Guest guest Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 Hello everyone, My name is Lee-Ann Ford, I am the President and founder of Linking Individuals for Nature Conservation (LINC) . LINC is a Canadian group that is dedicated to marine care and education around the globe. We are a member of the International Coalition of Marine Mammal Protection Groups and Agencies, a partner of the Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA), and the International Ocean Noise Coaltion. I am organizing the Hong Kong (SE Asia) protest activity. The Hong Kong protest is being held in co-operation with AAPN and other interested groups, companies, schools, and individuals. If you are interested in participating and supporting the effort to stop the annual slaughter of 20,000+ dolphins, please email me at lincngo for more information. Groups located outside of Hong Kong that are interested in participating can also contact me lincngo. thx JAPAN DOLPHIN DAY 2006: Let's abolish the annual dolphin slaughter! Every year from October through April fishermen in some remote Japanese villages eradicate about 20,000 dolphins and porpoises in the most brutal way imaginable. This is the largest massacre of cetacean anywhere in the world. The fishermen have told us they kill the dolphins primarily as a form of " pest control. " They say the dolphins eat too many fish, and they need to eradicate the competition. If the fishermen didn't get a permit from Tokyo, they would have to stop the killings immediately. We need to let the Japanese authorities know that these crimes against nature are unacceptable to the rest of the world. Therefore, we have organized a world-wide protest to send a powerful message to the Japanese government: STOP THE DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER. The Japanese government and fishermen say dolphin hunting is part of Japanese culture. In reality, however, the majority of the Japanese population doesn't know the dolphin slaughter exists. If they knew, they would help us stop it. Our team has traveled to Japanese fishing villages several times to document and expose the dolphin massacres to the Japanese people -- and the fishermen have done all they can to hide their bloody work from our cameras. They don't want the Japanese people to know the truth. " It's none of their business, " they say. Our Japanese colleagues tell us that outside pressure can stop the dolphin slaughter. So why not give the Japanese decision-makers in Tokyo some serious, outside international media pressure? The goal is to make this the biggest global protest against the annual dolphin slaughter in history, and we hope that everyone who is opposed to the dolphin slaughter will show up and demonstrate. We need your help in making the international day of protest successful. To pull this off, we need TENS OF THOUSANDS of non- violent, peaceful protesters in front of Japanese embassies around the world on September 20th. The event is not limited to animal protection groups, and we would like to add some schools and civic groups to the list. Children should be educated about this issue and have the opportunity to participate in the global effort to stop the dolphin slaughter. What a great learning experience for a child that would be; especially if they actually won as a result of their effort. The Japanese government and dolphin hunters expect environmental/animal protection groups to protest. They don't, however, expect regular people to demonstrate in front of the various Japanese embassies. This is why we are asking you to please contact your friends and neighbors, local schools and civic clubs. Ask them to show up in front of any Japanese embassy or consulate office to protest the dolphin slaughter. SIZE DOESN'T MATTER The IWC instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. Twenty years later, whaling continues. How many whales have died during this moratorium? About 27,000 whales have been killed since the moratorium went into effect. Many NGO's and government agencies are working on the whaling issue, and that's a good thing. Now consider the sad fact that more than 20,000 other whales are deliberately slaughtered in Japan every year. That's right, 20,000 whales are killed in the most brutal way imaginable every year in Japan. Dolphins are whales. Why are we doing so little to stop this madness? I think it has to do with size - or the lack of it. The great whales are spectacularly big. Thus, the 1000 great whales get more attention than the 20,000 smaller whales. Our coalition tried to bring attention to this injustice at the IWC meeting in St. Kitts. Take a look: http://www.earthisland.org/saveTaijiDolphins/newsIWCprotest.html Any one of these 20,000 smaller whales are no less - or more - important than the 1000 larger whales. The problem for these smaller whales is that the same people who are concerned about the larger whales are apparently not as interested in the smaller whales. Why is this? When it comes to experiencing pain and suffering, size doesn't matter. On September 20th you will have a small window of opportunity to bring attention these smaller whales. All you have to do is get yourself to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate office at high noon. We don't want your money. We are not asking you to go to Japan. We know first-hand that showing up in Japan is very expensive and dangerous. We are only asking you for your good energy - for just a few hours - on Japan Dolphin Day. That's it. Please note that this will be an all-inclusive event. In other words, the protest will not take place under the umbrella of any one group. What, When, Who, and How Q: What is it? A: It's the annual international protest against the largest slaughter of dolphins in the world. Q: Who's doing this protest? A: Anyone and everyone can participate: Animal welfare groups, environmentalists, bands, schools, ordinary citizens, dolphin trainers, everyone. Q: Where is the protest? A: At the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate office. Here's the international list: http://www.learn4good.com/travel/japan_embassies.htm Here's the USA list and map: http://www.us.emb- japan.go.jp/visa/map.htm Q: What do I do: A: Simply show up with all of your friends at any Japanese embassy or consulate office and protest these crimes against nature. You can also call or write them - or do all three: show up, call them, and send a protest letter. Q: When do I do it? A: At about noon on September 20th. Check with your local NGO. For more information: www.SaveTaijiDolphins.org or contact Ric O'Barry at 305-669 4834 ricobarry Who We Are: Asian Animal Protection Network - Hong Kong AnimalEarth - Hong Kong Animalisti Italiani Onlus - Rome Animal Voices Radio - Toronto Animal Welfare Institute - Washington DC Animal Rights Hawaii - Waikiki Animanaturalis - Barcelona/Mexico City Begley's Best - Los Angeles Blue Voice - San Francisco Born Free Foundation - London British Divers Marine Life Rescue - London Calgary Animal Rights Coalition - Calgary Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre - Wellington Compassion in Action -Calgary Campaign Whale - London Captive Animals Protection Society - London Care for the Wild - London Cetacea Defence - London Cetacean Society International - New York COMARINO - Mexico City Committee for a Dolphinarium-free Belgium - Brussels Dolphin Care UK - London Dolphin Project - Miami Djurrsttsalliansen - Stockholm Earth Island Institute - San Francisco EDEV - Den Haag Environmental Investigation Agency - London Friends of Dolphins - Washington DC Global Ocean - London GAIA - Brussels HSUS/HSI - Washington DC In Defense of Animals - San Francisco/Seattle International Animal Rescue - London Kuroshio - Taipei Last Chance for Animals - Los Angeles Life Conservationist Association - Taipei Marine Connection - London Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition - Boston No Whales In Captivity - Vancouver Nomades des Oceans - Paris NY Whale and Dolphin Action League - New York One Voice - Paris Orca Network - Seattle Rattle the Cage Productions - Miami Reearth - Nassau Responsible Animal Care Society - Vancouver Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - Den Haag/Calgary VictoriaDreamSpace -Vancouver WDCS - London/Washington DC WSPA - London/Boston Zoocheck - Toronto " Eighty percent of success is showing up " Woody Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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