“I state loud and clear, I am not anti-American, I am a true American and I call on all genuine American patriots to reject the orders of the Vietnam War deserter and Constitutional traitor George W. Bush and to remove this traitor from his undemocratic de facto post; impeach him at the least for his criminal negligence on September 11, 2001. As a former United States Marine and Gulf War veteran I call on my American brothers and sisters to put down their weapons and refuse service in Iraq. And lastly I state my love of the American people whether friend or foe and I call on them to support their troops for real; BRING AMERICA’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS HOME NOW!"

Ken O'Keefe - Public Statement January 2004, Baghdad

"Early in life I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise." — Malcolm X

In general my life was very happy, but there were some exceptional times of course. Around the age of five I was molested by a close friend of the family. The strange thing about this was that although it was uncomfortable and unwanted I never blamed myself for the event. It only happened once and I never told anyone until I was an adult yet I always felt that this person was paying a dear price for the action and that he was solely responsible. My father’s mistakes were generally confined to mental abuse and since he was essentially a non-father by virtue of his absence most of the time I was generally spared that. By the time I was a teenager I was quite strong mentally and any abuse he may have intended was irrelevant. He died in 2001 and before his death I made it clear that I had no bitterness towards him and I do know that without doubt he did love me; but tragically he was one of life’s countless victims who was emotionally unable to break the terrible cycle of injustice that he himself and virtually all of us know to one degree or another.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller

I grew up in middle class Southern California, mostly San Diego and Los Angeles. Surfing and football (soccer) were my first loves with the oceans remaining central to my life to this day. As a relatively handsome blond boy I moved in popular circles with friends at school but I never felt a need for peer acceptance like most kids. I think the considerable time I spent quite comfortably alone as a child is greatly responsible for this.

"Spend some time alone every day." - The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Secure in the love of my mother I was very comfortable with myself and almost always felt confident to go my own way. When “New Wave” was in and most all of my friends had the appropriate trendy clothes and short haircuts I was wearing the opposite “style” of leather and long hair. Later I dove into “head banging Heavy Metal” and then slam dancing and stage dives with punk music. I tried marijuana for the first time at an AC/DC concert when I was thirteen years old; my first beers were also about this time. I was always the questioning type and when answers did not satisfy me I was not prone to adhere to the norms others seemed fine with.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning." — Albert Einstein

Teachers had there hands full with me as I applied this principle with them liberally, often times in front of the class which really did not win many points of favor. I guess it is fair to say that I was definitely rebellious, only I like to think that I put some thought into this and that I did indeed have a cause, even though I often times did not know exactly what that cause was at the time.

"From the moment I was six I felt sexy. And let me tell you it was hell, sheer hell, waiting to do something about it." - Bette Davis

Girls and sex were of course always central to my being as a teenager and I had my share of fun with girls, but to be sure the girls I most wanted eluded me. Throughout my teens I always seemed to be massively in love with one girl or another; no other girls seemed to matter during these spells and yet some of the girls never even knew my true feelings. And as it is for most people, it was fear that was holding me back more than anything. My fear was primarily in the form of shyness, which was ultimately the result of my fear of rejection. One of life’s major lessons to be sure. Fear not overcome in my youth translated to potential love lost. Later I would understand and overcome this common fear based human problem to the point that it is now at the core of my being. The shyness of my youth would soon be replaced.

"Fearlessness presupposes calmness and peace of mind." Gandhi

I graduated from Mira Mesa High School (San Diego) in 1987, just barely, thanks to failing algebra more than once, giving many teachers hell and spending considerable time partying. Somewhat miraculously I managed to do generally well in school otherwise despite completing virtually no homework. I like to think that I intuitively knew from a young age that public school in America was more about indoctrination than true education.

"To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force and artificial authority. Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity and the self-confidence of pupils and produces a subservient subject." — Albert Einstein

Fortunately most of the systematic objectives of indoctrination were lost on me and I maintained my seemingly instinctive loyalty to questioning authority.

"I think it only makes sense to seek out and identify structures of authority, hierarchy, and domination in every aspect of life, and to challenge them; unless a justification for them can be given, they are illegitimate, and should be dismantled, to increase the scope of human freedom." - Noam Chomsky

My independent thought was alive and well but my conclusions at this young age were quite frankly— stupid. I was a “clean cut conservative” young adult with right wing tendencies. My already developed articulation skills were successfully pitted against less able ideological opponents with regularity and this led me to believe I was on the “right” track as a developing adult. In short I was just another American idiot who believed in my country right or wrong and generally I “knew” my country was right. I seriously considered becoming a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy as they were (are) the “best”; I thought to myself —what job could be better than a fighter pilot?— The obvious answer with my ignorant point of view being none of course. Ultimately the long schooling (indoctrination) commitment required for this vocation and lack of any guarantee that I would ultimately become a fighter pilot dissuaded me from seriously pursuing this path.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” — Albert Einstein."

