The Marine Connection, as co-ordinators of the London Dolphin Day protest, were delighted to see so many people attending the Japan Dolphin Day protests outside the Japanese Embassy in London, especially on a week day. In addition to the London protest, 31 other countries demonstrated outside their Japanese Embassies in this global rally demanding an end to the needless slaughter of dolphins, small whales and porpoises.

Over 100 concerned members of the public, other leading animal welfare groups and the passing public all gathered outside the Embassy between 12pm and 3pm on 20 September 2006 in order to display the immense disgust which is provoked by the brutal slaughters in Japan during which 20,000 dolphins, small whales and porpoises are killed. The protest also highlighted the fact that marine parks are the backbone of the dolphin drive hunts from which captive facilities pick out the "best" specimens in order to train and subsequently display them at marine parks in Japan.

Petitions were signed, leaflets handed out (download a copy here), questions asked and answered and whistles blown, with the aim of making the Japanese Embassy aware of the damage that they are causing to the small cetacean stocks in Japan's waters, the brutality of the drive hunts and the catastrophe of condemning more animals to a restrictive and inadequate life in captivity.

Andrina Murrell, Captivity Officer for the Marine Connection exclaimed "It is amazing to see so many people from around the country as well as those who have given up their lunch break to come and support this demonstration. The protest in London is one of 32 around the world; Japan can no longer ignore this brutal practice sustained by the captive dolphin industry. Thank you to all those that attended the protest, we all stand united worldwide to see an end to the slaughter and by working globally, we can achieve this."

Stanley Wentworth, who is over 80, attended the event, travelling the 45 miles from Southend-on-Sea to show his support for the campaign.

Andy from Campaign Whale attempted to hand in a letter signed on behalf of all the participating organisations, to the Japanese Ambassador raising the issue of the slaughter. However, the Japanese Embassy declined to receive the letter and Andy resorted to leaving the envelope and red rose on the doorstep (see images below). A meeting with Ambassador Nogami had also been requested previous to the protest but this request was also declined.

Many thanks to all the groups and supporters that attended the protest as well as to all those who have emailed, written to and telephoned the Embassy to raise the issue of these brutal slaughters.

Images: © Marine Connection