Whalers fire water at activists in Antarctic Ocean
EXCERPT
Under International Whaling Commission rules, the mammals may be killed for research but not for commercial purposes. Opponents say the Japanese research expeditions are simply a cover for commercial whaling, which was banned in 1986.
The whalers opened up on conservationists on one raft with a water cannon, knocking one man off his feet and leaving him with cuts and bruises, Watson told The Associated Press by satellite phone.
READ FULL STORY HERE
(Australian Customs Service via AP Photo)
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Ask President Obama to end the whaling and dealing
I used the above link to send a message to President Obama (I doubt he'll get it) and I got this canned response:
Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.
Thank you for contacting the State Department.
Subject
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Ask President Obama to end the whaling and dealing
Discussion Thread
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Response (Support Agent) - 02/02/2009 11:41 AM
Thank you for your interest in whale conservation. The United States is committed to advancing the global conservation and management of large whale populations through science-based policies and leadership in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The United States continues to view the commercial whaling moratorium as a necessary conservation measure and believes that lethal scientific whaling is unnecessary in modern whale conservation management. The United States supports the IWC as the only international management body to monitor and regulate whaling and believes the IWC should be preserved as the premiere international forum for resolving current conservation issues, coordinating critical research, and developing international agreement on whale conservation.
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of State.
Question Reference #090202-000318
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Date Created: 02/02/2009 11:17 AM
Last Updated: 02/02/2009 11:41 AM
Status: Solved
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The IWC (International Whaling Commission) has their Annual Meeting in Portugal see info below CONTACT THE IWC
61ST ANNUAL AND ASSOCIATED MEETINGS, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL 2009
The 61st Annual Meeting will be held at:
| The Pestana Casino Park Hotel Rua Imperatriz D. Amélia 9004-513 Funchal Madeira | Tel: (+351) 291 20 91 00 Fax: (+351) 291 23 20 76 Website |
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1. Write, e-mail, or call President Obama and let him know that you want the US to stop Japanese whaling now by withholding support for Japan's seat on the United Nation's Security Council until Japan whaling.
White House Comment Line: (202) 456-2461
White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461
President Obama e-mail address: president@whitehouse.gov
President Obama mailing address:
President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
2. Write or call your US Congressman and Senators and let them know that you want the US to stop Japanese whaling now by withholding support for Japan's seat on the United Nation's Security Council until Japan ends whaling.
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
