Groups suing reHawaiian whales threatened by Navy Sonar

[Guest guest]

o >><(((*> Ocean Sanctity Newsletter <*)))><< o o ><(((*> Navy Will Be Sued to Stop Illegal Sonar <*)))>< o o ><(((*> in Massive Hawaiian War Games <*)))>< o June 30th, 2006 o >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o In Today's Ocean Sanctity Newletter1) Navy Will Be Sued to Stop Illegal Sonar in Massive Hawaiian War Games, High-Intensity Sonar Needlessly Threatens Marine Mammals & Other Species Near President's New Underwater National Monument2) Take Action Online to Protect Whales from Navy Sonar3) Keepers of the Sea Call for Help!4) Whalers Take over IWC5) Take Action Online to Stop Whaling Now6) A Wake Up Call to Save the World's Whales7) Whaling Wars 2006 End in Another IWC Standoff8) Cockroach Don't Business ...9) Links to Video Summaries of the IWC Meetings10) Is This the End of the Ban on Whaling?o >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o1) Navy Will Be Sued to Stop Illegal Sonar in Massive Hawaiian War Games, High-Intensity Sonar Needlessly Threatens Marine Mammals & Other Species Near President's New Underwater National Monumenthttp://snipurl.com/sk05 originally:http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/newsprint.cgi?file=/news2006/0628-17.htmLOS ANGELES -- June 28, 2006 -- Conservation groups intend to file a federal lawsuit today to stop the U.S. Navy from illegally using high-intensity sonar, which is deadly to whales, during an eight-nation naval exercise that began Monday in a 210,000 square-mile area around Hawaii. The exercise area comprises some of the richest marine habitat in the United States, including waters near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, created just two weeks ago by President Bush.The lawsuit by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other groups will challenge a last-minute authorization granted yesterday by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) allowing the Navy to "take" as many as 25,000 protected marine mammals by blasting high-intensity, mid-frequency sonar during the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. "Take" is a legal term meaning to harass, hunt, capture or kill."It is absurd to designate an area a Marine National Monument one week, and then authorize the Navy to threaten endangered whales and other marine mammals in the region with high-intensity sonar the next," said Joel Reynolds, a senior attorney at NRDC and director of its Marine Mammal Protection Project. "It is possible for the Navy to train effectively without needlessly inflicting harm on marine life, and that is exactly what federal law requires."The suit will seek a temporary order restraining use of high-intensity, mid-frequency sonar during the exercise unless effective measures are taken to prevent harm to marine life. Although the exercise has begun, sonar activity during RIMPAC 2006 is not scheduled to begin until next week.Whales exposed to high-intensity mid-frequency sonar have repeatedly stranded and died on beaches around the world, some bleeding around the brain and in the ears, with severe lesions in their organ tissue. At lower intensities, sonar can interfere with the ability of marine mammals to navigate, avoid predators, find food, care for their young, and, ultimately, to survive. There is no scientific dispute that intense sonar blasts can disturb, injure, and even kill marine mammals.Whales, dolphins and other marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive hearing, and mid-frequency sonar can emit continuous sound well above 235 decibels, an intensity millions of times stronger than exposures that have killed some species of whales. A recent report by NMFS said that sonar was a "plausible, if not likely" cause of a mass stranding of 150 melon-headed whales during RIMPAC 2004.The Navy has resisted precautions for mid-frequency sonar use during RIMPAC 2006 despite repeated efforts by outside groups. Such measures include exclusion zones in protected marine areas; reduced sonar intensity at night and in channels where the risk to marine mammals is greatest; implementing the same expanded 'safety zone' around ships that some allied navies use; and effectively monitoring for marine mammals during sonar drills."The Navy has known for years about the risk to marine life, and they have had ample time to plan for it without disrupting their training program," Reynolds said. "Instead, they waited until the last minute to request an authorization, and the authorization they got is illegal."For RIMPAC 2006, the U.S. Navy received an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) from NMFS, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is the first time the Navy has sought prior permission to use sonar.The IHA was "unlawfully issued," says the suit, because federal law prohibits the use of IHAs to authorize activities, like these sonar exercises, that may seriously injure or kill marine mammals. The lawsuit also asserts numerous other claims