Hayden Panettiere Votes To Save The Whales

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Actress Hayden Panettiere led hundreds of people in a rally to form a giant human pilot whale beside the message “VOTE” in front of the U.S. Capitol building yesterday, October 26.

The event commemorated the one-year anniversary of the actress’ protest in Taiji, Japan, where she joined Australian actress Isabel Lucas and other activists in a peaceful protest to raise awareness of the 25,000 dolphins slaughtered by the nation every year. The group narrowly avoided arrest over the incident, but succeeded in diverting international media to the abhorrent and barbaric practices used to butcher the animals.

“I turned 18 last year and I’m going to make my first vote count,” she said. “I am looking forward to my visit to Washington to talk to those who will be voting in the upcoming election, to stress the importance of knowing where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to them, and to be sure that come November 4th, they will actually go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard.”

Although the US has always been at the forefront of anti-whaling campaigns, its leadership on whale issues has significantly declined in recent years. The American appointed to be chairman of the International Whaling Commission – William Hogarth – has recently announced he is negotiating a deal that could allow for an IWC-sanctioned resumption of commercial whaling.

“The fact the U.S. is leading this process is outrageous!” said Jeff Pantukhoff, president and founder of The Whaleman Foundation and executive director of the Save The Whales Again campaign. “Recent polls show that over 75 percent of registered voters oppose whaling, and over two-thirds want our government to do something about it; yet to this point, the Bush administration has done little to stop the increasing slaughter and is now actively leading efforts that could result in a legalized return to commercial whaling.”

Yesterday’s event followed Panettiere’s appearance at American University on Saturday evening to talk with students at an event sponsored by the university’s Women and Politics Institute.

Hayden Panettiere Is Saving the Whales, Again

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:18:58 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about stopping the slaughter of whales, dolphins, and seals, Hayden Panettiere is taking her cause out of her closet and into the American presidential race.

Panettiere is not only auctioning some of her outfits and a whale watching tour for six “through the Channel Islands to witness some of the most spectacular whale feeding grounds and have the chance to see the ever-elusive Blue Whale” to benefit the Whaleman Foundation’s Save The Whales Again, she has also hit the campaign trail.

Hayden has given speeches at American universities and met with political figures to get ‘abolishing the whale hunts’ back onto the political agenda. Following meetings with American congressmen, she then approached representatives of Iceland, Japan, and Norway to challenge their archaic practices.

“Whales face increasing threats from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, and chemical and noise pollution, yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers,” Panettiere said at a press conference. “Polls show that 59% of Americans would be more willing to vote for a candidate who takes a strong stand on whaling. I want our voice to be heard.”

Although many people think whales were saved back in the ‘70s with the moratorium on commercial whaling, Whaleman Foundation’s president Jeff Pantukhoff says, “nothing could be further from the truth.” Since the moratorium went into effect, over 25,000 whales have been killed.

Pantukhoff – who is also the Director of Save the Whales Again! Campaign – said, “Over two thirds of registered voters want our government to do something about it, yet to this point, little has been done to stop the increasing slaughter. We need the United States to reflect the will of its people and lead the way in taking all necessary actions against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until the killing stops.”

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Hayden Panettiere Votes To Save The Whales

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