Japan is called on to stop whaling and join the company of nations

[Guest guest]

(Stella McCartney, one of the signers, is Paul and Linda McCartney's

daughter)

 

The Sunday Times July 22 2000

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

 

Call for Japan to end whaling

 

 

At the beginning of the G8 summit in Japan, we call upon the Japanese

Government to end its support for " scientific " whaling. The whaling fleet is

about to leave port. Not content with killing their self-allocated catch of

540 minke whales a year, Japanese whalers are now intending to kill 50

bryde's whales and ten sperm whales.

 

Since the suspension of commercial whaling in 1986, Japan has not respected

the decisions of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and has killed

more than four thousand whales under the guise of science. The IWC has

consistently and repeatedly issued resolutions criticising " scientific "

whaling and has asked Japan to stop its whalers. Japan has rejected these

requests and whaling continues.

 

Most of this whaling is carried out in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary in

waters around Antarctica. Many whales use this area as a feeding ground.

Twenty-three nations sup-ported the sanctuary declaration and only Japan

voted against it, leaving it isolated in the international community.

 

There is no humane way to kill a whale. After enduring the chase, the

harpooned animal can take more than half an hour to die.

 

The so-called " scientific " information obtained is not needed by the IWC.

" Scientific " whaling keeps the industry in business and the harpooners in

practice. Recent DNA analyses of whale meat on sale in Japan have found meat

from protected species including gray, humpback, fin, bryde's, sperm and sei

whales.

 

We urge those present at the summit to pass on our message to the Japanese

Government. Stop scientific whaling now.

 

Yours sincerely,

DARCEY BUSSELL,

NOEL GALLAGHER,

WAYNE HEMINGWAY,

CHRISSIE HYNDE,

STELLA McCARTNEY,

MEG MATHEWS,

c/o International Fund for Animal Welfare,

87-90 Albert Embankment, SE1 7UD.

July 21.

 

Copyright 2000 Times Newspapers Ltd.

 

Gray whales with Winston

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Jungle/1953/index.html

Save the Whales

http://www.homestead.com/savethewhales/index.html

 

 

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