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I called Gorton's (800 222 6846) using Skype (cos I'm a cheapskate! - in order to do this just stay on the line when they give you a choice of languages and you will get put through to a person :-) - and I asked a customer services person why her company was denying that they were linked to Japanese whaling and why they are denying that they are owned by a company that also owns part of the whaling fleet company, which is currently slaughtering whales in the Southen Ocean Sanctuary.

She said "Ahhh, I'll have to get a special person to get back to you" and she took down my details.

Well, even if I don't get a reply at least they'll know that people are so pissed about this, that they are actually phoning up now.

I encourage others to do the same. Keep up the pressure!

I'm also going to e.mail the CEO of Gorton's now.

steve.warhover@gortons.com

L.

---- Here's my letter -----

Dear Mr. Warhover,

I get the impression from your website that Gorton's cares about whales and would like people to enjoy them in the wild. You remind people to "look out for whales" on the way to your head office. Don't you think it is ironic that your company is directly linked to the killing of whales?

Many of your customers have been shocked recently to find out that you are wholly owned by a Japanese company (Nissui) that also partially owns the Japanese whaling fleet. How does it feel to know that you are linked directly to a company that pays for hundreds upon hundreds of whales to be slaughtered every year? I should imagine that you are at least slightly troubled by this (I'd be seriously worried about your mental state, if you were not). Each year the number of minke whales killed by the Japanese fleet increases and we are on the brink of having commercial whaling being opened once again thanks to the Japanese buying votes from members of the IWC. It is clear that the great whales are not at all ready to be hunted on a commercial scale once again since not even the minke whales have recovered anywhere near enough to reach the population size from pre-whaling times.

The Japanese say that they are doing research, yet everything they need to know can be achieved via non lethal means. The whale meat appears on the supermarket shelves and restaurant menus in Japan and it is undeniable that the reason these whales are being killed has nothing to do with science. They have added fin whales to their quota this year. This is an endangered species and they are breaking many laws by doing this. Next year they intend to kill humpbacks. This is a complete tragedy but it can be avoided. It can be stopped.

Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the Humane Society have been telling the world all about your connection to whaling, yet you have denied it. Why is Gorton's doing that? Do you know how many customers you are losing every day because you refuse you acknowledge your involvement? Surely you are aware that you have the power to turn this thing around and make Gorton's an honest and caring company in the eye of the media. You can use your influence and ask Nissui to help cease whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary and encourage whale research using non lethal means only.

I hope that you will do this Mr. Warhover, for the sake of the planet - I really hope you wont ignore this global plea.

Most of us are relatively powerless when it comes to bringing about large changes on an international scale but you Sir actually have the ability to make a big difference. You have the chance to be a hero. Please don't pass it up.

You can stop THIS from happening.

I e-mailed the msnbc environmental people about a few days ago, asking them to cover the story of the Japanese whalers killing whales. They e-mailed back and they made it the top story under msnbc World News (yesterday morning)! It is still listed under US news under the environment, with the graphic picture of the dying harpooned whale next to the greenpeace zodiac trying to intervene . We're all supporting you brave people.

Marilynn Block

Excellent, excellent letter, Ekkaia! I fear mine was not nearly as well-wrought or persuasive. But I guess what's important is that people write.
Write, people! Write!