Whaling deal splits countries and conservationists

[demoleft]

Source: bbc

A deal that could regulate whaling for the next 10 years is up for debate at the International Whaling Commission's meeting opening in Agadir, Morocco.

The proposal would see Iceland, Japan and Norway given annual quotas with hunts more tightly scrutinised, while international trade could be banned.

Some anti-whaling countries and some conservation groups support the idea, while others are implacably opposed.
...
"The global whaling moratorium is without doubt one of the most impressive conservation achievements of our time; yet it's not working for everyone," said Wendy Elliott, manager of the species programme with WWF International.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10362015.stm

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sea shepherd does not trust:


Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sea Shepherd Dismisses the IWC as Corrupt and Irrelevant

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is rejecting the International Whaling Commission (IWC) as a corrupt and irrelevant body that has lost all credibility as an organization responsible for the conservation of the world’s whales.
...
“It has become increasingly clear that Japan has been bullying, buying, and threatening nations to vote in favor of ending the global moratorium on whaling,” said Captain Paul Watson, founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “The IWC no longer has any credibility, it is an irrelevant organization. Many of the nations voting for Japan have zero interest in the issue of whaling. They vote the way they are paid to vote.”
...
“The answer is intervention and enforcement of international conservation law - not compromise and submission to Japan, Norway, and Iceland,” said Captain Paul Watson. “As far as I am concerned, the letters IWC stand for Irrelevant, Wearisome, and Corrupt.”

more, http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100616-2.html

[Lorien]

1. Insane! The toxins and use f sonar in the oceans are enough of a strain on whale

populations. There is no good reason to continue the barbaric practice of whaling; let's end it NOW!

The planet has been sliding backwards since 1980 on far too many issues. :-(

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Why the hell does a rich country like Japan have to kill whales?

I can see letting poor, indigenous people hunt almost anything (short of each other). But Japan has plenty to eat and plenty of ways to make money. Yes, I know that they idealize fishermen the way that we idealize cowboys. But the fisherman can hunt other sea creatures. Are we going to tell headhunters "Go for it" because it is a tradition? Lots of traditions suck. Anyone who kills whales and dolphins deliberately is a mass murderer IMHO and should be brought up before the U.N on a charge of crimes against humanity. We in the U.S used to kill the Natives for profit, too. Claimed that they were "subhuman."

How can so many people in this country get so bent out of shape protecting the life of an eight cell embryo and not care about sensitive, intelligent rational creatures?

[demoleft]

3. UPDATE, june 21: "Japan, EU stake out positions at whaling meet "

AFP - Japan and the European Union staked out opposing positions on commercial whaling Monday at the start of global talks here, underscoring how hard it will be to hammer out a compromise deal.

"We cannot accept the strong opinions to eliminate all whaling activities. Compromise must be found from both sides," Hideki Moronuki, told AFP.
...
Led by Germany and Britain, European countries have welcomed Japan's apparent willingness to trim its kill quotas, but said that is not enough.

"Japan has signalled that they are ready to reduce their catch by about 50 percent over 10 years," said Gert Lindermanm, leader of the German delegation.

link: http://www.france24.com/en/20100621-japan-eu-stake-out-positions-whaling-meet

[demoleft]

4. Update 2: Scientists slam IWC's proposal to end global whaling ban

the atmosphere:

Accredited green groups were fuming at what they called the unprecedented lockdown.
"The decision to exclude the civil society and media is a scandal," said Wendy Elliott of WWF International.
...

the figures:

From 1994 to 2006, Japan and South Korea each caught more than 1,000 minke whales in their coastal waters this way, according to government statistics.

DNA analysis suggests that the real number of whales killed in the same waters by by-catch is likely twice as high.

afp, http://www.france24.com/en/20100621-scientists-slam-iwc-international-whaling-commission-proposal-end-global-whaling-ban-environment

[Cetacea]

5. Barbaric. ntt

[Odin2005]

6. Evil, just evil. This is almost equivalent to hunting other humans.

Given how intelligent whales are! :grr:

[Nihil]

7. More so in some cases. (n/t)

:grr: