Greenpeace Urges Hatoyama and Obama to Keep Election Promises and End Whaling

(c)Greenpeace © Greenpeace

Tokyo, Japan, November 10, 2009 -- Just 48 hours before new Prime Minister Hatoyama plays host to US President Barack Obama, Greenpeace activists unveiled a large whale sculpture outside the Japanese Diet, to remind both heads of state to uphold their respective election promises to end corruption and waste, as well as so-called "scientific" whaling. A new review of government spending in Japan is a significant opportunity to achieve both goals and in the process enable Japan to also redeem its international reputation.

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Urgent Action Needed!
Write to Japan's Supreme Court to request the disclosure of key evidence in the Tokyo Two Trial

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the Tokyo Two, are on trial for intercepting a box of whale meat as part of an investigation of an embezzlement ring within the Japanese whaling program. The Supreme Court is about to make a decision on the disclosure of key evidence that could further prove the embezzlement scandal and, in turn, the Tokyo Two's innocence.

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More on Whale meat scandal and Tokyo Two

Greenpeace launches Supreme Court appeal for Tokyo Two

©Greenpeace/Greg McNevin ©Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

Tokyo, Japan, October 5, 2009 -- Greenpeace is taking whaling all the way to Japan's Supreme Court today, following a decision by the Sendai High Court to reject an appeal for the disclosure of key evidence in the trial of activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki.

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Urgent action needed!
Support Hatoyama's pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020!

Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), has taken the unprecedented step by pledging to cut Japan's greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 1990 levels by 2020. While many rejoice in this show of true leadership the climate issue has not seen before in a world leader from a developed country, many in the industry sector are already building a strong resistance to making the changes that are desperately needed.

Send you support now to incoming Prime Minister Hatoyama to stand firm against the opposition from industry and demand President Obama follow suit when they meet at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change on September 22nd and 23rd.

We can achieve 25% easily! The policy changes and steps needed to produce such a 25% cut on emissions by 2020 are explained in Greenpeace's Energy Scenario for Japan, published last year, available on http://www.energyblueprint.info/japan.0.html

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Send your message to Hatoyama

Tokyo Two Prosecution Continues Culture of Cover-ups

©Greenpeace/Greg McNevin Lead counsel for the Tokyo Two defence, Yuichi Kaido, responds to journalists during the press conference following the June 17 pre-trial hearing. ©Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

Aomori, Japan, June 17, 2009 -- The latest pre-trial meeting in the prosecution of Greenpeace Japan staff members, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, has revealed information contradicting claims made by the whaling industry.

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"Japan Should Terminate MOX Fuel Program" Greenpeace Japan protests the arrival of MOX fuel transport

May 10th Saga Stop Pluthermal! Hitomoji festa organized by citizen/food coop/consumer/peace groups (C)Green Action May 10th Saga Stop Pluthermal! Hitomoji festa" (C)Green Action

Tokyo, Japan May, 2009 -- Two British-flagged vessels, the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Heron, arrived in Japan from France carrying 1.7 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium, held in 69 assemblies of MOX (mixed plutonium and uranium oxide) fuel. This is the world's largest shipment of plutonium ever undertaken.

Read More (Press release May 18th, 2009)

Japanese court to hear evidence on whale meat embezzlement

©Greenpeace/Greg McNevini2009/05/15, Aomorij ©Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

Aomori, Japan, May 15, 2009 -- The Aomori district court today delivered a setback to the Japanese government's attempts to cover up an embezzlement scandal in the so-called "scientific" Southern Ocean whaling programme. The court has agreed to hear key evidence the prosecution has fought to keep out of the trial of Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki.

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Greenpeace Calls for End to Cover-ups, Lies, and Southern Ocean Whaling

2009/04/14, Shimonoseki, Japan: Greenpeace Japan activist Mai Suzuki
holds up a placard reading: 2009/04/14, Shimonoseki, Japan: Greenpeace Japan activist Mai Suzuki holds up a placard reading: "SOUTHERN OCEAN WHALING: COVER-UPS, LIES 1.2B YEN IN TAXES" in front of the factory whaling ship, the Nisshin Maru. Greenpeace is calling for all charges against Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki to be dropped, and for an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean. (c)Greenpeace

Shimonoseki, Japan, April 14, 2009 -- : Greenpeace today met the returning Japanese whaling fleet factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, with placards reading "Southern Ocean Whaling: Cover-ups, lies, 1.2 billion yen in taxes". The environmental organisation also sought to document the offloading of the ships cargo of whale meat, the by-product of the so-called scientific hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, which is chopped and boxed on board the factory ship ready for market.

