Fw: URGENT sign-on document:Help us save the commercial whaling ban

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend,

 

PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE COMMERCIAL WHALING BAN!

 

I am writing to ask for your organisation's urgent help with our campaign

to stop a compromise plan for the resumption of commercial whaling. At a

special 'Whale Summit' in May this year several anti-whaling groups met to

discuss the growing crisis facing the world's whales and dolphins. We

agreed to create a new international alliance of concerned organisations

and individuals, the Global Whale Alliance (GWA), to fight plans to end the

current moratorium on commercial whaling. The ban could even be lifted this

year, at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

taking place in London week commencing July 23rd.

 

The GWA is opposing efforts to bring back commercial whaling under the

IWC's Revised Management Scheme (RMS). Completion and adoption of the RMS,

a set of management rules that must be agreed before any resumption of

whaling, will effectively end the 16-year global moratorium on commercial

whaling. Incredibly, many former anti-whaling countries are now actively

seeking compromise on the whaling issue and are backing the RMS plan.

 

The GWA would very much like your organisation to sign on to our anti-RMS

statement attached. We believe that adoption of the RMS would be an

irreversible step toward the return of a cruel and unnecessary industry

that has all but destroyed the world's whales. We believe that the

governments supporting the RMS are doing so in a misguided attempt to

appease the minority of whaling nations by seeking compromise on the

whaling issue. We do not believe this approach will serve the urgent

conservation needs of the whales. Neither, do we accept that it represents

public opinion in those countries. We are also very concerned that this

plan ignores overwhelming scientific evidence revealing the serious

environmental threats to whale populations and health risks associated with

eating increasingly contaminated whale products.

 

Thirty years of campaigns to save the whales could be destroyed this year

at the IWC, yet most people are unaware that this is happening. The case

for saving the whales is stronger today than ever before. The countdown to

commercial whaling has begun and the GWA is committed to stopping it.

 

The GWA is calling on all organisations that care about animals and the

environment to urge their governments to vote against any return to

commercial whaling and to support the continuation and strengthening of the

existing ban on commercial whaling. You can help our campaign by signing

and returning the position statement attached. Please copy it to anyone

else that may be interested but return your signed copy to us as a matter

of urgency. With your help we wish to demonstrate the strength of support

for the whaling ban and opposition to any negotiated resumption of

commercial whaling.

 

For more information, including a background information pack if needed,

and ideas on how you can help our campaign further please contact: Global

Whale Alliance Tel\Fax: Int'l +44 1323 811688 (UK 01323 811688) email

GWA

 

Thank you for your help

 

Andy Ottaway

On behalf of the Global Whale Alliance

 

 

Attachment:

 

SAY NO TO COMMERCIAL WHALING!

 

The Global Whale Alliance opposes the resumption of commercial whaling. We

hereby express our profound opposition to the completion and adoption of the

International Whaling Commission's Revised Management Scheme (RMS) that will

inevitably result in the lifting of the global moratorium on commercial

whaling.

 

We believe there are a growing number of ethical, political, legal,

environmental and scientific arguments that support our view that the

commercial hunting of whales cannot be justified in the 21st century.

Commercial whaling poses an unnecessary and unacceptable risk both to the

health and recovery of surviving whale populations and the people who

consume whale products.

 

The Global Whale Alliance calls for a coalition of non-governmental

organisations, governments, scientists and members of the public to oppose

the RMS; to support the continuation and strengthening of the commercial

whaling moratorium; and support the vital research necessary to quantify and

address both the serious environmental threats to whales and the health

risks to people that eat whale products.

 

 

Signed:

 

Organisation:

 

Contact address/email:

 

 

Please sign and return to: Global Whale Alliance:

PO Box 2673 Lewes East Sussex BN8 5BZ. UK

Tel\Fax 01323 811688 Int'l +44 1323 811688.

GWA