Become heroes

It is with great sadness that I feel compelled to send you this letter. Namibia has for many years been a destination I have looked forward to travelling to, not only for its value, but especially for the multitude of attractions it has on offer. From the magnificence of the Etosha National Park and the Caprivi region to quad bike and 4x4 trails, star-gazing from the world's oldest desert dunes to the Fish River Canyon and the scattered bones and shipwrecks of the Skeleton Coast, Namibia is a place alive with possibilities. It is surely one of the best destinations for any would be adventurer and I can think of few things better than enjoying ice cold Windhoek beers under the shade of palm trees on the promenades of Swakopmund.

I find it sadly ironic that a country with so much potential chooses to isolate itself from international tourism on the basis of its annual seal cull. The violent, savage and cruel beating to death of 85000 baby seals is totally unacceptable.

My challenge to you is to put an immediate end to this barbaric practice. The cull is totally unnecessary and does nothing positive for your country except to appease the greedy commercial interests of one Hatem Yavuz. In fact, all the cull is doing is tarnishing your status as viable international tourist destination. Employment for the 150 people involved in the clubbing of seals can (and will) be found if you took the initiative to market your seal colony properly in terms of eco-tourism. I believe that a huge market can be developed from the sale of seal faeces as fertilizer.

This correspondence serves to inform you that until the cull is ended, I will boycott your country not only in terms of tourism, but all Namibian produce. I will not drink those wonderful beers as previously mentioned, I will not buy "blood diamonds" from De Beers who support your economy, I will not purchase my favorite hand made German chocolates. I will ensure that any marble, aluminium or tin that I purchase does not come from Namibia. I will inform and discourage my friends from supporting your country and I will continue raising awareness to an international audience by making use of the internet and popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Orkit, Bebo, Google Buzz and StumbleUpon.

Please understand that I am not doing this out of malice or spite, but the continued slaughter goes against every grain of my beliefs. I urge you to become heroes, end the cull and be the proud leaders we would like to look up to. For the Oceans,

Michael Beasley, Australia