IWC and Antigua and Barbuda

[Anthony Astaphan]

Folks,

Somewhere in the North Pacific a Japanese whaling vessel is hunting a sperm whale mother and her calf.

It’s just one of the 120 minkes, 50 Brydes, 100 sei and 10 sperm whales they plan to kill during this year’s hunt. But the hunt is not what the Japanese whaling program is concerned about at the moment.

Instead, they’re busy buying votes from small countries like the Solomon Islands and Antigua and Barbuda to kill a proposal at the upcoming International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings that would create a permanent whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic.

This proposal represents one of the best opportunities we’ve ever had to protect whale populations in the South Atlantic. We can’t let Japan kill it. And that means we need strong leadership from President Obama’s delegation to the IWC.

Click here and urge the US delegation to the IWC to take the lead on the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary proposal.

The proposed South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary stretches from the freezing waters of Antarctica to the warm waters of the equator. Most of the great whales are highly migratory, feeding in the nutrient rich waters of the Antarctic before traveling to tropical waters to give birth and suckle their young.

The establishment of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary would mean that the whales of the Southern Hemisphere could live their entire lives in an area free from the threat of commercial whaling.

I’ll be traveling to Panama for the IWC meetings this year as an official observer and will personally deliver your message to the US delegation. It’s critical that the US team knows there is widespread public support back home for this proposal. That’s why your message is so important.

George, these whales have a right to live their lives without out the fear of being hunted. Take action now and tell the US delegation to the IWC to do everything in their power to make sure the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary proposal passes.

I’ve been attending the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings as an observer for years now. And usually every year feels the same. This year is different. This year we have a real chance to take a giant step forward in terms of whale conservation in the South Atlantic.

I’ll be there. I hope you’ll join me by taking action.

Save the whales,

Phil Kline

Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner

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Anthony W Astaphan,S.C.

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