Out of high school I worked in a French restaurant called the El Bizscocho as a waiter. I really loved this job as it was challenging and I was making great money for that age. To this day I so admire the professionalism of the Maitrede John Sullivan who was in charge of the restaurant and the working environment there. He is the only boss I ever completely respected and who respected me. His professionalism resulted in myself and everyone else working very hard and the restaurant providing first class service for sure. Life was good and I even lived on a sea cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the best part of San Diego (Encinitas). But after one year or so I began to feel as if I was becoming too comfortable with my position as a waiter when my goals in life were very high. On one fateful night I watched the classic Stanley Kubrick movie “Full Metal Jacket”, this movie inspired me spontaneously to join the United States Marine Corps. Patriotism was not the motivation, it was the discipline and initiative that I would surely gain that motivated this decision. I believed then as I do now that everyone must —pay their dues in life— should they desire to achieve great things. What I failed to realize was that in my desire to —pay my dues— I might also be called to kill or be killed for reasons that morality could not possibly justify. In this respect my decision to join the Marines was clearly the “stupidest decision of my life”, yet it remains so true that life teaches us most when we make our biggest “mistakes”.

"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!" — Albert Einstein

I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and I was a proficient and respected Marine with the critical position of SAW gunner (squad automatic machine gun) within my —fire team—. But one year into service I spoke out against my immediate superiors for their undeniable abuse of power. I paid dearly for that decision with my platoon sergeant (Staff Sergeant Stanley) declaring that “in my seventeen years in the Marine Corps Nichols (later Nichols O’Keefe) you are the biggest piece of shit I have ever seen, and I’m gonna fry your ass first chance I get.— The Staff Sergeant was true to his word and from that day forward my life in the Marines was a constant battle. Now I am grateful for this as it definitely strengthened me but at the time it was hell. The personal injustice of it all was so invaluable because it greatly heightened my sensitivity to all injustice, which in turn is the core of my activism today.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

I served in the Gulf War with Staff Sergeant Stanly still in charge of me, a man who truly hated me and had made no secret about it. Not a pleasant reality. But as Vietnam proved, “friendly fire” is often no accident, and really not “friendly” at all. So it is truly amazing how quick the bullshit abuse of power stops when men of lower rank are carrying hand grenades and live rounds in their machine guns. In that sense, with my twisted reality, I actually enjoyed being in the Gulf.

“Officers who aggressively risked or otherwise offended their men were customarily warned once or twice by a nonlethal grenade before being attacked with a booby-trapped or hurled grenade. By mid-1972, the Pentagon was officially acknowledging 551 incidents of fragging with explosive devices, which had left 86 dead and more than 700 wounded. These figures were no doubt understated, and they did not include a common and less-conspicuous method of killing unpopular officers: rifle fire, often in the midst of combat." - H. Bruce Franklin - Vietnam and Other American Fantasies

My unit; 2cd Battalion 4th Marines (“the Magnificent Bastards“), earned the much-coveted ”Combat Action Award—. I saw surrendering Iraqi soldiers, dead Iraqi soldiers, days that were black as night from oil fires and explosions straight out of Hollywood. I experienced several days without any sleep at all and feeling no fatigue because the adrenaline was flowing like a raging river. Although I know for a fact that I did not personally kill any Iraqi people, I must sadly admit that I am sure I could have if needed. I did look at Arabs/Muslims as sort of less then, I was not quite a raving lunatic redneck racist but I was a racist nonetheless with the moral justification firmly in place which was capable of rationalizing the killing of how ever many “enemies” was required. I am so deeply grateful that I never manifested this stupidity and actually took a life. If I had I would likely be an emotional basket case, like so many veterans are now and will continue to be as long as they are called on to murder their brothers and sisters for reasons of greed and power. As it is I still feel guilt for my being in the Gulf in the first place; what the fuck was I thinking? I cannot explain other than to say that it is all too easy in America to buy into the bullshit and actually think that your government and military actually serves the people of the nation and even the world. Stupid for sure, true nonetheless. Ignorance and denial were working perfectly and I really wasn’t thinking for myself, I was simply “doing my job”.

After the war I was “ratted on” for using strength building steroids by a Marine trying to lighten punishment for his use of cocaine. Using steroids was and is a common practice among Marines; building muscle and bulk is rewarded and in many covert ways the use of steroids is encouraged, even though it is illegal. Thankfully I was not so stupid as to continue use of steroids for long; I stopped after the fourth use. By this time however I had been punished continually for my previous cardinal sin of exposing the abuse of power, as a result I could not have cared care less what Marine Corps “leadership” thought of me. So when I was pressured by the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) to “rat on” the man who sold me the steroids I refused, much to their consternation. Once again I was not going along with the program. Upon telling my supplier however I was somewhat shocked to have him tell me to go ahead and give them his name. Seems he was fed up with the Marines as well and a discharge for him was a welcome possibility. Although I was committed to serving my full four years, my bad behavior had the good consequence of being Court Martialed (charged in a Military Criminal Trial) for “illegal use of narcotics” (steroids). Ultimately I was blessed/punished by being discharged (made redundant) one year ahead of schedule, Bush Sr.’s post War downsizing assisting me greatly in this matter. Officially I received a “general discharge” under “other than honorable conditions”; a discharge sure to be used along with other admissions in this auto-biography by my enemies as a testament to my dishonorable nature. This general discharge is actually a rare middle of the road act in my life of the five possible discharges and I quite frankly wish I had “earned” the worst discharge of all; the “dishonorable discharge” which comes with a keepsake certificate. Walt Disney had earned one of these and had it framed upside down at his Disney headquarters. Regardless of whatever label the Marines wished to attach to me, my discharge from the Marines remains the happiest day of my life. Never have I had a bigger smile on my face than the day I drove out the main gate of Camp Lejeune for the very last time.

