MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED

MEDIA ADVISORY

What: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST THE JAPANESE DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER

The dolphin drive in Taiji, Japan, is the largest slaughter of dolphins in the world - about 2300 dolphins per year, which is more than 3 times the amount of whales killed in the Antarctic. About 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed throughout Japan every year, and all of the meat tested so far has toxic levels of mercury.

During the drive hunts, the dolphins are killed in a secret cove hidden away in a National Park in the Wakayama prefecture, a few hours from Osaka and Kyoto. The cove is covered with tarps and nets, and access is blocked by steel gates, barbed wire, razor ribbon and guards. The government is trying to keep the yearly blood bath a secret but that is getting harder to do because of all the attention this issue has been receiving. Even scientific experts and all major zoo associations have denounced such a practice as unsustainable and inhumane

This year, more than 54 organizations in 34 cities will protest the start of the annual dolphin hunts. In the Philippines, Earth Island Institute (EII) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) will lead the protests in Manila against the largest slaughter of dolphins in the world. Photo opportunities will be available during the protest.

Where: In front of the Japanese Embassy, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

When: 10:00am, 3 September 2008, Wednesday

For more information, please contact:

Trixie Concepcion

Earth Island Institute

Tel: 4352448 Mobile: 0918-6293648

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED