When Iceland announced that they were issuing a permit to hunt 39 whales including 9 endangered fin whales, I couldn't believe my ears. Last year, the Icelandic whalers killed 7 minkes and 7 endangered fin whales, only a fraction of their quota. But around the world, more than 100,000 activists have pressured Iceland in the wake of their whaling efforts, and it seems to have worked - at least for now. With almost no market in Iceland and fears that the meat might be contaminated with toxic chemicals, the hunt has been a disaster. They still haven't made the results of the contamination testing on whale meat public, but they can't seem to convince anyone to buy their whale meat regardless.
Iceland has said they won't issue new permits until the market conditions for whale meat improve and they get permission to export whale products to Japan. Well, I've got some news for the Icelandic government: there's no market for whale meat in Japan either. Japan is having trouble selling the thousands of tons of whale meat it already has in storage from its own Southern Ocean "scientific" hunt.
Since the Icelandic government is ready to admit that there isn't any market for commercial whale meat, they might as well face up to the facts: there's no legitimate scientific reason for killing whales either.
It's time for Iceland to hang up those harpoons for good!
Your friend,
John Hocevar
Oceans Campaigner
There's a storm brewing off the coast of Massachusetts that's threatening the future of wind energy for the entire country. In the face of global warming, there are a few powerful forces giving the cold shoulder to what could be America's first offshore wind farm - mostly because they believe it would blemish their million-dollar views.
The Cape Wind project would offset up to 113 million gallons of oil and would be like taking 175,000 cars off the road to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even though more than 80% of Massachusetts residents support the project, a select few, including Senator Ted Kennedy who's compound would face the wind farm, are standing in the way of progress and jeopardizing the entire effort.
That's why we've hit the airwaves and targeted the opposition with television ads aired all across New England. If you haven't seen these ads, check them out.
But this fight isn't just local. We need YOUR help to get Congress on track and make offshore wind a reality.
Tell Congress to blow off millionaire complaints and do what's right for the country. As we look for ways to combat global warming and increase renewable energy, the answers really are blowing in the wind! We need your help to show even more public support for Cape Wind and renewable energy. Take action and tell the Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming that he should support this visionary project.
Your Friend,
Kate Smolski
Global Warming Campaigner
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