CAMPAIGNING IN JAPANWHALING MUST END WHERE IT STARTS

‘We love Japan, but whaling breaks out hearts.’

MEDIA FROM JAPAN“Given the counterarguments provided by scientists from anti-whaling countries it can be concluded that the scientific reports produced by Japan are lacking in universal scientific persuasiveness.” Weekly Magazine AERA No. 31 Heisei Zakkicho, Kaoru Takamura

“The financial status of Japanese research whaling is deteriorating.” Asahi Shimbun - 8:52 am February 2, 2008

“… judging by sales, many younger Japanese people also don't buy the argument that eating whale is a proud part of their culinary heritage.” By Yasukazu Akada & Seiichiro Utano The Asahi Shimbun - 04/22/2008

“It is high time to decide ending the whaling and declare it to the world.” Asahi Shimbun – 20/12/2007, Letters to the Editor

HISTORY

• Dates back only a few centuries

• Centred around a few coastal communities

• Bought industrialised whaling fleet early 1900’s

• Used fleet after WWII to make up protein deficiency in diet

WHY JAPAN WHALES

“Anti-whaling”=

“Anti-Japanese?”

• Whalers Sanctuary• Powerful, established

elites• Nationalism

WHY JAPAN WHALES

• Whales eat fish and threaten food security

• Whales don’t threaten world fisheries

• Over-fishing does!• To preserve unfettered

access to global marine resources

CURRENT ATTITUDES

• 71% of the public don’t support whaling in the high seas

• 95% of Japanese have never eaten or very rarely eat whale meat

• 90% do not know the government subsidises whaling

LACK OF DEMAND

• Consumption of whale meat is declining

LACK OF DEMAND

• There is a growing stock-pile of whale meat

GREENPEACE JAPAN

• Public Awareness & Education

• Media - Briefing Journalists, Op Eds, Stories & Images from Southern Ocean

• Opinion Polls• Commitments from

major supermarkets & restaurants to stop selling whale meat

GREENPEACE JAPAN

• Political Lobbying• Esperanza Visit to

Tokyo• Report on Japan’s

Vote Buying Program• Book on Japan’s

Relationship to Whales

• Public Protest• Telling the world the truth• Global ‘We love Japan, but not

whaling’ activities• Corporate Pressure - Canon• Investigative research on whaling

industry - “ILLEGAL WHALE MEAT SCANDAL”

GREENPEACEJAPAN

SUCCESS IN JAPAN• Cracks are beginning to show• Unprecedented Media Coverage

GPJ WORK - GLOBAL CONTEXTWhile work in Japan is crucial to success, we still need to keep up the pressure from as many different angles that has resonance with political and public audiences in Japan

• International Legal Action - CITES

• Diplomatic Pressure - Whales Envoy

• Multi-Lateral Pressure via IWC

• Work in Southern Ocean