. People renamed him Wietse the Whale and guided him to the big doors in the AflsuitDijk (made as part of the Delta Works). He was almost free, but suddenly turned around and continued his journey to Germany.
Why? Why would a whale trade his life with lots of fish for the poluted Rijn? Again they tried to tag him, but this time the German people got furious! How could they do that to a poor animal!? But Moby went on and on. They tried to feed him, seeing he was very underfed. But he didn't eat (much). The journey was hard, however, Moby never gave up. He continued until he reaced Bonn.
Bonn was the German Capital back then and there was a UN meeting. When the people heard Moby was in front of that palace, everyone ran outside just to look at him. For the first time in history, an animal disturbed a political agenda. But not only that. The people who were present at the UN meeting then realised how poisoned the Rijn was. Something had to be done!
Somehow, Moby felt he completed his task and went back to the Netherlands. They guided him to the Port of Rotterdam and he left. Moby returned to the Icy sea he came from.
No one has ever seen Moby again. However, in the 60's, no one could eat the fish from the Rijn. Hardly anthing lived there! Now, they can not only eat the fish, but they also let go Salmon, in the hope they can live there too.
And who said animals were stupid creatures? If animals are so stupid, how can one white whale clean the Rijn and the minds of politicians? After all, after seeing Moby, they realised what could happen if nothing would be done.
So, I thank you Moby, for giving me a future....