Action Alert - Koreans, please ask your government to protect whales!

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South Koreans, please ask your government to protect the whales!

 

English version below.

 

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Mr Ki Hiok Barng General

International Cooperation Office

MOMAF

50 Chungjeong-No

Seodaemun-Gu

Seoul 120-715

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

 

ÀüÈ­: +82 2 3148 6100-3

Æѽº: +82 2 3148 6106

À̸ÞÀÏ: khbarng

 

The 2005 annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), an

international body with about 60 member countries that oversees whale

conservation, will be held in Ulsan, South Korea this June. As the host country,

Korea will play a pivotal role in the future of marine mammal protection and the

fate of the great whales.

 

The Republic of Korea has been an IWC member since 1978. In accordance with the

IWC, Korea officially banned domestic whaling in 1982. However, Korea continues

to allow the domestic sale of products from cetaceans caught as incidental catch

or ¡°bycatch¡± in commercial fishing industry nets.

 

Over the past few years, Korea has been voting on the same side as Japan more

and more often. In 2003, Korea voted against the establishment of the IWC

committee on conservation. In 2004, Korea voted against a resolution for

addressing the terrible suffering caused by whaling methods. At the past three

annual meetings of the IWC, South Korea voted against establishing protected

areas for whales.

 

According to a recent report, Koreans consume 150 tons of whale meat annually

and there are 50 whale meat restaurants in the country. The amount of whale meat

consumed daily in those restaurants is estimated at 500 kilograms, or more than

150,000 kilograms annually. This meat comes mostly from whales caught by fishing

nets in the East Sea. Recently, it has been reported that Ulsan City plans to

build a processing plant for whale and dolphin meat.

 

In addition to being inhumane, killing and consuming whales has negative affects

for humans as well. Whales are vulnerable to environmental contaminants that

bond with fat (blubber). The effects on humans who consume contaminated whale

meat or blubber are very serious. It can cause cancer, nerve damage,

reproductive and developmental disorders, immune system suppression, liver

damage, skin irritation, and endocrine disruption. Allowing the sale of whale

meat puts unsuspecting consumers at serious risk.

 

Furthermore, killing whales jeopardizes ecotourism opportunities. Whale watching

is a large and growing industry in many countries, providing an educational and

non-consumptive way for people to profit from whales. It isn¡¯t just the tour

operators that profit from whale watching. The costal communities also gain

income from tourist money spent on restaurants, lodging, and other services.

 

Please write to Korea¡¯s IWC Commissioner today to let him know that you want

Korea to protect whales!

 

According to the 1991 Korean Animal Protection Law, no one shall kill animals in

a way which is cruel or which provokes disgust without proper, rational reason.

Animals shall not be subject to the infliction of unnecessary pain or injury

without proper, rational reason. And when animals are slaughtered, it must be

done to the maximum extent possible using methods without pain.

 

Tell him that there is no need for commercial whaling in today¡¯s world - people

no longer need their bone, blubber, meat, or oil, products which pose a

potential human health risk. Whales are now much more valuable alive than dead.

The only reason to kill whales is simple greed and politics. These are not

¡°proper, rational¡± reasons to cause any animal to endure the kind of horrible

pain and suffering whales do when harpooned.

 

South Korean IWC Commissioner:

 

Mr Ki Hiok Barng General

International Cooperation Office

MOMAF

50 Chungjeong-No

Seodaemun-Gu

Seoul 120-715

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

 

Tel: +82 2 3148 6100-3

Fax: +82 2 3148 6106

Email: khbarng