Clobal Day Of Action. Greenpeaceace activists make a symbolic whale tail graveyard in opposition to the Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean.
The 17 governments comprehensively denounced the so-called
scientifichunt as a sham, noting that "Japan is now killing more
whales in theAntarctic every year than it killed for scientific
research in the 31years prior to the introduction of the moratorium
on commercialwhaling." They further express "grave concerns" that
the hunt "willundermine the long-term viability" of both fin and
humpback whales. Thewhaling fleet plans to take up to 935 minke
whales this season, withten endangered fin whales, and eventually
increase the annual take offin whales to 50 and adding 50 humpback
whales.
"Greenpeace is delighted that so many governments have joined
with ustoday in calling for an end to the killing of whales in the
SouthernOcean Whale Sanctuary. Our activists from the high seas to
the highstreets hope that the Japanese Government will listen to
theoverwhelming voice of opposition being expressed around the
world andbring the hunt to an immediate end," said Shane Rattenbury
the leaderof Greenpeace's expedition in the Southern Ocean.
From the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to
thestreets of Amsterdam, Berlin, Calcutta, Tokyo, Auckland, people
arebeing asked to sign up as Ocean Defenders and take action online
tohelp stop whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Along with pressure from Governments, corporations also have a
role toplay in bringing an end to the hunt. Nissui, is such a
company. Japan'ssecond-largest marine products company, Nissui owns
one third of KyodoSenpaku, which operates the whaling fleet. People
are being urged totell Nissui that "whaling is bad for business"
and call on the companyto get Kyodo Senpaku out of whaling.
Two Greenpeace ships, the Esperanza and the Arctic Sunrise, left
CapeTown on November 20 in order to defend the whales in the
Sanctuary.Since December 21 the ships have been pursuing the
whaling fleet andcontinually disrupting the whaling by placing
inflatables between theharpoons and whales.
The campaign to defend the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale
Sanctuaryis the first stage in an ambitious new Greenpeace campaign
'Defendingour Oceans'. Over the next year the Esperanza will be
Greenpeace's mainplatform to promote a network of marine reserves
or parks covering 40%of the world's oceans: places that will be
protected from industrialexploitation and destruction, from
industrial fishing and hunting, andplaces from which our oceans can
begin the process of repair andrecovery
For more information on the campaign to defend the whales go to:
http://oceans.greenpeace.org
Other contacts: Shane Rattenbury, Greenpeace Southern Ocean Expedition Leader, on board the Arctic Sunrise, + 873324453810 Mike Townsley, Greenpeace International Communications, +31621296918
VVPR info: Video available from Greenpeace International Video Desk +31653504721Photos available from Greenpeace International Photo Desk +31653819121 or +31653819255
Notes: (1) The signatories to the "Demarche" which was delivered to Japan'sMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by the Brazilian Ambassador are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.(2) A copy of the press release issued by the UK government can be foundat http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060117c.htm(3) Fifty seven crew and campaigners from 20 countries are on board the two Greenpeace vessels: UK, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ghana, Russia, Norway, Denmark, USA, France, Italy, Japan, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Austria and Argentina.