“Consumer Boycott of Japanese Products”
New Zealand Group promotes a “Ban Japan” Boycott
Thursday 11th May 2006
In a bold move, a New Zealand based community group has called on leading environmental organisations to do more to save
the whales. The Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre Inc (CEAC) based in Napier has called on Greenpeace and other
international anti-whaling groups to support a boycott of Japanese products.
“Large scale boycotts by the people have had significant success worldwide in the past. Boycotting South Africa to end
apartheid is prime example” said Dave Head, Marine Environment Projects Manager of the Citizens Environmental Advocacy
Centre Inc.
“Greenpeace has congratulated us on our initiative and now we are calling on them to back up their words with action and
actively support our campaign.
Dave has been actively promoting a boycott by developing a dedicated website, distributing hundreds of leaflets and
posters and building a wide network of supporters.
“The Japanese continue to flaunt International Whaling Commission rules, regulations and international demands to stop
the senseless and barbaric killing of such awesome creatures; society wouldn’t allow any other animal to be slaughtered
in such a horrific fashion.” Of concern is the addition of more protected and endangered species to their upcoming
‘scientific whaling’ program, which will see 100’s of Humpback and Fin whales added to the thousands of Minke whales.
According to Greenpeace, death can take up to 15 or more minutes and when the explosive harpoons fail, the harpooned
whales are held with their blowholes underwater, resulting in death by suffocation.
Your vote counts! You can help by signing the Boycott petition at http://www.stopwhaling.co.nz and avoid buying Japanese products. The petition will be sent to the Japanese Prime Minister, other Japanese Government
agencies, the Japanese media and Japanese business interests. The website contains a variety of other means you can help
as well as extensive information and links to other anti-whaling action web sites.
Dave asks that concerned people make their family, friends and email contacts aware of this campaign; “we need to spread
to the word rapidly before the next International Whaling Commission meeting in June. The meeting at which it is feared
that Japan will coerce enough support from small vulnerable nations by various ‘questionable’ tactics to force
pro-whaling changes”.
ENDS