URGENT REQUEST

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and colleagues,

 

Can you please send the following press conference announcement to all of your

media contacts? Please ask them to contact their bureau chief in Tokyo and

encourage them to attend this ground breaking press conference on Monday

September 3rd.. This is an urgent. request

 

So far the Japanese media have ignored the story because of a media blackout on

all whale and dolphin stories. This story is a major breakthrough and it needs

to be covered by the international media -- including the Japanese media.

 

Please network!

 

Thanks,

-- ric

www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

 

 

Press Conference

Junichiro Yamashita

Taiji Assemblyman, Wakayama Prefecture

 

15:00-16:00 Monday, September 3, 2007

(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)

 

Mercury Alarm on Dolphin Meats

 

In an unprecedented departure from tradition and unwritten policy, two

Taiji Assemblymen have broken this whaling town's code of silence to

campaign against the serving of what they describe as toxic dolphin meat

in local school lunches. Independents Junichiro Yamashita and Hisato

Ryono recently revealed laboratory data taken from random

supermarket-purchased dolphin meat which contained over 10 times the

government's limit for both mercury and methyl mercury. Although local

supermarkets immediately removed dolphin meat from their shelves, the

city is moving ahead with plans to build a new dolphin processing

facility while expanding the dolphin meat lunch programs to surrounding

school districts.

 

Mercury poisoning received worldwide attention during the 1950s when the

tragic consequences in the city of Minamata first came to light. Many

governments now routinely issue health bulletins advising pregnant women

and children to avoid foods contaminated with mercury and other toxins.

 

In a nation particularly nervous about the safety of its food supply,

the complete stonewalling by Japanese government agencies and the media

on the issue now prompts Yamashita to bring his case to the attention of

the foreign press.

 

Although unable to attend Yamashita's session, Dr. Shigeo Ekino of

Kumamoto Medical Science University, known for his breakthrough studies

of Minamata victims' brains, will be available to respond to questions

by email.

 

Members planning to attend this press conference are asked to reserve in

advance, online (http://www.fccj.or.jp - please log in to reserve) or at

the Front Desk (3211-3161), so that the staff can make appropriate

preparations. It's free of charge.

 

Professional Activities Committee