Japan resumes scandalous whale hunt
Greenpeace is saddened by reports from the Australian Customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, that the Fisheries Agency of
Japan's whaling fleet has killed at least five whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Once more, Japanese taxpayers must be wondering why they are funding this scandalous fake research operation which
produces no real science, whale meat that no one wants to eat, and brings their country into international disrepute.
For fourteen days, the Greenpeace ship Esperanza chased the whaling fleet's factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, over a
distance of 4,300 nautical miles. Without the factory ship, the remaining hunter vessels where unable to operate -
bringing the entire whaling programme to a halt.
It is estimated that the whalers needed to catch approximately nine minke whales each day, and an endangered fin whale
every other day in order to reach their self-imposed quota of nearly 1,000 whales. During the two weeks Greenpeace spent
with the fleet more than 100 whales were saved.
While the Esperanza has all but exhausted its fuel supplies and is returning to port, media coverage and public
discussion on the whaling issue has reached unprecedented levels in Japan, where Prime Minister Fukuda has been forced
to discuss the whaling issue in Parliament.
The campaign is now moving from the high seas to Japan, harnessing the power of people around the world: in the last
week, 42,000 concerned camera owners from around have responded to Greenpeace's call to email Fujio Mitarai, CEO of
Canon Japan - a company known for its support of conservation issues - calling on him to speak out against whaling (2).
Mr Fujio Mitarai is also the head of the influential Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation).
Notes to editors:
(1) The Esperanza located the whaling fleet in the early hours of January 12th, and has been chasing the Nisshin Maru
ever since. On January 22nd, Greenpeace activists blocked attempts by the Nisshin Maru to receive fuel from, and
transfer whale meat to, the Panamian-registered Oriental Bluebird.
(2) http://www.greenpeace.org/canon
Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent creative confrontation to expose global
environmental problems to force solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
ENDS