VEF Blog

The Continuing Adventures of a Blue list Desperado

Ever since Pete Bethune sang like a canary to the Japanese authorities and made accusations that implicated me in a conspiracy to board a Japanese whaling ship, I have been on the Interpol Blue list. Loose lips not only sink ships but they get people on lists.

What this means is that there is no warrant for my arrest but Japan has given a green light for me to be harassed. It’s a politically inspired list, not a legal one. China has the Dalai Lama on it and anyone who is viewed as a dissident by some government or another sometimes gets listed.

I discovered I was on the list early last year when a casual drive across the border from Canada into the United States set off actual alarms and sirens and suddenly I had a half a dozen Homeland security boys crouched behind concrete barriers with guns pointed at my head. I was handcuffed and marched into the Customs house like bad guy in a bad police drama and then released after a few minutes and told I was free to go.

The reason for the guns? Apparently I’m described on the list as an “armed and dangerous eco-terrorist.” Wow, I can understand the over reaction.

But then they run my passport and with puzzled looks they see there is no warrant and thus no cause to hold me.

“Just Japan being cute.” I say each and every time I cross the border.

Although the Interpol blue list is international, the only two countries that react are the United States and Canada. No problems In Europe, or Africa, or Australia, nope just the good old USA and dreary old Canada.

I’ve learned to take it in stride. I mean after all they can’t deny me entry to my own country.

On this recent trip I discover a new twist. My air ticket was Paris to Chicago with a connection to Vancouver.

Checking in with United Airlines at Charles DeGaulle airport I got the usual, “excuse me a moment sir, there seems to be a problem with your reservation. We have to call the reservation desk.”

“That’s okay,” I answered with a smile, “You’re actually calling Homeland security in the U.S. because I’m on the Interpol Blue list. No worries, it happens every time, they’ll call back in a few minutes with a clearance.  I do appreciate you being polite about it however. Thank-you.”

And usually it does take a few minutes but this time it took considerably longer. Good job I arrived at the airport three hours in advance.

The glitch was the reservation covered two countries, Canada and the U.S.A. and Canada was not going to allow me with my U.S. passport into the true north strong and free.

“I’m sorry sir, we can get you to Chicago but Canada is saying no. There’s nothing we can do.”

“Well that’s silly. There must be some way around this.”

“Unless you have a Canadian passport, there’s nothing we can do. Sorry sir.”     

I smiled. “Well as a matter of fact I just happen to have a Canadian passport as well.”

I handed the passport over and he called the Canadian bureaucrat on the other end of some line somewhere and I was cleared to go.

It just took forty minutes but patience has its rewards and after explaining the whole blue list fiasco and chasing whalers out of the Southern ocean and all, they bumped me up to business class.

I’ve actually come to enjoy the benefits of being a member of the Blue List elite. I get escorted to the head of those long clearance lines and I’m out the door before most everyone else. And I’ve gotten to know many of the Homeland security men and women, and many of them are fans of the Whale Wars show and mostly all, are very friendly.              

Arriving at Chicago, I was met at the gate by a couple of friendly officers and escorted straight to the front of the line and out the door. Good thing. United was late and I would have missed my connection if not for the Blue List elite treatment.