BlueViews - The
BlueVoice Blog
Introduction
June
1, 2007 - A Victory for Whales
By Hardy Jones
Japan took it on the chin this year. New nations strengthened
the anti-whaling majority. The whaling moratorium was renewed.
Japan’s scientific whaling was overwhelmingly condemned
(Japan has killed more than six-thousand whales for research
during the moratorium). The non-binding resolution proposed
by New Zealand was passed with a majority of 40 to two. The
prostitute countries paid by Japan as allies did not participate
in that vote but spoke strongly in favor of allowing Japan
to resume commercial whaling in the guise of aboriginal coastal
whaling.
Knowing it would be defeated Japan dropped its request
that it be granted a quota for coastal whaling. Had Japan won
this vote it would have opened the entire world to “aboriginal” whaling.
A disaster was averted.
Under intense international pressure, Greenland dropped
its request to hunt humpbacks but was granted a quota to
hunt minkes and even two highly endangered Bowheads.
Japan
still intends to hunt humpback whales in the Antarctic but
hinted at one point it would drop that effort if coastal
whaling were authorized. This gives you some idea of the
cynicism of the Japanese when it comes to whaling and other
environmental issues.
So the fight to save the humpbacks
goes on. Australia may become a very active partner is saving
the humpbacks. The Labor party, which leads in Australia’s
forthcoming election polls, has said that if elected, will
send naval vessels to monitor Japan’s whaling efforts
in the Antarctic. That must send a shiver through the timbers
of the men who man the Nisshan Maru, Japan’s whale
factory ship.
It was a very active time for BlueVoice in
Anchorage. We put out press releases documenting the history
of Antarctic whaling and a fact sheet on humpback whales,
all of which were eagerly snapped up by the press. We also
put DVDs of our film “When Dolphins Cry” on the
press table. Perhaps those who watch the video on the way
home will come to a greater understanding of the heinous
war Japan fights against whales and dolphins. And we met
with colleagues on ways to bring forward the fact that dolphins
and whales, in many cases, are far too contaminated to eat.
The market for these products can be destroyed. Expect an
announcement of a new effort here.
Our long time ally Sakae Hemme is off on a secret mission
in Alaska. We will report results soon. She brought us important
new information on Japan’s trade in captive dolphins.
Thanks to BV members whose donations made it possible for
us to fly her to Anchorage and provide hotel accommodations.
Deborah’s and my trip to Anchorage gave us a chance
to gather information on toxic levels in fish, marine mammals
and Native American people of Alaska. The news is largely
good. Fish from Alaska are mostly free of organic and inorganic
pollutants, rich in Omega fatty acids and safe to eat. This
is a welcome change from so many other locations we have
researched.
I leave Anchorage amazed at the cynical political
processes that govern the fate of hundreds of whales thousands
of miles away. But at least this time the process worked
in favor of the whales.
For the last 29 years I have worked
to bring to the world the thrilling story of the whales and
dolphins through television and the Internet. Massive change
has taken place in the way people view these magnificent
animals. For so many people these fellow creatures are now
revered. We will continue to bring the message of the whales
and dolphins to the world – especially
to Japan. Not because we are against Japan but because most
Japanese love whales and dolphins as we do. It is only a
few bureaucrats who keep the slaughter of whales and dolphins
alive. They can be cast into the dustbin of history and a
new era of relationship between humans and cetaceans can
continue to develop.
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