Activity Report Explorer

Polly Dyer – Seattle • Entered by Penelope Peterson on September 27, 2024

GOB Book Club

August 22, 2024 – August 22, 2024

Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: Polly Dyer Seattle Broads and a few Broads from other states

Short Description of Activity

For this Book Club, we read Not on my Watch: How a Renegade Whale Biologist Took on Governments and Industry to Save Wild Salmon, by Alexandra Morton. As always, I prepared a list of questions beforehand, and these questions served as the basis of our discussion. Here are the questions:

1. Alexandra Morton decided as a child that she wanted to become a scientist. What major scientific figure influenced her?

2. Morton started out her career studying whales. Why did she choose whales to study, and what made her shift her focus?

3. How was Morton affected by her time with the orcas in captivily, Corky and Orky?

4. Why do you think that Alexandra Morton wrote Not on My Watch?

5. What do you think is Alexandra Morton’s most important message to readers?

6. Do you see similarities between Suzanne Simard’s book, To Speak for the Trees, and Alexandra Morton’s? If so, what are they? What are the differences?

7. Do you see similarities between Morton’s book and Bruce Brown’s Mountain in the Clouds: A Search for the Wild Salmon? If so, what are they? What are the differences?

8. Do you have a favorite passage from the book that you would like to share with us?

9. What did you learn from Alexandra Morton that you didn’t know before?

10. Most of the salmon farms in British Columbia were owned by Norwegian companies. In 2009 Morton flew to Norway to learn more about what these companies knew or did not know. What did Morton learn?

11. The First Nations of British Columbia ended up playing a key part in Morton’s story of her fight to save wild salmon. What part did the First Nations play? Do you think that Morton’s depiction of the First Nation’s role is an accurate or fair one? Why or why not?

12. Why did the First Nations occupy two salmon farms in British Columbia for more than 200 days? Was their occupation successful in achieving their goals? Why or why not?

13. Is there anything missing from Morton’s book that you would have liked her to clarify or add to her story? If so, what?

14. What did you feel as you were reading Morton’s saga? Is Alexandra Morton’s message in the book a hopeful or a discouraging one? Give evidence

Reflection/Evaluation

Everyone agreed that this is one of the most inspiring books that we have read, and our Book Club has read and discussed 39 books over the course of the last six years since we started. Alexandra Morton spent more than 30 years conducting research, writing, and advocating in support of saving the wild salmon. She discovered that the salmon farms in British Columbia harbored farm-raised salmon that were infested with lice and infectious diseases which were then spread to the wild salmon. Hence the wild salmon were dying. Over the years, Morton wrote numerous letters and presented extensive research documenting her claims to the government of British Columbia and the salmon farming industry, but to no avail. Our group marveled at Morton’s persistence and dogged determination. We all agreed that Morton stands as an outstanding model for all of us Great Old Broads who aspire to save wilderness and wildlife..