Petition: End Dolphin and Whale Hunting in the Faroe Islands
Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands; Prime Minister of Denmark
We are asking the government officials in the Faroe Islands, self-governing archipelago, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, to use their authority and call for the end of the cetacean hunts that occur in the Faroe Islands. These hunts are both inhumane and environmentally damaging to wild populations. Please join us in asking the government to end this practice.
Sponsored by
To:
Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands; Prime Minister of Denmark
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Prime Minister,
I request that you take immediate action to end the hunting of pilot whales and other cetaceans in the Faroe Islands.
Pilot whales and other dolphin species are targeted as they pass through the waters of the Faroe Islands. These cetaceans are extremely intelligent and emotionally complex animals, with close family bonds much like humans. The process by which they are slaughtered is inhumane, as it causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the mammals.
Additionally, as predators, these species play an important role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem. Removing large numbers of them may further upset populations of fish and other marine life. Dolphins and whales reproduce slowly, and thus, it takes years to restore those numbers.
Dolphins are at the top of the food chain, which means that they are exposed to the greatest accumulation of ocean pollution. As a result, their meat and blubber are contaminated by mercury and other harmful substances. Consumption has been linked to serious health risks in humans, and, thirteen years ago, two Faroese medical doctors issued a warning against consumption.
As a global community, we must all take responsibility for protecting our planet and its inhabitants. As we continue to learn about the importance of biodiversity and the protection of wild species, it is necessary to reconsider our past practices based on new scientific understanding. With that in mind, I call on you to show true leadership and finally end the inhumane dolphin hunts, protect pilot whales and other cetaceans, and help restore the Faroe Islands’ international integrity and support from the world’s public.
Sincerely,