East Surrey MP, Peter Ainsworth, has shown his support for whales by striking a ‘whale tail’ pose with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Mr Ainsworth is taking part in IFAW’s ‘Tails for Whales’ photo art project, which has been launched to raise awareness of the need for greater whale protection. IFAW is encouraging people from all walks of life to be photographed making the whale tail hands symbol. Model and presenter Twiggy and comedienne Jo Brand are among celebrities taking part and this week more than 70 MPs also struck a whale tail pose for whales.

IFAW works year-round to protect whales from the many threats they face including whaling, ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, climate change and man-made ocean noise.

Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK, said: “We are very grateful to Peter for showing his support for whales. IFAW opposes commercial or so-called ‘scientific’ whaling because it is cruel and unnecessary and we believe these magnificent and intelligent creatures should be protected for future generations to enjoy. Support for this project demonstrates that many people feel the same.”

Peter Ainsworth MP said: “I am pleased to be taking part in ‘Tails for Whales’. Whales face more threats today than ever before and this project sends out a positive message that we should all be working to protect them. I encourage my constituents to take part by submitting their photos for inclusion.”

Whale tail images can be uploaded to the website www.tailsforwhales.org (JPEG format). Please take part and email your friends and family asking them to do the same.

The aim is to collect as many of these positive images as possible on the website, particularly in the run-up to the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in June 2009, to urge all member countries to use their votes for whale conservation, rather than allowing any attempts to weaken or overturn the worldwide ban on commercial whaling.