Greenpeace call on Czechs to help save whales

There is a worldwide ban on commercial whaling but the whales still aren't safe. Two countries, Japan and Norway, continue to hunt whales for profit and they are pushing for whaling to be legalised again. Greenpeace wants to ensure the two countries do not succeed in lifting the ban on whaling through the votes of countries to which Japan has in turn offered more development aid. Currently on tour around Central Europe, Greenpeace are collecting signatures calling on the countries' governments to become members of the International Whaling Commission in order to counterbalance the votes of Japan's allies. This week, the campaigners are collecting signatures around Prague. Pavla Horakova went to one of the Greenpeace stands.

Photo: CTK

It's a warm and sunny day here in Prague, I'm standing in front of the Rudolfinum concert hall in the centre of the city. On a grassy patch in front of the building is a giant blue and white inflated whale, something an ordinary Czech is not used to seeing very often. Next to it is a Greenpeace truck with a banner calling on people to save the whales. Satu Pitkanen is the coordinator of the event. I asked her how Czechs - inhabitants of a landlocked country - could help save the whales.

"It's about the International Whaling Commission. We want the Czech Republic to become a member of the International Whaling Commission. In the same way the small islands that Japan is buying can vote for whaling, the landlocked countries can vote against it. It's the same principle. OK, we don't have the see, but we can still help the whales."

Are you focusing only on the Czech Republic or on other landlocked countries as well?

"Yes, this is for all the countries. I believe this tour is continuing in Slovakia, Hungary and Austria, which is involved too. We are continuing the whole week. Two days in Prague, Tuesday, Wednesday in Prague, Thursday in Plzen and Friday in Brno. So any people who want to save the whales can come and see videos, sign the petition and get information material."

Are people interested? Do you see a lot of interest among Czechs?

Photot: CTK

"Yes, they are really interested, there have been quite a lot of children. Everybody loves whales."

Satu says the campaign is successful, around a hundred new signatures appear on the petition every hour. But those who are enjoying it the most are no doubt children, who can admire the giant whale and also draw on large banners which will be sent to the International Whaling Commission's meeting in June in Berlin. I spoke to two children who were looking at photos of whales.

Hello, what's your name?

"I'm Daniela... and I am Rafael.

And what are you doing here today?

"We are going to see everything about the whales."

Do you like the whales?

"Yeah. The whales are beautiful, they live in the sea which is also beautiful."

Where have you seen the whales? We don't have the see here in the Czech Republic...

"We have never really seen them but we know about them anyway... On TV... Not only that - books, the Zoo, some encyclopaedias and all that."

Do you think that whaling is bad?

"Whale-hunting? Yeah, it's bad."

And do you think that it should be banned?

"Yeah, it should be ended, surely."