(JP) Letter to Kyoto Mayor against aquarium construction

[Guest guest]

Below is posted for Sakae Hemmi.

 

Her organization, Elsa Nature Conservancy is working against Kyoto City's plan

to build an aquarium.

 

If your organization would like to join in their effort by adding the name to

below letter, please let her know.

 

Thank you.

Masako

 

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Dear colleagues,

 

To help stop the construction of the largest inland aquarium/dolphinarium in the

middle of Kyoto city, Japan, please sign on to the letter below by sending your

organization's name and country to Elsa Nature Conservancy, Japan.

 

Thank you very much in advance.*******

 

Sakae Hemmi

Elsa Nature Conservancy, Japan

Tsukubagakuen P.O.Box No.2

Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken

305-8691 Japan

 

E-mail:chimarin

 

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Dear Mr. Daisaku Kadokawa, Mayor of Kyoto city:

 

We, the undersigned animal welfare, environmental and wildlife conservation

organizations, are deeply concerned about your plans to build the biggest inland

aquarium/dolphinarium in Kyoto city. We hereby urge you to withdraw the plans

immediately, for the following reasons:

 

1. Japan already has over 50 captive dolphin facilities. Constructing yet

another dolphinarium translates into the capture of more wild animals for public

display. As you know, dolphins in Japan are captured by the method of the

so-called dolphin drive hunt; which is a practice that has been internationally

condemned. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has officially

admitted that the dolphin drive hunt is exceptionally cruel and violates WAZA's

Code of Ethics. WAZA has issued a warning to its members not to purchase

dolphins from these hunts. The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a

member of WAZA and is therefore obligated to abide by its Code of Ethics.

 

2. You argue that the construction of a captive dolphin facility in Kyoto

City serves the purpose of allowing children in Kyoto to experience the

ocean and learn about nature. In reality, however, no one can experience the

true nature of dolphins by watching a captive dolphin display, which mainly

consists of concrete tanks, filled with artificial sea water and confined marine

mammals. To confine sonic and free ranging marine mammals in small tanks

constitutes severe animal cruelty, in that it violates the dolphins' most

fundamental physiological and behavioral requirements.

 

3. Kyoto reflects Japan's culture more strongly than any other city and is even

referred to by some as " the hometown of all Japanese. " This beautiful city is a

world-renowned tourist destination and, thanks to the Kyoto Protocol, has gained

status as an international symbol of environmental awareness and responsibility.

The construction of a dolphinarium in Kyoto will permanently destroy the

foundation for Kyoto?s international fame. People worldwide are becoming more

environmentally conscious and, as they gain more insight into the animal

suffering connected with the capture and confinement of dolphins, they will

refuse to visit a city that promotes such animal abuse.

 

We urge you to make the right decision and stop the proposed dolphinarium.

In doing so, you would be sending an important message to the rest of the

world about Kyoto's continued respect for wildlife and its inhabitants.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Atelier Orca, Japan

Dolphin Project, USA

Elsa Nature Conservancy, Japan

Captive Dolphin Awareness Foundation, USA

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (International)-UK, USA, Germany,

Australia, Argentina

BlueVoice, USA

Zoocheck Canada, Canada

Animal Welfare Institute, USA

Earth Island Institute, USA

NY4whales(New York Whale and Dolphin Action League), USA

Canadian Marine Environment Protection Society, Canada

Canada Coalition For No Whales In Captivity, Canada

Canada OceanWatch Boaters Association of B.C., Canada

Canada Secret Bay Project Society, Canada, Canada

Cetacean Society International, USA

Orca Network, USA