Internal disputes threaten whaling commission

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Internal disputes threaten whaling commission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

03.06.2008

 

 

 

 

The Danish IWC member fears that continued disagreement among pro- and anti-whaling nations may result in the commission's dissolution

 

 

 

 

If an agreement is not reached between pro- and anti-whaling countries at this month's meeting of the International Whaling Commission, the grupp may be abolished, fears the organisation's Danish member, Ole Samsing.

He said Denmark's position exacerbates the conflict, as it wants to support both the European Union's commercial whaling ban, yet still appease its self-governing territories of Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, whcih are guaranteed whale-catching quotas.

'We're the monarchy in the middle,' he told Information newspaper. 'We're stuck in between the whale hunters and the countries that want the animals protected.'

Samsing believes, however, that Japan poses a larger threat to the IWC's existence. If the Asian country is not allowed to continue hunting whales, it may leave the commission, causing its demise. And Japan can point to the Greenland and Faeroe quotas to strengthen their position in the debate, where Denmark has a crucial deciding vote at this month's IWC meeting.

He added that if the commission is disbanded, then countries would have free reign to decide for themselves how many whales they can hunt each year.

Steen Gade, Socialist People's Party MP and chairman of parliament's environmental committee, said Denmark's position is wrongly based on political considerations.

'It's the Foreign Ministry that is speaking for Denmark, not the Environment Ministry,' he said.

But Samsing argued that Denmark is forced to ride the fence on the whaling issue, precisely because of Greenland and the Faeroes.

'Denmark won't vote for a condemnation of any country in the IWC,' he said. 'There are undoubtedly many who find it unpleasant, but that's the way it is. We won't be drawn into a debate that ruins our future chances for compromise. (RC)

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Readers respond

Whaling is cruel and unnecessary as the whale can take a long time to suffer before death . Why humans should inflict torture on a sentient animal is beyond my comprehension and Denmark should set an example and ban this barbarism. - Jean Bennington, Denbighshire, Wales, Britain