Friends of Tangaroa is based in Wellington, New Zealand and is both non-political and is not attached to any environmental or activist body. We are a group of ordinary New Zealand citizens out to make a difference in the world.
Don could no longer sit and do nothing while whales were being killed. He has learnt to either do something about it or stop complaining. Don organised the Open Day at Frank Kitts Park and is leading the initiative for this project.
The challenge is to understand the Japanese position regarding whaling and work within those parameters to influence the decision makers.
In the 2008-2009 season the Japanese whaling fleet intends to kill 935 Minke whales and 50 endangered Fin whales. The Fin whale is the second largest animal ever to live on earth.
This is a total of 985 whales and is four times the number taken last year.
This project will send a message to the people of Japan that is not anti-Japanese and that will respect the Japanese culture. The current approach of protests and petitions is not working and a different way needs to be found.
The project will understand the Japanese position and influence their decision through:
The key to the project is to understand, while not condoning the Japanese position. Following is the text of an email from a Japanese activist who has been working in the anti whaling field in Japan for 20 years. It gives to gives an indication of the current thinking :
I'm working on whale conservation more than 20 years in Japan, and appreciate your concern about respect culture and not anti-Japanese. Sometimes, hatred messages from overseas hurt our campaign than help.
Knowing your intention is not like that, I like to point out that many (most) Japanese feel it is unfair that Western people force Japanese not to eat something because they like them. They don't see whales are not same as cows and pigs (or sheep) as they are wild animal, don't see whale as mammal so not breed fast like most fishes.
Still many see it is not worth to eat whale as international society against.
So, I hope your voice are heard by some people in Japan. I copy this to my colleague in IFAW Australia, we are working hard to stop Japanese whaling as well.
The project will involve Japanese both here and in Japan to get the message across.
The initial contact will be through the 48 mayors of New Zealand towns and cities in the Sister Cities Network to their counterparts in 48 Sister Cities in Japan. A respectful message in Japanese to the mayors of the Japanese cities and requesting their partnership in stopping whaling.
As the message is developed it will be distributed through schools, universities, industry and social groups and over YouTube etc.
The project was launched in Frank Kits Park on the 15th December 2007 and was addressed by
The project needs people who can:
The project needs active support and time is of the essence. This is your opportunity to make a difference. Let us know if you can assist and in what capacity.
Contact details are:
Don Richards:
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| Download Letter in Both Japanese & English (ver2) | 231.53 KB |
I'm working on whale conservation more than 20 years in Japan, and appreciate your concern about respect culture and the message not being anti-Japanese. Sometimes, messages from overseas hurt more than help our campaign.Knowing your intention is not like that, I like to point out that many (most) Japanese feel it is unfair that Western people force Japanese not to eat something because they like them. They don't see whales are not same as cows and pigs (or sheep) as they are wild animal, don't see whale as mammal so not breed fast like most fishes.Still many see it is not worth to eat whale as international society against. So, I hope your voice is heard by some people in Japan. I copy this to my colleague in IFAW Australia, we are working hard to stop Japanese whaling as well. ---Naoko Funahashi, Japan
"Now the old whalers are keen whale conservationists and they abhor scientific whaling. There are other ways to get scientific evidence without destroying the animal. It seems unusual that the stocks of Australian Whales are increasing at approximately 12% per annum and the New Zealand stocks have decreased at that level. It apprears that there are more lone juvenile whales compared to the usual stocks. That's our observation"
----By Peter Perano, an ex-whaler now helping the whales from the Tory Channel, New Zealand. Whale Survey August 2008
"We are a group of ex-whalers and now conservationists on the Whale Research Survey. Times have changed. There is no longer enough whales to support an industry. We know what's going on down in the Antarctic waters. Why should the Japanese be doing it? We are a group of ex-whalers trying to save the whales. The whales are a threatened species now.We are dead against scientific whaling in the southern ocean."----By Joe Heberley ex-whaler Tory Channel, New Zealand
"Japanese scientific whaling is just an excuse for them to take whales in the southern ocean. I am totally against it. There is just not enough whales."----By Ron Perano ex-whaler Tory Channel, New Zealand
"Greetings. At what price can you put on your job? Please consider and think about what you are doing. Think of us. Think of us in New Zealand. We love the whale. It's close to our hearts. Please don't harm it. Please don't kill it. When you travel outside of Japan's waters; it is not "just a Job" because you are impacting on a global scale.Please stop whaling and put your hands across the waters for peace and consider us."----By Jo-Anne Crawford, New Zealand
Mission Statement :
Our Objectives
The following are the basic principles that guide the members of “Friends of Tangaroa” in accomplishing their goals.
We agree that:
To join our team, contact Don.richards@friendsoftangaroa.co.nz or Don.Richards@paradise.net.nz