president@whitehouse.gov
vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Sample letter 1
Dear Mr. President, (or Mr. Vice President) I am writing to you to express my great concern about the proposed construction of a US military base at Camp Schwab at Nago City on the island of Okinawa in Japan. The chosen site is home to the endangered Dugong sea mammal and should the construction of this base proceed, one of the precious remaining Dugong habitats, in the entire South Western island region will be destroyed. The presence of Dugongs at this site was mentioned in the preliminary survey carried out by the Japanese Defense Agency in 1997. The Dugong is classified by the Washington Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Appendix 1 (a species to be dealt with under the most strict regulations). The Mammalogical Society of Japan. the Japanese Fisheries Agency and the Agency for cultural Affairs also recognize the Dugong as a species which needs special protection. Their habitat around Camp Schwab in Okinawa is one of the "Global 2000" areas chosen by the WWF as an ecological domain to be protected. The abundant reefs which make up this area has been described by the Prince of the Netherlands as "the most important site in Japan for biodiversity conservation." The construction of the military base would also go directly against the wishes of the inhabitants of Nago City who overwhelmingly voted against its construction in a local plebiscite in 1997. I urge you then please, to reconsider you plans to build your military base at this vital site in Okinawa, and to do whatever you can to support the survival of a species that is already critically endangered. The human race is totally dependant on a planet into which we often invest little care. It would be a disgrace if we were, once again, to force into extinction a species that has inhabited this planet peacefully, long before human existence. Yours faithfully, (Your name) (Your address) |
Follow up letter
Dear Mr. President, (or Mr. Vice President, ) I have recently learned that because of Japans whaling policy, the United States of America is considering imposing trade sanctions against Japan. Although I support this action on the basis that excessive and uncontrolled whaling is abhorrent and needs to be stopped, I feel that there is an extreme element of hypocrisy here. Whilst at the same time threatening this action, the US continues to push for the construction of its military base, near Nago city in Okinawa, Japan. This is despite the severe environmental consequences to the vital coral reefs in the area, and in the knowledge that the bases construction will most certainly wipe out the local population of endangered Dugongs (found nowhere else in Japan). I have already written to you on this matter expressing my concern so you already know that the bases construction is totally against the will of the Japanese people, and also the Washington CITES convention which lists the Dugong in Appendix 1, a species to be dealt with under the most strict conditions. I urge you then please, not to construct your base in Okinawa. The global community cannot be expected to have respect for a government that displays such obvious, even if they are well meaning, double standards. Yours sincerely, (Your name) (Your address) |
大統領:president@whitehouse.gov
副大統領:vice.president@whitehouse.gov