September 2007

Dear Friends,

As some of you may know, I have been very closely following the issue of Japan & Norway's whaling activities, and taking a very active role in the campaign to bring the slaughter to an end. I think this is the longest message I've written to you. But it is something that matters very deeply in my heart. So in advance, I wish to thank you for taking the time to consider the contents of this message.

In 2005 Norway increased their quota to 800 Minke Whales (up from a quota of 549 in 2003). Iceland announced plans to take 39 minke whales in August and September 2005 as part of a whaling programme that they are describing as 'scientific'." Between the commercial whale hunt quotas set by Norway (800 Minke), Iceland (39 Minke), and Japan (900 Minke, + of 5 Endangered species: Sei, Bryde's, Fin, Humpback and Sperm whales), approximately 1,800 whales were slated to be killed last year (an increase from the year 2004 quota of 1,400 whales).
The whaling quotas for this year are as follows:
Japan: 1013 Minke, 50 Bryde, 100 Sei, 50 Fin and 10 Sperm, additional 50 Humpback whales. (4 out of 6 of these species are listed as Endangered.)
Norway: 1052 Minke whales
Iceland: "50-70" Minke whales

In 2006, these nations whaling quotas were over 2,285 whales. (Please note: More than that number will die, as many that are wounded escape to die slowly, and will not be counted.) From 2004 to this year, (3 years time) over 5,400 whales will have been slaughtered. Recent scientific estimates are that since 1986, when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on whaling went into effect, 28,500 whales have been killed.

Would you please consider taking a few minutes to visit the following page, and to help out? I designed "Norway and Japan Whaling Actions & News" (link also located at left column) to provide the easiest accessible actions in the form of sample letters, e-mail links, and mailing addresses to all parties concerned.

WDCS.org "is very concerned that the weapons which produce a poor instantaneous death rate (40%) in minke whales killed in this hunt, will be used to kill the much larger fin whales. The results of which could be horrific. Humpback whales are also expected to be targeted in 2007."

Urgent action is needed to protect whales from the resumption of commercial whaling.

Would you please also consider forwarding this message, or at least this "Norway and Japan Whaling Actions & News" page to your friends, and any persons you know of who would want to help at this crucial time?

I hope that this message finds You & Yours happy and well. May there be Peace to the World's Whales.

With Gratitude,

Peggy Oki

Please note: Summary and additional news about this issue: "Worldwide Resumption of Commercial Whaling" (link also located at left column).

* We all know how many environmental challenges have been in the news. I hope that you have been seeing that there have been victories and very positive steps taken as well. With all the "bad news", I thought it would be a helpful thing for us to see the "good news". So I have recently added a section to the lower left corner of my "My Bulletin Board" page (link also located at left column). If you are feeling a need to hear about how much your actions can make a difference, I hope you will go there!

Information about the "Curtain of 30,000 Origami Whales"

(please click on the origami whales)

photo courtesy of Paul Wellman

"My Bulletin Board"