Our Laws Protect the Lives of Whales But Not Our Unborn

MEDIA RELEASE SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

Two men who paddled out to two southern right whales off the St Kilda beach in Dunedin last month have been warned by the Department of Conservation that they could face serious charges of violating the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978. It is a serious offence to be within 50 meters of a whale and to be within 200 meters of a mother and her calf. The law is there to prevent stress and pain to whales and other mammals. The offences carry fines of up to $250.000 or and up to six months in prison.

That humans intruded into the protected space of these two whales and the violation of the law was a major item for the media. Why is it then that the violent killing of thirty-five children in the womb every day in New Zealand is not even worth a mention? Surely a human life is worth more than the life of an animal, If thirty-five whales were being killed in our waters every day there would be massive demonstrations in our cities and towns and our Parliament would be outraged, demanding that this killing be stopped.

It is commendable that we give protection to other species. We have a duty to respect and protect other species that share this beautiful planet with us. But why is it that while we have a law that declares that we may not be within 50 meters of a whale lest you cause it stress and pain, yet there be no law to prevent an unborn child being violently torn apart in its mother’s own womb? We hear of bobby calves being killed with hammers and we’re all up in arms, yet a doctor can tear the head and limbs of a defenceless child in the womb and it is acceptable. Legal, in fact funded by government. This is truly an insanity We urgently need a Protection of Unborn Children Act.

It is a grave injustice and a crime against humanity that the government authorises and funds the killing of more than 13,000 children in the womb each year under a law that is supposed to protect them. The government on the other hand, is vigorously supporting the extension of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to protect the lives of whales and their breeding and feeding. If the government is really serious about protecting life, they should provide effective laws to protect the sanctity of the womb which is the home and sanctuary of our own precious unborn.

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