Hey everyone,
First, I want to thank the over 230,000 of you who have signed our petition to stop all commercial and scientific whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland and end the brutal dolphin and porpoise hunts by Japan and the Faroe Islands. Earlier today (June 3rd) in Washington DC, there was a rally in front of the White House to present our petition along with other petitions that were generated by the Whales Need US Coalition of which we are a member. Our petition had the most signatures by a 2 to 1 margin of any petition presented including groups that have millions of members so I can’t thank you enough for all your support and getting your friends and family to sign on. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the rally due to schedule conflicts, but my personal hero and Whaleman Foundation founder, Jeff Pantukhoff, was there to represent all of us and deliver our signatures.
On my behalf, Jeff read the following statement to the press and the supporters who had gathered in front of the White House.
Thank you all for being here. First and foremost, I want to thank all of our SocialVibe members for their support. Collectively, all of the groups represented here today by the Whales Need US Coalition, have generated over 1.5 million signatures demanding that the US Government reflect the will of its citizens and take action to end all commercial and scientific research whaling by Japan, Norway, and Iceland.
Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, this is one issue that truly crosses party lines as polls show that over 75% of all Americans oppose whaling, want it stopped, and want our Government to take action to stop it.
When I met President Obama on the campaign trail 2 years ago, he told me he was a huge dolphin and whale lover and was aware of the whaling problem and said he was going to do something about it when he was elected, which I was so happy to hear.
But unfortunately, the current deal that is being considered is only good for the whalers and is bad for whales. To the question “Deal or No Deal”, we say “No Deal” Mr. President.
In less than 3 weeks, the 88 member nations of the International Whaling Commission will meet to consider this deal. The only deal worth considering is one that will truly uphold the whaling moratorium and ramp down and end all whaling except for that which is done for legitimate subsistence purposes so we call on President Obama and his administration to uphold his pledge to end commercial whaling and strengthen the moratorium. Of the 193 nations on earth, there are 3 rogue whaling nations, Japan, Norway, and Iceland, that are attempting to hold the rest of the world hostage by continually acting and negotiating in bad faith and by trying to prop up a dying and archaic industry.
Well its time for all of us to stand together and stop this once and for all!
The time to act is now!!
It’s our future!
Take a stand!!
It’s time to Save the Whales Again!
Here’s what you can do:
1. Write, e-mail, or call President Obama and let him know that you want the US to use its sanctioning powers available under the Pelly Amendment against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until they stop whaling. White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111. White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461.
Compose and Send a message directly to President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
President Obama’s mailing address:
President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500.
2. Write or call your US Representatives and Senators and let them know that you want the US to invoke the Pelly Amendment against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until they stop whaling.
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 456-1414.