But as I noted before, the biggest “mistakes” are in reality the greatest learning experiences almost inevitably providing the biggest opportunities. Had I to do it all again I have to say that despite the massive bullshit I would. Without doubt the most valuable quality the Marines unintentionally instilled in me was my absolute value of freedom. I swore then that I would never relinquish my freedom again and that I would defend and exercise my freedom to the hilt from that day forward. Indeed I have and at this point in my life I see myself as one of the freest people on planet Earth, for that I forever thank the Marine Corps.
“For those who stubbornly seek freedom, there can be no more urgent task than to come to understand the mechanisms and practices of indoctrination. These are easy to perceive in the totalitarian societies, much less so in the system of 'brainwashing under freedom' to which we are subjected and which all too often we serve as willing or unwitting instruments." — Noam Chomsky
The Marine Corps exposed me to the abuse of power that was so critical for me because the charmed existence of white middle-class Western suburbia unquestionably breeds apathy and ignorance like nothing else. Had I not departed from this illusory life which is so foreign to the oppressed masses of the world I would have almost certainly joined the detached masses of the West who so falsely content themselves with being blind, deaf and insane, or “prosperous” for short.

“We have produced a world of contented bodies and discontented minds.” - Adam Clayton Powell

Once again it is almost assuredly attributable to the love of my mother but I remember so clearly my goal before, during and after the Marines was to become a multi-millionaire. This was my priority, or so I thought. As part of my “path to riches” I conducted an exercise intended to help guide would be millionaires to the goal. The exercise was simple; numerically list your top priorities in life. I was perhaps 22 at this time and I am as clear as can be about what my top priority was then, and is to this day. Contrary to what I thought before the exercise, my top priority was not to be “rich”; it was “peace of mind”. I knew then, even in my ignorance of racism, patriotism, history and politics that no reward was worth sacrificing peace of mind. If the only way to make money was to fuck the planet or another human being then riches were not for me.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” - The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

After separating from the Marines I grew long hair, found a job with Greenpeace and began my awakening. I have never been a pacifist or a hippie but that did not stop people from misidentifying me as such, I guess they did not know from which roots I came. I studied philosophy, ecology, history, ethics and progressive movements as a whole; I evolved more in this period than I ever had before. Where forced study in school was a chore of indoctrination, independent study in subjects of my choosing became the ultimate manifestation of freedom. Never content with mental masturbation I translated my new understandings into action. I was appalled by my nation’s insane production of “weapons of mass destruction” and was appropriately arrested protesting U.S. nuclear testing in Nevada in 1994. I was shocked and horrified with the standard treatment of non-human animals in factory farms and liberated several creatures from this hell while developing a formidable ability to effectively express this outrage. I was awed by my absolute ignorance with regard to the destruction of our planet and conducted many direct actions, many of which were illegal and significant but as moral as moral could be. Importantly I have never injured or killed anyone in these actions nor will I ever do so. Nor will I describe the details for obvious reasons.

“I only wish to say that for a good life a certain order of good actions is indispensable; that if a man's aspirations toward right living be serious they will inevitably follow one definite sequence; and that in this sequence the first virtue a man will strive after will be self-control, self-restraint. And in seeking for self-control a man will inevitably follow one definite sequence, and it this sequence the first thing will be self-control of food. And if he be really and seriously seeking to live a good life, the first thing from which he will abstain will always be the use of animal food, because, to say nothing of the excitation of the passions caused by such food, its use is simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to moral feeling -- killing; and is called forth only by greediness and the desire for tasty food.” — Leo Tolstoy

Upon becoming good friends with a vegetarian and asking him many questions on the subject I decided to became a vegetarian as well. I consider this decision the single best decision of my life for many reasons. I have been almost exclusively vegan (consuming no animal products) for nearly 9 years. My level of health and quality of life as a vegan is phenomenal; my energy/productivity level would embarrass almost any human carnivore/omnivore. Most of all my spiritual growth and peace of mind have been profoundly enhanced. I cannot possibly recommend this lifestyle change any more than I already do, those who are serious about increasing their health, protecting our planet, and expanding their level of compassion will find no individual action more powerful.

“Nothing will benefit human health and the chances for survival of life on earth more than the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” — Albert Einstein

I am absolutely sure that vegetarianism has even saved my life; let me explain. My father and his father both died of heart disease. In fact, 50% of all American men have heart disease; half of them die from heart disease. My father had his first heart attack at the age of 32 (one year younger than I am now), killing one third of his heart. He bought into the expensive, invasive medical establishment procedures that “prescribed” 50 plus pills a day, inserted balloons into his arteries, required his chest plate to be cut open in order to obtain access to his decrepit heart, etc, etc, etc. Ultimately he died looking like an AIDS patient, Steak Diane and Rack of Lamb more important to him than life itself when it comes down to it. My diet was virtually the same as his and I am sure my fate was his, had I been stupid enough to look to doctors for advice on health. So now, as a vegan (no animal fat or cholesterol in my diet) who has virtually no need for doctors it is a virtual impossibility for me to suffer from heart disease, this to me is physical karma in action. “What we reap we sow“. ”Do unto others as we would have them do unto us“. ”What comes around goes around—.

