Whaling Opponents Converge on Japan

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http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-16-02.html

 

Whaling Opponents Converge on Japan

 

TOKYO, Japan, May 16, 2002 (ENS) - The International

Fund for Animal Welfare brought its objections to

continued Japanese whaling into the center of Tokyo

today in advance of the annual International Whaling

Commission meeting next week in the whaling town of

Shimonoseki, Japan.

 

In a packed press conference at the Foreign

Correspondents Club of Japan representatives of the

anti-whaling group briefed dozens of key international

and Japanese media on the controversial issues to be

debated at next week's IWC meeting in Shimonoseki,

Japan.

 

The group previewed new elements of a global

multi-media campaign, led by actor Pierce Brosnan

encouraging individuals and countries around the world

to increase pressure on Japan to end its whaling. The

James Bond star narrates TV spots that will appear in

Japan and around the world beginning later this year.

They include beautiful shots of live whales and bloody

footage of Japanese whaling operations.

" The IWC suspended all commercial whaling in 1986, but

Japan has been killing whales ever since, " Dr. Chris

Tuite, IFAW Director of Wildlife and Habitat, said at

the press briefing. " Recent moves by the Japanese

Fisheries Agency threaten to destroy three decades of

hard-won protections for whales. These fisheries

bureaucrats will stop at nothing. Their irresponsible

statements and actions now also threaten Japan's

reputation and credibility in the international

community. "

 

IFAW representatives also criticized Japan's so-called

" scientific whaling " program and rejected claims by

Japan and a handful of other pro-whaling countries

that whales should be killed because they eat too many

fish.

 

Japan is facing stiff opposition to its bid to resume

legal commercial whaling from about half the member

countries of the International Whaling Commission. On

May 7, the ambassadors from 18 countries delivered a

letter to Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shigeo

Uetake calling on Japan to immediately abandon its

" scientific whaling " program, which the statement

noted does not have the support of the IWC or its

Scientific Committee.

 

" As member states of the IWC, our governments consider

Japan's actions as undermining the authority of the

IWC, and as designed to undo the decades of progress

that have achieved the substantial level of protection

that whales enjoy today, " they said in a statement

released by the U.S. Embassy.

 

" Our governments reaffirm their strong commitment to

the conservation of whales, while at the same time

rejecting commercial whaling, " the member countries

said.

 

Under the plan that Japan has submitted to the IWC,

Japan's northern Pacific fleet hopes to take 150

minkes, 50 Bryde's whales, 50 sei whales and 10 sperm

whales in the coming season.

" The programme represents a major expansion of Japan's

whaling operations, " said the statement from the 18

IWC members, including Australia, Brazil, France,

Germany, Britain and the United States.

 

The United States delegation to the 54th annual

meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

headed by Commissioner Rolland Schmitten of the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

intends to maintain a strong case against the

resumption of commercial whaling.

 

In a statement issued today, the U.S. expressed strong

opposition to the killing of a new and protected

species - the sei whale.

 

" The United States particularly objects to the

proposed expansion to take a new species of whale in

2002, and, along with 17 other IWC members, has

formally called upon Japan to withdraw its proposal to

expand the program, " the statement said.

 

Japan's research program now results in the killing of

up to 600 whales - 540 minke whales, 50 Bryde's

whales, and 10 sperm whales per year. More than 6,200

whales have been killed since Japan began research

whaling in 1988.

 

The United States plans to oppose commercial whaling,

an expansion of scientific whaling and trade in whale

products.

 

In the U.S. Senate, Senator John Kerry, a

Massachusetts Democrat, submitted a resolution May 14

urging the United States to remain " firmly opposed " to

commercial whaling and to support the establishment of

whale sanctuaries.

 

With bipartisan support, the proposed resolution was

referred the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

 

© Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All Rights

Reserved.

 

 

 

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