Cetacean Society International

Legislative Update

By Dr. Robbins Barstow, CSI Director Emeritus

From the January 2010 edition of Whales Alive!

At the end of 2009, a total of 35 Congressional Representatives had signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 2455, the "International Whale Conservation and Protection Act of 2009." Among the co-sponsors now is Connecticut Second District Congresssman Joe Courtney. The CSI Board of Directors, at its meeting on December 14, adopted a resolution of thanks and praise for the support of Representative Courtney, whose district includes the historic whaling towns of New London and Mystic, now committed to whale conservation.

CSI members are urged to write or phone their Representatives in Washington to also sign on as co-sponsors of this bill, indicating their support for it in principle, to help bring about public hearings on the critical issues it raises. Congressional offices should notify Dave Richmond of their support in the office of Rep. Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), the bill's original sponsor, at 202-225-8577.

It is to be hoped that early in 2010, prior to the scheduled March 2-5 IWC Small Working Group and Intersessional meetings in St. Petersburg, Florida, one or more U.S. Senators and Representatives from their respective Foreign Affairs Committees, might be willing to introduce a Concurrent Resolution (as was done successfully two decades ago in 1990) simply "expressing the will of the Congress" that the Obama administration "firmly restate the United States' strong opposition to commercial whaling in any form and refuse to engage in any negotiation or reinterpretation of the IWRC [ICRW] that would weaken the moratorium on commercial whaling." (Text from Sec. 3, a, 1 of H.R. 2455.)

You can help to convince the Japanese public to stop eating meat from whales, dolphins and porpoises! Several tests have proven that cetacean meat consumed in Japan is contaminated with toxins like mercury. After years of denial by previous administrations, the incoming Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Ms. Mizuho Fukushima, has agreed to investigate the mercury issues in Japan.

Please add your voice to the thousands of people worldwide asking Minister Mizuho to protect the health of Japanese consumers, with a polite letter supporting her initiative. A sample letter is provided below, or you can express your own comments. All we ask that all comments be polite and respectful, so they will make a positive impression.

Dear Minister Mizuho Fukushima:

Scientific studies have demonstrated that dolphin and whale meat is highly toxic and not fit for human consumption, due to contamination from methylmercury, mercury, PCBs, and other poisons. Please prevent any further damage to the health of the Japanese people by banning the sale of dolphin and whale meat immediately.

Sincerely,

(Your name and contact information)

Please send your letter to:
Minister of the Consumer Affairs Agency
Ms. Mizuho Fukushima
Sanno Park Tower
2-11-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Japan 100-6178
Fax: +81-3-3500-4640

Or email your letter to:
Keiko Ueda, legislative Aide to Ms. Mizuho Fukushima, Member of the House of Councillors, Social Democratic Party
E-mail: ukgo@jca.apc.org