Missing the Boat Part 2 | Home | News roundup

W-O-W !!!!!! Great news! Congrats to all and in particular to those who acted so well behind the scene for this important success.

And, surprise, they're threatening to leave the IWC.

I swear they drag out the same press release every time they lose.

But this IS really too close for comfort.

I think Greenpeace needs to come up with a Fisheries Aid Program to counter the Japanese vote buying handouts that are going to the pro-whaling countries.

This is wonderful news. Just read the update on WDCS website, now here - unbelievable!
I've been checking in often today for results - almost afraid to read bad news!
Way to go! Maybe if Japan loses face again, will leave the IWC.
And maybe that's not such a bad thing since Japanese government won't play by the rules anyway.
Just my opinion.
Thanks for the list - maybe we can target those countries that voted with Japan - nicely worded letters before next year's meeting - encouraging a conservation approach.

WaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAAaaAHHHHOOOOOooooOOOOO!!!!!

Excellent news Andrew!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing that with us - cant wait to tell my daughter as she loves sea creatures (she was born under the stars of Pisces coincidently %)...

We must say no to secret balloting!... Shame on you Japanese Government - we Queenslanders in Oz support your Country! Japan needs to support tourism not the raping of our seas...

As for the Countries like New Zealand and Australia - well bloody good on yas! Thank you Australian Government and our Greenpeace Troupers for helping me to keep believing that we really CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE if we stand together and respect the only planet we can live on...

k... enough blabbing... Great News!!!! YipeeeeEEeeeee!!! WipppEEEE!!!! Yes! Yes!

Love and peace

Luna (skipping off to read her accountable Cosmos Magazine %)

Pssstttt... one more thing and Im done...good on The Guardian for being one of the first to print about it!!!!!! Yipeee!!!!!! Yahooooo!!!!!!!

This is so inspiring. We hold our breath to see whether the whales will come out victorious at the end of the St.Kitts meeting, and the IWC continues to transform into a world body that has conservation high on its agenda, and not whaling. It might even require a new name. Why not International Commission for Whale Conservation?

Here is an editorial that I had the privilege to write for my newspaper, The Hindu, in India, and I am relieved to find that India opposed secret ballots. Greenpeace should ensure that India votes on every resolution to protect whales and defeat the plan to weaken conservation.

There’s a 3 vote gap - but it’s actually a gap represented by 440 million people - yet all Japan has to do is buy enough votes from tiny islands to gain the “majority”. I am pleased that the whales are not in great danger this year but I am already worried about next year ;-(

The IWC needs to change if it is to be a truly democratic organisation that can't easily be taken over by one country's greed.

We need to convince the nations on the pro-whaling side that there people do not want it and that this will matter more than the bribe money.

If you live in one of these countries please send a letter to your government or representative.

We also need to create more support for us in the IWC, we need to ask other anti-whaling nations to join, I am sure that some nations, such as Poland, for example could and would join if put under pressure for its people as well as if the rest of us appeal to these governments, asking them to join as it is morally right. I am starting to write letters to these nations, I urge you to as well. We must act to prevent from becoming so close in the future, whether or not Japan pulls out.

When i read this it felt like a large rock dropped away from my head. if i did belive in god i would say: Thank you god!..
however i dont but im still happy, for the sake of the whales and all the other animals out there who may see a better life after this vote.

I really do hope japan makes their threat for real! leave the iwc japan you dont belong there anyway

Doing a little researching re: secret ballot vote, for and against.
IWC 2002 - Shimonoseki, Japan, YES - 19/NO - 24;
IWC 2003 - Berlin, Germany, YES - 19/NO - 26;
IWC 2004 - Sorrento, Italy, YES - 24/NO - 29;
IWC 2005 - Ulsan, Korea, YES - 27/NO - 30;
IWC 2006 - St. Kitts, YES - 30/NO - 33.
And what is interesting is that in spite of a resolution that states same vote, i.e., secret ballots cannot be called forth after being defeated year after year, Japan gets away with this. Is there a legal action that can be taken? Apparently US initiated a resolution to this effect in 2001/02. If I am wrong in this assessment, please someone correct me.

Costa Rica is a great country for whalewatching but couldn't vote because they hadn't paid their dues - maybe should work on them for next year. Peru usually votes with anti-whaling camp, but behind in dues - another one to encourage for next year.
Dominican Republic has never belonged to IWC (as far as I know)
and has their own declared whale sanctuary - Silver Bank. Wonder if government could be encouraged to join with a little financial assistance.
I agree with PanSap - time to get out the pen and paper and do some letters in preparation for next year - we have to take more of an offensive tactic. Thanks.

