2012-09-07

Harry Potter Star Will Not Eat Whale Meat!

Actress, Emma Watson has revealed that she is firmly against eating whale meat. The Harry Potter star was speaking on the David Letterman Show in the US following her recent return from filming a new movie in Iceland alongside Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins. Unlike some other celebs visiting the country recently, like chef Gordon Ramsay, Emma refused to eat any whale, puffin or reindeer dishes on offer.
 
Speaking to David Letterman, she said, "it just didn't feel right somehow. And it's probably a good thing, because we get so disconnected from where our food comes from."
 
She also commented on the contradictions over the promotion of whale meat in Iceland. Whale watching is heavily promoted to tourists who are also sold cuddly whale toys, yet these whales are then available to eat. "They take you on these tours," she said. "Let's go see the whales, let's go see the cute little puffins!' And you're like 'This is amazing!' They sell you a cute little cuddly toy, and then they serve it to you for dinner!"

WDCS is delighted to see such a high profile figure taking a stand against whaling in Iceland.

Her experience echoes our own findings which reveal that more than 100 restaurants - including Þrir Frakkar, allegedly a favourite of Jamie Oliver -as well as many food shops, are currently selling minke whale meat. In fact, a staggering 35- 40% of the meat from minke whales slaughtered by Icelandic whalers is eaten by tourists visiting the country who often have no idea that their actions are propping up commercial whaling, an industry in decline.
 
Whilst latest figures [1] show a big jump in visitor numbers to Iceland compared to 2011, we are concerned to hear that increasing numbers of tourists are walking off whale watching vessels and straight into restaurants that serve whale meat. WDCS responded by launching a tourist awareness campaign 'Don't eat the locals!', which encourages tourists to get out to see the whales with a responsible, local whale watching operator but asks that people think about the impact that eating the meat has on the whale watching industry, and consider the inhumane way in which these magnificent and intelligent creatures are killed before they are served up.
 
Find out more about visiting Iceland and avoiding whale meat.
 
[1] http://www.ferdamalastofa.is/Category.mvc/DisplayElement?catid=812&moduleid=220&sid=8343