A good marine eco-mechanic should know the way around a ship's engine room and be able to locate the Achilles' heel of any ship, the saltwater intake valves. To find them it is most important to have a knowledge of engine room color codes.

INTERNATIONAL ENGINE ROOM COLORCODE

Green - Saltwater pipes and pumps
Blue - Fresh water pipes and pumps
Brown - Fuel oil pipes and tanks
Yellow - Fuel
Red - Fire fighting system (salt water)

The system you will be looking for is the salt water intake system, which supplies salt water for cooling and to the fire systems. The valve you are looking for is the salt water intake valve. The valve is painted green and usually located beneath the deck plates. It can be found by following the green pipes back and down to a large valve that connects the intake pipe to the pipe which supplies the system.

I object to the use of the term "monkey wrench". it is at best inaccurate, as monkeys don't use them, and also has specist/racist overtones.

use the term " adjustable spanner" instead.

Four countries still murder whales officially. They are Japan, the US (which allows
Inuit to murder whales), Norway, and Iceland.

Since Canada's excuse for the hakapik clubbing murder of baby and adult seals is that
they eat fish, one suspects that Canadians are secretly murdering whales as well
as seals.

Norway markets fish oil under several names. Dick Gregory has said that eating
fish oil is akin to eating the filter out of a car.

To whoever put the thumbnail and extra html tags in, was looking a bit silly before :-)

Liking the quote at the top, good choice!

A quick search reveals that a 'Monkey Wrench' is so called as it was patented by Charles Moncky.

But I think most people know it as an adjustable spanner anyway so you're probably right anyway.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_wrench

Looked on wiki - they are the same; it says a monkey wrench IS an adjustable spanner. The term was merely popular in the 19th century, which probably relates to the racist overtone previously mentioned. Today it is also recognised as immoral speciesism, understandably.

As a collaborator of this post, I apologise for not recognising the implications of the term (I copied & pasted parts from Sea Shepherd's press release, so took it for granted that they would discuss the issue in an anti-speciesist light).

If somebody could please edit 'monkey wrench' to 'adjustable spanner' as suggested it would be much appreciated. Again I apologise, as an anti-speciesist I feel ashamed for not noticing the implications of the term. It's also a shame one of the most popular fictional books on ecotage has the term in the title, and is further still used and popularised to this today.

Could someone please edit?
Email me if you doubt the genuineness of this post...just don't think I have to prove I'm anyone to agree that the term is indeed discrimination based on race and species.

This was the name I learned to apply to the common type of adjustable spanner with a fixed top jaw and a parallel adjustable lower one. Never singular, always "a pair of stillsons", as in scissors, trousers etc. I ditch the plural and just call it "a stillson". Much less tongue-twisting hassle than "adjustabubble spanner", which sounds like a long-winded army style name. Someone told me stillsons was a purely Scots word, but I don't think so as it was used when I worked in the train sheds in Brighton in the early '70s.

Anyway, there ye go. Stillson(s).

Well done to everyone associated with agenda 21, always nice to see bad things happen to bad people (can you imagine turning up to start a days slaughter and finding your boat underwater!)

I do consider myself an anti-speciest/anti-racist and I dont know wether im missing the point but this seems to have trivialised a fantastic achievement - I'm sure whoever coined the term had no speciest or racist intent although obviously feel free to email me with any different points of view.

peace

@Norway Boycott,

It's 3 or 4 countries still eating whales, but 30 or 40 that are still killing them, including the UK. There is more than one way to skin a cat. 'Deaf whale is a dead whale'.


@Vegan,

The thing I like about whales most is that they can communicate beautifully with strangers across vast, unseen expanses. Humans couldn't communicate remotely with strangers until recently when we developed technology so we haven't yet evolved the social skills that ability requires. I wonder if whales refer to other whales as 'trolls'. One requirement to communicate remotely is to share a common vocabulary with the stranger, and another is to share a common protocol.

You are questioning the vocabulary, 'monkey-wrench', and that isn't normal protocol here, it seems distracting form an important action. I've seen you make similar comments in the past on other articles. I find what you are saying interesting though and would like to discuss it, but it does distract from an article that you have to admit is important in it's own right. Maybe you could post your opinions as a new article, or maybe send a link to a blog post that I could comment on? I don't think you should answer on this thread, just out of respect to the scuttlers but I'll chip in my opinion.

Your analogy equates speciesist phrases with racist phrases because your analogy for speciesm is racism. It is a good analogy for you to use because when we demean someone simply by race we sometimes refer to that as 'dehumanisation'. We talk of humanity and inhumanity. So I take your point, accept your logic that far.

I know some African American activist poets have made play on the negative associations that black and dark have in the English language. I know some feminists play on the hidden implications of the gender assignments of words in various languages.

This can sometimes be a useful debate but not on a newswire.

However,
"If somebody could please edit 'monkey wrench' to 'adjustable spanner' as suggested it would be much appreciated. Again I apologise, as an anti-speciesist I feel ashamed for not noticing the implications of the term."

