Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 We have an urgent request for you to help us defend whales! Sorry to give you so little notice, but we’d be really grateful if you can help.This Thursday (23rd March) Ben Bradshaw, the UK Minister for fisheries and nature conservation, is due to meet the Icelandic Minister for fisheries.We want to be sure that Mr Bradshaw uses this meeting to bring up the issue of Icelandic whaling. Specifically we want him to express the UK’s opposition to Iceland’s whaling programme, and ask for it to be stopped.Whaling in Iceland restarted in 2003, since then some 100 minke whales have been killed under the guise of ‘scientific research’. It is rumoured that they may kill another 70 this year. In reality this is just commercial whaling by another name, but Iceland uses the same loophole that Japan does in excusing it as science. The meat from the whales is still sold commercially. Ironically it seems there is little market for whale meat in Iceland, and it is the Fishing Ministry that is pushing the whaling programme rather than public demand.Meanwhile Iceland’s return to whaling is damaging its fastest growing industry – tourism. Tourism and whale-watching are worth millions to the Icelandic economy. Whale-watching is a growing industry worldwide, and is recognised as the only truly sustainable ‘use’ for whales. It’s clear that whaling is damaging Iceland’s international reputation and its tourist industry. The tourism and whale watching associations in Iceland are strongly opposed to the whaling programme.There are many threats facing the worlds remaining whale populations, and whaling is the one we can and should stop immediately.So we need your help to make sure that Mr. Bradshaw brings this issue up on Thursday. We have a very small window of opportunity, but if you can, please contact DEFRA by email at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/oceans/whaling/stopwhalingiceland.htmor call them on 08459 33 55 77Willie MacKenzieOceans CampaignerTHIS IS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL - PLEASE DO NOT REPLY AS EMAILS RECEIVED AT THIS ADDRESS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DELETED. If you wish to respond or you wish to from this list please email us directly at getactive. Please do not forward this email to any internet mailing lists or groups as Greenpeace is firmly against "spamming".Oceans CampaignGreenpeace UKPeter H Cars NEW - sell your car and browse thousands of new and used cars online search now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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