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Canon endorses wildlife conservation through global sponsorship programs and high profile advertising. Throughout the world Canon cameras shoot whales during whale-watching expeditions, however, in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary many whales are shot with exploding harpoons.
Since the global moratorium on whaling came into force in 1986, thousands of whales, including endangered fin whales, have been killed in the sanctuary under the Japanese government’s "scientific research" program.
Whale meat from the hunt is sold to a minority of Japanese consumers - the rest is given to children for school lunches or added to the stockpile of around 4,000 tonnes of unsold meat.
Whales can be studied without having to die.
Greenpeace recently wrote to Canon headquarters in Japan asking that the CEO, Mr Fujio Mitarai, speak out against Japan's whaling programme. We asked him to sign the following statement.
"Canon is committed to building a better world for future generations, and does not support the hunting of endangered or threatened species with anything other than a camera. Canon believes the lethal whaling research programme in the Southern Ocean should be ended, and replaced with a non-lethal research programme."
However, Canon declined.
Greenpeace Japan whale project leader Junichi Sato said he was amazed that Canon wouldn’t condemn the killing of threatened species for fake research.
“As the head of a corporation that promotes itself as a wildlife defender and a powerful economic force in Japan, Mr Mitarai must do more than just advertise endangered species. He must act to protect them and the reputation of Japanese business abroad,” Sato said.
Mr Mitarai is also the head of Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation), which is the highest position a CEO can aspire in the Japanese business world. It also means having the ear of Japan's Prime Minister.
If Mr Mitarai spoke out against the Japanese government’s whaling program, his voice could help end whaling. It would also add weight to Canon's claims of environmental concern, and the whales would have a powerful ally in Japan.
Greenpeace believes that when a corporation draws income and brand value from associating with environmental causes, it has a responsibility to speak out on those issues.
Canon says on its website that it wants to "hand over a beautiful Earth for future generations".
Greenpeace believes Canon needs to “walk the talk” and use its immense power to speak out and act for a better world.
Although Greenpeace is targeting Canon, we are not calling for a boycott.
The majority of Japanese people do not support whaling and we are anti-whaling, not anti-Japanese.
We believe a boycott would be difficult to focus, harm the wrong people, and be ineffective in stopping whaling.
Canon endorses wildlife conservation through global sponsorship programs and high profile advertising. Throughout the world Canon cameras shoot whales during whale-watching expeditions, however, in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary many whales are shot with exploding harpoons.
Since the global moratorium on whaling came into force in 1986, thousands of whales, including endangered fin whales, have been killed in the sanctuary under the Japanese government’s "scientific research" program.
Whale meat from the hunt is sold to a minority of Japanese consumers - the rest is given to children for school lunches or added to the stockpile of around 4,000 tonnes of unsold meat.
Whales can be studied without having to die.
Contacting Canon
Greenpeace recently wrote to Canon headquarters in Japan asking that the CEO, Mr Fujio Mitarai, speak out against Japan's whaling programme. We asked him to sign the following statement.
"Canon is committed to building a better world for future generations, and does not support the hunting of endangered or threatened species with anything other than a camera. Canon believes the lethal whaling research programme in the Southern Ocean should be ended, and replaced with a non-lethal research programme."
However, Canon declined.
Greenpeace Japan whale project leader Junichi Sato said he was amazed that Canon wouldn’t condemn the killing of threatened species for fake research.
“As the head of a corporation that promotes itself as a wildlife defender and a powerful economic force in Japan, Mr Mitarai must do more than just advertise endangered species. He must act to protect them and the reputation of Japanese business abroad,” Sato said.
Mr Mitarai is also the head of Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation), which is the highest position a CEO can aspire in the Japanese business world. It also means having the ear of Japan's Prime Minister.
If Mr Mitarai spoke out against the Japanese government’s whaling program, his voice could help end whaling. It would also add weight to Canon's claims of environmental concern, and the whales would have a powerful ally in Japan.
TAKE ACTION: Help us pressure Mr Mitarai to speak up for whales.
Why target Canon?
Greenpeace believes that when a corporation draws income and brand value from associating with environmental causes, it has a responsibility to speak out on those issues.
Canon says on its website that it wants to "hand over a beautiful Earth for future generations".
Greenpeace believes Canon needs to “walk the talk” and use its immense power to speak out and act for a better world.
TAKE ACTION: Help us pressure Mr Mitarai to speak up for whales.
Why not just boycott Canon?
Although Greenpeace is targeting Canon, we are not calling for a boycott.
The majority of Japanese people do not support whaling and we are anti-whaling, not anti-Japanese.
We believe a boycott would be difficult to focus, harm the wrong people, and be ineffective in stopping whaling.