under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.The lawsuit will be brought by NRDC in conjunction with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Cetacean Society International, the Ocean Futures Society, and Jean-Michel Cousteau. It will be filed at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.Mass stranding and mortality events associated with mid-frequency sonar exercises have occurred all over the world in the last 20 years. Among the most well known strandings are those in North Carolina (2005), Haro Strait (off the coast of Washington State, 2003), the Canary Islands (2004, 2002, 1989, 1986, 1985), Madeira (2000), the U.S. Virgin Islands (1999, 1998), and Greece (1996).One of the best-documented incidents took place in the Bahamas, in 2000, when 16 whales of three species stranded along 150 miles of shoreline as ships blasted the area with sonar. The U.S. Navy later acknowledged in an official report that its use of sonar was the likely cause of the stranding."We can protect our national security without endangering whales, dolphins, and other marine species," said Cara Horowitz, a project attorney at NRDC. "When it chooses to train in uniquely rich waters like the areas off Hawaii, the Navy must take significant steps to avoid harming whales during tests of mid-frequency sonar.*****Courtesy of Richard Diamond on Kauai*****Courtesy of Peemer on Mauio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o2) Take Action Online to Protect Whales from Navy SonarIf the above article impacted you about the upcoming sonaring of the Hawaiian waters for 3 weeks beginning July 5, I've just done some research and you can send an e-mail to the Secretary of the Navy. Take action to protect whales and other ocean inhabitants from the Navy's deadly mid-frequency Sonar. Go to:http://www.nrdcaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2 & item=52189*****Courtesy of Peemer on Mauio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o3) Keepers of the Sea Call for Help!There is no longer serious scientific debate whether marine mammals are dying from intense man made noise. A range of experts, from the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee to the U.S. Navy's own commissioned scientists, have agreed that the evidence linking mass strandings to mid-frequency sonar is convincing and overwhelming.Yet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the government agency responsible for protecting marine life and enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, appears ready to authorize a permit to deploy RIMPAC 06. RIMPAC is a major sonar exercise that the Navy wants to conduct off the main islands of Hawaii starting June 26th through July 28th 2006. Hawaiians witnessed the damage that Navy sonar caused during the last RIMPAC exercise on July 3rd 2004. More than 150 melonhead whales crowded into Hanalei Bay for 28 hours while the navy was training with sonar offshore. Yet the Navy will able be to use the same dangerous sonar systems at the same power levels in the very same places associated with the Hanalei stranding of 2004.Dr. Ann West and Margaret Wright are co-producing a series of radio interviews regarding the impact of the Navy’s low and medium sonar frequencies. Each week Ann will be interviewing the world's leading experts on marine mammals and noise pollution in the ocean.Some of the experts include: NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council senior policy analyst Michael Jasny. Lindy Weilgard, Ph.D at Dalhousie University Nova Scotia a Marine Biologist Naomi Rose, Marine Mammal scientist with the International Humane Society Robin Baird, Ph.D. Cascadia Research biologist for the Hawaiian Islands. And many others The series will run weekly every Sunday at 12 noon Hawaii Standard Time on KKCR. Tune in worldwide on the web at <http://www.KKCR.org>. On Kauai listen at: 92.7 FM Anahola, 90.9 Hanalei, and 91.9 island-wide. On Oahu listen at 104.7 FM.Contact Info: Keepers of the Sea Calls for help DR Ann West (808) 828-0370 <drannwestMargaret Wright (808) 651-4038 <Margaretwright25*****Courtesy of Haiku Helenhttp://haikuhelen.como >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o4) Whalers Take over IWCGWA (Global Whale Alliance)As expected, yesterday saw the whalers win a pro-whaling vote here at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for the first time in almost three decades. A vote on the 'St Kitts and Nevis Declaration' -- which described the moratorium on whaling as "no longer necessary" and called for the 'normalisation' of the IWC -- was passed by 33 votes, while anti-whaling nations only achieved 32.The declaration states that the moratorium on commercial whaling is no longer necessary; that whales eat 'huge quantities of fish'; that the IWC has failed to implement a management regime to regulate commercial whaling; that the use of whales in the Caribbean and elsewhere 'contributes to sustainable coastal communities and food security'; dismisses management for 'emotional reasons' and