Contact the White House

Greetings!

Sara Wan asks that we call the White House at 202 456-1111 to request that President Obama keep his word and oppose the resumption of commercial whaling. There is a petition at Democracy in Action at Petition. She has added the bolded section on Pacific Gray Whales.

Dear President Obama,

Please honor the pledge you made in 2008 to strengthen the moratorium on commercial whaling and oppose any proposal that would legitimize commercial whaling. For nearly a quarter century, the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling has helped keep endangered species of whales from being hunted to extinction.

The proposed weakening of the ban on whaling would legitimize the killing of endangered whales and allow commercial whaling in the Southern Whale Sanctuary. I urge you to instead support Australia's proposal which would put an end to all whaling in the Southern Ocean. In addition, do not allow Pacific Gray Whales to be hunted.

The IWC whaling moratorium has been integral to the slow recovery of several species of whale once on the brink of extinction. The United States has a long history of being a leader in whale conservation and I urge you to continue in that role.

Sara indicates that Greenpeace and Earth Island Institute will be helping, and that the Ocean Protection Coalition is organizing a rally in Mendocino. She has passed along a flyer which I'm going to post to a Google documents link Word Flyer>.

Rally on May 23rd

(Image contributed by Richard Kuehn of the Sea Ranch CCNM Stewards Task Force)


Greetings!

As you know, the situation is heating up concerning the resumption of commercial whaling of Pacific Gray Whales (see the article below, sent to me by Norma).

There is a Statewide effort to draw attention to the situation. Coastwalk California is engaged in this effort, and is organizing an event in Sonoma County. We invite you to participate in the Sonoma County May 23rd event - or participate in the event in your county.

Gregory Fearon, our new Board President, has agreed to be the lead on putting together the Sonoma County event. If you are interested in learning more about the Sonoma County effort - or helping - please contact Gregory at . Mike Reilly (Coastwalk Board member) is working to secure a great location on the coast for the event (Whale Sculpture at Doran Beach, near Bodega Bay).

Coastwalk California is committed to making this event a great success and to helping “Save the Whales”!

Feel free to forward this invitation to get involved - and if you cannot be directly involved in the events, consider writing a letter in opposition.

Thank you very much for all you do for our beautiful and fragile coast.

A New Photo Project for the Save the Whales Rally from Greenpeace:
Greenpeace Whale Photo Project

Other Resources:
International Whaling Commission Meeting Website
Coastal Commission Report
Gray Whale Article from LA Times>
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Synopsis of the Proposed Agreement
More Background
Greenpeace website
Western Alliance for Nature Conservancy
Animal Planet's Whale Wars videos
International Fund for Animal Welfare - Sidney Holt
Drowned Out
AVAAZ.Org Petition
Greenpeace Latest Message
Gray Whales with Winston