Let Your Voice Be Heard

Everyone has an opinion about the issues — and a voice. Want yours to be heard by the right people? Here's how:

Write a letter, send an e-mail or place a phone call to one or more of the following representatives and non-profit organizations. State what's on your mind. If you're expressing an opinion, use facts to back it up. And remember, stay calm and courteous, as this increases your chances of being heard.

Please note that this list is for informational purposes only. Animal Planet does not necessarily endorse the organizations listed.

GROUPS MOST ACTIVE IN ANTARCTICA

SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
* Sea Shepherd is an anti-whaling non-profit activist organization that uses non-violent, direct-action tactics to thwart whaling activity.
   Contact Sea Shepherd: http://www.seashepherd.org/contact/general-public.html
THE INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH
* The Institute of Cetacean Research is a privately owned, non-profit institution that conducts scientific research on whales. Their legal status is authorized by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
   Contact the Institute of Cetacean Research: http://www.icrwhale.org/Comments.htm

GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED IN THE WHALING ISSUE

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
* The United States of America is an anti-whaling nation. It stands opposed to a resumption of commercial whaling, but does allow for small-scale aboriginal whaling.
   Contact the President: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
   Contact Your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
   Contact Your Representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
JAPAN
* Japan is a pro-whaling nation currently engaged in a long-term scientific research program to assess the commercial viability of whale stocks.
   Contact the Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuo Fukuda: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html
NORWAY
* Norway is a pro-whaling nation that engages in commercial whaling. Having filed an objection to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) commercial whaling moratorium, it is not bound by it.
   Contact the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg: http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/smk/The-Office-of-the-Prime-Minister/contact.html?id=883
AUSTRALIA
* Australia is an anti-whaling nation committed to whale protection. It has established the Australian Whale Sanctuary to protect all whales and dolphins found in its waters.
   Contact the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
ICELAND
* Iceland is a pro-whaling nation that resumed small-scale commercial whaling in 2006 following five years of research whaling.
   Contact Iceland's fisheries minister, Einar Kristinn Gudfinnsson: http://www.fisheries.is/ (note e-mail link at bottom)

OTHER GROUPS THAT CARE ABOUT WHALING

HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL
* Humane Society International is non-profit activist organization, part of whose mission is to mobilize the public and governments around the world to protect whales species from potential extinction.
GREENPEACE
* Greenpeace is a non-profit activist organization, part of whose mission is to help put an end to commercial whaling.