Greenpeace Vigil At Japanese Embassy In Canberra

Greenpeace to Put Whaling on Trial at Japanese Embassy

When: Thursday, 19 March, 2009; 3:30 PM AEST Scheduled
Vigil continues into the evening and ends at 8:00 PM

Where: Outside the Japanese Embassy, 112 Empire Circuit, Yarralumba, Canberra.

What: Greenpeace will put "Whaling on Trial" by staging a vigil with a series of Japanese "Daimyo" Flags and rows of "White Lanterns". The event is part of international events calling upon Japan to end whaling and end the persecution of the two Greenpeace activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the 'Tokyo Two'.

In Tokyo, on the same day, Greenpeace Executive Directors from around the world and eminent international human rights lawyer Richard Harvey will address a press conference expressing their concern about the politically motivated trial of the activists and asking the Japanese Prime Minister to end the Government-funded annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The vigil in Canberra will highlight the truth behind the arrest and detention of the Tokyo Two. After exposing the illegal whale meat embezzlement in Japan, Sato and Suzuki were arrested in June 2008. The first major trial hearing will occur next Tuesday 23 March and they face up to. 10 years in jail.

Who: A wide range of Australians, Greenpeace and other environmental and human rights groups will be present.

Visuals: A series of 8 blue traditional Japanese DAIMO Flags with slogans in English and Japanese highlighting the lack of justice for WHALES and the TOKYO TWO will be displayed from3:30 PM to mark the first stage of the vigil.

As evening sets in, WHITE Japanese LANTERNS (which traditionally depict those
who have passed away) with Japanese slogans will be lit to mark the second stage
of the vigil, symbolising the "death" of justice and truth in Japan.

For interviews and further information contact:
Ruchira Talukdar; Greenpeace Communications: 0407 414 572

Images will be available at:
http://greenpeacemedia.org/
user: photos pass: green

Related URL:
The Whale Meat Scandal and the Tokyo Two: www.greenpeace.org/tokyo-two


SOURCE: Greenpeace