Underweight, wheezing and infected: whales have health problems too.

• Author: Middleton, Saundra

Internationalism in Action: Keiko's Story

He was born in Iceland, acquired a Japanese name, and has travelled to Canada, Mexico and America over the past 18 years in captivity.

He is Keiko, the movie star killer whale.

A generation of children, inspired by the movie "Free Willy" in 1993, responded eagerly to help Keiko's real-life plight. His tank in Reino Aventura in Mexico City was too small and too warm. He was underweight, had respiratory ailments and suffered for many years from skin warts-turned to skin lesions.

"Please help Keiko", wrote the children in French, Spanish, German, English and other languages from around the world to the film producers at Warner Brothers.

And the movement began.

Individually and in small groups, our young, global activists didn't need debate, sanctions, resolutions or a two-thirds vote. They just needed action. They knew it would cost money. Included in their letters were coins from many different nations and cheques. They sent their milk money and allowances. Entire piggybanks were included.

Hundreds of school groups raised funds with bake sales, walk-a-thons and raffles. One Tampa, Florida elementary school raised $30,000! Before Keiko was even moved to the Oregon Coast Aquarium to improve his health and living conditions, in January 1996, children had contributed $150,000 of millions that would be needed. And as Keiko left Mexico City, children lined up the streets for miles from Reino Aventura to the airport - some weeping in the night, others waving signs of "adios". Oregonian children greeted his rainy arrival in much the same way.

As Keiko regained his health in the next two years, hundreds of letters and e-mails a week continued to pour into the newly-formed Free Willy/Keiko Foundation, set up to handle his care. Cards, pictures and baked goods accompanied their correspondence. A partial listing of the countries the children represented reads like a United Nations roll-call vote: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Many children were fortunate to visit Keiko and deliver their coins personally. One pair of sisters from the State of Alaska picked wild blueberries in the...