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Tokyo Two legal proceedings update

(c)Greenpeace

Tokyo, March 23, 2009 --Greenpeace today released three key witness statements in support of anti-whaling campaigners Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki – who are facing trial for exposing a major embezzlement scandal in the Japanese government funded whaling programme.

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Greenpeace Appeals Against Japanese Government Censorship

(c)Greenpeace/J.S.Hibbert

Tokyo, March 19, 2009 -- Greenpeace today lodged an appeal against government censorship, calling on the Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ) to release uncensored copies of whale meat sales documents obtained by Greenpeace through a 2008 Freedom of Information request.

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Statement of Greenpeace USA Interim Executive Director Mike Clark on the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States

The new president at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. (C) Greenpeace/Tim Aubry The new president at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. (C) Greenpeace/Tim Aubry

The world has waited a long time for America to return to global leadership. Today's historic inauguration begins a moment of great potential – it is President Obama's moment to seize.

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Whaling fleet attempts to sneak out of port

WHALING ON TRIAL-Innoshima, Japan(C) Greenpeace
WHALING ON TRIAL-Innoshima, Japan(C) Greenpeace

Innoshima, Japan -- Our activists marked the departure of Japan's whaling fleet from the port of Innoshima with banners declaring "Whaling on Trial" and another in Japanese outlining the whaling operation's multi-million dollar drain on Japan's taxpayers. The fleet had attempted to leave for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary unnoticed, by canceling their traditional high-profile departure ceremony in Shimonoseki. Instead, the factory ship Nisshin Maru left with no fanfare, waved off only by the crew's families and whaling officials.

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Challenge to Japan to prosecute anti- whaling activists worldwide

humpback whale(C) Greenpeace / Paul Hilton humpback whale(C) Greenpeace / Paul Hilton

International - Despite the moratorium on commercial whaling, the Japanese government continues to send a fleet of ships to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to kill over a thousand whales. Each season, the fleet departs for the Sanctuary and more whales needlessly die.

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Game Consoles: No Consolation

(C) Greenpeace

Nintendo's Wii. Sony's PlayStation 3 Elite. Microsoft's Xbox 360. They promise a whole new generation of high-definition gaming, but when it comes to the crunch, it's the same old story. As our search for greener electronics continues, it was time for the game consoles to go to our labs for scientific analysis - and all of them tested positive for various hazardous chemicals.

Read More Clash of the Consoles

Greenpeace exposes Stolen 'Scientific' Whale Meat Scandal
- Investigation by Japan's Public Prosecutors Demanded

Tokyo, May 15th 2008: A box of whale meat illicitly removed by crew of the Nisshin Maru, the whaling factory ship, following this year's Southern Ocean whale hunt was put on display by Greenpeace activists in Tokyo this morning, prior to being handed over to the Public Prosecutor's office in Tokyo as evidence of wide-scale corruption at the heart of the Japanese government-backed, sham scientific whaling operation in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Read More Take action


It's not too late
switch OFF Rokkasho
switch ON renewable energy NOW!

(C) Greenpeace (C) Greenpeace

With its technological prowess, Japan has the skill, knowledge and opportunity to lead the world in an Energy [R]evolution. Then why is Japan still investing its time and resources in expanding its nuclear capability, even developing a plutonium fuel cycle, putting a block on a clean and safe future for the country?

Rokkasho, the infamous reprocessing plant in Aomori, on the northern tip of Japan's main island is expected to finally be given the go-ahead for full scale commercial operation. After twenty years of construction, setbacks and delays, the plant is nearing its final stage of test-operation. The last step is for the Governor of Aomori to sign a so-called "safety agreement" and give the plant's operator his seal of approval. If the Governor does not sign the agreement, Rokkasho will remain offline and Japan can start the Energy[R]evolution!

No consent, no nuclear reprocessing plant!

Send your voice to the Governor of Aomori Prefecture today!

Kyoto Protocol - Many Happy Returns!

Greenpeace projects a message 'SAVE THE CLIMATE' onto the famous local landmark 'Lange Anna' to highlight © Bente Stachowske/Greenpeace

Ten years ago on December 11th in Kyoto, Japan, we celebrated a groundbreaking international agreement by the world's Governments to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Central to that agreement was how the Governments would work together to achieve such a reduction - its aims and objectives were discussed and agreed at the third United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP3) in Kyoto in 1997; that international procedure to save the world's climate is the Kyoto Protocol.

Kyoto Protocol - Many Happy Returns!

30,313 messages from around the world ask Ministries of Defence and Environment to save the dugongs

Esperanza crew bring petitions to save Dugong
In front of the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa

Greenpeace delivered 30,313 messages from people all over the world saying "Stop the Impact Assessment and save the dugongs" to the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa and to the Ministry of Environment in Tokyo.

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Greenpeace ship Esperanza arrives in Okinawa bringing messages from around the world


Naha, Okinawa, 26 September, 2007 - The Greenpeace ship, MY Esperanza, and her crew arrived in Naha, Okinawa, today to join local people protesting the construction of two runways for the United States Marine Corps based at Henoko, which threatens the home and feeding grounds of the last remaining 12 dugongs in Japan.

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"Two minutes of your time could save the 12 Dugongs of Okinawa forever" Save the Dugongs in Okinawa, Stop the Air Base

A plan to build an airstrip for US marines over a delicate reef in Okinawa is now underway. If built, the airstrip will destroy the underwater ecosystem of Henoko - home and feeding grounds of the last 12 dugongs left in Japan. (Deadline 26th September, 2007)

Press release
Send your messages now to stop the air base, save the Dugong

NGO's demand the IAEA stop misleading the international community and TEPCO improve transparency

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant

NGOs demanded that there be greater international accountability from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) improve its transparency surrounding the impact of the Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. (September 7, 2007)

More

Kyoto Protocol - Many Happy Returns!

Greenpeace projects a message 'SAVE THE CLIMATE' onto the famous local landmark 'Lange Anna' to highlight © Bente Stachowske/Greenpeace

Ten years ago on December 11th in Kyoto, Japan, we celebrated a groundbreaking international agreement by the world's Governments to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Central to that agreement was how the Governments would work together to achieve such a reduction - its aims and objectives were discussed and agreed at the third United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP3) in Kyoto in 1997; that international procedure to save the world's climate is the Kyoto Protocol.

Kyoto Protocol - Many Happy Returns!

30,313 messages from around the world ask Ministries of Defence and Environment to save the dugongs

Esperanza crew bring petitions to save Dugong
In front of the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa

Greenpeace delivered 30,313 messages from people all over the world saying "Stop the Impact Assessment and save the dugongs" to the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa and to the Ministry of Environment in Tokyo.

More

Greenpeace ship Esperanza arrives in Okinawa bringing messages from around the world


Naha, Okinawa, 26 September, 2007 - The Greenpeace ship, MY Esperanza, and her crew arrived in Naha, Okinawa, today to join local people protesting the construction of two runways for the United States Marine Corps based at Henoko, which threatens the home and feeding grounds of the last remaining 12 dugongs in Japan.

More

"Two minutes of your time could save the 12 Dugongs of Okinawa forever" Save the Dugongs in Okinawa, Stop the Air Base

A plan to build an airstrip for US marines over a delicate reef in Okinawa is now underway. If built, the airstrip will destroy the underwater ecosystem of Henoko - home and feeding grounds of the last 12 dugongs left in Japan. (Deadline 26th September, 2007)

Press release
Send your messages now to stop the air base, save the Dugong

NGO's demand the IAEA stop misleading the international community and TEPCO improve transparency

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant

NGOs demanded that there be greater international accountability from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) improve its transparency surrounding the impact of the Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. (September 7, 2007)

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URGENT NEWS from the Southern Ocean

Distress call from the Nisshin Maru (Feb.15 2007)
Ready To Tow Stricken Japanese Whaling Ship Out of Danger and Prevent Potential Environmental Disaster in Antarctica
Esperanza ready to tow the Nisshin Maru out of danger - and prevent environmental disaster (Feb.16 2007)

We condemn violence in the Southern Ocean

12 February 2007, Southern Ocean
This afternoon the Esperanza received a distress call from the Japanese whaling fleet's unarmed sighting vessel, the Kaiko Maru. The Esperanza offered immediate assistance, heading at full speed to their position.
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Japan to begin operation of world's most expensive nuclear facility

[] © Greenpeace/Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert

[Tokyo, Japan, March 30 2006] Greenpeace today warned of a new era in nuclear proliferation in Asia as the Rokkasho-mura reprocessing plant in Aomori Prefecture begins operating on Friday this week.
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Whaling fleet leaves for Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

