Feature story - 19 June, 2005
Whale song erupted across Lotte Plaza in Ulsan, South Korea, as the World's very first "Virtual March" to save the whales was unveiled this evening, loud enough for any IWC delegates not in attendance to hear. Thousands of photographs of anti-whaling activists from all around the globe were projected opposite the very hotel where the IWC is being held.
The Virtual March logo is projected right outside the hotel where the IWC is being held, in Ulsan, South Korea
Supporters, curious passers-by, locals who had been bombarded
withflyers in the last few days, Embassy activists and the world's
mediagathered in Lotte Plaza to witness the spectacle of thousands
of imagesof people protesting the prospect of resumed commercial
whaling.
The whale sounds were truly eerie echoing around the
ultra-modern LotteMultiplaza, flanked by a multiplex cinema and
Pizza Hut. Alongwith the projection it was enough to give you
goosebumps - and therewere certainly tears in some onlookers'
eyes!
Over 50,000thousand people from 122 countries took part in the
Virtual March bysending photographs of themselves with a banner
expressing theirconcern about the fate of the world's dwindling
populations of whales.
Our resident whale guru John Frizell summed it up
beautifully. "We have brought the protest from thousands of people
to the decisionmakers; to show them that even though their
decisions may be madebehind closed doors, the whole world is
watching."
TheMinistry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of South Korea has
alreadypublicly declared an interest in resuming whaling under the
guise of'scientific' research. South Korea is also threatening to
supportthe Japanese Government's attempts to overturn the global
moratorium oncommercial whaling. Just last night, a minke whale was
butcheredoutside Ulsan's whale meat restaurants under dubious
circumstances,with one local declaring that the catch was not
accidental. (SouthKorea permits the sale of meat from
"accidentally killed" whales.)
Wehope that tonight's events will help the Korean Government
tounderstand that the international reputation of their country
hangs inthe balance in the decisions they will make in the week
ahead.
View a slideshow of the event!
Check out the Virtual March!
Check out footage and photos from the Virtual March event!
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A message from the Virtual March