Outrage over Key’s plans for commercial whaling escalating
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The Labour Party’s online petition opposing John Key’s apparent plans to resume commercial whaling has been signed by more than 2,000 people in less than 48 hours, Labour Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chris Carter says.
“Demand to access the petition site at http://www.carter.org.nz/savethewhales has been so strong that Labour’s web hosting provider has had to increase their server processing capacity to cope. A number of independent social networking groups have appeared in support of the cause.
“The vast majority of the petitioners are New Zealanders, from all parts of the country and all walks of life,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Chris Carter says. “Kiwis are making it clear that they are horrified by the Prime Minister’s moves to turn New Zealand into a pro-whaling nation,” Chris Carter said.
“It’s becoming clear that the National-Act Government’s alignment with commercial whaling interests are seriously damaging New Zealand’s international image. I received this posting on my website from Kane Slater, a Canadian:
Kane Slater Said, My trip to NZ has now been cancelled. I’ll spend my Canadian dollars in Australia.
“Mr Key is the Tourism Minister as well as our Prime Minister. How will he explain to our whale watching and conservation tourism operators, in places like Kaikoura, that New Zealand now supports the resumption of commercial whaling? Who is Mr Key standing up for? Kiwis who want New Zealand to be a clean, green country that takes its environmental responsibilities seriously - or is he representing people who would seek to hunt endangered species for short term profits?
“The public has a right to be heard on this important issue and John Key’s appalling move will only be stopped by public pressure,” Mr Carter said.
“I continue to urge people to sign the petition and send a strong message to the Prime Minister that Kiwis do not support a resumption of commercial whaling.”
Labour’s online petition can be found at http://www.carter.org.nz/savethewhales.
