[Green-Activist] Fwd: RE: Response from Martin Ferguson AM MP from whaling

[Clemens Vermeulen]

----------  Forwarded message  ----------

Subject: RE: Response from Martin Ferguson AM MP from whaling
Date: ma, 26 nov 2007
From: "Madden, Kirsty (Martin Ferguson, MP)" <Kirsty.Madden at aph.gov.au>
To: "Chris Sullivan" <chris at livinglightcentre.org>

Thank you for your email, Chris.

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Chris Sullivan [mailto:chris at livinglightcentre.org] 
	Sent: Monday, 26 November 2007 12:17 AM
	To: Madden, Kirsty (Martin Ferguson, MP)
	Subject: Re: Response from Martin Ferguson AM MP from whaling
	
	
	Dear Martin (Kirsty)
	
	Thanks for your prompt and courteous response (albeit in the
standard ALP format). It may interest you to know that we received 13
responses from the ALP, and 0 responses from the Coalition! Strange that
they got done like a dinner on Saturday :-) !
	
	Congratulations on your (and our) success. We would also implore
the revitalised ALP to act on this matter at your earliest convenience -
as per your response. It seems pathetic that Australia has had to rely
on Sea Shepherd to protect our wildlife from illegal Japanese attacks in
our Australian Whale Sanctuary.
	
	The stench of corruption languishes in the air when our Navy
confiscates small fishing boats manned by impoverished Indonesian
fishermen, and looks the other way when wealthy Japanese ships openly
and illegally attack our whale sanctuary.
	
	Yours in congratulatory service,
	
	Chris 
	
	Madden, Kirsty (Martin Ferguson, MP) wrote: 

		21 November 2007 
		Ref: MF:KM 

		Chris Sullivan 
		chris at livinglightcentre.org
<mailto:chris at livinglightcentre.org>  

		EMAIL RESPONSE

		Dear Chris, 

		Thank you for writing to me regarding the protection of
whales. 

		I share your abhorrence of whaling. There is absolutely
no justification for the slaughter of these amazing animals.  

		Japan has killed more than 400 whales in Australian
waters since 2000. Exploiting a loophole that allows for so-called
'scientific whaling', Japan intends to slaughter an even larger number
of whales in 2007 and 2008, including humpback whales, the mainstay of
Australia's $300 million-a-year whale-watching industry.

		The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has passed
more than forty resolutions opposing the charade of 'scientific'
whaling, including in Alaska in 2007, but sadly, Japan has sought only
to increase its catch.

		On 18 May 2007, Federal Labor announced a bold new
approach to protect our whales, including commitments to: 

		*       Take Japan to international courts such as the
International Court of Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law
of the Sea to end the slaughter of whales; 

		*       Make formal representations to the Japanese
authorities - at bilateral and multilateral meetings - about its
practice of whaling;

		*       Enforce Australian law banning the slaughter of
whales in the Australian Whale Sanctuary; 
		*       Monitor and surveillance of whaling vessels
operating in Australian waters, and intercept vessels operating
illegally in the Australian fishing zone; and

		*       Establish a national network of whale and
dolphin sanctuaries. 

		Meanwhile, the Howard Government has demonstrated its
lack of serious commitment to end whaling, refusing calls to monitor
whalers operating in the Southern Ocean, and rejecting international
legal action, including seven options put forward by the expert Sydney
Legal Panel in May 2007.

		The Government also stands in the way of enforcing its
own laws banning the slaughter of whales in the Australian Whale
Sanctuary.

		Protecting whales - and preserving our $300 million
whale-watching industry - requires more than the Howard Government's
hollow words and inaction.

		Federal Labor will pursue a fresh approach to end
whaling, taking an international and domestic leadership role to protect
these beautiful creatures.

		Thank you for taking the time to write regarding this
important issue. 

		Yours sincerely, 

		Martin Ferguson AM MP 
		Federal Member for Batman 
		Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism 



-------------------------------------------------------

-- 
Clemens Vermeulen

contact: http://clemens.vermeulen.id.au/contact

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