Anti Whaling group rebuffs Japan
Japan had said it would consider scrapping plans to include humpback whales in the catch.
In return it sought approval of its request for limited commercial hunting by four coastal communities.
But anti-whaling countries at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission rejected the move as a “needless act of provocation”.
The IWC meeting opened in Alaska on Monday.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:39 am
It’s a shame that any countries are still whaling. I know that the Japanese, Norvegians and Icelanders have been proponents of a limited whale hunt and that whaling has been a small (but relatively important) part of their economies. But, somehow, I have a hard time sympathizing with them. There are just not very many large whales swimming around. After having been whale-watching on Canada’s Atlantic coast, I can see that there’s a whole new industry around the tours, and it’s a non-lethal industry. We can go and see the whales and make money that way, instead of killing them.
BTW, I am for the seal hunt and have no problem with a very limited polar bear hunt, either (as long as it is the Inuit who actually share their environment with the bears and have to put up with the creatures), But whaling? That’s pushing it too far…
May 31st, 2007 at 8:45 am
Then there’s the New Zealand Green Party Response:
Green Party: Send frigates to protect whales
Thu, May 2007 5:37a.m.
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/GreenPartySendfrigatestoprotectwhales/tabid/209/articleID/28026/Default.aspx
The Green Party is calling for the government to send frigates to protect humpback whales from Japanese whalers.
The International Whaling Commission meet wraps up in Alaska today – and unless there is a last-minute change of mind it looks like Japan will kill 50 humpback whales on top of next summer’s scientific whaling programme.
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says it is obvious talking with Japan will not change its mind, so it is time for a more active approach.
She says we should consider sending frigates to the Southern Ocean to create a barrier between humpback whales and the Japanese.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:53 am
Much as I support the sentiment of Ms Fitzsimons, I must say that the use of frigates to protect whales might lead to unpredictable and unpleasant consequences. Naval warfare is especially difficult because the sea itself is an opponent.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:24 am
Indeed…I’d say that sending armed vessels and engaging in this type of brinkmanship would lead to someone getting killed sooner or later. I imagine that Japan, a relatively big power with a history of militarism, would just laugh at the New Zealand navy. I mean, what are you gonna do? bomb Tokyo again?