Greenpeace Press Release

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

the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa

Naha, Okinawa, September 27, 2007 --Greenpeace will deliver 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 Naha at 11:30am and to the Ministry of Environment in Tokyo at 1:45pm today.

Today is the last day the Defence Ministry will accept comments from the public regarding their proposal on how an Environmental Impact Assessment is executed in the two bays at Henoko and Oura, where the two runways are to be built for the U.S. Marine Corps. The 30,313 messages were sent from 155 countries, including more than 5,450 from the United States, in an online-action, which only began on 3 September.

"The construction of the air base will put in danger of extinction the last of the Japanese dugongs. There are some issues that should be put in first place by importance and I think this is one of them. Extinction is forever! Please reconsider the wish of thousands of people around the world, as well as the community of Okinawa, but most of all the wish of these wonderful creatures, the Dugongs." - September 18, from Japan.

"Please think again what is most needed to protect environment. Many people in the world are very conscious about what is important for our children, human-beings, animals and environment in future, in stead of immediate survival of just our generation. Please listen to those views and opinions and do please reconsider the plan to construct air-base over the sea at the expense of precious creatures like dugongs." - September 18, from Japan.

"The worldwide view of Japan's conservation efforts is, rightly or wrongly, a poor one because of your inexcusable stance on whaling. Here is an opportunity to partly rectify this by saving this population of Dugongs. The honour of your country is reflected in its actions. Please do the right thing". - September 19

In front of Ministry of Environment
> Jun Hoshikawa, Executive Director of Greenpeace Japan at the Ministry of Environment

Greenpeace Japan�fs Executive Director, Jun Hoshikawa, who will deliver the messages to the Ministry of Environment today, submitted a letter of concern regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment to the Bureau of Defence Policy in Naha; the EIA does not follow the correct protocols and is illegal.

Volunteers from Greenpeace Japan and the crew of the Greenpeace ship, MY Esperanza, delivered the messages to the Bureau of Defence Policy in Okinawa. The ship, which arrived in Naha port yesterday, is supporting local people, who are protesting the plan to build the runways in Henoko Bay; the ship will visit Henoko between 2 and 4 October.

Volunteers from Greenpeace Germany, Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace Japan are also assisting local people to map the reefs and seagrass in Henoko Bay.

Save the Dugong, stop the air base

For further information and interviews, please contact:
In Okinawa - Junichi Sato, Greenpeace Japan Ocean campaign project manager
Kyoko Murakami, Greenpeace Japan Media Officer
In Tokyo - Keiko Shirokawa, Greenpeace Japan Chief Media Officer