The headline reads like a bad joke: “U.S. plans to save whales by killing whales.” But it’s no joke.

In an altogether shocking move, President Obama’s delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has decided to back a plan that would legalize commercial whaling -- including in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary -- for the first time since the international ban was passed over 20 years ago.

We only have until the start of the IWC meetings in June to show the President that this plan is a horrible idea. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Take Action NOW: Tell Obama to keep his promise, save the whales.

We’ll be delivering all the names and messages we collect to high-ranking officials in the White House on June 3rd.

Back in 1975, Greenpeace launched the world’s first-ever Save the Whales campaign. The images we brought back from our first voyage sparked an international outcry and moved a generation of environmentalists into action. Eventually, after a decade of intense activism, the IWC agreed to ban commercial whaling. That was 1986 and it was one of our greatest moments as an organization -- it was also one of the greatest moments for activists like you.

We could lose it all this June unless we’re able to change the President’s mind. We’ve done it before. Now we need to do it again.