Japan criticizes countries boycotting whaling conference - AP

[Eugene]

Japan criticizes countries boycotting whaling conference

The Associated Press
Published: February 12, 2007

TOKYO: Japan opened an international whaling conference Tuesday by blasting a boycott
by dozens of anti-whaling nations, saying their absence would block much-needed reforms
of the International Whaling Commission.

The conference, which Japan called as part of its push to resume commercial whaling,
was attended by only about 35 of the 72 members of the IWC. The boycotters included
anti-whaling countries Britain, Australia and the United States.

The boycott illustrates the intense divide over Japan's whaling program as anti-hunt
protesters have clashed — sometimes violently — in recent days with Japanese whaling
ships in the South Pacific.

Minoru Morimoto, Japan's IWC representative, told the conference that the boycott made
it "almost impossible" to have a worthwhile discussion on reforming the IWC, which Japan
argues should manage commercial whaling rather than banning it outright.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/13/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Whaling-Conference.php

[LeftyMom]

1. Gee, I thought it was japan bribing backwater countries with no coastline to vote their way that

made it ""almost impossible" to have a worthwhile discussion on reforming the IWC." :shrug:

[tblue]

2. I'm sure Japan has an economic argument for this, but I heart whales

[Chulanowa]

3. Simple rule of interspecies etiquette: If it talks, don't eat it

If I can follow this rule, why can't Japan?