Solomon Islands
Posted by Irene onboard the Esperanza
©Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
But listen to this: 72% of the population in the Solomon Islands answered NO to the question "Do you think your country should vote for or against a return to commercial whaling?" in a poll done by WWF in 2006!
The decision by some nations to support the Japanese government's pro-whaling position has very little to do with a real interest in a return to commercial whaling - a dog lies buried here, as we say back home.
It is known that the Japanese government picks up the bill for the Solomon delegations travel expenses.
Furthermore the Japanese government's foreign aid in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA) often correlates with sympathetic votes in the IWC.
I don't pretend to be a mathematician, but the total cost for the whaling program must add up to quite a lot of yen, if you include lobbyism, vote buying, the whaling fleet, it's supporting coastguard vessels…
Read more: Financial Grants and Votes for Whaling (PDF)
The next IWC-meeting will be held in June in Santiago, Chile. Let's see how many new sympathetic members the Japanese government will manage to buy until then.
We've spotted a couple of whales today by the way, only enough to state that
a) It was some kind of whale and
b) It was definitely there (except for one that turned out to be a funnily shaped log).
A friend back in Stockholm told me that the city was snowy white there yesterday - if only I could beam myself over, just for five minutes, and stick my face in the snow. And then go back to the Esperanza again, of course.
- Iréne
Comments
But then, if only the anti-whaling nations could gove more support for those developping nations which, let's face it, probably couldn't exist just on their own...
I saw recently a chart of how much money is given to those nations on every domain from schools to better boats - half of the aid comes from Japan alone. You just don't bite the hand that feeds you. Now, if they had more than one hand feeding them, they might become more independent, don't you think?
It's time anti-whaling nations put some actual action behind their words, and actually did some effort to counter the vote buying.
The solution is not to stop helping those nations, it's just more help, from other places.
Posted by: Juliette | November 29, 2007 3:21 PM
Thanks for your comment Juliette, and for pointing out that the solution is of course not to stop helping each other!
- Iréne
Posted by: Irene | November 30, 2007 12:57 AM
What Juliette says is so true. Everything is so political as well. These animals and this earth isn't a republican or Democrat, poor or rich, and doesn't take from us. We take from the animals and earth. Why do we have to involve money? Why can't other countries see that standing up for what you believe in can eventually be beneficial for them and the world? Even the site is different for US and international? Why? Aren't we fighting for the same cause? wHY isn't the US doing more for the Whales? I have so many questions Sorry
Posted by: Stacey | November 30, 2007 1:10 AM
hay algun latino a bordo?.. SUERTE CHICOS .. GOOD LUCK ..
Posted by: Kairi | November 30, 2007 5:27 AM
What a pity Steve Shallhorn, CEO Greenpeace Australia Pacific, comes out with divisive comments like "I think Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd) criticises Greenpeace in order to create market differentation for himself" (tvnz.co.nz)
Someone should have a word with him.
Posted by: peter | November 30, 2007 10:53 AM
this photo is AMAZING!
Posted by: steve-o | November 30, 2007 10:25 PM
Peter, I believe you are talking about this story: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1467550
I suggest you read this one too ( http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_071120_2.html ), and start wondering for a minute who's being dishonest here.
Mr. Watson's story keeps changing. We he's "official" and "on the record", such as in a press release, he's an angel, pure as the driven snow. When he's "off the record" he brags about ramming ships.
Greenpeace doesn't have to accept any offer of cooperation with someone being so dishonest, and who offers cooperation on their own non-negotiable terms only.
I think it's in Greenpeace's interest to be as open as possible, and Mr Watson's tactics are anything but.
Posted by: Juliette | December 1, 2007 10:24 AM
im sorry but i agree with mr. watson and the sea shepherd...we are all on the same side, we are all trying to protect these whales, even if it includes ramming the japanese, i proberly would to, if i saw what they and you see out there...i wanted to apply to travel on the Robert Hunter ship when it was docked here, maybe next time, when i have more notice..everyone has their own approach to situations, but as long as you are both fighting the same fight, and the more the better...
Posted by: Taylor | December 2, 2007 3:03 AM
Iaorana Girls & Guys!
Ippon in Tahiti Nui !!
Our environment minister Georges Handerson signed with IUCN, to create a marine reserve in Fakarava and Moorea.
www.matanatura.spaces.live.com
Posted by: Mata | December 3, 2007 6:38 AM
What kind of influence does the Solomon Islands' exploitation of cetaceans for food and export revenue have on their position at the IWC?
Posted by: david | December 4, 2007 5:58 AM