The IWC ends: But what about the Baiji and the Vaquita?
Posted by Greenpeace team (at the last day of the International Whaling Commission, in Anchorage, Alaska)
The functional extinction of an entire species the Baiji dolphin - got just fifteen minutes of fame (or maybe less) here at the International Whaling Commission meeting. The Vaquita, the Mexican dolphin likely to become extinct in the near future got about as much notice. No time at all was spent on the estimated 3,288 cetaceans that have died worldwide as bycatch since the 59th IWC meeting began, plus the incalculable
deaths from other human causes like ship strikes, pollution, bycatch and climate change.
Instead, a huge chunk of the last four days was spent arguing over the resumption of commercial whaling.
The meeting began on Monday with Japan requesting everyone to act "civilly". That sentiment didn't go too far - there was soon a wave of so-called "hate votes"; the refusal of pro-whaling countries to participate in votes they didn't like the look of; threats to walk away from the whole process, and an almost total failure of all members to consider in detail the real threats to whales and dolphins. An intervention from the illustrious member from St. Lucia sticks in my mind, when he stated the danger caused by whalewatching in breeding grounds of "whale stocks". He prefers a different form of death and injury for whales, etc.
We're pleased that the IWC has agreed to a special meeting to discuss reform of the chaotic organisation, but to be honest, unless "reform" means actually modernising the IWC to properly address the major threats to cetaceans - which kill one animal every 90 seconds- and stop the most preventable cause – hunting - then that meeting will just become another soapbox for political grandstanding - where the only victims will be the whales.
So - we, Greenpeace, urge the Commission to ensure the pace of modernisation outstrips the pace of extinction.
- The team in Anchorage
Comments
Joji is crazy how could he not see that he is destroying one of the largest mammals in the world is wrong, and for what money? DOWN WITH WHALING!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Autumn | June 11, 2007 11:49 PM