"Ninety to ninety-seven percent of heart disease, the cause of more than one half of the deaths in the United States, could be prevented by a vegetarian diet." - 1961 Journal of the American Medical Association

It was in this same period that I ultimately met in London the women who became my first true romantic love, Ruth. My shyness behind me and my enlightenment growing it seems all too coincidental that it happened at this time. She was and is an extremely beautiful woman who was always the envy of those around me. Constantly pursued by would be suitors, yet they had no chance. At my invitation she ultimately left her beloved family and home in London to move half way around the world with me in San Diego. We were passionately in love and we experienced both heaven and hell together, and we were intensely loyal. But when the strains of this tumultuous relationship had gone beyond the loves ability to maintain that loyalty in 1995 my heart was to experience a crushing pain like nothing I had ever experienced. It was the site of my love walking across the street with the hand of another man that caused this pain and had it not been for the undeniable love so many had for me I would have easily killed myself. All I could do was walk up to her and spit right into her face and walk away in the biggest mess of my life. Yet once again I am so grateful for this experience because of the invaluable lesson it taught me. Instead of hardening my heart it actually strengthened it and showed me that self pity was the way of the victim. Instead of decreasing my ability to love it actually increased it to where I now have as deep and genuine a love and brotherhood for all that is as anyone I know. But boy oh boy did it hurt like a motherfucker at the time. I did not eat for one week solid and primarily resumed eating because of the stress it was causing my mother.

"Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.” - George Bernard Shaw

My desperate need to escape the heartbreak led me to depart for Hawaii where my dear friend Dave happened to have moved. I was a pathetic little self pitying guest but he did so well to tolerate me in this time. I wanted Ruth back no matter what and within one month I returned to San Diego to collect her, definitely one of the happiest moments of my life. Our relationship did improve in many ways after this and our chapter of life in Hawaii was mostly wonderful. But there were still hard times and in particular was a miscarriage after 10 weeks of pregnancy that Ruth had by me, which she recalls as one of three total. This was devastating all around but especially for Ruth. Ruth has had two children not by me and she always reckoned that my Gulf War exposure to DU and or experimental drugs by the U.S. Military was the cause of the miscarriages. The more I have learned of these issues the more inclined I am to agree with her. We finally were married in 1999 after six years together, in a simply beautiful traditional Hawaiian wedding on a gorgeous sunny beach. It was at this time I decided to legally take her family name and alter my legal name; hence I now Kenneth Nichols O’Keefe. Ruth will always remain my first true romantic love and it is fair to say that I grew into manhood with her. But we finally separated for good however not long after the marriage, after nearly seven years together.

My love of the ocean and idyllic home in Hawaii lead me to become a SCUBA instructor and eventually I earned technical ratings as a deep diver and cave diver. Later I obtained a U.S. Coast Guard Captains License and ultimately I started my own business in 1996 with support from my mother and Ruth (who was unable to work legally as an Irish citizen). The 5000 dollars I used to start the business was secured from a loan shark slash marijuana dealer who later became a dear friend, after I paid him back of course. I was actually compelled to start the business because I was unable to find work, essentially because of the numerous tattoos I had been collecting; especially the one around my neck. But believe it or not that was genuinely part of my life’s plan; I purposely got the tattoos knowing that it would force me to create my own path rather then march along the much easier path of complicity and “prosperity”.

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

The business was eventually named Deep Ecology (www.deepecology1.com) and I am immensely proud of it. In reality Deep Ecology (as the name implies) was really more of an excuse to do what I was/am incredibly passionate about; interacting with and protecting the ocean realm. This was/is no ordinary business. I was threatened by U.S. Government bureaucrats from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for violating the endangered species act during a scuba tour when I pulled a helpless endangered Green Sea Turtle out of the ocean which had fishing line wrapped around it.

“The oceans are not being protected by the navies of the world. Governments will not stop the slaughter of whales, the seals, the sharks, the turtles, or the increasing pollution of the seas.

“That work is being done by unsung heroes and grassroots groups who know better than to wait for action that will never come.

“In Hawaii, dive shop owner Ken Nichols is rescuing turtles injured by monofilament fishing line. In Washington state, Makah Elder Alberta Thompson is standing up for the whale despite persecution from her own tribal council”— — Captain Paul Watson — Ocean Realm Magazine — Spring 2000

When fishing line wraps around the limbs or the neck of marine life, death or dismemberment is sure to follow unless a rescue is conducted very quickly. Had I not been among the “arrogant” minority of activists who obeys altruistic instincts over bullshit laws I would not have pioneered Green Sea Turtle rescues and directly participated in 40 plus such rescues over the next three years, which means I would not have saved dozens of endangered species or taught and inspired others how to do the same. Sometimes breaking the law is the most noble of actions, Gandhi and many others have taught me that. The fact is that I was able to do more than a government bureaucracy with hundreds of employees and millions of dollars in their budget and I believe there are endless examples of how people can do this in all facets of life.