rejects as unacceptable 'threats' from international NGO's with 'self-interest campaigns 'on matters of sovereign rights'.Delegates were shocked at the undiplomatic and somewhat undignified language used in the declaration, which is merely a statement, but was presented as a resolution and forced to a vote, thanks largely to the Danish Chair of the Commission.'Resolutions are not legally binding, and the whalers are still more than 20 votes short of a majority where they could lift the whaling ban' said Andy Ottaway of Campaign Whale, 'However, it is shocking that a country like Denmark should be supporting commercial whaling. As for the rest of the Declaration's supporters, apart from Norway, Russia, and Iceland, the rest were all countries 'bought and brought' here by Japan.''Denmark's vote with the whaler's was decisive, and European and especially Danish public opinion will be outraged by this betrayal of the whales' he said.However, the role of the six Caribbean States' in attempts to resume commercial whaling cannot be ignored. Japan has lavished millions of dollars in aid on these countries, especially in fisheries development, and have secured their unwavering support for whaling in return."The sad fact is, that after the last Japanese trawler has left the Caribbean with no fish stocks, and their tourism industry has collapsed through tourism boycotts, the Caribbeans will have plenty of time to regret their support for whaling' said Ottaway.-------Campaign Whale is dedicated to protecting all whales and dolphins and their habitats. Campaign Whale is founder of the Global Whale Alliance, and a member of the Whalewatch coalition, fighting the resumption of commercial whaling. Campaign Whale PO Box 2673 Lewes, East Sussex BN8 5BZ UK Tel: + 44(0)1273 471403 http://www.campaign-whale.org http://www.global-whale-alliance.org*****Courtesy of Sandra AbelsGreat Whales FoundationU.S. Citizens Against Whalinghttp://www.usagainstwhaling.orgo >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o5) Take Action Online to Stop Whaling NowPeemer from Mother Maui writes:Here's a quickie petition you can sign to help curb the recent push to reinstate WHALING again, if you can believe THAT. oysh. I have just read and signed the petition: "Save Whales From a Cruel End: Stop Whaling Now" athttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/446578966o >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o6) A Wake Up Call to Save the World's Whaleshttp://snipurl.com/sk6j originally:http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allnews/836E5759173DD6D08025719400306E78From the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS.org) 21 June 2006With the International Whaling Commission and the fate of the world's whales now under the control of Japan, WDCS asks what next to save the whale?At the IWC's 58th meeting, on the Carribbean island of St Kitts between 16th and 20th June, pro-whaling countries gained a majority of votes for the first time in over 20 years. In a landmark moment, with the passing of the 'St Kitts and Nevis Declaration', the moratorium on commercial whaling was proclaimed unnecessary, the IWC dysfunctional, conservation groups a threat to governments, and whales voracious predators that are out-competing humans.The 'St Kitts and Nevis Declaration' flies in the face of world opinion and was secured by just one vote, with 33 votes in favour, 32 against and one abstention. Significantly and controversially, Denmark was the only European Union Member State to vote in favour of the declaration, causing an outcry across Europe and around the world. Thousands of protest letters have been sent to the Danish Embassy in the UK alone.The moratorium on commercial whaling has not been a complete success but it has saved many thousands of whales and saved several populations from the brink of extinction. Japan's objective of overturning this ban will require over three quarters of the vote at the IWC, which Japan does not yet have. Japan must hope to gain that majority next year when the IWC meets in the USA; the home of the original 'save the whale ' movement. However, WDCS hopes that the setbacks of this meeting will act as a catalyst for high level intervention from conservation-minded countries to take back the IWC and ensure the security of whale populations.Philippa Brakes, Whale Welfare Expert for WDCS said: "This may be just the wake up call that the world needs. The global community has another year to prevent this tragedy from occurring and with such a spotlight on the IWC now, we can only hope that any countries that might have been considering joining at the whalers behest, or continuing to vote under instructions from the whaling nations, will reconsider the implications of being accessories to one of the biggest environmental crimes of the millennium."At the start of the five day IWC meeting, anti-whaling countries maintained a slim majority and rejected Japan's proposals to introduce secret voting, overturn a whale sanctuary in Antarctica, and