We Love Japan, But Whaling Breaks Our Hearts

14 February 2007:

On Valentine's Day, Greenpeace protests during the second day of the "International Whaling Commission Normalisation Meeting." The meeting was called by Japan and supported by pro-whaling nations. Outside the venue, Greenpeace Japan tries to present Valentine's Day whale-shaped chocolates to the pro-whaling delegates attending the meeting.

Tokyo, Japan — Greenpeace activists took to the streets across the globe on Valentine’s Day to send a message of love to Japan from twenty-eight different countries, while at the same time demanding the government end high seas whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

In Tokyo, Greenpeace volunteers carried a giant Valentine’s card, addressed to pro-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), currently meeting to discuss "normalising" the Commission, which read: "Normalization Means Protection, Not Whaling"

A fax was also sent to the Nisshin Maru – the factory ship of the whaling fleet, which read:

“We Love Japan, but Whaling Breaks Our Hearts! 69 % of your fellow Japanese do not support what you are doing in the Sanctuary and there is virtually no market for what you are producing. The "research" you have been ordered to carry out is not wanted by scientists and the meat is not wanted by the Japanese people. On this Valentine's Day, a day for spreading love, we ask once again that you leave the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and return to port.”

Elsewhere, flowers, hearts, chocolates, kisses and romantic gondola trips were delivered by Greenpeace activists to embassies and tourists in Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Thailand, Uruguay and the USA.

“This is not just frivolous fun. We want to send a clear message that we are not anti-Japanese, we simply oppose whaling,” said Junichi Sato, whales campaign leader in Greenpeace Japan. “We know that 69% of Japanese do not support what their government is doing in the Southern Ocean and 95% never or rarely eat whale meat. Whaling does not belong in the 21^st Century and the only way forward for the IWC is to start working for the whales and not the whalers.” Sato added.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is in the Southern Ocean, tracking the whaling fleet. The expedition is the last leg of the Defending Our Oceans campaign (1), to expose all threats to the oceans, which began in November 2005 by sailing to the Southern Ocean, where activists prevented 82 whales from being killed, and also forced out the companies funding the hunt, by taking peaceful direct action.

Kadavu council will work with Greenpeace on marine reserve

Radio New Zealand International

The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific; Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa

The Kadavu Provincial Council in Fiji has approved a proposal by Greenpeace to turn the Great Astrolabe Reef into a marine reserve.

The reef is among the largest in the world and surrounds the island of Kadavu which is about 90 kilometres south of the capital, Suva.

Council chairman Ratu Josetaki Nawalowalo says villages have been creating their own little marine reserves, but monitoring those to stop poachers has been a huge problem.

But Ratu Josetaki is hoping that the partnership with Greenpeace and other stakeholders they’ll be able to get equipment that will help them monitor illegal fishing.

“Although that we could be sitting in the villages at night and watching all the bright lights out there and we couldn’t do anything about it because they are very fast and their fishing boats built for ocean fishing and we have little boats that can’t even chase these big boats nor can we do anything about it.”

Kadavu Provincial Council Chairman Ratu Josetaki Nawalowalo.

Pacific Marine Reserve Proposal Welcomed

Greenpeace International

GREENPEACE PROPOSES MARINE RESERVES FOR WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST ORGANISM

Suva, Fiji Islands, May 23, 2007. The Kadavu (1) Provincial Council today welcomed a presentation from Greenpeace on the benefits of turning the Great Astrolabe Reef into a marine reserve.

Kadavu Provincial Council Chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo said the idea of creating a new marine reserve was a blessing and would enhance the protection of marine resources in the interest of the people of Kadavu. "For the people of Kadavu and most Pacific Islanders, the oceans and our resources are mainly what we have and own, for them to remain healthy we must all move towards marine reserves," he said. Ratu Josateki said marine reserves could also be a major attraction for ecotourists.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner Josua Turaganivalu JNR said it was an honour to be given an opportunity to present to the chiefs of Kadavu, the council and its people. "Many Pacific marine resources, including tuna, are on the verge of extinction and yet only one per cent of the ocean is protected," he said.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans Team Leader Nilesh Goundar said marine reserves have shown long lasting and often rapid increases in marine populations, their diversity and production. "Conservation mechanisms are not new to us Pacific Islanders. Despite marine reserves being closed to fishing, a network of such parks can actually benefit fisheries in a number of ways," he said.

Mr Goundar said they allow exploited stocks and damaged habitats to recover within the zones and increasingly there is evidence that they improve population sizes in adjacent fishing grounds. "But it is not just about the fish. In line with the ecosystem approach, marine reserves can and should be designed to have multiple uses. They should be established to benefit endangered and rare species or habitats, critical feeding grounds, nursery areas and migration routes," he said.

To reverse the current decline in the health of our oceans, Greenpeace is calling for 40% of the oceans to be protected by marine reserves.

Mr Turaganivalu said this was a reasonable target and necessary for maintaining healthy fisheries in the Pacific. Mr Turaganivalu said it is estimated that such a network could cost $12 billion a year - and finance would have to be provided by the international community. He said this was no more than what is spent on perfume in the U.S and E.U each year.

EDITORS NOTE
(1) Kadavu is one of Fiji's fourteen provinces, forms part of the Eastern Division and is home to the Great Astrolabe Reef which is the world's third largest living organism.
Suva, Fiji's capital, lies 88 kilometers to the north of Kadavu.

We Love Japan, But Whaling Breaks Our Hearts

14 February 2007:

On Valentine's Day, Greenpeace protests during the second day of the "International Whaling Commission Normalisation Meeting." The meeting was called by Japan and supported by pro-whaling nations. Outside the venue, Greenpeace Japan tries to present Valentine's Day whale-shaped chocolates to the pro-whaling delegates attending the meeting.

Tokyo, Japan — Greenpeace activists took to the streets across the globe on Valentine’s Day to send a message of love to Japan from twenty-eight different countries, while at the same time demanding the government end high seas whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

In Tokyo, Greenpeace volunteers carried a giant Valentine’s card, addressed to pro-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), currently meeting to discuss "normalising" the Commission, which read: "Normalization Means Protection, Not Whaling"

A fax was also sent to the Nisshin Maru – the factory ship of the whaling fleet, which read:

“We Love Japan, but Whaling Breaks Our Hearts! 69 % of your fellow Japanese do not support what you are doing in the Sanctuary and there is virtually no market for what you are producing. The "research" you have been ordered to carry out is not wanted by scientists and the meat is not wanted by the Japanese people. On this Valentine's Day, a day for spreading love, we ask once again that you leave the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and return to port.”

Elsewhere, flowers, hearts, chocolates, kisses and romantic gondola trips were delivered by Greenpeace activists to embassies and tourists in Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Thailand, Uruguay and the USA.

“This is not just frivolous fun. We want to send a clear message that we are not anti-Japanese, we simply oppose whaling,” said Junichi Sato, whales campaign leader in Greenpeace Japan. “We know that 69% of Japanese do not support what their government is doing in the Southern Ocean and 95% never or rarely eat whale meat. Whaling does not belong in the 21^st Century and the only way forward for the IWC is to start working for the whales and not the whalers.” Sato added.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is in the Southern Ocean, tracking the whaling fleet. The expedition is the last leg of the Defending Our Oceans campaign (1), to expose all threats to the oceans, which began in November 2005 by sailing to the Southern Ocean, where activists prevented 82 whales from being killed, and also forced out the companies funding the hunt, by taking peaceful direct action.