3/19 Canadian War Games Threaten Most Endangered Whale

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

----------
Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
----------
                   ************************
                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
                   ************************
 
CANADIAN  WAR GAMES THREATEN PLANET'S MOST ENDANGERED GREAT
WHALE
                                   
Five Whales already dead following U.S. Navy Tests
                                    
Vancouver, March 19, 1996: Greenpeace today called on Defence
Minister David Collenette to immediately withdraw Canadian
naval vessels from a NATO exercise in the breeding
grounds of the endangered right whale. Recent evidence has
linked U.S. Naval exercises in the area to the deaths of five
of the rare whales.
 
Right whales are the most endangered great whale on the
planet, numbering only 320 worldwide.
 
Between early January and late February, five of the whales
have been found dead near their calving grounds off the coast
of Florida and Georgia near the Mayport Naval Station and the
Kings Bay Submarine Base.
 
Preliminary examinations of the mammals have found one whale
with damaged eardrums consistent with an underwater explosion
or impact and another with lung damage consistent with a bomb
blast. Another whale was found near a gunnery practice range.
The U.S. Navy has been conducting exercises in the area and
the NATO war games, including weapons testing, are scheduled
to begin March 22nd near the whale calving grounds.
 
"The Liberal government has promised Canadians an Endangered
Species Act," said Catherine Stewart, Greenpeace Fisheries and
Oceans campaigner. "It is more than a little ironic that while
this act is being drafted, the Canadian Navy is participating
in war games that could potentially kill several of the
world's most endangered whales."   Greenpeace is asking the
Defence Minister to do the right thing for the Right whales.
"Canada should withdraw from these exercises until the whales
leave the area in early April. We see no reason why NATO can't
wait two weeks." said Stewart.   
 
ENDS
 
For more information contact:                         
Catherine Stewart, Greenpeace Canada, 604-253-7701
Gerry Leape, Greenpeace USA, 202-319-2401
 
 

----------