Ban on Whaling, Essay Example

I am writing to you regarding H.Con.Res.350, a bill that was first proposed in 2008, passed in the House of Representatives and was referred to the Senate, where it is apparently stalled. Although I am aware that you are not one of the 36 cosponsors of the bill, I am hoping that you will reconsider your position based on the importance of preserving the ban on commercial whaling, and imposing sanctions on the nations that have been in violation of that ban: Japan, Norway, and Iceland.

I believe that the vast majority of the American people oppose the practice of commercial whaling because there is great appreciation of the beauty and uniqueness of this species.  Before the moratorium on whaling was passed in 1982, several species had already become extinct (Delahunt, 2008.) If the whaling continues, I fear that they will all become extinct, much to the detriment of our ecosystem and our planet generally.

Japan and the other nations who are in violation of the ban have been able to bypass the moratorium by stamping the word “Research” on their whaling vessels, pretending to be conducting scientific studies.  The manner in which they slaughter the whales—using harpoons with grenades—goes beyond any standards of human decency.  As the Academy Award-winning documentary, The Cove, demonstrated in horrific graphic detail, the Japanese have been secretly slaughtering dolphins as well, also in violation of international law.

I urge you to help move this bill onto the Senate floor with rigorous debate, because as I have stated, the American public clearly opposes the killing of our marine life.  Thank you very much for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response.

References

“Delahunt urges support of international commercial whaling ban.” 19 June 2008. Congressman Bill Delahunt, 10th District of Massachusetts. 22 July 2010 http://delahunt.house.gov/2008/06/whales.shtml

OpenCongress.org. “For the 111th U.S. Congress.” 20 June 2008. OpenCongress.org. 22 July 2010: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-hc350/actions_votes