Dear Mr. Fukuda,


Rest assured our viewers and the public at large is appalled by Japanese whaling and fisheries practices. Even within your own country, recent polls show that over 77% of the Japanese public is against whaling while only 11% support it.


To say that Japan is carefully managing marine living resources for the future is a joke. Recent scientific studies have shown that over 90% of the world’s large fish have been depleted by over-fishing and Japan’s own factory-fishing fleets are largely responsible for this, decimating one species after another. Just recently, Japan was found to be in violation of its quota on endangered blue fin tuna. I cannot find one example where Japan has carefully managed any marine species.


In regards to dolphins and whales, Japan’s blatant disregard for these species is unfathomable. Japan is cruelly and needlessly butchering over 20,000 dolphins and other small cetaceans every year. There is no humane way to kill a dolphin or whale and scientific research shows that dolphin and whale meat is unhealthy for human consumption. Your own Government studies show dolphin and whale meat can contain up to 10-16 times the healthful level of mercury and that elevated levels of mercury have been proven to cause birth defects, neural damage, and death. As a result, several Japanese supermarket chains have pulled dolphin and whale meat from their shelves due to the health risks. Despite this however, your fisheries agency continues to advocate for the needless killing of dolphins and whales.


In addition, your whaling fleet is now planning to kill over 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary including endangered fin and humpback whales. There is nothing scientific about this slaughter. All the data being collected can be and is being collected through non-lethal means by bona-fide scientists, not bogus scientists like yours.
Recently, a representative for Japan’s fisheries agency said:
“Whales are just as important, and no more special, than any other fish,” says Japan Fisheries Agency spokesperson Hideki Moronuki, maintaining Japan’s long-held position that marine mammals should get no special treatment for being warm-blooded.


Your scientists can’t even tell the difference between a marine mammal and a fish. Do you realize how ignorant Japan looks to the rest of the world? Please be advised that we are telling all consumers to not purchase any Japanese made products until Japan stops killing dolphins and whales and we will be vigilant in this regard. We are determined to end Japan’s brutally cruel and needless slaughter of dolphins and whales and I will do everything within my power to ensure this.


Sincerely,
Hayden Panettiere

Spokesperson Save the Whales Again! Campaign





i admire celebs who constantly bring up critical issues to public and dare the consequences they might endure in the future. however, when someone goes overboard and starting to talk like he/she is someone from heaven above, we better put him/her into a garbage bin. my sist came across this open letter to Japanese govt and was quite shocked reading its content. hey...i dont like the way dolphins are treated but it doesnt mean i need to lash out a GOVT by telling them what to do. plus, hayD penn a.k.a hayden penettiere (oo btw she was the one who wrote the letter, how come i forgot to mention her name...who wonders) constantly using provocative words time and time again. is this necessary? i dont think so. you are welcomed to visualize your opinion in any means possible but dont PUSH PEOPLE AROUND. and that was exactly what she did. i dont know how the japanese govt gonna take this issue, but surely they wont be the silent spectator this time. hayD penn is starring ONE major big hit, heroes. and suddenly she wants to save the world like she does in the serial? i dont think so dear. she might want to be the next angelina jolie, but it wont get her anywhere if she doesnt know how to convey her messages, like what she had written above. perhaps it would be better if she goes to japan and be the 1st person to actually speak to the minister and view her thoughts as a grown up not as teenager who reads only novel. if you wanna be known as an activist, you have to do it the right way. have i heard response from other celebs regarding this matter? i should hope not. she needs to learn a lot from other celebs such as bono, angelina, leo dicaprio and so on and so forth. i havent heard they condemn a country coz of an issue that would be better off discussed peacefully. as a matter of fact, accusing and condemning wont solve anything. i wanna know what people say bout her letter....just have to wait