Alexandra Weinstein | HumaneTeen

Humane Profiles

Pass It On
You and/or your club will naturally be an animal protection resource for your school and community. One of the most important things you can do is teach others about the problems facing animals.

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ALEXANDRA WEINSTEIN

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Saving the Whales

Alexandra Weinstein lives in Essex, Massachu-setts, just down the road from the famed seafood company Gorton’s of Gloucester. When she heard that Gorton’s parent company, a huge Japanese corporation called Nissui, also owns a large share of a whaling business, she felt compelled to act. (Since 2001, when Nissui bought Gorton's, its whaling division has slaughtered more than 2,700 whales.) Alex got right to work, learning as much as she could about the issue and brainstorming ways to speak out against it.

HT: What was it about the whaling issue that spurred you to take action?

AW: I hate the way the world is becoming—animals are treated so badly and pollution is so bad. I have always wanted to take action and have tried to help. The whaling issue is something good to start with because whaling is something that can hopefully be stopped.

HT: What was your first step?

AW: I held a "Save the Whales" party at my church. The party was a success. Greenpeace sent me information and a DVD to show at the party. I raised money by raffling off tickets for Seven Seas Whale Watch and selling Sounds of the Whales CDs that I made.

HT: You also sent a huge valentine and 2,700 candy hearts with "Save the Whales" messages to Gorton's around Valentine's Day. Where did you get this idea?

AW: I got the idea from Greenpeace. My mom and I created the valentine and Greenpeace ordered the candy hearts ahead of time. Buffy Baumann came from Greenpeace in Washington, D.C., and took me to Gorton's. Unfortunately, we were asked to leave the property, and someone from inside the building took the items.

HT: How else have you been involved in helping animals?

AW: When I was eight, my mom and I were foster parents for kittens at our local animal shelter. We took care of kittens who were recovering from operations and kittens who were too young to be kept in cages at the shelter. It felt awesome to help the animals.