Urge Your MP to Act on the Whaling Issue

This is a letter I sent to David Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary. Please copy and paste this letter and email or post to your relevant MP’s / Governors.

Dear Mr Miliband,

I am writing to urge you to please raise the whaling issue with the whaling nations and the countries that are voting for a resumption of commercial whaling.

How is it possible that Japan is getting away with the murder of hundreds of whales whilst there is a ban in place? They are using the loophole that the murder is allowed for scientific purposes which is not the case- there is no need for scientific research where the whales have been killed, there are ways that are humane that are much more useful. As the meat has to be disposed of, they sell it to gourmet restaurants- which is the real reason they are killing the whales.

It has been proven that it can take over half an hour for a whale to die using the methods they currently employ. Spears with explosive heads are plunged into the whale, which nearly always does not kill the animal straight away. They are then hauled up the side of the boat, with their air holes submerged, where they are left to drown, thrashing themselves at the boat in a futile attempt to break free. This is inherently cruel.

Our whales are endangered already- they were brought to the brink of extinction from whaling before the ban was introduced in the 80’s and now, we could see this happening again as the Japanese plan to double the amount they kill. They are already targeting endangered species- Humpbacks as well as Fin Whales, which is on top of the 1000 odd Minke whales they are planning to kill. The whales that have been targeted already are living in an internationally recognised “whale sanctuary”. It is hardly a sanctuary if the Japanese whalers come in and murder them en mass.

I am urging you to please raise this issue with the relevant countries. This is such a big issue and we as a nation should be publicly condemning Japan for this inhumane and unnecessary practice. Please could you inform me of your actions regarding this matter. Thank you and best regards,