551 Project

Recent Posts

• Whaling accounts for one-tenth the value of Japan’s annual market for toothbrushes.
  2008.11.21
  

  An encouraging article on Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald today quotes Tomohiko Taniguchi, previously spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.
  “Of the hundreds of matters he dealt with, the one he dreaded most was defending Japan’s whaling program…’I hated this issue because there’s no point in Japan sticking to its position,’ he tells the [...]

• For those who haven’t watched the news…
  2008.11.18
  

  The Nisshin Maru left Japan yesterday to head to Antarctica with a quota of 935 minke and 50 fin whales.
  IFAW has called on the Australian Government to formally request that the Government of Japan recall its whaling fleet or take international legal action to stop them.
  Looks like diplomacy has failed and the Australian Government has yet to [...]

• Before the fleet departs…
  2008.11.17
  

  Things are changing quickly this whaling season…
  The Japanese Government has decided not to send coastguard officers to protect the Japanese whaling vessels. It has also been reported, although still unconfirmed, that Japan has lowered its whaling target this season by 20% to 750.  Meanwhile the Australian government is not going to send a surveillance vessel this year and is going to [...]

• More IFAW Action Award Winners
  2008.10.14
  

  Outstanding vet Dr Jan Allen, has been honoured with an IFAW Action Award today. Dr Allen worked as an Australian Volunteer International vet placed with Animal Protection Society (APS) in Samoa for two years before moving to the Northern Territory, where she has worked in several Indigenous communities.
  Also being presented with an award are wildlife carers Shirley [...]

• Announcing the winner of the first IFAW Action Award
  2008.10.13
  

  A few weeks back I blogged about IFAW Action Awards, calling for any animal heroes to be nominated.
  I am now happy to announce the first winner of the 2008 IFAW Action Awards, Marny Bonner, co-founder of Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR), who has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to wildlife rescue.  The award is also dedicated [...]