remove vital work on small cetaceans from the Commission's agenda. However, the discussions on these issues gave a shocking insight into what Japan's control of the Commission will mean for whales. Japan also put forward a proposal to permit four coastal whaling communities to hunt hundreds of minke whales despite the ban on commercial whaling. The proposal needed a three quarters majority to succeed, and was soundly defeated.To read updates from the International Whaling Commission meeting, where WDCS's team of experts were fighting for the protection of whales, go to:http://snipurl.com/sk6h originallyhttp://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/9ED8BFE5B0C9F6FA8025718D004A773F*****Courtesy of Peggy Okio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o7) Whaling Wars 2006 End in Another IWC StandoffPowered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News NetworkSOURCE - Sea ShepherdST. KITTS (20 June 2006)http://www.cdnn.info/news/eco/e060620.htmlThe 58th Annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ended today in St. Kitts & Nevis.In brief the whales did not lose any ground this year despite efforts by Japan to bribe as many small needy nations as possible to join the IWC.Togo arrived two days late for the meeting to pay their membership fees. The money was in a brown paper bag - $13,000 in Japanese Yen. Togo and Japan both insist that Togo's decision to join the IWC and to vote for Japan's pro-whaling initiatives are independent positions by Togo without influence from Japan.The Japanese certainly seem to think the rest of the world is just plain dumb.The most dramatic protest at this year's event was Dolphin defender Ric O'Berry of One Voice from France who silently walked through the Marriott Hotel where the meeting was held with a television screen hanging from his neck displaying a video of the horrific dolphin slaughter at Taiji, Japan.It was a peaceful protest but despite that he was later hustled out of his hotel room in the dead of night by St. Kitt's police, threatened with physical violence and ordered to leave the country.In their discussion about non-governmental organizations posing a threat to whaling, the IWC deliberately did not mention the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society by name. Instead we were referred to as that organization that is banned from the IWC.Japan showed up with 54 delegates along with a contingent of bought and paid for delegates from tiny nation states around the world. For the prostitute nations it was a no-brainer. All they had to do was vote yes on every Japanese resolution. It was a simple vote yes, get wined and dined, vote yes, have lunch, vote yes, lie out by the pool, vote yes and go have some drinks. The Japanese even provided local girls for some horizontal entertainment. All expenses paid. Easy inside work, no heavy lifting and they did not even have to think, but then again being politicians, it is what they all do normally anyhow.New Zealand and Australia were betrayed and embarrassed by Pacific Island nations that voted for Japan despite receiving large aid packages from New Zealand. Japan ties their aid to specific conditions like supporting whaling and New Zealand does not, and this is a credit to New Zealand on the surface but is viewed upon as being naive by Japan. With New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Palau can have their cake and eat it also. They can also cut slices from the Japanese cake but with conditions. Why choose between both when one does not mind you eating the other's cake.If New Zealand is really serious about saving the whales they should cut off all foreign aid to these six island nations. If they wish to support whaling then Japan should support them and New Zealand should transfer aid to nations that support marine conservation. Kenya, Costa Rica, and Peru could use some help and if they had the assistance from pro-whale nations that the other nations get from Japan, they would have been in St. Kitts voting to help save the whales. ..."In spite of the so-called special relationship New Zealand enjoys with the Pacific states, Japan has marched in and bought the votes of nations like Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon's from under our noses," McCully said.The Pacific countries which voted with Japan received around $25 million in aid from New Zealand this year.The Solomon's, at $18m, is New Zealand's biggest bilateral aid recipient and scores of Kiwi troops are serving there as part of an international security force."The fact that Japan received the votes of some nations that Chris Carter thought were committed to the anti-whaling cause raises serious questions about his competence as our lead negotiator," McCully said."The fact that the Clark government has actually created special Pacific access quotas, giving Tuvalu and Kiribati citizens privileged treatment for immigration into New Zealand, makes the defection of those two states doubly annoying."Environment Minister Carter did not respond to McCully and found himself in a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. On one hand he is being accused of being wimpy by rival political opponents and on the other he is being called an extremist by the whalers.As Japan's IWC vote-buying strategy begins to pay dividends, environmental groups around the world are beginning to express serious interest in supporting Cyber Diver's tourism boycott launched in 2001 of pro-whaling 'sun and fun' destinations in the Pacific and Caribbean. ...New Zealand and Australia have vowed to become more aggressive in their defense of the whales.Sea Shepherd does support and applaud the efforts of both New Zealand and Australia and encourages them to become more aggressive in their defense of the whales.The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society believes that whale defending nations must take a strong diplomatic stance in defense of the whales and that includes cutting foreign aid to nations supporting whales.They should also make an effort to uphold international conservation law against illegal whaling activities and they should physically intercept and order the Japanese whaling fleet out of the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary and out of the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone. What part of the word Exclusion do they not understand?In response to being labeled a threat to the whalers, Greenpeace responded that they are not a threat and that they are merely spectators and bearing witness to atrocity is not threatening.The position of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is that yes, damn right, we are a threat. We have been a threat to whaling for three decades and we intend to continue to be a threat.Whaling is an illegal activity and the votes at the IWC this year confirm the illegality of Japanese, Norwegian and Icelandic whaling.Captain Paul Watson said that he does indeed threaten to uphold the law against illegal whaling activities.The Caribbean nations are looking at threats of an international tourism boycott of the islands that endorse whaling. There are plenty of islands in the Caribbean to choose from. It is no great sacrifice to avoid the nations that support the slaughter of whales like Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua.Divers, sailors, sun and rum lovers on the whole are also whale lovers and those dollars with a little persuasion can go to other more humane nations where the governments have not sold out their principles to the Japanese.In Brisbane anti-whaling protestors stormed the Japanese Consulate.Ten Greenpeace protesters arrived at the IWC meeting after the meetings ended and proceeded to plant a banner on the beach. They were promptly arrested by St. Kitts police for illegal entry into the country.Whaling and pro-whaling nations are running around excitedly crowing about the non-binding resolution carried by one vote to condemn the moratorium on whaling and to condemn anti-whaling groups as a threat. The resolution also accused the whales of eating too much fish thus exposing the ridiculous perspective that Japan and allies are displaying at these meetings.Bottom line for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is that whaling in the Southern Oceans continues to be illegal and we will continue to oppose it and that means we have the legal right in accordance with the U.N. World Charter for Nature to once again intercept the pirate Japanese whalers in the Southern Oceans.*****Courtesy of Peggy Okio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o8) Cockroach Don't Business ...http://tinyurl.com/nd4fz originally:http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060621/cleisure/cleisure3.htmlBy Peter EspeutJamaica GleanerJune 21, 2006VOTE-BUYING in international organisations is not a new phenomenon, neither is it new to the Caribbean. But it is, of course, a breach of International Law. The 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the United Nations Charter states, inter alia, that "No State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measure to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights and to secure from it advantages of any kind."By all accounts Japan has provided upwards of US$100 million in fisheries aid to six eastern Caribbean states since 1998, and receives their voting support in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This is my second IWC meeting (my first was in 1999) and over the period the support that Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have given to Japan has become noticeably more resolute.NO STOMACH FOR WHALINGCommercial whaling has never been done in any of these countries; in the 19th century two foreigners set up a whaling base on the Grenadine island of Bequia and did their own thing, but the practice did not spread; today only one person occasionally goes whaling. The government of the SVG uses this to claim that they have a 'tradition' of subsistence whaling, and has received from the IWC a 'subsistence' quota of four whales/year; they have never had the stomach to take more than two (killing a whale produces a lot of blood), and in the last year have taken only one. In addition, eastern Caribbean stomachs and palates have not taken to eating whale meat, nor do they use whale-bone or blubber.In his opening address to the 2006 IWC meeting, Foreign Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Tim Harris stated that "St. Kitts and Nevis will never sell its national interest" and spoke of a "congruence of policy position" between his country and the pro-whaling interests. "Japan is the largest giver of foreign aid in the world" others have said in their defence; "and some receivers support Japan in the IWC and some don't".VOTING FOR JAPAN'S CAUSEWhaling is not a subsistence or commercial activity anywhere in the region, and so we have no direct national or regional interest to defend. It is hard to understand the passion with which these countries advocate the cause of Japan in the forum of the IWC. I wish our delegates to various other international bodies would advocate our national and regional interests with the same vigour!The U.S.A., Australia, and New Zealand do not support a resumption of commercial whaling; only Denmark of the 17 European Union (EU) nations which are members of the IWC sometimes votes with Japan to support commercial whaling (a pre-condition of EU membership is an anti-whaling stance). The only IWC member countries which today support whaling and have a history of whaling are Japan, Norway, and Iceland. In recent years, Japan has been able to co-opt about 30 other countries to its cause through strategic disbursements of foreign aid. Not all of it has been fisheries aid; Mongolia, for example, is completely landlocked, and has no marine fisheries, never mind whaling.In addition, Japan pays the (relatively high) IWC membership fees for all these countries (about US$12,000/year each), and covers all their costs to attend IWC meetings, including airfares, accommodation, and subsistence.*****Courtesy of Peggy Okio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o9) Links to Video Summaries of the IWC Meetingsfrom the <http://www.WHALEWATCH.org> website may be viewed as listed:Day 1: "Anti-whaling still in Majority" (17/06/2006)(Please note that the opening speaker is from St.Kitts, a country whose votes are bought by Japan, and in his statement: "...beneficial to the millions of PEOPLE...")http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=76Day 1: "30 for - 33 against: majority held" (17/06/2006) (This includes the topic of small cetaceans, such as dolphins, slaughtered by Japan)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=79Day 2: "Latest update from St. Kitts" (17/06/2006) (This includes the topic of small cetaceans, such as dolphins, slaughtered by Japan and Pilot Whales in Denmark, and the Secret Ballots)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=80Day 2: "Conservation concerns grow" (18/06/2006) (This includes the topic of "Normalization of the IWC" as the goal of pro-whaling nations.)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=81Day 3: "How could commercial whaling resume?" (18/06/2006) (Regarding the work of NGO's opposed to whaling, and the pro-whaling "St. Kitts Declaration")http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=84Day 3: "Southern Whale Sanctuary saved" (18/06/2006)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=90Day 3: Danish vote means anti-whalers lose first vote (19/06/2006) (Passage of the pro-whaling "St. Kitts Declaration")http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=91Day 4: "Whalewatch is outraged by 'St Kitts Declaration'" (19/06/2006)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=93Day 4: "Coastal communities depend on whale watching" (20/06/2006)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=95Day 5: "Welfare crucial to the Moratorium" (21/06/2006)http://www.whalewatch.org/en/mediaplayer_iwc.asp?con_id=99~~~~~~~~~~~~~~For further information, please visit http://www.whalewatch.org*****Courtesy of Peggy Okio >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< >><(((*> <*)))><< o10) Is This the End of the Ban on Whaling? Int. Fund Animal Welfare/IFAW <fred June 27, 2006 I write to you with some troubling news from the close of this week's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting. By the slimmest of margins, a vote of 33 to 32 with one abstention, Japan has pushed through a resolution that seeks to overturn the ban on commercial whaling.Having failed to win any key resolutions they put before the 58th annual meeting of the IWC, Japan and other pro-whaling nations were able to sneak through the "St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration" at the last moment, a general non-binding agreement calling for the resumption of whaling.Thankfully, the ban cannot be overturned without a three-fourths majority. But this is the first time the pro-whaling side has won a majority on a key issue