One step in the right direction - end of whale & dolphin meat sales for Japan's biggest online retailer

I just learned about the Japanese online retailer, Rakuten, who is ending all online sales of whale and dolphin meat by the end of April. 


This announcement is such a relief to me. When I read a tweet that linked to the news article, I waved my hands in the air and shouted, "I'm so excited!". 


This move is a step in right direction. Stopping the whale slaughter is huge! I remain hopeful that in generations to come we might see our whales frolicking in the ocean. 


It gives me hope that people understand how much oceans and marine life need our help, and it gives me hope that everybody knows that that pollution, global warming, and over fishing will disappear if we all do something to stop the harm we are causing.  


Most of all, this announcement, gives me hope that we will save our oceans and the marine life that needs it to survive.


I am grateful for the ICJ ruling and Monday's verdict of the UN court. This four-year legal campaign by the Australian government also helped change Japan's mind about the whale hunt in the Antarctic. They have called it off for next winter.


Sometimes the wait is long for change to happen, but we need to keep trying to get our message out there and bring awareness to these issues. Time and our continued focus will bring about the change we want to see in our precious planet.

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