Please write, call, fax, and/or email any or all of these Japanese officials to make your appeal for the drive fishery dolphin slaughter and the poisoning of the Japanese people with mercury toxic dolphin meat to stop.  A letter or fax is most effective.  It can be very brief and to the point.

The Prime Minister of Japan
Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan:
Fax: +81-3-3581-3883
E-mail: www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html

Embassy of Japan in Washinton D.C.
Ambassador Ryozo Kato
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869
Tel: (202) 238-6700,
Fax: 202-328-2187
Hours: M-F 9:15-12:30 and 2:00-6:16
E-mail: jicc@embjapan.org
www.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Fisheries Agency of Japan
Mr. Yoshio Kobayashi, Director-General of Japan Fisheries Agency:
Fax: +81-3-3502-1682

Mr. Jun Yamashita, Head of Whaling Section of Japan at Far Seas Fisheries Division in Japan Fisheries Agency
Fax: +81-3-3591-5824
E-mail: whaling-section@nm.maff.go.jp

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Mr. Toshikatsu Matsuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Fax: +81-3-3580-5556

The Ministry of the Environment
Ms. Masatoshi Wakabayashi, Minister of the Environment
Fax: +81-3-3581-3003
E-mail: MOE@env.go.jp

Wakayama Prefecture:

Local Government, Wakayama/Taiji
Mr. Yoshiki Kimura, Governor of Wakayama
Fax: +81-73-441-2020
E-mail: www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/secure/teigen/teigen.html
or webmaster@pref.wakayama.lg.jp

Nourinsuisanbu Suisankyoku Shigenkanrika
(Resources Management Section at the Fisheries Section, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Wakayama Prefecture)
Fax: +81-73-432-4124
E-mail: e0715001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp

Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Taiji Town Mayor
Fax: +81-735-59-2801
E-mail: www.town.taiji.wakayama.jp/

Secretariat of Taiji Town Assembly
Fax: +81-735-59-2884

Taiji Fishery Cooperative
Fax: +81-735-59-2821

Our coalition partner in Japan ELSA NATURE CONSERVANCY is asking the Japanese Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare to put a warning label on all dolphin meat. The petition is not asking the minister to deal with food culture issues or cruelty issues. We are simply requesting a warning label similar to the one that's placed on every package of cigarettes sold in Japan. If the warning label system is implemented, it should have a major impact on the demand for dolphin meat.

Please copy and send this petition in an email or fax to the Japanese Minister of Health:

PETITION TO WARN THE JAPANESE PEOPLE OF MERCURY DANGER

To:

Policy Planning and Communication Division
The Department of Food Safety Bureau
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
Tokyo, Japan
E-Mail syokucommunication@mhlw.go.jp
Fax: +81-3-3503-7965

Dear Minister of Health:

There is worldwide concern that mercury accumulated in the human body may pose a serious health risk, especially to pregnant women and children.

As you know, dolphin meat from drive hunts in Taiji, Wakayama prefecture, proved to be highly contaminated with toxic chemicals such as mercury, methyl mercury and PCBs. Repeated chemical analyses have shown that the level of mercury in dolphin meat is much higher than the maximum allowable level set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.

We understand that the role of the Department of Food Safety Bureau is to promote food safety, thereby ensuring the health of the Japanese people. We urgently request the following:

1. Prohibit the sale of dolphin meat that contains mercury exceeding the maximum allowable level set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). The sale of food items with toxic agricultural chemicals exceeding the maximum allowable level set by MHLW is already prohibited as a result of the “Positive-list System,” which was adopted in 2006. Since mercury is as harmful to the human body as toxic agricultural chemicals, the “Positive-list System” should also apply to mercury.

2. Until the above request is put into effect, consumers must be warned of the dangers associated with consuming mercury contaminated dolphin meat, in much the same way they are being warned of the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes: Every store that sells dolphin meat must be obligated to post a prominent warning label on each meat package, stating as follows: "This food item possibly contains mercury exceeding the maximum allowable level set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Mercury accumulated in the human body may harm your health.”

Sincerely,

Name:
Address:
Country: