19 June 2006
John B's IWC Update #2
by John B, at the IWC in St Kitts
Today at the IWC Japan made a proposal to abolish the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It failed by 28 to 33 votes with 4 abstentions.But they will never stop trying so we have to continue to protect the sanctuary and to defend the whales.
The sanctuary means a lot to me. I was involved in the campaign to have it adopted in 1994. I was expedition on board the Arctic Sunrise for the 1999/2000 campaign and I was project leader for the subsequent 2001/2002 and 2005/2006 expeditions. And now I will once again be part of the team for our next Southern Ocean voyage.
Its a real hard trip. Away for months. Rough seas. Missing family and friends. Seeing whales being harpooned. Being rammed. But it is worthwhile. And it is necessary.
Although established in 1994, and despite the constant calls on the Government of Japan to stop whaling, the sanctuary offers little refuge to the whales.
Until and unless governments give this issue high priority it will continue. I know what I am going to do about it. I know what Greenpeace is going to do about it. We will go back again and do our very best to save the whales.
But it will take more than that. Action at the very highest political level is required. So, Mr President, Mr Prime Minister, of the worlds governments What are you going to do about it?
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Comments
Hi, John
It's truly sad what is happening but, unfortunately, BLIAR NOT BLAIR AND TUSH NOT BUSH are far, far too busy pumping out CO2 and generating nuclear power to even think about the poor whales and it's digusting industry.
Posted by: Jodie at June 19, 2006 4:06 PM
Could this not be handed over to the United Nations.
Posted by: Alan Holland at June 19, 2006 6:32 PM
Perhaps if the IWC can't guarantee the existence of the sanctuary then it should be placed in the hands of the United Nations to protect for us all.
Posted by: Alan Holland at June 19, 2006 10:35 PM
It is astounding that the Whale Sanctuary is so appallingly treated. I cannot think of another sanctuary in the world like this, where poachers (for that is what the Japanese whalers really are) are given free reign to do as they please. Think of the game reserves in Africa, for example, and the punishments handed out to poachers caught there.
But we have here the issue of the high seas and the notion that the oceans represent a magic pudding (salt flavoured) - cut and come again - regardless of the truth. My six-year-old can see the folly of this.
There is a lot of wisdom in the idea of fisheries linked aid to the countries being bought by Japan. Poverty and greed are difficult to fight, but unless our governments are willing to address this joint issue, there isn't a prayer.
Posted by: megan at June 22, 2006 5:58 AM
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