[photo]
© Greenpece/Aoyama

Tokyo, 8th November 2005 -- As the whaling fleet departed from Shimonoseki, Japan, today, bound for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with the intention of killing 1,000 whales, Greenpeace called upon the Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ) and the companies behind the whaling to immediately recall the fleet and cancel the cull. More



No more Hiroshima Nagasaki, Stop Rokkasho

Wings of Peace in Hiroshima (C)Greenpeace/J.S Hibbert

Sixty years after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Rokkasho reprocessing plant is scheduled to soon begin separating plutonium from Japan's spent nuclear fuel. Once fully operational, the plant will produce weapons-usable plutonium, which can be made into about 1000 Nagasaki-type nuclear bombs. Wings of Peace, Flash Slide show Video


Greenpeace Japan is seeking an Executive Director.

We are looking for a person who can provide creative, ambitious leadership, moving Greenpeace Japan forward to make a significant contribution in saving the global and Japanese environment. Is that you, or somebody you know ? Details

[image]

Dear Toyota, Take the brake off of new California air pollution regulations and drive new "ECO" policies.

California's landmark regulations to control greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles is under attack from auto industry organizations, which filed a lawsuit together with car dealers against the California Air Resources Board demanding the roll-back of of new climate protecting regulations.
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The Story of a Coral Reef
What's happening with the construction of US Base?

© Greenpeace/Herikichi Hantaikyo

Non violent civil disobedience protests against the building of a U.S. Marine Corps air station off shore from the small port of Henoko, Okinawa Japan are on-going. Activists have been successful so far to prevent drilling of test holes into the sensitive coral reef about half a kilometer off-shore. The plan to build a 2600 meter runway complete with hangers, control towers and fuel storage on an off-shore reef is a throw-back to an earlier period of dis-respect for the environmental value of ocean eco-systems. The planned expenditure of over a billion dollars of Japanese taxpayers money for a US military base has aroused widespread popular discontent in Okinawa, where US military bases occupy over 25% of the land mass.
Cyberaction SAVE the Dugong, STOP the Air-Base Slide show Video Clips What's new


in Washington D.C.

Don't start reprocessing! December 20-21, 2004, Aomori, Japan

U.S. uranium loaded into controversial Japanese plutonium reprocessing plant Greenpeace calls for cancellation of dangerous program.
Protestors from Greenpeace, and other NGO's, demonstrate in a blizzard at the gates of the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant, December 21 2004, against the tests and reprocessing of Depleted Uranium. Press release Slide show


WORLD PEACE PARADE  Greenpeace-Japan will be there, is Taking Part Too! SDF One-year Deployment Set to Expire Let's pullout the Japanese troops.make@them withdraw. Let's end the occupation of Iraq.

The slaughter of Iraqi civilians by US forces continues at this very moment. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Koizumi prolonged the one-year deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces on December 9. Greenpeace Japan participated together with many citizens' organizations and individulas in a rally and parade to stop this unfair war!

Slide show

Organizer: WORLD PEACE NOW

STOP CLIMATE CHANGE! GO SOLAR!!

press conference

October 20, 2004 Tokyo - As the super-sized Typhoon Tokage (Typhoon 23) is about to hit Japan's capitol city, the record 10th to hit mainland Japan in one season, the international environmental group Greenpeace will hold an outdoor press conference in the storm, demanding that the Japanese government take further action to combat dangerous climate change and promote renewable energy.

Press release (Oct.20 2004)
Slide show

Asahi Breweries Cancels New PET Bottle
-Citizens' Power at Work in Japan-

From the front of Asahi Breweries's headquarter

Japan's premier beer company Asahi Breweries today announced it will suspend the introduction of a newly developed PET bottle which the company had previously announced on July 8, Asahi communicated its decision to Greenpeace Japan. The announcement has been posted on Asahi's website already.

Press release (Sep.30 2004)

Stop Ancient forest destruction!

Greenpeace Japan had a demonstration on September 2, 2004 with a life-size photo-banner of a Tasmanian tree-stump at the headquarters of Oji Paper Co. and Nippon Paper Industries Co.
Twenty volunteers including Sakyo, Japanese activists who were at Global Rescue Station in Tasmania for five months, walked around in Tokyo being a tree with a brown T-shirts & green "leaf"lets.

Press release (Sep.2 2004)

SLIDE SHOW


Help preserve forests in Tasmania

The Styx Valley, Tasmania, houses some of the world's tallest hardwood trees.

