URGENT: STOP JAPAN NOW !
http://tinyurl.com/5j76r

Gegen Öl-Bohrinsel: Walfang-Kommission will Westpazifische Grauwale schützen

20.07.04

Die Internationale Walfangkommission (IWC) verabschiedete am Dienstag auf ihrer Jahrestagung in Italien einstimmig eine Resolution zum Schutz der letzten hundert Westpazifischen Grauwale, berichtet der WWF. Darin forderten die IWC-Staaten Eilmaßnahmen zum Schutz der grauen Riesen. Weiterhin setzten sie sich für eine umfassende Untersuchung der unter Federführung von Shell geplanten Ausbeutung der Ölvorkommen vor der russischen Insel Sachalin ein. Der Bau einer Öl-Bohrinsel und einer Unterwasser-Pipeline gefährde den Bestand der Tiere, so ein Bericht der Wissenschaftlichen Kommission der IWC. Die Resolution war von Deutschland, Großbritannien, Belgien und Südafrika eingebracht worden...

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:
http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=8952

Walschützer besorgt: Japan will 3000 Zwergwale jährlich töten

19.07.04

Seit Montag morgen tagt im italienischen Sorrent die Internationale Walfang Kommission (IWC). Walschützer befürchten, dass sich dort eine Mehrheit für die Wiederaufnahme des Wahlfangs ergeben könnte. Der WWF kritisierte, nur 14 der 25 EU-Staaten seien bisher der IWC beigetreten. Es fehlten Griechenland, Luxemburg und neun Beitrittsländer. Kürzlich war Ungarn beigetreten. Auf Seiten der Walfang-Befürworter sind Mauretanien, Tuvalu und Surinam hinzugekommen - mutmaßlich nicht unbeeinflusst durch Entwicklungshilfe-Gelder der Walfang-Nation Japan. Die Münchner Artenschutzorganisation Pro Wildlife forderte, auch Kleinwale und Delfine müssten geschützt werden. Sie seien nach den derzeitigen Abkommen "nahezu vogelfrei"...

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:
http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=8936

Urgent Appeal!

Right now, more than 30 years of whale protection is at stake.

You’ve probably never heard of Tuvalu.

With 11,500 people and a total size of 26 square kilometers, it seems unlikely this tiny island in the South Pacific could decide the future fate of whales.

Urgent: Please send your letter today – IWC voting begins on 19 July!

But if something isn’t done right now
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M6461404174914477512155&iEvent=32742
to convince Tuvalu to vote against Japan’s pro-whaling measures at next week’s International Whaling Commission (IWC), thousands of endangered whales will continue to be mercilessly slaughtered. And it will only be the beginning.

For the past several years, Japan has openly targeted small, developing countries such as Tuvalu to join the IWC and vote pro-whaling in exchange for financial assistance and fisheries aid. Japan may actually buy its way into a pro-whaling IWC majority next week. And if it does, it means certain disaster for whales.

Japan is killing protected whales, selling illegal whale meat and buying votes. They must be stopped.

Our sources indicate the IWC vote this year is expected to be a dead heat. Don’t let illicit vote buying and greed decide the future of whales for our children. This isn’t just about whales. It’s about fighting for the right of smaller nations to make informed choices without being bullied.

Send a fax
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M6461407174914477512155&iEvent=32742
to the Tuvalu Prime Minister letting him know that the world supports countries that value both animals and people. Let’s convince him that doing the right thing (whale watching and conservation) can be both moral and profitable.

If enough concerned citizens act now before the vote, we can turn the small country of Tuvalu into one of the biggest voices in the world.

Click here to fax the Prime Minister now:
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M6461409174914477512155&iEvent=32742


For the Whales,

Fred O’Regan
IFAW President and CEO

P.S. Most whales are killed with harpoons designed to explode inside them, taking anywhere from two minutes to over an hour for each whale to die. Please help us ensure this cruel practice ends forever. Fax the Prime Minister of Tuvalu today:
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M6461411174914477512155&iEvent=32742

Preserving Tiger Species ... as Rugs?
http://www.care2.com/go/z/15820

Is killing endangered animals the best way to protect them? Under the Bush administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) seems to think so.

Find out more by watching this humorous clip about the Preservator 3000 -- the newest weapon being used to destroy the Endangered Species Act (ESA): http://www.care2.com/go/z/15820

A new FWS proposal to the ESA would legalize commercial exploitation of endangered species. If we don't act quickly, it will be LEGAL to import endangered species into the US without a permit.

History has shown that promoting endangered species trade leads to overexploitation, increased poaching and illegal activity. The proposed change creates a direct incentive to speed up the pace of extinction of more than 550 foreign species currently protected by the ESA. We must stop this attack on the ESA!

You can help:
1. Learn more & Take Action: http://www.care2.com/go/z/15820
2. Once you have watched the Preservator 3000 info film, send it to your friends & family who care about the future of wildlife!