Seems like a pastiche of genuine activist actions.

For the record I call a 'Monkey Wrench' an adjustable spanner. But I am ignorant, I have searched my imagination, I have even googled it. Please, please tell me what are the speciest implications in the term 'Monkey Wrench'? What is implied in that phrase that demeans monkeys? What is stereotypical about adjustable spanners that to associate a monkey with it is to offend the monkey?

If you can't explain that then I hope you understand why I consider your posts as deliberately distracting nonsense in future. That behaviour could be called that 'trolling' but I don't want to show any prejudice against mythical furry monsters.

I'd caution anyone who wishes to use 'monkeywrenching' in their vocabulary should read the book this terms originates in 'The Monkey Wrench Gang' by Edward Abbey and decide for themselves if they subscribe it his racist, imperialist, sexist and faux environmentalist credentials.

I have read it, and it's only the 2nd book I have tossed on a fire in my life.

Here are some examples, but there are far worse than this that have been overlooked:

 http://alterdestiny.blogspot.com/2008/03/edward-abbey-racist-quotes.html

"The term was merely popular in the 19th century, which probably relates to the racist overtone previously mentioned. Today it is also recognised as immoral speciesism, understandably."

Rubbish, a monkey wrench is not an adjustable spanner, and is called a monkey wrench because it looks like a monkey, not with any racist overtone.

'Anti-speciesism', itself a liberal *speciesist* misnomer, has no place in radical politics.

I don't understand the objection to the 'monkey' component of the word either. I simply object to providing free advertising and endorsement for the overt racist and imperialist Edward Abbey who coined the term to describe his fictional Gang's sabotage of heavy plant machinery.

Abbey makes frequent use of racial and sexual stereotypes, and deems the areas that were being developed on Indian land as being "too good for Indians", whilst also disparaging AIM (American Indian Movement) whilst AIM were being subject to a murderous COINTEL programme.

If you want to be associated with that kind of person?

Abbey didn't coin the term - monkeywrenching/throwing a spanner in the works has been a common phrase for over a century.

"Edward Abbey who coined the term to describe his fictional Gang's sabotage of heavy plant machinery."

He may have popularised it, but he certainly didn't coin it.

"Abbey makes frequent use of racial and sexual stereotypes, and deems the areas that were being developed on Indian land as being "too good for Indians", whilst also disparaging AIM (American Indian Movement) whilst AIM were being subject to a murderous COINTEL programme."

Source?

The term 'to throw a monkey wrench' or 'to throw a spanner' pre-dates Abbey's novel considerably.

But to my understanding and I can't any URL to confirm this (yet) but the term 'Monkeywrenching' became popular first within the FBI after Abbey's novel.

But hey, if you find an earlier concordance which would negate what I read, by all means share it.

Here's one person who thinks the same of the origins- though seemingly oblivious to the books contents:

"Perhaps we need to reclaim the roots of the word monkey-wrenching - it is a term from Ed Abbey's book about a fictional band of militant environmental activists, The Monkey Wrench Gang referring to direct action against the powerful. The biggest and strongest kinds of monkey-wrench are strong and sustained communities of resistance and social movements. For those of us that do research and policy analysis, our challenge is to redouble our efforts to orient our work in ways that strengthen and support those popular struggles against neoliberalism, in our communities, and internationally."

 http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/5775

The wikipedia entry also suggests it a round-a-bout way:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeywrenching

Note it implies that the formation of an -ING gerund emanates from Abbey (pretty badly written entry admittedly). Though more clearly it indicates that the sense of Monkeywrenching as people know it here comes from Abbey's novel.

The source of the AIM & Indian slurs? The novel itself! It's a heap of racist dung.

His racism is hardly unknown:  http://alterdestiny.blogspot.com/2008/03/edward-abbey-racist-quotes.html

Your analogy equates speciesist phrases with racist phrases because your analogy for speciesm is racism. It is a good analogy for you to use because when we demean someone simply by race we sometimes refer to that as 'dehumanisation'.

You've obviously never looked into the connection between speciesism and racism - it is dehumanising; not the other way around!

Racism as speciesism: Look at the degradation of blacks, commonly by dehumanising and describing emotions as merely "animal lust" and so fourth. Although they obviously were (because all human emotions are animal emotions, because humans are animals), it was ment that non-human animals don't have complex relationships, feel emotions or love, that only humans do; which in itself is using speciesism to justify racism. All oppressions are linked, here is just one example.

I suggest reading 'The Dreaded Comparison: Human and Animal Slavery' - although I think it should of been called 'Human and Non-Human Slavery', so as to not confuse the reality that humans are infact animals, so all there has been in history is animal slavery (in regards to human slavery). Sorry that biologically humans are animals, but one day we'll all have to accept that, just as we accepted that all black people are human! We're getting there!!!

Speciesism as racism: Look at the pure breeding of dogs for a 'pure race', or the exploitation of particular breeds of dairy cows. This is racist, although most anthropocentrists would instead call this 'breedists'. This is just two example, of which there are many others.

