Your help is crucial to stopping
the illegal hunts! Governmental pressures
from other nations and even international actions to stop the hunts
have
failed; the issue is now left up to citizen action. There are many ways
to get
involved and make your voice heard in this controversy!
Environmental Groups
Already
organizations such as the sea shepherd conservation society have taken
drastic
actions to curb the illegal whaling. Ships operated by the Society have
harassed the Japanese whalers on the high seas and have distracted them
from
whaling. If borderline criminal activities are not your idea of getting
involved, you could always donate to the cause of the society. The
Society is
always in need of additional funding. Get involved with the Sea
Shepherd
Conservation Society here.
If you
disagree with the
vigilante behind the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society but would still
like to
get involved through an organization, there is the option of getting
involved with
its big sister, Greenpeace. The Greenpeace organization organizes
peaceful efforts
in order to spread its message. Greenpeace ships have also haltered
Japanese
whalers but not in an overly aggressive manner like the Sea Shepherd. You can also aid
Greenpeace’s efforts by donating. Get involved with Greenpeace here.
Furthermore, you can voice your opinions in Greenpeace’s whaling forums
here.
Write Letters
The most
effective method
is to write directly to the government of Japan because only the
Japanese
government has the power to permanently stop JARPA. Let them know your
feelings
as a concerned citizen of your particular country and the world. To
make your
letter more effective, make sure to include facts mentioned in this
website,
such as the large national and international backlash against JARPA and
the
Japanese government.
Some
letter writing tips taken from the Sea Shepherd’s website:
Letter-writing tips:
Write legibly. Handwritten
letters are good/effective, but they must be readable.
Include a return address at the
top of your letter.
The first sentence of your
letter should state exactly what you want.
If you are within the
politician's constituency area, mention this.
Keep the focus of your letter
on one issue (stopping the killing of whales).
If you can, personalize the
letter to show the depth of your concern.
Be courteous, but to the point.
Be clear, stating exactly what
is wanted from the politician.
Ask for a written response that
states their position on the issue.
Add a thank-you for his/her
time and/or efforts on the issue.
Keep the letter to one page.
Letters sent by snail mail are
the most effective as politicians are inundated with e-mails, but feel
free to contact them by whatever method you can
