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<DIV> <BR>Date: 23 Apr 2010<BR>From: <A
href="mailto:avaaz@avaaz.org">avaaz@avaaz.org</A><BR><BR><BR>
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<CENTER><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?cl=547857256&v=6001"><IMG
src="http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/whales-200.jpg" width=200
border=0><BR></A></CENTER>A new proposal would <B>lift the global ban on
commercial whale hunting</B>. Countries are deciding their positions on it
now, so an outcry is needed -- sign to protect the ban and <B>save the
whales:</B><BR><BR>
<CENTER><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?cl=547857256&v=6001"><IMG
alt="Take Action Now!"
src="http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/sign_english_pink.png" width=200
border=0> </A></CENTER></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The International
Whaling Commission has just unveiled a proposal to <B>legalize commercial whale
hunting for the first time in 24 years.</B><BR><BR>Countries are now deciding
their first responses -- and they're watching public reaction closely. New
Zealand called its provisions -- which include a legal quota for <B>hunting
endangered fin whales</B> -- "offensive," "unacceptable," and "inflammatory."
But other key nations are rumoured to be leaning in support of it. They need to
hear from us <EM>now</EM>. <BR><BR>Avaaz has launched an urgent petition to
<B>show our leaders their people want to protect whales, not hunt, kill, and
sell them.</B> The petition is being sent to the International Whaling
Commission each time it reaches another 100,000 signatures -- <B>sign here and
forward this message</B>: <BR><BR><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?vl">http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?vl</A>
<BR><BR>A strong international consensus has opposed whaling for decades -- but
for just as long, Japan, Norway, and Iceland have continued to hunt whales,
ignoring the global ban on whaling or exploiting a loophole by claiming their
expeditions were "scientific research." Now <B>they could be rewarded</B> by
this "compromise" proposal, in which their commercial whaling would be made
legal in exchange for unenforceable promises to slowly reduce their yearly
catch.<BR><BR>Worse still, a number of other countries are watching the process
closely in hopes of launching their own whaling programs. If Japan, Norway, and
Iceland can hunt whales and sell their meat, others will ask "if them, why not
us?"<BR><BR><B>It's time to save the whales -- again.</B> The IWC proposal will
be voted up or down by country delegates this June, but their positions are
hardening fast -- let's respond massively, right away, everywhere. Click below
and forward this message to oppose the legalization of commercial whale
hunting:<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?vl">http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_8/?vl</A><BR><BR>Forty
years ago, whales were on the brink of extinction. But thanks to a global social
movement, <B>the world banned commercial whaling in 1986.</B> The ban is one of
the environmental movement's great triumphs. <BR><BR>Today, whales still face
many threats: not just the whalers' harpoons, but also climate change,
destruction of ecosystems by overfishing and pollution, and nets intended for
other fish. A renewed wave of commercial whaling could devastate these
extraordinarily intelligent and social cousins of humanity. This is no time to
move backwards. <BR><BR>With hope, <BR><BR>Ben, Ricken, Paula, Iain, David,
Luis, and the whole Avaaz team<BR><BR><BR>SOURCES:<BR><BR>"Whaling plan draws
anger from green groups" - BBC, 22 April 2010<BR><A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8638199.stm">Whaling plan draws
anger from green groups</A><BR><BR>"IWC whaling proposal 'offensive'" - New
Zealand Herald, 23 April 2010<BR><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/whales_offensive">http://www.avaaz.org/whales_offensive</A>
<BR><BR>Background on the 1986 international moratorium on whaling:<BR><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/international_whaling_moratorium">http://www.avaaz.org/international_whaling_moratorium</A><BR><BR>Read
the actual proposal here (PDF format):<BR><A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/whale_proposal">http://www.avaaz.org/whale_proposal</A><BR><BR><IMG
src="http://www.avaaz.org/act/open/547857256.gif" border=0><BR><B>Support the
Avaaz community!</B> We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way -- <A
href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/donate_to_avaaz/?cl=547857256&v=6001">donate
here</A>.<BR><BR>
<HR>
<FONT color=#404040 size=-2><B><BR>Avaaz.org is a 4.5-million-person global
campaign network</B> that works to ensure that the views and values of the
world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in
many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is
spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn
about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns <A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2/">here</A>, or follow us on <A
href="http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz">Facebook</A> or <A
href="http://twitter.com/Avaaz">Twitter</A>.<BR><BR>To contact Avaaz, please
<B>do not reply to this email.</B> Instead, write to us at <A
href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer">www.avaaz.org/en/contact</A> or
call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US) or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil).</FONT> <BR>
<HR>
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