“I claim to be no more than an average man with below average capabilities. I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have if he or she would put forth the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith.” - Gandhi

These turtle rescues were featured on local national and international magazines and television including a BBC profile in 2001. Aside from the turtle rescues Deep Ecology conducted a Spotted Eagle Ray rescue and 13 “Ghost Net” (abandoned or lost fishing nets) recoveries, including two at 200ft. deep. We freed hundreds if not thousands of doomed fish from these nets and I personally received more than one death threat and threats from fishermen who did not appreciate my actions which so exposed their reckless practices. Deep Ecology also conducted dozens of beach clean-ups and collected thousands of pounds of nets to construct a massive Ghost Net sculpture at the back of the shop. This sculpture was used as an educational tool to show the immense waste that daily enters our oceans and needlessly kills untold amounts of life. At the request of people in the community I conducted tours for local and visiting kids in our shop. I spoke of how they can teach their parents the issues and become involved in direct actions themselves in order to solve the problems we as adults were handing to them. I taught them that they can do more than any government agency or organization if only they desire it enough. Many of these children to this day intend to make Deep Ecology their first job after graduating from high school and or start their own version of the business.

"Thanks for the great dive and for the higher, deeper message of your activism and action, example and educational work. Thank you x 10!" — Ecology Professor Kurt Grimm — University of Vancouver — Deep Ecology Testimonial

As a result of our pioneering work Deep Ecology was directly responsible for the formation of the first true marine sanctuary on the North Shore of Oahu, where the business is based. This achievement was the culmination of three years of canvassing and organizing and is nothing short of a miracle when you understand the Banana Republic State Government of Hawaii. It is ironic for me that I have not seen the impact of this sanctuary as I left Hawaii before it was officially formed. I dream of the day that I can return to see the life in this area, life that used to be nervous and evasive of all humans who were all too often there to kill them. To see these same creatures comfortable and thriving in and amongst humans will be one of the most glorious experiences I will ever have. It is just such experiences that I have become literally addicted to, rather than the material selfishness of my younger days and so revered in general by Western society.

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

In this same period it is no coincidence that I volunteered to crew with the legendary Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Paul is one of the founding fathers of Greenpeace and modern conservation direct action in general. And this commitment to action is what compelled him to leave Greenpeace when it strayed from its direct action roots and became the self-promotional resource consuming giant that it remains today. Paul is a highly controversial marine conservationist who has directly and organizationally been responsible for sinking nine commercial whaling ships and ramming four drift netters (illegal ships that set up to 50 mile long nets which catch everything that crosses their path). In ramming the drift netters he has ripped the power blocks off the sides of these ships forcing them to abandoned their illegal fishing and return to port for expensive repairs.

United Nations World Charter for Nature - Principle 21 Section (e): States, and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities, international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall:
(e) Safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction."

During this time I became a trusted friend of Paul’s, later I crewed with him again and became the Regional Director for the Sea Shepherds in Hawaii. He is a man that I have absolute respect for and his influence can be seen in virtually all that I do with regard to direct action. It has truly been an honor to know him, learn from him and ultimately to earn his respect.

“This letter is a recommendation of Ken Nichols for his obtaining a Coast Guard Captains license. Ken crewed as a volunteer with my organization for three months and in that time proved to be a reliable and worthy seaman. He was called on to complete numerous tasks often times in stressful situations and proved he was a stable and most valuable crewmember. I look forward to working with Ken on future Sea Shepherd campaigns and I know that he will be a exemplary Captain.”
Sincerely,
Captain Paul Watson

Paul says what many do not want to hear and could care less about popularity, he cares about results, and so do I. He is reviled by some of the most ruthless of people; he is continually maligned by so-called “friends” of conservation. He has been called everything from a capitalist to a cultural imperialist to a terrorist. And yet, with all of these ludicrous accusations and aggressive actions his top priority of non-injury to life has been maintained 100%, nobody has been seriously hurt or killed by Paul’s actions. Popularity is completely and utterly unimportant to Paul and in this we are one.

“Five hundred years from now, no one will remember the trivialities of today. No one will care who said what about who. No one will even remember most individual actions or campaigns. People will remember that whales once lived, but are no more. They will remember that there were once rain-forests. Or perhaps there will be rainforests and they will remember the name of Randy Hayes. Or perhaps there will still be Mountain gorillas and they will remember Dian Fossey. People reviled today for their activism will be tomorrow's angels and people respected today for their wealth and power will tomorrow's demons.” — Captain Paul Watson

While in Hawaii I sought to earn the understanding and respect of the Hawaiian people (kanaka maoli). So I immersed myself in Hawaiian history and learned of the massive injustice that was done to them, at the hands of the U.S no less. Knowledge converted into action lead to me becoming intimately involved in the Hawaiian independence movement. So much so that I dropped out of my dive business for 8 solid months and worked on my full-length documentary and first Universal Kinship Society production. It documents the historical facts with regard to Hawaii and is entitled “The United States of Hypocrisy — Hawaii, the Tibet of the Pacific—. In the film I formally charge and literally prove the U.S. government guilty of committing past and present fraud and genocide against the Hawaiian People through the use of “blood quantum”. During this exact time I became the target of U.S. agents, specifically traffic police and the highly corrupt traffic courts. In one incident I was handcuffed and nearly taken to jail for “not having an approved dive float”. The customers I had with me at the time (who were coincidentally aware of my political activities) were shocked. One was a doctor from Canada and the other an NGO founder from New York; both wrote statements of what I have just described.