IWC, Saint Kitts and Nevis — We’re all breathing a sigh of relief as news comes through from St Kitts that pro-whaling nations led by Japan have failed to gain a majority at the International Whaling Commission (IWC). But that doesn’t mean they’ve seen the last of us – we are also announcing our return to the Southern Ocean this year to oppose the continued ‘scientific hunt’ which will target 935 minke whales and ten endangered fin whales

WHOOOOOOOO WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO GREAT NEWS ANDREW
Thanks for keeping everyone updated
Wish I could have met you - some where in the Marriott! hahaha I am soooooo happy even thought still very saddened that GOSK voted for

Good luck in the Southern Ocean this year

Woooo! So glad on that out come!

Now we just have to stop Japan killing over 1400 whales a year for 'scientific research'...

But good news for now! I hope it stays good!

Great! Fantastic! Thank Goodness some good news!

And now, Greenpeace need to get back in December to the Antartic to save the wales!!! The want to catch even more whales then last year. We cant let this happen. Greenpeace, p[ease please please go back and save the whales!!!

I have just heard on the c.b.c. that japan intend's to go ahead with the slaughter of hump back whale's regarless of the vote . This must not be allowed to happen what can I DO ? JEANIEC

How many whaling ships/fleets do the japanese have?
Can they be tracked out of their ports and shadowed by existing anti-whaling vessels?
What is the best way of stopping the slaughter of Humpbacks - the article in the Independent today
Sunday 18th)is awful.
HOW can the japanese be stopped?
WHY is 'scientific whaling' still allowed it is complete joke.
How can we help - who can we lobby for best effect?

Hi Sekhment, here's some answers from our team in St Kitts:

Japan has on the High Seas: 1 factory ship and 3 catchers, Coastal: 5

Can they be tracked out of their ports and shadowed by existing anti-
whaling vessels?

Yes they could be, but refuelling would then be required as soon as they reached
the Southern Ocean.

What is the best way of stopping the slaughter of Humpbacks - the
article in the Independent today
Sunday 18th)is awful.

Humpbacks will not be taken in the southern ocean until december 2007

HOW can the japanese be stopped?

High level political initiatives need to be taken. The issue needs to be dealt
with by Prime Minister and Presidents telling the Japanese Prime Minister that
he needs to be a good global citizen and adhere to what is by far the majority
wish of his fellow world leaders and the public.

Actions against whaling activities and public outrage and participation in
campaigns will help to achieve the above.

Finally some good news.Let's not get complacent though ,we must carry on the fight.Japan ,Norway and Iceland will ignore the ban anyway .How about encouraging us to support their Greenpeace groups financially and morally ? Let us all write to our politicians and force them to do something .Economic sanctions, goods embargo I don't care as long as the slaughter of these amazing beautiful creatures stop .Extinct is forever .

I do sincerely hope that secret ballots are considered as dishonorable as an assasins blade in the back of the ecology. With such a disregard for the well being of the world, and natural habitats open for exploitation, I would seriously ban any business from being allowed to say that they're not responsible.

If not for the commonly accepted practice of the greedy business person only interested in profit for their own company, stockholders and immediate generation, there would be no secrets or crisis.

I don't find the future being threatened by business any more acceptable than Bush bombing buildings for the trumped up reason of hunting weapons of mass destruction. A weapon of mass destruction? Look no further than the stupid greedy businessman filling the politician's pocket with bribes and kickbacks. Exploiting the environment is worse than child labor exploitation, it kills the future and is a BAD investment policy.

Antigua & Barbuda, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica,
Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Mali, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau,
Russian Federation, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines,
Suriname, Tuvalu.

Remember the nations in the list above they'll stab you in the back for a few Japanese Yen.

aah Great that´s good news !!!!!!!

It would help if denmark will not hunt too,
and don´t overfish.

This is good news !!!but we can´t sit back now !this is a good time to make sure the other big countries see that there are allready to many spiecies extinct of over fishing that that´s also why other ´´fish´´ is disapearing!

Is U.S realy against? now they need to sign the the kyoto commitment and stop the violence and co2 emissions.

Because we realy don´t realy need, big ships let the kanoo fishers try.
Those boats are mass destruction.