Pierce Brosnan films PSA reminding President Obama about his campaign promise to protect marine life

[Bluebear]

President Ronald Reagan helped pass the ban protecting whales in international waters during his administration, and it's been backed by every American president since. But about three years ago, the current proposal to lift the ban was introduced under the Bush administration and has, so far, been backed by President Obama. To add insult to injury for environmentalists everywhere, the final proposal was released on Earth Day on April 22.

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has reminded US President Barack Obama of the promises he made about protecting marine life during his presidential campaign.

In a public service announcement for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, he said: 'As a candidate, you promised to end illegal whaling, and we applauded your leadership, but recent reports reveal your administration supports an international proposal, which gives Japan, Iceland and Norway the license to kill whales,' imdb.com reported.

Brosnan has urged the US government to take a firm stand against whale hunting in international waters and wants Obama and other leaders to take a no-tolerance policy.

'They (US government) seem to be in favour of allowing Japan and Norway to go out and hunt whales again. It means they can go out there and start killing whales. It's in moratorium so it's not determined how many they can kill,' he said.

http://sify.com/news/brosnan-reminds-obama-of-whale-promise-news-international-kggxObgcchg.html
http://www.tonic.com/article/pierce-brosnan-urges-obama-to-save-the-whales/

[notesdev]

Just add it to the list

of broken promises

the guy makes promises with no intention of ever fulfilling them

[saracat]

1. Pierce is a real stand up guy. I have always liked him ever since Remington Steele.

He is an exceptionaly rare combination of brains, talent, looks and compassion. Too bad he isn't running for office!

[HughMoran]

2. "Since the ban was enacted 24 years ago, more than 30,000 whales have nonetheless been killed,"

"Since the moratorium, the rogue whaling nations of Japan, Iceland, and Norway have continued to slaughter about 1,900 whales annually, in contempt of international law. "

The sad part about this whole episode? Whales will continue to die no matter what Obama decides. His proposal to get the 3 countries to commit to reducing the killing over the next 10 years may seem foolhardy to most, but the current moratorium isn't stopping them now. Interesting politics at play here...

[saracat]

3. Indeed. Are you saying why should Obama bother then? Or what are you saying about Pierce, who

deserves to be applauded for caring? Interesting indeed. Pierce deserves a "Thank You" not cynical scorn. We need more American citizens like Brosnan. And imagine, he actually chose to be one.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[saracat]

6. I just can't stand it when good folks , who have no obligation to

to serve the people, try to assist and are disparaged or mocked or ulterior motives are assigned to them. Pierce and Kevin Costner are the real good guys. Our politicians "owe" us. And yet some act as though we should be "grateful" and as though we are the ones under obligation. I will sometimes appreciate a politician's work, but I see no reason to be grateful for his doing his job, nor should I be hesitant to speak out when he doesn't. JMHO.

Citizens like Pierce are a treasure and should be appreciated and cherished

[Bluebear]

9. +

[HughMoran]

8. I'm addressing the practical politics of the issue & how to stop the killing of whales.

No matter what Piece says, the alternatives being discussed will lead to whales being killed. The IWC is proposing a plan that forces the 3 countries to reduce and eventually stop the killing over 10 years, but Pierce (and many others) object because it legalizes the killing that's occurring now in order to get those countries to commit to stopping. It's a classic Catch 22 where it's illegal (or covered under an exception) now but they're doing it anyway, but making it legal in order to get them to commit to reductions in the killing sanctifies the killing that we all despise (but that's happening anyway.)

"Their current proposal would allow Iceland, Japan and Norway to hunt whales for 10 years, but under stricter limits that would reduce the overall catch. For example, Japan currently has a self-imposed annual quota of 935 Antarctic Minke Whales. This quota would be lowered to 400 over the next 5 years and then reduced to 200 for the following 5 years after that.

Currently, these nations either hunt whales under exceptions of the 1986 moratorium (such as Japan’s “scientific research), or they openly ignore and defy the moratorium completely and hunt as they will. However, this latest proposal would completely remove those exceptions and allow nations to hunt whales for whatever reason, be it science, commercial, or something else (as if they aren’t doing enough of that already). "

[Raine]

5. Good for Pierce! nt

:thumbsup:

[Yuugal]

7. K&R

[Bluebear]

10. thx