Sealord - say 'no' to whaling

Auckland, January 20, 2006: Greenpeace is today launching an international campaign asking Sealord to persuade 50% shareholder company Nissui to get out of commercial whaling. Greenpeace New Zealand whales campaigner Pia Mancia said that many New Zealanders did not know that the iconic kiwi company Sealord was half-owned by an organisation that was deeply involved in commercial whaling. "Nissui is one of the biggest players in the slaughter of whales that we have been witnessing in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary this summer," she said.

"Not only does Nissui own a large share of the whaling company Kyodo Senpaku, but it is also responsible for putting the whale meat into cans and distributing it to Japanese supermarkets." Pia Mancia said that the primary focus of the campaign at this stage was to make people aware of the connection, and to ask them to make their feelings known to Sealord. "Governments can send diplomatic protests and people can protest in the streets, but the companies involved in whaling continue to thrive," she said.

"We are asking the people of the world to send a clear message to these corporates that their actions are not acceptable."

Today's launch in Auckland is part of an international campaign involving Sealord and other Nissui operations all over the world. Pia Mancia said that arguments that Sealord had nothing to do with whaling did not hold water. "Sealord is half-owned by Nissui," she said. "Nissui personnel sit on the Sealord board and Sealord profits go to Nissui. We believe that the connection to commercial whaling is damaging to the Sealord brand and reputation, and that the Sealord executives have a moral and ethical obligation to get Nissui out of commercial whaling."

Pia Mancia said that Greenpeace had raised the issue with Sealord executives several times. Anyone wanting to send a cyber protest to Sealord should got to http://greenpeace.org.nz/action/email-sealord.asp

ENDS

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