Protecting Whales, Not Whaling

Have you been whale watching? I haven’t, yet, but I was lucky enough to see two beautiful humpback whales at Bondi last year. They were hypnotic. We were all transfixed as they breached and flicked their magnificent tails again and again. They took my breath away.

An experience like that makes it so hard to believe that many of the majestic whales we see swim past our shores will return to the Antarctic to face a slow and agonising death at the hands of whalers later this year.

But that’s why I’m writing this now. If we can get the message across that whaling is inhumane, if we at WSPA can gather the support of Australians to say no to this cruelty, I believe we can change the direction of the whaling debate.

You see it’s not all about numbers. Yes we need to protect whales from extinction. But there is a more urgent need to protect our whales from the cruel and unnecessary whaling industry. Just one whale killed is one too many because there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea.

Recent WSPA research suggests 18 to 24 year olds are less concerned about whaling than older Australians. I don’t believe that they don’t care. I believe they’re frustrated. And is it any wonder when year on year the International Whaling Commission, the body responsible for managing whaling, simply debates how many whales can be killed?

That’s why I’ve been speaking to the media this week. (You can see me on Channel Ten’s The Circle here). And that’s why we all need to speak out on behalf of whales. If we don’t do that now, the IWC could agree a deal to legalise commercial whaling next month.

We can’t let that happen. With the support of Optus, we’ve launched our Give Whales a voice campaign. By recording your word at givewhalesavoice.com.au you can help us tell the IWC that Australians will not stand for whaling.

After all, shouldn’t we be protecting whales, not whaling?


Louise Fitzsimons, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.