Tell Japan to be a leader for whales and stop its whaling industry!

In defiance of the ongoing global ban on commercial whaling, Japan has announced that it will start a new commercial whaling programme from 1st July, 2019 putting hundreds of whales at risk of suffering long and painful deaths from exploding harpoons.

However, the Japanese people appears to be divided over whaling, in part as a growing number are concerned that it tarnishes Japan’s international reputation. Let’s make it clear to whale friends and foes in Japan that this cruel and unnecessary industry has no place in today’s world.

Japanese Ambassador

Reiichiro

Takahashi

Embassy of Japan in Australia

Dear Ambassador,

I write to express my deep concern and disappointment at Japan’s decision to start another phase of commercial whaling. 

Whales are animals that many of us care deeply about. We know that these magnificent animals are still recovering from the industrial whaling of the last century, and we would like to be able to enjoy them again in healthy numbers all around the world for generations to come. 

Whales are highly mobile and typically migratory animals – many making regular migrations across entire oceans between feeding and breeding grounds. They belong to no one country. Therefore we have the International Whaling Commission, which is the appropriate international body for whale conservation and the management of whaling. There are many very good reasons why the IWC is maintaining the global moratorium on commercial whaling.  

I do not believe that there is any reliable way to humanely kill a whale at sea, and I find the cruelty of whaling unacceptable in the modern world. I also believe that Japan proceeding with whaling outside of the IWC – in other words acting as a ‘pirate whaling nation’ – will further damage Japan’s international reputation.

I hope that you will pass on my thoughts to those in Japan who are responsible for this decision and that your country will seriously reconsider its position. I urge them to please cease its whaling industry.

Additional Comments

Yours sincerely,

Name

Surname

Address Line 1

City Suburb

Postcode

State

Country

Check this box if you would like to receive periodic updates and action alerts from HSI. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Contact Us:

Phone:	(02) 9973-1728
Email:	admin@hsi.org.au
Mail:	Humane Society International PO BOX 439 Avalon, NSW 2107

Image: Australian Government/Wikimedia Commons