Japanese whalers recently killed a minke in protected waters off the coast of Australia – an activity forbidden by Australian federal law as well as the International Court of Justice.
Tragically, it is likely that this innocent and beautiful animal suffered horrifically at the hands of the Japanese whaling fleet. "They're hit with an explosive harpoon that goes straight into their body, hooks come out and shrapnel is sent through their body, it's a terrible bloody death… these whales can take up to 30 or 40 minutes to die," Jeff Hansen of the conservation group Sea Shepherd told ABC News. Photos reveal the whalers covering their harpoons and the minke’s dead body in an attempt to hide the illegal act.
Over the past year, Japan killed 333 minke whales, including 200 pregnant females, under the pretense of scientific research. Japan plans to kill more than 300 minkes again this year, in direct defiance of a 2014 ruling by the International Court of Justice that determined the killings unjustifiable.
In 2015, Australia fined Japanese whalers AUD$1 million over whale killings in sanctuary waters, but the fines were unpaid and the incident has been disregarded. As an animal lover and conservationist, I find it deplorable that the brutal, unnecessary slaughter of such intelligent, majestic creatures has been ignored.
Please sign this petition demanding that the Australian government takes action to hold Japan accountable for the illegal and inhumane killing that occurred on January 15th, as well as any similar incidents that may occur. Australia should consider taking Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, where it could be argued that Japan is not meeting its international responsibility to protect wildlife. Australia may also consider sending government ships to monitor its waters and intervene in such incidents, as conservation groups have recommended. Please speak on behalf of whales in danger – they need your help today!
Dear Prime Minister Turnbull and Mr. Frydenberg,
I request that the Australian government holds Japan accountable for the illegal and inhumane killing of a minke whale that occurred in Australia’s protected waters on January 15th, 2017. As you know, this activity was forbidden by Australian federal law as well as the International Court of Justice.
Tragically, it is likely that this innocent and beautiful animal suffered horrifically at the hands of the Japanese whaling fleet. "They're hit with an explosive harpoon that goes straight into their body, hooks come out and shrapnel is sent through their body, it's a terrible bloody death… these whales can take up to 30 or 40 minutes to die," Jeff Hansen of the conservation group Sea Shepherd told ABC News. Photos reveal the whalers covering their harpoons and the minke’s dead body in an attempt to hide the illegal act.
Over the past year, Japan killed 333 minke whales, including 200 pregnant females, under the pretense of scientific research. Japan plans to kill more than 300 minkes again this year, in direct defiance of a 2014 ruling by the International Court of Justice. The Court determined that Japan’s practice of killing whales in the Antarctic was unjustifiable and ordered Japan to stop slaughtering whales immediately.
Although Japanese whalers were fined AUD$1 million over whale killings in sanctuary waters, the fines have gone unpaid and the incident has been disregarded. As an animal lover and conservationist, I find it deplorable that the brutal, unnecessary slaughter of such intelligent, majestic creatures has been ignored.
Please consider taking Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, where it could be argued that Japan is not meeting its international responsibility to protect wildlife. Please also reconsider sending government vessels to patrol your waters and intervene in such incidents, as conservation groups have recommended.
Effective action must be taken to protect whales and uphold Australian and international law.
Thank you for your consideration.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
