Greenpeaceactivists in Toronto and Niagara Falls joined
activists all over theworld to launch an appeal for people to
become Ocean Defenders and helppreserve the health and wealth of
our oceans. Whale tails were erectedin front of Toronto City Hall
and then Niagara Falls to call onCanadians to become Ocean
Defenders.
From the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
tothe streets of Toronto, Amsterdam, Calcutta, Tokyo, Auckland,
peopleare being asked to sign up as Ocean Defenders. They can join
Greenpeacein cyberspace where they can download activist kits, take
part incyberactions and communicate along with millions of people
directly topoliticians, companies and fellow consumers to turn the
tide on oceandestruction.
"The stupidity of the whale hunt in the Southern Ocean
WhaleSanctuary is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
thedevastation and destruction being wreaked upon our oceans world
wide.The oceans provide half of the world's oxygen, which is every
secondbreath we take. In return we are emptying them of life,
trawling themwith giant nets which scour and devour everything in
their path, heatthem with global warming and pour our waste into
them. Unless we wantour children to inherit oceans devoid of life
and beauty, we must allact to save them now," said Shane Rattenbury
leader of the expeditionin the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Two Greenpeace ships, the MY Esperanza and the MY ArcticSunrise,
left Cape Town on November 20 in order to defend the whales inthe
Sanctuary. Since December 21 the ships have been pursuing
thewhaling fleet and continually disrupting the whaling by
placinginflatables between the harpoons and whales.
"While international public opinion on whaling is ignored
andhigh level diplomatic pressure is failing, Greenpeace continues
to drawattention to the ongoing whale hunt," said Bruce Cox,
Greenpeace CanadaExecutive Director. "We call on Canadians across
the country to join usin defending our oceans and in forcing action
on saving the whales. Asthis campaign work continues the support of
Canadians in defending ouroceans will help bring about the change
needed to ensure that our oceanecosystems are around for future
generations."
The campaign to defend the whales in the Southern Ocean
WhaleSanctuary is the first stage in an ambitious new Greenpeace
campaign'Defending our Oceans'. Over the next year the Esperanza
will beGreenpeace's main platform in arguing for a network of
marine reservesor parks covering 40% of the world's oceans: places
that will beprotected from industrial exploitation and destruction,
from industrialfishing and hunting, and places from which our
oceans can begin theprocess of repair and recovery
VVPR info: For more information on the campaign to defend the whales go to:http://oceans.greenpeace.org