24/6/2005
Environmentalists Sound Alarm Over Whaling

The international environmental pressure group, Greenpeace, is sounding the alarm over the future of the world's whales. In a statement issued at the end of this year's International Whaling Commission conference, they say that despite the pro-whaling countries failing to win key votes to increase whaling, the Japanese Government has announced it will press ahead and double its hunt in Antarctic waters. This coming December, they plan to hunt nearly a thousand whales, including the endangered fin whale in so-called 'scientific' whaling, say Greenpeace.

In addition to this increased hunt, the group adds, Japan has also vowed to secure a majority at next years 2006 IWC. Member states who joined recently did not vote this year but will be eligible next year. An ominous statement came from a member of the Japanese delegation who told the meeting that Japan was gaining support, stating: "next year they will participate... the turning point, the reversal of history, is soon to come."

Willie Mackenzie, Greenpeace Oceans campaigner stated "If Japan succeed in getting a majority within the IWC, and force a return to full-scale commercial whaling, this would not reflect a change in world opinion. It would merely reflect the changes in the IWC membership due to Japan's aggressive recruiting. A hostile takeover of the IWC is underway and action must be taken to stop it."

Greenpeace acknowledged the efforts of the anti-whaling countries at this meeting, but challenged them to go beyond the political rhetoric and apply concrete steps to demonstrate it is serious about the issue and ensure that whales are protected.

"The Japanese delegation was sent a clear signal this year after the Commission voted against their scientific whaling proposal. The Commission also asked them to suspend their programme, which now includes the slaughter of highly endangered fin and humpback whales" said Mackenzie "Japan have totally ignored the Commission's resolution and will kill a 1,000 whales this winter. And it sounds like they will be back next year pushing for the right to kill many more"

He concluded "To be effective the IWC needs to be truly independent and not bow to any country wishing to manipulate the forum for its own means. The World's whales deserve more respect".