Good news: Japan's Commercial Whaling Proposal Rejected by IWC

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I wanted to bring you some good news from the IWC. Japan's proposal to resume

commercial whaling was rejected, but unfortunately they are still allowed to

hunt for " scientific " purposes.

 

Let me know if you would like further info, photos, interviews, etc.

 

Kerry

 

Kerry Branon

Communications Coordinator

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

765 Attucks Lane

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-744-2068

508-776-9872

kbranon

www.ifaw.org <http://www.ifaw.org/>

 

 

Japan's Commercial Whaling Proposal Rejected by IWC

 

Whales Still Face Threat of Japanese " Scientific " Hunting <?xml:namespace prefix

= o ns = " urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office " />

 

 

 

 

 

(Ulsan, Korea 21 June 2005) On a strong majority vote, member countries of the

International Whaling Commission (IWC) today rejected a proposal put forward by

the Government of Japan to resume commercial whale hunting, which has been

banned by the IWC since 1986. 29 countries voted against the Japanese

proposal, 23 countries voted for it and 5 countries abstained from the vote.

 

 

 

" The whales won this one, " said Dr. Joth Singh, Director of Wildlife and Habitat

for IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) from the 57th IWC annual

meeting. " We're heartened that the pro-conservation majority at the IWC has

rejected the Japanese plan. But the harsh reality is that thousands of whales

will still be killed later this year when Japan sends its fleet out to kill

whales in the name of science. Hopefully, today's vote will be a wake up call

for the Japanese Government and they will reconsider their so-called

" scientific " whaling.

 

 

 

Japan has killed more than 8000 whales in the name of science since an IWC

moratorium on commercial whaling came into force in 1986. 40 IWC resolutions

critical of Japan's research whaling have been passed by the IWC over the past

18 years. Earlier this year, Japan announced its intention to double its

" scientific " whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary around Antarctica and add

Fin and Humpback whales to its target list.

 

 

 

Note: Countries voting for the Japanese Commercial Whaling Proposal included:

 

Antigua & Barbuda, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea,

Iceland, Japan, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Russia, St.

Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands,

Suriname, and Tuvalu.

 

 

 

Countries voting against the Japanese Commercial Whaling Proposal included:

 

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland,

France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco,

Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic,

South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States

of America.

 

 

 

Countries abstaining included:

 

China, Denmark, Kiribati, Korea, Morocco

 

 

 

###

 

 

<font size=-1 color= " blue " >

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- <a

href= " http://www.ifaw.org " >www.ifaw.org</a>) works to improve the welfare of

wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial

exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in

distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to

promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of

both animals and people.

 

This transmission is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and

may contain information that is proprietary, confidential and/or legally

privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that

any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained

herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received

this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy

the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank

you.

</font>