Australia leads diplomatic protest against Japan's whaling program

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia: Australia and some 30 other countries lodged a diplomatic protest to send "a very powerful signal" of international displeasure over Japan's whaling program, officials said Saturday, despite Tokyo's suspension of its plans to kill humpbacks.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith praised Japan for suspending plans to add up to 50 humpback whales to its annual hunt of 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales, but said Japan must do more.

"The Australian government strongly believes that there is no credible justification for the hunting of any whales and will vigorously pursue its efforts, announced earlier this week, to see an end to whaling by Japan," Smith said in a statement.

Late Friday, Australia led a group of nations in lodging a diplomatic protest with the Japanese ambassador to Australia. Smith said it was the largest single diplomatic protest yet against Japan's whaling program.

"The strength of international support for the diplomatic protest led by Australia shows that there is strong international concern over Japan's whaling program," Smith said. "The formal diplomatic protest sends a very powerful signal to the government of Japan."

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/22/asia/AS-GEN-Australia-Antarctica-Whaling.php

[Swagman]

1. Japan's claim of scientific study plus a historical tradition of

eating whale meat are completely phoney. They never had the capabilities of hunting whales 100 years ago.

Another lesson they learned from the West-the corporation is all powerful and bugger the poor whales when profit is the prime motive.