Pro-Whaling Nations Set to Take Control

[WhiteTara]

this bodes ill for the planet.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501135.html
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Pro-whaling nations are expected to take control of the International Whaling Commission this week, giving them a majority of seats on the panel for the first time since it banned commercial hunting 20 years ago.

The expected shift comes after years of lobbying by Japan to get developing nations to join the IWC. Environmental groups accuse developing nations of voting with Japan in exchange for aid _ a charge Tokyo denies.
Diplomatic Dispatches

The 1986 moratorium was a major victory for environmentalists in protecting several species of whales that were near extinction after centuries of commercial hunting. The United States and Australia are the leading proponents of the whaling ban.

The pro-whaling nations _ including Iceland and Norway, the only nation openly conducting commercial hunts _ argue that whale populations have risen since then.

more distressing infomation at the link

[Benhurst]

1. " There are stocks of whales

that are very abundant. What's the idea of having them just there, increasing, increasing and increasing ... ."

I guess much the same could be said of mankind.

How sad.

[NaturalHigh]

2. Very sad indeed.

Whales are beautiful, intelligent creatures. Why would anyone want to hunt them?

[Mountainman]

9. Nature takes care of that quite well, man's intrusion aways fucks

things up. Only we can make a species extinct, why do we keep thinking that all nature is there for our benefit? Why not kill an animal there are plenty to go around! Why not stop the killing? Animals have just as much right to live as we do! If we take their lives so cavalier the same may happen to us. We need to honor nature not destroy it. Have a reverence for life, it is good for us. Think of sharing the earth not take what we can from it and to hell with other life forms.

[roguevalley]

10. they have souls. they are wonderful. I hate this world sometimes.

[rumpel]

3. Everyone Knows that Japan's scientifc whaling is a a ruse. It ends up

at Tsukiji, (fish market) for a highly priced delicacy - served in high priced restaurants.

http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/marine/whales/ban.html

There was a petition on defenders, but it seems the petition is now closed.

[countmyvote4real]

4. Thanks. I was wondering why the need to harvest whales.

Some people like to eat them. Not because they have to, but because they can afford to. And it doesn't seem like they are preparing the whale meat under whale oil lamps. Our species is SO fucked by themselves.

[depakid]

6. I have no problem sinking their ships in port

As sea shepards did.

As long as there's no loss of life- I've got no problem with that at all- in fact, if I controlled the US Navy....;-)

[nealmhughes]

5. They are sick.

The pseudo scientific research they claim is done...
Take one trip out of Portsmouth, NH to the Isles of Shoals and see whales in nature...then decide they aren't worthy of salvation.

[OneBlueSky]

7. time for some serious boycotts of nations engaging in whaling . . . n/t

.

[wordpix2]

14. I agree---major boycotts in order for all whaling nations & any non-whalin

g nations that go along with Japan, Norway and the rest.

[Judi Lynn]

8. The world needs a miracle. These people aren't going to let something like

decency get between them and a satisfying profit slaughtering the last of the world's whales. I hope they burn in hell.

It's murder having to be a witness to monsters running wild, knowing they have found ways to get ultimate control and can't be stopped.

What a sorrowful, tragic shame. Hope their consciences will torment them night and day, and lead them all to early deaths. No one will miss their passing, beyond other scummy, greedy right-wingers.

[Matilda]

11. A world-wide ban on the eating of sushi is needed.

I won't eat Japanese food for that reason, and also because the Japanese are over-fishing deep-sea
tuna stock, and often catching dolphins in their nets as well.

[leftchick]

12. I AGREE!

that would really send a message. God this is awful. :(

[WhiteTara]

13. True world foods is another reason to stop

with the sushi. True World is a Moonie operation. Unfortuantely I think that boycotting sushi would sort of be like renaming french toast. But it is somehow important to make our feelings known throughout the world.

[redqueen]

15. hell in a handbasket

pretty much sums it up

[wordpix2]

16. check this out re: impact of boycott on Canadian sea products (due to seal

slaughter):

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_060524_1.html
snip: The Newfoundlanders as usual are blaming everyone but themselves. They blame the rising value of the Canadian dollar, competition for crab from the United States and China, higher fuel prices, and of course, they blame the seals, the whales, the seabirds, and the animal rights and conservation organizations.

“The seafood boycott is not helping,” said one Newfoundland fisherman. “Our products are being given a bad name because of these stinking seal lovers,” he complained.

The boycott is having an effect. Fishery Products International Ltd., considered the vanguard of the fishing business in Newfoundland and Labrador and crucial to the economic livelihood of the province's south coast, lost $10.5-million last year. Created by the federal and provincial governments from the bankrupt shells of previously collapsed firms, FPI has temporarily closed its Marystown operation, putting 650 employees out of work for the first five months of this year. The company also plans to permanently close its Fortune plant, eliminating 345 jobs, in July. Former employees in Harbour Breton haven't worked for more than two years, except for top-up projects to extend their employment insurance claims.

If Newfoundland is to recover they must learn to live in harmony with all the species that humans are independent with. A healthy population of seals is essential for a healthy fish population. That is an ecological fact.
snip

[wordpix2]

17. here's an article re: Japan's plan to slaughter 1000+whales for "research"

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_060525_1.html

snip:
The whalers will be targeting piked (Minke) whales and sperm whales for this Pacific slaughter. Sperm whales are a protected species.

Sea Shepherd is concentrating on securing a fast ship to oppose the plan by Japan to kill over one thousand whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary in December 2006.

“Unless the Japanese are stopped,” said Captain Alex Cornelissen of the Farley Mowat, “we may be seeing the beginning of the end for the great whales. Give us a ship and our crew will sail to hell and back to engage and stop the whale murderers.”

snip