Canon, the world''s top digital camera maker and major sponsor of projects to save endangered species, has refused a Greenpeace request to condemn the Japanese government''s whaling programme.
Greenpeace today launched a worldwide appeal calling on Canon's customers to urge the company to change
it and the government's minds and add its voice to the international call for an end to the hunt, writes a statement from the NGO.
In a letter to Mr Mitarai, dated January 10th, Greenpeace asked him to endorse the following statement: "Canon is committed to building a better world for future generations, and does not support the hunting of endangered or threatened species with anything other than a camera.
Canon believes the lethal whaling research programme in the Southern Ocean should be ended, and replaced with a non-lethal research programme."
Canon replied on 22 January 2008, claiming to recognise "the importance of protecting endangered wildlife." However, their letter concluded, "scientific opinion about research whaling varies... we will not sign the statement you have sent us."
