Press release - June 19, 2005
The World's first "Virtual March" was unveiled this evening in Ulsan, South Korea, host city of the 57th International Whaling Commission (IWC). Delegates attending the conference joined supporters, passers-by and the world's media in Lotte Plaza to witness the projection of thousands of images of people protesting the prospect of resumed commercial whaling.
The Greenpeace Virtual March projection took place in Lotte Plaza, Ulsan, next to the venue for the 57th International Whaling Commission which takes place this week. The projection showed images sent by anti-whaling supporters from 122 countries, voicing their support for the anti-whaling lobby.
A total of 51,161 thousand people from 123 countries took part
in theVirtual March by sending photographs of themselves with a
bannerexpressing their concern about the fate of the world's
dwindlingpopulations of whales.
"TheInternational Whaling Commission has come to Korea to decide
the fateof whales. Greenpeace has brought the protest from
thousands of peopleto the decision makers; to show them that even
though their decisionsmay be made behind closed doors, the whole
world is watching. Thesepeople want to make sure that the Korean
Government does not follow thefootsteps of the Japanese Government,
and does not push for aresumption of commercial whaling and lethal
research," said JohnFrizell, Greenpeace International.
The Ministry of MaritimeAffairs and Fisheries of South Korea has
already publicly declared aninterest in resuming whaling under the
guise of 'scientific'research. South Korea is also threatening to
support JapaneseGovernment's attempts to overturn the global
moratorium on commercialwhaling.
"Over two thousand whales could be killed this yearusing the
excuse of scientific research and commercial whaling indefiance of
the IWC moratorium. This figure will increase if the
KoreanGovernment resumes whaling," said Frizell. "The Korean
Government mustunderstand that the international reputation of
their country hangs inthe balance in the decisions they will make
in the week ahead."
See the Virtual March at: www.greenpeace.org
Other contacts: John Frizell, Greenpeace Virtual March, +82 10 22 33 07 46Mhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Media Officer, +82 10 22 33 07 53
VVPR info: Photographs available from +31 6 53819255Video footage available from +31 653 504 721
Notes: Supporters from the following countries submitted photographs: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Arab Republic; Argentina; Armenia; Aruba; Australia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Benin; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Bulgaria; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada;Cape Verde; Chile; China; Cocos (Keeling) Island; Colombia; Costa Rica, Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Eritrea; Estonia; Finland; France; French Guyana; Guinea; Germany; Greece; Guadeloupe; Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; India, Indonesia; Iran; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica;, Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Latvia; Lebanon; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia; Malaysia; Malta; Martinique; Mexico; Moldova; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; Netherlands Antilles; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norfolk Island; Norway; Pakistan; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; Russia; Saint Kitts and Nevis ;Senegal; Serbia and Montenegro; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela; Virgin Islands (Total 122)
Exp. contact date: 2005-06-30 00:00:00