Steve Shallhorn : Greenpeace Japan new Executive Director

Message from Greenpeace Japan new Executive Director

These ancient forests are now under threat. The Regional Forest Agreement signed by the Tasmanian Government in 1997 failed to protect these precious areas. Instead, the Styx forest is being clear-felled for woodchips and the Tarkine is also about to be logged. Gunns Pty Ltd is the woodchip company responsible for the destruction of old growth forests in Tasmania and it exports the majority of its woodchips to Japan.

Please help us save these precious areas by sending your messages to three paper manufacuturing companies in Japan to asking them not to buy any woodchips from Gunns sourced from old growth forests. Cyberaction to save Tasmanian forests

More than thirty thousands people joined on Peace Parade, saying NO WAR

On March 20, cold and rainy Tokyo, more than thirty thousands people has joined on Peace Parade, saying NO WAR! Our slide show

On February 15th last year, 30 million people were on the streets to say "No" to war. The centreless coalition of groups and individuals who organised those activities want YOU and YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS back on the street this Saturday, March 20th, to demonstrate that we STILL say "No" to war.

One year will have passed since the invasion of Iraq began. We can't stand silent.

Be a part of the second superpower. Stand up against future illegal, preemptive wars and protest the continuing suppression of human rights and free speech which have characterised this one. Help us get the word out that we're making a second showing on Saturday, March 20th. Photo Mobile Weblog


Papua New Guinea's forests at mercy of Malaysian timber baron
Greenpeace exposes Rimbunan Hijau's Japanese partners in crime
Feb.18, 2004

Urgent safety assessment required for Asia's largest plutonium facility Feb 27, 2004

Eco Goo Excellence Web Award

Greenpeace Japan won the Eco Goo Website Excellence Award Dec. 18, 2003

Kamikatsu-cho Zero Waste Program Declaration Sep 19, 2003

Japanese version of the joint EWEA-Greenpeace report-"Wind Force 12" launched today Sep 08, 2003

Greenpeace Japan finds roads to Zero Waste in local communities July 22, 2003

Greenpeace Japan's "No War - Color-me peace placard" wins prestigious Dentsu Advertising Award June 4, 2003

"Stop Sabotaging the Efforts to Curb Global Warming" Leaflet handout in front of ExxonMobil Ltd., Headquarter in Japan May 28, 2003

NO WAR
Protest in front of US Embassy
March 20 in front of US Embassy, Tokyo©Greenpeace/Sutton-Hilbbert
Stop the war against Iraq

Slide show March 20/21, 2003
Slide show March 8, 2003
Press release March 8, 2003
War is the greatest environmental catastrophe of all. We can stop the war. Visit our Action kit to stop the war page

No war slide show

Other features from Greenpeace Japan

ROKKASHO-MURA TO BE WORLD'S LARGEST SOURCE OF RADIOACTIVE KRYPTON GREENPEACE CALLS FOR FULL DISCLOSURE

The new reprocessing plant at Rokkasho-mura if operated will be the largest ever single source of the radioactive gas Krypton-85, causing background levels of radiation to rise by hundreds of thousands of times around the facility, and increasing levels of radiation throughout Japan and eventually the world, Greenpeace claimed today. Press release (November 22, 2002)

Cyberaction to ask the Kariwa village chief to reject Plutonium plan

One year after the successful Kariwa village referendum in Japan against plutonium MOX fuel, the village chief Shinada says "the pluthermal (plutonium MOX) plan could be started if opinions of the villagers have changed." TEPCO (Tokyo Electric) has not changed its stance that they "want to start even a day earlier". Please send an urgent email to demand the village chief to respect the result of the referendum and continue rejecting the pluthermal plan. Go to the cyberaction page

Send your message to 12 biggest Japanese incinerator makers!!

There are approximately 1600 municipal waste incinerators in Japan now, not including many other types of incinerators. We have been protesting against those incinerators, since they have been not only polluting the environment but also wasting money and our precious resources of the earth.
Japanese incinerator makers have been exporting the dirty technology to Asia, AND they are planning for MORE, since there is not much market left in Japan!! We do not want other Asian countries to make the same mistake.
NOW is the time to say NO to the DIRTY technology coming to your country!! Anybody or Any organizations is welcome to JOIN to write to 12 biggest Japanese incinerator makers!!
Action

Greenpeace Japan's English Publications

The FACTSHEET
"Basic facts you should know before discussing the whaling issue"

An introduction to the book
Rise and Fall of the Japanese Coastal Whaling
--The Reality of the Whaling Industry written by a former whaler
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