TAKE ACTION: Iceland hunting endangered whales.

October 23, 2006

Iceland hunting endangered whales

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http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=474 & aid=7623

Iceland resumes commercial whale hunt - Watch Iceland Whaling VideoTell Iceland to call off this hunt before it’s too late

International Fund for Animal Welfare October 23, 2006

Iceland hunting endangered whales

Warning: Video contains graphic footage that may not be suitablefor all viewers

Despite worldwide outcry and a ban on whaling in place since 1986, Iceland, like Japan, continues to kill whales using cruel methods, saying it’s for “scientific” purposes.

But now the government of Iceland has gone even further, launching a commercial whale hunt for the first time in more than two decades, a hunt that has already begun to kill the endangered fin whale.

Send a letter to the Icelandic Embassy urging them to call off their first commercial whale hunt in twenty years. In order to have the most impact, please be courteous in your letter.

Permits have been granted by Iceland’s Ministry of Fisheries for the hunting of 30 minke whales and nine endangered fin whales. In fact, whaling ships have already killed their first endangered fin whale. Iceland already hunts whales for so-called “scientific” purposes, exploiting an IWC loophole – though the meat from the whales killed for “science” is sold commercially within Iceland.

Yet few Icelanders eat whale meat regularly (only 1.1% of Icelanders eat whale meat once a week or more, Gallup poll); and there is limited, if any, world market for the meat. Furthermore, a growing number of jobs in Iceland depend on the increasingly popular whale-watching industry.

Iceland’s unique nature has attracted millions of tourists who increasingly visit Iceland to see whales in their natural environment. IFAW has worked hard in recent years to help promote Icelandic whale watching and other forms of tourism. This dangerous move to resume whaling puts all of that at risk.

A flagrant disregard for international agreements to protect whales

Scientists have long agreed that there’s no need to kill whales in order to study them. What’s worse, whale meat has been proven to contain dangerously high levels of mercury, even though it is sold in supermarkets, restaurants and even school cafeterias in Japan.

Commercial whaling is an outmoded, unnecessary and cruel industry that should have ended a century ago with the use of whale oil lamps. The government of Iceland should be supporting its nation’s thriving and growing whale watching industry rather than sinking money and political capital into the resumption of cruel whale hunts.

It’s quite rare for Iceland’s embassy to receive an outpouring of public comments on a political issue. That’s why it’s not too late to have an impact! Please send a message today to protest Iceland’s terrible decision to resume commercial whale hunting.

Thanks for all you do,Fred O’ReganPresident and CEO

P.S. Please let others know about Icleand’s commercial whale hunt.Forward this email to as many others as you can so their voice may also be heard.

PO Box 193 • 411 Main Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675www.ifaw.org