(JP) Whalers, opponents continue protests outside IWC meet

May 22, 2002

Whalers, opponents continue protests outside IWC meet

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi Pref. (Kyodo) Advocates and

opponents of whaling on Tuesday continued their

campaigns outside the convention center in

Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where the general

assembly of the International Whaling Commission is

being held.

Prowhalers welcomed delegates from like-minded

countries before the start of the second day of the

meeting by clapping and waving banners reading,

" Excessive protection of whales creates an imbalance

in the marine ecosystem. "

Members of the environmentalist group Greenpeace set

up a banner calling for " Sanctuaries not quotas. "

The opposing sides held heated discussions in front of

reporters and TV cameras.

" It is necessary to effectively use marine resources,

including whales, " said a prowhaler, while a

Greenpeace member expressed concern over the levels of

toxic substances, including polychlorinated biphenyl

and mercury, found in whales.

Separately, a group called Elsa Nature Conservancy

held a news conference featuring Izumi Ishii, a

54-year-old fisherman from the village of Futo in

Shizuoka Prefecture who used to catch and eat dolphins

but is now promoting dolphin-watching instead.

" I hope my move will encourage fellow fishermen by

showing the benefits they can receive without the

bloody slaughter of dolphins, " said Ishii, who stopped

hunting dolphins out of anger at what he said were

attempts by the government and the local fishery

cooperative to cover up incidents in which protected

dolphins were mistakenly caught.

The 54th IWC general assembly runs until Friday.

The Japan Times: May 22, 2002

LAUNCH - Your Music Experience

Recommended Posts