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THE DOLPHIN AND WHALE KILLINGS IN TAIJI
To: Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
Mr. Shinzo Abe
1-6-1 Nagata-cho 1 Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968 JAPAN
Dear Prime Minister Abe,
We are outraged by the annual brutal slaughter
of dolphins and whales that takes place in Japan . The images
of bloody red water clearly show the world that Japan has
little respect for the state of the world’s oceans and
for the conservation of the marine resources it claims to
support.
Many scientific studies show that the
oceans are in decline. We must take whatever actions are necessary
to stop their over-exploitation and to protect the creatures
that live in them. These dolphins do not belong to Japan .
The status of the species of dolphins and whales that you
kill are either endangered, threatened, or unknown. It is
an unthinkable waste that they will likely end up as a meat
product or deceptively sold as whale meat, polluted with toxic
levels of mercury and cadmium, killing people that eat it.
It is tragic and unacceptable that the remaining dolphins
that are not killed will end up destined for death in an aquarium,
water park, or "swim with dolphins" program.
In addition, the methods used to kill these
animals are cruel.
Corralling the dolphins into bays, then
making them suffer a long and painful death by spears, hooks,
and drowning is an inhumane way of fishing. This action is
disgraceful and has caused much disappointment in the international
community.
We demand that Japan permanently and immediately
renounce and stop this slaughter. We will work diligently
to bring this issue to international light until you have
ceased your reprehensible violence.
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