The real reason though (again biologically) that racism (and sexism) are connected to speciesism is because of our anthropocentric (otherwise known an human supremacist) view. Race, known as breed (for non-humans) or sub-species (biologically) merely means that racism is sub-speciesism, as sexism is cross-speciesism. So infact racism and sexism are a part of speciesism (biologically), and speciesism is the 'blanket term' for the oppression. Again biology and science may be hard to grasp, but this is understandable.

Another way of looking at this through the eyes of oppression is that white and male supremacy are natural (by-)products of human supremacy, so until we rid human supremacy, there will also be sub-supremacies within, such as racism and sexism.

"Rubbish, a monkey wrench is not an adjustable spanner, and is called a monkey wrench because it looks like a monkey, not with any racist overtone."

Having to prove that racists invented the term, instead of recognising the fascist overtone is ignoring critical thinking, pure and simple. The point is it looks nothing like a monkey, stereotypicall or otherwise and even if it did, consider the following:

1. Could we then call ugly black men 'golliwogs', because golliwogs stereotypically look like ugly black male? Or is this not racism?
2. Could we then call lamps 'pretty women bulbs', because they stereotypically resemble slim women? Or is this not sexist?

Obviously it is discrimination, as equating objects to individuals, or visa versa, is objectification; regardless of their stereotypical nature. Objectification leads to ownership, thus exploitation. You might be ok with non-human exploitation, but biologically and systemically this only leads to human exploitation - because we are all animals and exploitation of one species, race, or gender leads to exploitation of us all. As we all know from the latter examples of racism leading to sexism, and sexism leading to racism.

"You are questioning the vocabulary, 'monkey-wrench', and that isn't normal protocol here, it seems distracting form an important action."

It's not distracting from an imporant action, as Agenda 21 did not use the term in the communique. It's distancing from the terminology used in the report by Sea Shepherd, completely unrelated from the activists involved in the action (who in my opinion, would of used the term 'monkey wrenching' if they felt it was appropriate, but they didn't).

If it's 'trolling' to criticise speciesism, then don't get upset when people use racist/sexist terminology in reports, simple as. Otherwise I'll be there to call you a troll!

Never forget, Indymedia Guidelines state:

"Discrimination: posts using language, imagery, or other forms of communication promoting racism, fascism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia or ANY OTHER FORM of discrimination."

This includes discrimination against species, if you don't recognise it as being also being discrimination against races. Don't bother saying the former doesn't exist. It's as delusional and denial filled as 20th century racists, sexists and dominant fascists.

Isn't it ironic that a racist, sexist, imperalist popularised the term as well?! I used to wonder why the radical environmental movement (such as Earth First!) had to keep reinforcing it's anti-racist nature. I obviously don't now when it clearly pivots around racist/speciesist terms such as 'monkey wrench'. What a shame people can't grasp reality for a second or two.

===
On another note, this thread does need prunning, but it would be a shame to delete all the useful debate about the term. Maybe a new thread could be created such as "Is monkeywrenching a racist/speciesist term?" and move all posts over to it? As the article doesn't even include the term now so anybody late on the case will be very confused!!

A simple intro could be used for the article summary (so as to not influence debate) for animal liberation, anti-racism and indymedia topic pages:

"In the article -  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/428802.html - the term monkeywrenching was used by Sea Shepherd which developed into a debate about the nature of the term, whether it was specieist and/or racist, and its origins.

The feature has since been edited. All replies regarding the debate have been included below." ... or something along those lines.

As somebody previously mentioned, there is little debate on the net about this, so it could be used as a source for all others concerned (either defending or criticising the term). I know admins might not think its news - but it sounds like a big deal of late on IMC (AKA: news) !!!

When this dies down, maybe the article could be edited which thoughts/analysis as part of a non-feature post? I know I'd be up for helping out putting a summary together :-)

To the last commenter - I'd be up for helping turn this into an article. Can contact me at dysophia{{at}}riseup.net

To the last commenter - I'd be up for helping turn this into an article. Can contact me at dysophia{{at}}riseup.net

Okay, yesterday I tried to post a new article just on Speciest vocabulary on IM but it's not there now. Apologies to Agenda 21, I guess this thread should be about how, why and where to scuttle whalers, but I am still non-plussed about the term 'monkey-wrench' supposedly being demeaning. Have I misunderstood or is this a centuries old term that is offensive simply because someone you don't like used it recently? Are the terms 'Monkey Tree' and 'Monkey Nuts' also speciest? I am guessing the phrase 'Too much Monkey business' is now verbotten too?

You seem to have missed my point that event the words dehumanising, humane etc are themselves intrinsically speciest. I went out last night and had a whale of a time, bad man that I am.

i cannot believe this day in age people are still using the term monkey wrench it makes me sick to my stomach at the racist attitudes of some people and what about the poor monkeys dont you care about them

in future call them what i call them............nigger spanners