Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Option #1: Write to a Government Official

Since the Taiji drive hunt is such a deep-rooted operation, involving a variety of individuals, each with different levels of authority, it means that there are multiple change agents that we as activists need to target in order for our presence to be felt. One of the best ways to connect with these change agents is to send them a letter or an email regarding your feelings on the issue, and demanding that they put a stop to the drive hunts immediately. 

SeaShepherd.org provides a nice sample letter to get you started:


SAMPLE LETTER

I am 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.

Sincerely,

 

 

Once you finalize your letter, send it out to the following government agents:

 PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
1-6-1 Nagata-cho 1 Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8968 JAPAN

Fax: +81.3.5511.8855
E-mail form:

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html


MINISTER OF FISHERIES
1-2-1 Ksumigaseki 1 Chrome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8907 JAPAN

Tel:+81-3-5510-3303 (direct) or 3-3502-8111
Fax: +81-3-3502-8220 or +81-3-3502-0794
E-mail: 
sinsei01densi@nm.maff.go.jp
E-mail form: http://www.voice.maff.go.jp/maff-interactive/people/ShowWebFormAction.do?FORM_NO=5


THE DOLPHIN HUNT IN TAIJI IS CONDUCTED BY TAIJI FISHERY COOPERATIVE
3167-7 Taiji
Wakayama, 649-5171 Japan

Tel: +81.735.59.3517
Fax: +81 735 59 3018

PERMISSION FOR THE DOLPHIN HUNT IS GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR OF WAKAYAMA
Mr. Yoshiki Kimura
Prefectural Office of Wakayama
1-1 Komatsubaradouri, Wakayama-shi
Wakayama-ken, 640-8269 Japan

Tel: +81-73-441-2034
Fax:+81-73-423-9500
Public comment lines: +81-73-441-2028
Fax: +81-73-431-0462
E-mail: 
e0006001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp


THERE IS A FISHERY AGENCY POLICY EVALUATION GROUP 
WHICH HAS THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE:

Kawase, Yoshino and Tokura
Tel: +81-3-3502-8111 ext. 7057 and 7058
OR: +81-3-3591-5613 ( direct)
E-mail: 
sui_hyoka@nm.maff.go.jp


EMBASSY OF JAPAN IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Ambassador Ryozo Kato
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869

Tel: (202) 238-6700,
Fax: 202-328-2187
Hours: M-F 9:15-12:30 and 2:00-6:16
E-mail:
 jicc@embjapan.org 
www.us.emb-japan.go.jp


OR FOR A CONSULATE OR EMBASSY NEAR YOU
visit: 
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/consulat.htm 
or http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html


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