since the IWC adopted the ban twenty years ago -- a grave signal for the future of the world's whales.Let's make sure this is the last time whales lose a vote. Act now at:http://snipurl.com/sk9zSeveral nations attended the IWC for the first time this year. Cambodia, Marshall Islands, Mali, Gambia, and Togo came carrying the pro-whaling banner -- after receiving significant development aid from Japan. Israel came for the first time, opposed to commercial whaling.Japan failed to end protection for dolphins and porpoises, lost an attempt to hunt Minke and Bryde whales in its territorial waters and couldn't dismantle the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Yet no real progress was made to stop the cruel annual slaughter by Japan of thousands of whales each year in the name of "science."The next "scientific" whaling season in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary will take another 1000 whales, with 50 endangered humpback whales added to the scientific menu the following year. Which is why, now more than ever, we need strong diplomatic pressure on Japan.Cruelty of whaling unveiledA new report containing scientific analysis of Japanese whale hunt video footage was also released at the IWC. You can view it at:http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/dfiles/file_665.pdfCo-authored by IFAW and the Australian government, the report provides clear scientific evidence that contradicts the message touted by Japan for years -- that their whaling is done humanely.You don't need to be a scientist to figure out that firing harpoons into whales and then slowly suffocating them is unacceptable. But according to the report, more than 80% of harpooned whales are not killed instantly and may struggle from 10 to 35 minutes before dying. It's got to stop.The final alarm has been soundedThanks to your help and support we've been able to generate more press and public attention on whaling than we've seen in decades. Around the world we made progress in all regions. Belize reversed its position and Guatemala decided not to send representation. Our work in China meant that China only voted with Japan on some of the votes: as in 2005, this is a huge success. And in the Caribbean itself the political fall-out from the issues we raised in the media will continue well after the meeting.But even though this year's IWC has ended, whaling has not. Japan's efforts to compromise the IWC by buying off votes has nearly succeeded. We can not allow Japan to use its wealth to pressure poorer countries into supporting its campaign to hunt whales. In the Caribbean where this year's IWC was held, whale watching is now a US$10-million industry. New Caribbean voices from citizens' groups, ecotourism operators and businesspeople were heard in support of whale protection. Yet some Caribbean leaders continue to support Japan's whaling program.Strong U.S. opposition is our best weapon against the continuing slaughter. Japan's Prime Minister is visiting Washington this week, just a few days after U.S. and Japanese delegates fought over whale protection at the IWC. Please urge President Bush to raise the whaling issue in the strongest possible terms when he meets with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi this week -- before the next IWC vote delivers consequences that can never be undone.Thanks for all you do,Fred O'ReganPresident and CEOLarry MorningstarOcean Sanctity Newslettermana7*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:**:-.,_,.-:*'`` Ocean Sanctity Newsletter ``'*:-.,_,.-:**:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*Note: Some text in the above articles has been boldedby this editor for emphasis.Purpose of this list: To Preserve Ocean Sanctity To Ensure a safe home for Whales and Dolphins and all denizens of the sea, and a safe place for humans to visit. To Find safe alternatives to the Navy's LFAS & NPAL Sonar Testing and Deployment LFAS = "Low Frequency Active Sonar" NPAL = "North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory" project, formerly called ATOC To See an end to the testing and deployment of other dangerous acoustic technologies such. To Promote respectful interspecies interaction.Providing: Updates, Articles, Stories, Alerts, Poems, and Quotes relating to Dolphins, Whales, and other inhabitants of the seas, and to our Oceans.Volume - low, usually 1 or 2 newsletters per month, plus the occasional **Alert**To to this list: send a message with the words: ": Ocean Sanctity Newsletter" to: mana7To to this list: send a message with the words: ": Ocean Sanctity Newsletter" to: mana7And remember...*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:* "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; Indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" -- Margaret Mead*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:* o>><<>>o<<>><<o Disclaimer & Fair Use NoticeOur eNewsletters are all provided as a public service ofRainbow Bridge Mission. 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