Walfangtagung: Desaster für Wale droht

15.07.04

Auf der am kommenden Montag beginnenden Tagung der Internationalen Walfangkommission (IWC) entscheidet bereits die erste Stunde über das Schicksal der Meeressäuger. Denn dann steht endgültig fest, welche und wie viele Länder abstimmungsberechtigt sind. Erstmals seit Jahrzehnten ist eine Mehrheit der Walfangländer zu erwarten. Die Artenschutzorganisation Pro Wildlife wirft vor allem Japan vor, alljährlich neue Staaten als Verstärkung für die Abstimmungen zu rekrutieren. "Wenn nicht bis Montag ein kleines Wunder geschieht, hat die Walfänger-Fraktion diesmal eine knappe Mehrheit und kann somit Entscheidungen gegen den Walschutz durchsetzen", so Pro Wildlife-Wale-Expertin Dr. Sandra Altherr. Für Resolutionen reicht eine einfache Mehrheit, nur für Änderungen der IWC-Statuten, z.B. für die Einrichtung von Walschutzgebieten oder die Beendigung des Walfangverbotes wird eine Dreiviertelmehrheit benötigt...

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=8911

Public Comment Period for Protecting Sea Sponges & Corals
Comments here: http://www.care2.com/go/z/15742

This is an exciting moment! Care2's partner Oceana has been vigorously defending deep-sea corals from the destructive fishing practice known as "bottom trawling," and their hard work has reached a critical moment! They petitioned the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to put regulations in place protecting corals and sponges from bottom trawling, and NMFS opened the issue up for public comment.

This is your chance to tell NMFS that protecting fragile, ancient coral and sponge habitats is important to you! Like clear-cutting of old growth forests, bottom trawling fishing vessels cause extensive damage to deepwater coral habitat, potentially causing long-term changes to the entire marine ecosystem.

The comment period ends August 13, 2004, so don't wait!

Tell the Director of NMFS' Office of Habitat Conservation to support Oceana's petiton and protect corals and sponges from bottom trawling!

Send your comment: http://www.care2.com/go/z/15742

Dear Best Friends Network Members,

Right now, there is in both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, concurrently, a bill (S2547) and (HR4114) that would deprive 94 species of non-native birds of the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including species of cranes, cardinals, and swans.

This bill is moving rapidly through both houses, with little opposition, and has the potential to allow the mass slaughter, especially all along the East Coast, of tens of thousands of Mute Swans.

There has long been a plan for government agencies to slaughter Mute Swans, on the Chesapeake Bay and on many lakes. This nearly took place a few years ago, but it was prevented by a court ruling, in 2001, that found that Mute Swans were protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The bill now in congress, called the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act would exempt Mute Swans and 93 other species from federal protection.

If this bill were to be passed, then the Mute Swans will be in danger all over again of mass slaughter, and the other 93 species of non-native birds will no longer have federal protection either.

If you would like more information about this, please go to http://www.api4animals.org
http://www.fund.org
http://www.sort.org

Please either call, send a letter to, and/or e-mail your two state senators and your representative in the House of Representatives, and ask them to vote against this bill.

Their names and contact information may be found at
http://www.action.fund.org/directory

A sample letter follows; you may use this, or send a letter in your own words.

Thank you so very much for caring about these birds and for taking the time to help them!

Sincerely,

Sharon
(Sharon St. Joan)
Bird and Wildlife Consultant
Best Friends Animal Society
http://www.bestfriends.org
sharonsj@bestfriends.org


Sample Letter

Dear

I am writing to urge you to oppose S2547 (to your two senators) (or to oppose HR4114- to your representative in the House).

S 2547 (or HR4114) will destroy the protection afforded by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to 94 species of migratory birds, considered non-native, and will allow them to be shot, trapped, poisoned, or otherwise killed. These birds include cranes, cardinals, swans, and many others.

Overall bird populations are dwindling year by year in this country and globally. Birds need more protection, not less.

The mass slaughter of beautiful, magnificent Mute Swans along the East Coast by government agencies, had been planned and was about to take place, until it was halted by a Washington D.C. court ruling, in 2001, that found that Mute Swans were protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Passing S2547 (or HR4114) would remove this protection and would allow the long-planned slaughter of tens of thousands of Mute Swans. This seems to be the primary reason for the introduction of this bill.

Concerning the Chesapeake Bay, one of the areas targeted for the slaughter of swans, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has determined that harm to the bay is caused by industry and farming, not by Mute Swans.

Mute Swans, and most birds, mate for life, take wonderful care of their young, are intelligent, graceful, beautiful, contribute positively to the environment, and cause no harm to human beings. They are a
source of joy to many human beings, in a world often short of joy.

Thank you very much for considering voting against S2547 (or HR 4114), thereby retaining federal protection for these beloved birds.

Sincerely,
(your name)

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Troy Lea
Network Coordinator
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 ext.123
troy@bestfriends.org
http://www.bestfriends.org


Informant: Angostura1819