United States Constitution - Article VI Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

More ominous was the action of U.S. Judge William Fong; he issued an $11,000 “Bench Warrant” for my arrest in November 2000 of which I can prove I was absolutely innocent by virtue of official court transcripts. Only those of incredible stupidity or complicity would deny that I have been directly targeted for my political activities and all proof of this has been officially and legally recorded. I was forced to fight U.S. judges and I did so with court transcripts to prove it. The entire dialogue of my courtroom exchange with the dishonorable Judge Fong being so short that I will write it as appears on the official court transcript word for word, italics mine;

MISS TOM (COURT CLERK): 17 through 21 Kenneth Nichols.
THE DEFENDANT (ME): Yes here.
MISS TOM: He’s present. Please step forward, Mr. Nichols.
THE DEFENDANT: I am here as a courtesy of the court and I am also here to exercise my constitutional and common law rights.
THE COURT (JUDGE FONG): Kenneth Nichols. Kenneth Nichols. Issue an absolute no recall bench warrant. Set bail at 11,000 dollars.
THE DEFENDANT: Bench warrant, is that correct?
THE COURT: Call the next case.
THE DEFENDANT: I would like it to be noted by the court that I have—(cut off)
THE COURT: Call the next case, please. Remove him from the courtroom.
THE DEFENDANT: That would be a violation of my rights of constitutional amendment--(cut off)
THE COURT: Remove him from the courtroom. (Court Bailiff removes me)

Now that’s the American justice I know. To give some perspective, an 11,000 dollar bench warrant would generally be issued for someone charged with a violent crime such as assault with a deadly weapon. I was (falsely) charged with expired vehicle safety tags and registration!

United States Constitution — The Bill of Rights — Article VI: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Eventually I even took a hidden camera into a U.S. court that was violating several “inalienable” and constitutionally “protected” rights including the right of a “Free Press” (Article I — Bill of Rights).

What I reluctantly but inevitably realized was that I was affectively being neutralized by having to constantly defend myself in their corrupt and rigged system. Regardless of this I loved my life in Hawaii and my extended Hawaiian family and I had no intention of leaving. But in 1999 I publicly renounced U.S. citizenship at U.S. Federal Hearings on “Reconciliation” with the Hawaiian people and swore under oath my allegiance to the Hawaiian Nation, that allegiance remains intact to this day. In accordance with International Public Law I am in fact a legitimate and lawful Hawaiian national/citizen. On March 1, 2001 I traveled to a foreign consulate as required by U.S. law in order to legally renounce my U.S. citizenship. I did so in Vancouver, Canada. On that day I swore under oath my lawful intent to formally renounce and handed over my U.S. passport. Along with signing the required documents I also included a “Declaration of Expatriation” in which I detail the undisputed historic facts with regard to Hawaii and my inherent right to expatriation. Although this —right to self determination— (expatriation, renunciation) is backed by international law, human rights law and even U.S. law I was to receive my passport and a letter from the United States Department of State claiming that I did not truly “intend to renounce U.S. citizenship” and therefore my “request is denied”. This process was to be continued shortly.

A Resolution
To Proclaim To The Nations Of The World The Lawful Hawaiian Governments Formal Policy Of Non-Violence
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Hawaii:
SECTION 1. That the Lawful Governments process of Reinstatement rests on a foundation of Law and Peace. We the Legislature acknowledge that the fulfillment of the Inherent Sovereignty relies proportionately on the integrity of this foundation. Any actions or accusations in contradiction to our stated policy of non-violence and adherence to Hawaiian Kingdom Law or Public International Law committed by citizens, infiltrators, or wrongfully accused of this Nation is hereby denounced.
SECTION 2. That this policy derives from the spirit of Gandhi, who achieved what was perceived as impossible by defeating the British Empire through peaceful means. By the example of Nelson Mandela, Lech Valesa, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, and our beloved Queen Liliuokalani, we do hereby commit our Government to the path of Truth and Justice. We shall endeavor to refrain, whenever possible, from all forms of violence except in self-defense. And this only when all peaceable means have been exhausted.

In early 2001 I wrote the “Non-violence Resolution— above that was later ratified by the de jure (lawful) Hawaiian Government Legislature into Hawaiian Kingdom Law. I initiated and wrote this resolution because it was, and still is my belief that the U.S. will “create” an “incident” in Hawaii, such as a terrorist action, and use this to destroy the peaceful, lawful and noble independence movement of Hawaii. I cite the 1989 invasion of Panama as an excellent example of my rational concern in this regard— then came 9/11.

