WHAT'S NEXT

End Icelandic Whaling Forever
  1. Signatures
    11,124 out of 12,000
    Petitioning
    1. Secretary of Commerce (Gary Locke)
  2. Created By
    Greenpeace
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jul 20, 2011

As whaling continues to draw increasing criticism from around the world, Iceland is one of the few countries that not only ignores the international moratorium on commercial whaling, but has openly defied it, even though they aren't making any money by hunting whales. Thousands of activists on Change.org joined Greenpeace in urging Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to employ sanctions against Iceland under the Pelly Amendment.

Less than a week after the annual International Whaling Commission meeting,  U.S. officials announced that they will consider sanctions over Iceland  for violating international conservation rules. Greenpeace writes: "We've done it. US Commerce Secretary Locke has proposed a list of economic sanctions over Iceland for approval. Thanks to all of your support, we are able to get the US to consider a strong stance against whaling." 

Iceland is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't abide by the international moratorium on commercial whaling. They continue to kill whales even though no one is eating them and the companies hunting them aren't making any money.

The US government has been considering using economic sanctions--under what is called the Pelly Amendment -- on fish imports from Iceland if it continues to violate the international moratorium on commercial whaling. Now is the time for them to do it!

Tell Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to employ sanctions on Iceland now and help end whaling by Iceland forever.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

End Icelandic Whaling Forever

Dear Secretary of Commerce Locke,

I urge you to certify under the Pelly Amendment that Iceland is diminishing the effectiveness of both the IWC and CITES, and to encourage President Obama to impose trade sanctions.

Diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Iceland have not worked. It is time for the U.S. to take stronger steps to put an end to Iceland's expanding commercial whaling program and international trade in whale products.

Taking these actions against Iceland will provide the U.S. with the opportunity to demonstrate the kind of leadership on whale protection that the public demands.

[Your name]

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