Australia Proposes End To Whaling
The Federal Government says it wants whaling in the Southern Ocean to be phased out over the next five years and for all whaling to be brought under the control of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
An Australian proposal which has been submitted to the IWC also calls for other whaling programs to be phased out over a reasonable period of time.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says a proposal released by the IWC’s working group earlier this week falls well short of any outcome the Australian Government could accept.
Conservation groups have welcomed the Government’s proposal, which demands closure of the loophole that allows Japan to conduct so-called scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean.
The proposal also calls for an end to whaling in sanctuaries.
Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive says Australia’s proposal is a good step, but it must be emphatic in its demand to stop – not just phase out – the inhumane practice.
“It’s great to see that the Australian Government has rejected the original proposal from the IWC, which would have effectively lifted the moratorium on commercial whaling,” he said.
“And although short in detail, it’s heading much more in the right direction for stopping whaling.”
But the Federal Opposition says the Government has given Japan the green light to continue whaling in Antarctic waters.
The Opposition’s environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says the Government has broken its election promise to stop whaling.
“Mr Garrett’s proposal is a white flag which gives a green light to Japan to continue slaughtering whales in our waters for the next five years, and to continue slaughtering whales infinitely,” he said.
Extremely regrettable’
But the proposal has angered Japan, who again defended their whaling program.
“It is extremely regrettable that such a proposal was made,” said State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Koichi Takemasa, Japan’s number-two diplomat after the foreign minister.
Japanese officials stressed the legitimacy of their “research” whaling, conducted using a loophole in an international moratorium.
“It is a legitimate activity based on an international treaty,” Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture Akira Gunji said.
“We have to work hard so that the whaling issue will not affect the friendly Japan-Australia relations.”
Tensions flared last week when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd bluntly warned Japan it had until November to reduce its whale catch to zero, or face action in the ICJ.
On a visit to Australia at the weekend, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada described the ultimatum as “unfortunate”, but said his country would meet any challenge head-on and seek to prove its activities were legal.
Australia, along with New Zealand, has consistently opposed Japan’s killing of hundreds of whales each year under a loophole that allows “lethal research”.
– ABC/AFP
Monday December 14th, 2009
Australia’s prime minister threatened legal action against Japan on Friday if it does not stop its research whaling program that kills up to 1,000 whales a year.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s comments came as the Australian Broadcasting Corp. quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada as saying in an interview that Japan has no plans to halt its killing of whales in the Antarctic.
“We don’t accept Japan’s premise for those terms of so-called scientific whaling,” Rudd told Australia’s Fairfax Radio Network. “If we cannot resolve this matter diplomatically, we will take international legal action. I’ve said that before — I’m serious about it.”
Australian’s want to see an end to this barbaric madness and they want their government to lead the way. Lets make sure Rudd keeps his promise!
Photo Courtesy: AFP
read the governor’s proclamation at http://cea.org/newsinfo/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=16162
Whales Alive would like to join with colleagues all around the world and pay tribute to a hero of the whale conservation movement Dr Robbins Barstow who is 90 years young on October 24th 2009.
Aside from being a life-long amateur filmmaker and a social justice activist Robbins is best known for his dedication to the Save the Whales Movement. In 1974, he co-founded what was then named the Connecticut Cetacean Society.
Robbins successfully lobbied the tehn Governor of Conneticut to proclaim May 2nd and 3rd, 1974 as “Connecticut Save the Whale Days” and he was instrumental in getting the sperm whale named as Connecticut’s state animal.
In the 1980s, Connecticut Cetacean Society changed its name to Cetacean Society International (CSI) to reflect the group’s growing impact on whale-related conservation issues around the world. In recognition of CSI’s work, in 1988, the United Nations Environment Program named the group to its Global 500 Roll of Honor. (please see website http://csiwhalesalive.org/)
Robbins served on four occasions as a member of the US delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). He was present the year the IWC adopted the global moratorium on commercial whaling, and has had a huge influence on the conservation movement engaged with the Commission since. Robbins championed the issues of ethics with respect to whales and challenged the conservation community to become protectionist in their stance. His compassion for whales was only matched by his compassion for people.
In 1983, he helped organized the Whales Alive!Conference, which was co-sponsored by CSI, the US government and the IWC. The conference, held in Boston, was the first global meeting to address whale watching and its economic benefits. While many people only see the Save the Whales movement as “anti-whaling”, Robbins has always sought to promote the positive aspects of whales, and to offer former whaling countries an alternative that could help offset any socio-economic losses due to the whaling ban. He was a visionary leader on the issues
Robbins still serves as Director Emeritus of the Cetacean Society International. His courage, wit, warmth and hard-work ethic are cherished by all those fortunate enough to know him or just to have met him
Weblog and news
Director Of Whales Alive, Mick McIntyre And His Son Piripi (Aged 8) Participate In Humpback Whale Research On Hervey Bay With The Oceania Project.
The Oceania Project Was Established In 1988 As A Scientific, Charitable And Public Institution For The Advancement Of Community Education In The Field Of Cetacea (Whales, Dolphins And Porpoises) And The Ocean Environment.
The Principal Purpose Of The Oceania Project Is The Protection And Enhancement Of Cetacea And The Ocean Environment Through Carrying Out Research, Providing Education And Disseminating Information.
Whales Alive Attends The 18th Biennial Conference On The Biology Of Marine Mammals, Organized By The Society For Marine Mammalogy
Program Director, Olive Andrews and Scientific advisor Dr. Liz Hawkins are attending this conference, which brings together some 1500 researchers and students from around the world. It provides an opportunity to present recent findings, and to discuss approaches to improve conservation efforts for these large mammals that are also of significant interest to the public.
The science presentations will touch on several themes including behaviour, physiology, genetics, distribution and abundance, as well as, communication and evolution. Several presentations will also look at contaminants, health concerns and the impacts of different human interactions. Scientists will also debate conservation measures and regulations that contribute to the protection of these ocean giants.
for more information on the conference visit www.marinemammalscience.org, under Conference.
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