Greens send S.O.S to Japanese media

The anti-whaling message of hundreds of New Zealanders is being sent to the Japanese media today, to coincide with the start of the International Whaling Commission conference in Chile.

Major Japanese newspapers and television stations are being sent copies of the video, which documents the anti-whaling messages of New Zealanders from all over the country, and features Green Party Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei.

Over summer, Mrs Turei and the Green Party ran a nation wide campaign, encouraging people to build a sand-whale to protest the Japanese whaling programme in the Southern Ocean.

“There was a huge response to the campaign, from all parts of New Zealand. This compelling video shows the whole world that New Zealanders won’t stand by and watch these beautiful animals hunted to the point of extinction,” Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

The video can be viewed online at: http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2008/06/23/greens-send-sos-to-japanese-media/ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lOCPaJFOj8 
“The key to ending commercial whaling in the Pacific and Southern Ocean is internal pressure from the Japanese people.

“As Metiria says in the video, New Zealanders must stand by the Japanese people, 95 percent of whom do not eat whale meat. Additionally, two thirds of Japanese people do not support whaling on the high seas, according to a survey last year.

“Despite this, the whaling lobby group in Japan is very powerful, as demonstrated by the recent arrest of two Greenpeace activists after exposing corruption in the Japanese whaling industry.

“This video will show the Japanese people that the actions of individuals, activists and diplomats around the world are making a difference, and that together we can achieve progress on the survival of these beautiful animals.

“Twenty-three whales have been sighted in the Cook Straight over the last few weeks. The reality is that there should be many more, and unless we act to stop whaling, that is a vision that will never happen.”