'Secret plan' to let Japan resume whaling presented to IWC

[Barrett808]

Source: The Independent

'Secret plan' to let Japan resume whaling presented to IWC
10:11AM Sunday March 09, 2008
By Geoffrey Lean and Jonathan Owen

LONDON - Controversial plans to lift the worldwide ban on whaling were presented to a secret meeting of more than 70 governments in London last week.

The plans, which have alarmed environmentalists, have been welcomed by both pro- and anti-whaling governments and seek to lift a long stalemate over hunting, enabling Japan officially to resume commercial whaling for the first time in more than 20 years.

The plans would permit the world's main whaling nation to carry out a limited hunt in waters close to its shores.

In return, Japan would have to stop exploiting a loophole in international law, through which it kills hundreds of whales around Antarctica each year under the guise of "scientific research".

The plans - drawn up at another unpublicised meeting in Tokyo last month - were presented by the governments of Argentina and the Netherlands to a closed three-day session of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) at the Renaissance Hotel near Heathrow airport this weekend.

Read more: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=500834&objectid=10497044

[Red Zelda]

1. Need a "secret plan"

to resume Japanese-ing.
.
.
OK, so delete the comment

[kristopher]

2. I think the ending of the article is interesting

The compromise aims to end decades of deadlock by allowing this coastal hunt while stopping "scientific whaling".

Proponents argue this would sharply reduce the slaughter, while allowing Japan to claim victory.

Opponents say it would be unenforceable and fail to provide a lasting solution.

So they think it would fail to provide a lasting solution? I agree. And frankly, I don't like them killing even a smaller number. I think the goal should be to convince them to stop entirely.

[MaryCeleste]

3. Interesting to see if this pans out, but Norway and Iceland would still have to be dealt with