"Revenge... is like a rolling stone, which, when a man hath forced up a hill, will return upon him with a greater violence, and break those bones whose sinews gave it motion." — Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Life became unbearable in the fever pitch of blind patriotism and vengeance in the wake of 9/11. I lived on a military outpost (Hawaii) with Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines with 3000 plus nuclear weapons; arguably the most important strategic site for the U.S. Global Domination purposes. I was already legally guilty of “seditious conspiracy” for having sworn an oath to an opposing government and nation. I was responsible for exposing U.S. terrorism and oppression n Hawaii and laying out in documentary form the process of legal remedy for the kanaka maoli in order to “reinstate” the government and nation, the same nation that the U.S. had admitted to stealing in U.S. Public Law 103-150. I was also guilty of the purposely vague charge of “sedition” and all tolled I was in the same category as Puerto Rican nationals who fought for their independence and ended up spending nearly two decades in a U.S. prison for seditious conspiracy charges. One of whom I had met personally, Alicia Rodriguez. In addition, since I was/am not violent or morally wrong in any way with my activities I was genuinely concerned about potential FBI framing for things I would never do, but could easily be framed for; such a proven and easy way to eliminate legitimate dissent in the “Land of the Free“. Planting ”evidence— such as a large stash of drugs or perhaps explosives and following through on the already existing bench warrant would not be difficult at all. The dwindling numbers of those ignorant and or prosperous enough to still buy into the due process of law illusion and “freedom” crap of America will doubt what I say here, but those with their eyes open will certainly understand. Those who are true activists or revolutionaries will most definitely understand.

“I don’t think I’m in any position to tell people what to do. I felt the same way back in the 1960s when I was talking to young people whose lives were on the line. What do you tell them to do? That’s for them to decide. T’s easy for me to tell somebody to go be a resister and spend a couple of years in jail or go into exile and destroy your life, but what right do I have to tell people that? If you tell people to get seriously involved in dissidence, they’re going to change their lives. This is not the kind of thing you can dip your toe into and then walk away from. If you’re serious about it, it’s going to affect you. It’s going to change your life in ways which are serious. By certain measures, you’ll suffer harm. You can face repression, economic reprisal, vilification, marginalization—there are a lot of unpleasant things that can happen.” — Noam Chomsky

During this time and to this day the unlawful $11,000 bench warrant remains active. At any point for me, should I enter America, U.S. federal or state agents can “legally” bust down my door arrest me, thereby eliminating me and my activities at least temporarily. With post 9-11 legislation such as the so-called “Patriot Act”, I could literally be taken by federal agents and held without access to an attorney, no contact with family, held indefinitely in a secret location and even beaten; all in accordance with America’s new laws. I shit you not, this is America today. Of course I would have to be linked to “terrorists” in some way, which is really not an issue of truth as much as it is a matter of how badly you are pissing off the dictatorship of America. In light of these realities, I faced a major decision; should I stay or should I go? Based on intelligent reflection, strategic analysis, concern for my human rights, and most importantly my ability to continue the fight against ecological destruction, oppression, war and potential World War III, I chose to leave. In November 2001, just after the passage of the traitorous “Patriot Act”, under ongoing threat of imprisonment, after considerable research into international, asylum and human rights law, I left my paradise home of Hawaii, my family, my business and a life that most would kill for in order to officially seek political asylum in Holland.

1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees - Article 1A(2): The term refugee is applied to a person who owing to well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his(/her) nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself (/herself) of the protection of his(/her) country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his(/her) former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.

In Holland I found a government as corrupt as any and a system that wanted to give asylum to an American as much as it wanted an American invasion, but based on the laws of Holland and International Law I felt it the best option I had. Upon arrival my first act was to sign all the renunciation documents once again, swear under oath to the truth of these documents and turn over my U.S. passport to the U.S. Government for the second time. After this I turned myself over to the Dutch Foreign Police and officially entered the asylum procedure. Despite the Dutch Governments best attempts to prevent this (Holland is all too friendly with the U.S.), I survived the initial asylum phase even after Dutch immigration officials committed fraud in an attempt to have critical documents supporting my asylum request removed from my comprehensive file. They did this because the first phase of the procedure was their best chance to get rid of me, but this backfired big time as I am all too aware of how corrupt government systems are. All of this is now officially on record with the Dutch Minister of Justice. They reluctantly approved my application to the second phase of the procedure and I was sent to a refugee camp in the Northern most region of the country, Stadskanaal.

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” - Harry S. Truman

It is there that I lived for two months in a small four bedroom flat with six refugees from African nations. All of whom would rather be in Africa were it not for war and lack of economic opportunity our Western raping and pillaging colonialist legacy has insured. Along with some of them I am still officially a refugee. One of the most despicable realities of refugee life is the fact that even as a legal refugee you are essentially not permitted to obtain legal work in Holland. Well not quite, refugees can work at the refugee centers, for 50 Euro cents an hour! I knew several who took this bullshit wage because it was all they had. I lived with a doctor from Ethiopia who was also licensed in Russia who descended into truly destructive alcoholism while in this welfare dependency. Contrary to what most antagonists of refugees think, not only would refugees not even for a second come to our cold northern countries if they had their way, the vast majority would work longer and harder for less just to have the same standard of life most of us complain about. Holland; a 21st century model state for tolerance and human rights.

