blessings live green: bake sales to save the whales friends greenpeace international whaling commission mom national days of action save the whales stop commerical whaling whale defenders whales
by Blabby
4 comments
Bake Sales to Save the Whales
This is your warning - soapbox moment fast approaching! My mother was really involved in Greenpeace for most of my childhood. She was always fighting a cause, but whales were her passion. There were always pictures of humpbacks and seals on our walls, and whale and dolphin songs on the record player. She wrote “Save the Whales” on every letter she ever wrote. I’m picking up my mother’s “sword”, and I hope you’ll join me. It really doesn’t take much time or effort to help.
Why this weekend?
This weekend, April 28th and 29th, are National Days of Action for whale lovers and Earth lovers. Why? Because in May, the International Whaling Commission will meet on US soil to discuss current whaling practices. We want our government to know that US citizens are against commercial whaling, against the killing of whales for scientific purposes (as is currently done by Japan, who then sells the meat in markets across their country). There is a global moratorium on commercial whaling, and all but three countries abide by it: Japan, Norway and Iceland. Their goal this year is to end the moratorium. The US has to stand up for the whales, or those countries will get their way and there won’t be any whales left.
Take Action
Bake sales to save the whales will be held all over the country. Want to help? Here’s how:
- Stop by and buy a cookie to support Greenpeace’s efforts to stop commercial whaling. Give a $1, sign a petition, make a friend!
- Want to do more? Volunteer to help at a bake sale. Just choose the sale most convenient for you and RSVP.
- Can’t attend a bake sale this weekend? Make a phone call to ask the Bush Administration to do everything in their power to defend the whales:
President Bush, White House: (202) 456-1414
Secretary Rice, State Department: (202) 647-4000
Secretary Gutierrez, Commerce Department: (202) 482-2000
- Want to do more? Visit the Whale Defender website at www.whales.greenpeace.org/us. Download the whale activist toolkit, and join thousands of folks from around the world who are taking action to defend the whales. You’ll find fact sheets, petitions, sample letters, and other materials to help you make a difference.
- Want to donate? Become a Greenpeace Supporter at www.greenpeaceusa.org
Lots of ways to help - which one will you choose?
My goal is to save whales from whomever is hunting them, regardless of country. And while Iceland’s practices may be regulated (by Iceland - although they are in direct conflict with the majority of the world), are they necessary for sustainment?
It is not an emotional or factual debate for me. It’s not a debate. To me, it’s simple - stop killing whales. They are not stock, they are dwindling species.
Thank you for your comment. I’m always interested in learning more so that I can do more, and do so effectively. If I can find the US perpetrators you speak of, I’ll focus some energy on them. I’d love to read any references you have concerning this.
In addition, I firmly believe that the global moratorium on commercial whaling should NOT be lifted, and I will make sure my government knows my feelings.
There are many species of whales and there for many stocks of whales. Some species have more than one stock if they are seperated and not in contact with each other.
Some stocks are in bad shape because of irresponsible hunting in the past, others are getting better, and some have gotten quite big, and are there for an issue if they are consuming more and more fish. Of course it´s not the whales fault they eat fish, but to manage fish stocks in a responsible way can mean that whale numbers have to be kept under control (with out killing them all of course)
Hunting from stocks that are big enough to be done sustainably is from most people point of view acceptable, but for surprisingly many this does not apply to whale stocks, most probably because people think every whale species are endangered.
Hunting from a stock that is endangered, what ever the species, is of course unacceptable.
Iceland has faced harsh critisicm because of it´s decision of resuming whaling, and have been told that it´s utterly irresponsible. That is unjust, especially when you look at the fact that the state of fish stocks in Iceland are excellent whilst the state of the sea around many of the complaining countries are in some sense ruins.
If you are interested about this issue I urge you to seek knowledge with open mind. Keep also in mind that copy paste errors and weirdly strong language is easily found on the anti whaling web pages.
check out for example:
http://sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/frettir/nr/1297
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling#United_States_2
I really appreciate your level-headed response and resource material. I read it quite thoroughly and my problem is not with Iceland in particular, but with the idea that man truly believes it can control all these ecosystems through management.
The truth is that they only have to be managed at all because man is selfish and destructive. Poor fishing practices worldwide lowered the numbers of fish, poor whaling practices lowered the number of whales. Whales and seals are eating too much of the dwindling fish supplies. So man must intervene, and on and on.
I’m including myself in this lot of “man”, of course. But I can surely reduce my personal footprint of destruction, and share ways for others to do so as well.
The truth is that harpooning - while it may be the most efficient - is still horrendous. So whether its the last fin whale on earth, or one of 50,000, I would not wish that type of death on any living creature.
I can also clearly see the hypocrisies in my stance, as I still eat beef and chicken. I gave up pork years ago, and have never eaten veal. I take small steps, but they are steps. I think the most important thing is trying to always be aware of the bigger picture, and doing my part to be a positive force in that big picture.
Did you know that your own country hunts whales, endangered species, unlike Iceland and Norway?
Iceland is hunted 30 mink whales from a stock of 174.000 in the north atlantic and 9 fin whales out of stock of 30.000 in the north atlantic.
The whaling debate is most often based on emotions and not facts