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AnonymousInactiveWhaling summit setback for Japan
Japan
has unexpectedly lost a key vote at a meeting of the International
Whaling Commission (IWC) in the Caribbean island of St Kitts.The
pro-whaling nation failed to remove an item from the agenda and prevent
discussion on preserving sea mammals.Correspondents say for the moment
at least the anti-whaling bloc appears to have retained the balance of
power.Japan says it will consider leaving the IWC if it does not move
back towards a resumption of commercial whaling.It lost the first vote
of the five-day meeting by 32 votes to 30.Japan has spent years
lobbying developing nations to join the IWC and wrest power from the
majority anti-whaling bloc. Environmental groups accuse these countries
of voting with Japan in return for aid, a charge which the Japanese
deny.
The BBC’s environment correspondent, Richard Black, says
environmental groups are delighted with the result of the vote.He says
they believed a Japanese win on this motion would have had serious
consequences for many species of small cetaceans.Not all of Japan’s
traditional allies have turned up here and a couple voted unexpectedly
with the pro-conservation nations, he says.But our correspondent adds
other votes lie ahead and other countries expected to side with Japan
may yet turn up.‘Arrogant’
The basic argument is the same as it has been for years.
The
self-styled pro-conservation countries led by Australia, New Zealand
and the UK believe whales are intrinsically special animals and should
never be killed.In the opposition corner is a bloc led by Japan, which
sees things differently.Japan’s deputy commissioner to the IWC, Joji
Morish*ta, says the organisation has become too concerned with
conservation.Speaking on BBC Five Live Breakfast he said many Japanese
people felt the IWC was “arrogant” and that whales could be used on a
sustainable basis.This meant “science and probably international law”
were on the side of the Japanese, he said.”Many of the Japanese
citizens thinks that Westerners, [the] outside world, is imposing their
own value code on Japan on an emotional basis, and naturally they think
they’re bullies or… arrogant.”He added: “Allowing sustainable use of
abundant species while protecting the depleted… we don’t see the
problem with that. It’s exactly the same as conservation and management
of any other wildlife or fishery resources.”But if the argument is
familiar, the balance of power this year looks very different.Changes possible
Four
countries have just joined, of which three look set to support Japan
giving it a majority on paper.That could mean a number of important
changes to the IWC.Japan has hinted it may remove programmes aimed at
conservation and whale welfare and move towards overturning the 20-year
moratorium on commercial whaling, although a vote for resumption of
commercial hunting at this meeting itself is highly unlikely.Not every
member nation turns up to these meetings, and the actual balance of
power will not be known until two key votes scheduled for the opening
day.To try to erode Japan’s support, environmental groups have been
campaigning in some of the small developing nations which traditionally
support Japan.A survey commissioned by WWF suggested there was a
majority opinion against whaling in all 10 of the Caribbean and Pacific
states in which they polled.WWF is urging delegates from those nations
to cast their votes accordingly -
AuthorJune 16, 2006 at 4:35 PM
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