My ability to deal with this system was much easier because of my familiarity with it, and with the help of a wonderful Dutch volunteer named Jan I was blessed to obtain pro bono services of Holland’s best asylum attorney, Pieter Bogaers. He has represented me ever since. This man has spent dozens of hours with me and countless others from all over the world who would otherwise be among the countless victims of the modern refugee system. He knows my story as good as anyone with substantial documents in support of my asylum claim and he serves as a credible source of confirmation of all that I have said. As it stands I am awaiting a court date in which my case will be presented. This procedure could be next month or next year.

After having been in the asylum procedure for seven months I had still not heard back from the U.S. State Department regarding my renunciation so I demanded to get a response from them with my July1, 2002 “International Notice” which was posted on my web site (www.uksociety.org) from that day forward. On that same day U.S. Consulate officials returned my passport to me for the second time explaining that the State Department had once again “denied” my “request” for renunciation. I informed the official that if he returned the passport to me that I would burn it before international media who were waiting for me outside the consulate. This dialogue was additionally witnessed from a cameraman from Al Jazeera who was there to cover the story. The U.S. official then informed me that burning the U.S. passport is a violation of U.S. federal law; I replied by saying, “ok”. I then exited the building and restated the inherent right to self determination and my lawful status as a stateless “World Citizen— with allegiance to my entire human family and my home, Planet Earth. Reaffirming my total lack of allegiance to the U.S. Government— and then I burned the passport. Seventeen days later I received a new letter from the State Department; amazingly the U.S claimed yet again that I remain a U.S. citizen! Essentially they argue that nation/state governments determine who I/we are as human beings; we do not have this right. This time they claimed that absent “citizenship” with another nation I could not renounce. The hypocrisy of this is incredible since the State Departments own forms, the same forms that I had signed and sworn by twice, the same forms I have in my possession today, their official renunciation forms state the following, word for word;
RENUNCIATION OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP
STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
CONCERNING THE CONSEQUENCES AND RAMIFICATIONS OF RENUNCIATION
1. I _____Kenneth Roy Nichols _____ have the right to renounce U.S. citizenship.
2. If I do not posses the nationality/citizenship of another nation upon my renunciation I will become a stateless person, and may experience extreme difficulty in traveling.

Seems pretty clear cut, so why does the U.S. still claim me as a U.S. citizen? When I succeed in affirming my stateless World Citizen status as a “person”, not a “citizen”, nation/state laws which are systematically injurious to human rights will be useless against me because jurisdiction will not/cannot be established. Only “citizens” who are legally bound to the —social contract— of citizenship with all its “rights” and more importantly “obligations” submit to the jurisdiction of nation/state laws that are injurious to human rights. Anyone wishing to challenge my conclusions will need to explain why the legitimate and ratified international laws protecting human rights have been and continue to be as worthless as the paper they are printed on? The reason is as I say and it is perhaps the best example of the —perversion of law— as opposed to the “rule of law”. Total freedom in this world of greed, power and corruption lies in the simple act of the masses establishing themselves as persons not citizens. It may seem too simple to be true, but it is nonetheless. The task is for the masses to not only acknowledge the methods of oppression but to act in mass, in unison, to destroy the mechanisms of oppression so as to free ourselves. This can be done violently or peacefully. I am endorsing the much more palatable latter option.

“The truth shall make you free.” - Bible - John 8:32

When enough of us realize this incredibly powerful non-violent, lawful, yet revolutionary option and then act on it, we can all be free. At that time only laws that do not injure inherent human rights will be legitimate and all others will be resigned to the trash heap of our oppressive and bloody history. The irony is that this process of peace and justice is articulated so eloquently and truthfully in the very first line of the most valuable human rights document/laws ever produced, the “United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights— (bolding mine);

PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

It is my strongest belief that it is the denial of basic human rights that is at the core of all major problems facing humanity. This explains quite effectively why those living under generally freer and more prosperous conditions are largely complicit with our state of affairs while the oppressed masses are not. Therefore I believe the most critical challenge facing humanity is largely directed at those of us who were “fortunate” enough to be born or migrated to the freer, generally Western nations. We have the greatest opportunity to affect positive change in our world and if we truly do see ourselves as brothers and sisters as part of a single human family, then a world of Truth Justice & Peace (TJP) awaits us. It is with this understanding that I act as I do. It is with this understanding that I initiated the TJP Human Shield Action to Iraq.

"I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want." - Muhammad Ali

Lest my enemies accuse me of sugar coating my life and hiding my faults as a human being, here are some of the bad things I have done but failed to address in detail in this very short biography.
• I have stolen and lied to feed my greedy desires
• I have defaulted on loans from major lending institutions and creditors (bad???)
• I have driven while drunk
• I have verbally attacked those I love with venomous words that have caused great pain.
• I have physically attacked people for reasons other then self-defense.
• I have abused non-human animals both physically and emotionally.
• I have disrespected my mother
• I have allowed my anger and frustration to dictate my actions in destructive ways
• I have been lazy and apathetic
• I have been selfish

I offer no defense for these actions; I take responsibility for all of my deeds, good or bad. But what I will say with regard to the bad ones is that I see them as the result of my unwitting involvement in “humanities collective state of insanity”. I was not one with my world, my universe, I was one of the detached majority seeking comfort and happiness in areas where neither of these desires could ever be obtained. I was lost in the darkness and my actions were a reflection of this. Who is to say I am any different now? I will not say that I am; I will allow my actions to speak for me instead.