Behind the beautiful words of "environmental friendliness," reckless development is under way, destroying the ecosystems of Japan's ancient, sacred mountains.
Despite already having the world's highest density of solar panel installations per flat land area, Japan's relentless push for massive wind power developments has now expanded deep into pristine mountain ridges. The low-frequency noise and solid-borne resonance emitted from these wind turbines disrupt the acute senses of wild animals, driving them from their natural habitats. With nowhere else to go, bears have been forced down toward areas closer to human settlements, where they are mercilessly culled as "dangerous pests." In some regions, the number of culled bears has surged 18-fold, and sightings have skyrocketed 100-fold compared to pre-development levels.
To make matters worse, cruel "leg-hold traps," which are banned in Europe and the US, are still permitted in Japan. Furthermore, deeply unethical and inhumane culling methods are carried out, where even the most vulnerable mother bears and their cubs are hunted down and shot to death inside their dens during hibernation or immediately after. Public funds (tax money) are being funneled into commercializing these culled lives—promoting businesses that trade in "gibier" (wild game meat) and "bear gallbladders" (traditional medicine). Now, international conservation commitments are being violated as the culling has expanded to include Red-List endangered populations, such as the bears on the Kii Peninsula.
Despite causing ecological destruction on such a massive scale, national deliberations in Japan's parliament have revealed that the official government estimate for the global warming mitigation effect of these projects is a mere "0.006 degrees Celsius."
Nonetheless, with environmental regulations severely lacking, plans are being rapidly pushed to expand massive offshore wind power developments from territorial waters into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The ocean is an open window connecting Japan to the rest of the world. This is nothing less than a grave threat to the global marine ecosystem.
With domestic media concealing the environmental destruction and instead stoking public fear of bears, stopping this eco-side from within the country is extremely difficult. Although more than 10,000 citizens in Japan have already raised their voices against this injustice, we urgently need the objective perspective and strong solidarity of the international community.
We do not seek political struggle or conflict over vested interests. We simply refuse to stand by silently as voiceless lives are erased under the beautiful guise of "environmental friendliness" with no accountability.
Please sign this petition now to demand that the Japanese Government:
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Immediately abolish the deeply unethical culling of bears during hibernation, and cease all unscientific culling based purely on sightings without ecological evidence.
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Ban the commercial trade and monetization of culled wildlife.
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Halt all reckless, large-scale developments and projected expansions that tear apart sacred forests and oceans, and immediately enforce stricter environmental regulations.
Please lend us your strength to preserve the dignity of wild animals and marine life, and to achieve true coexistence.
