Diplomatic Protest Issued Against Japanese Whaling

January 18, 2006

UK: January 18, 2006

LONDON - Australia, Britain, Brazil, France and Germany were among 17

countries which this week called on Japan to halt to its Antarctic whaling

programme.

" The fact that 17 countries supported this representation, shows how

important this issue is, and the depth of feeling around the world, " British

fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw said in a statement.

A written statement calling on Japan to " cease all its lethal scientific

research on whales " was delivered to Japan's foreign ministry on Monday and

farm ministry on Tuesday.

Japan abandoned commercial whaling in 1986, in line with an international

moratorium, but began catching whales again the following year for what it

calls scientific research. Critics say the whale meat goes to up-market

Japanese restaurants.

" We urge Japan to reconsider its positions and end this unjustified and

unnecessary slaughter which is regarded by many countries as a means to

by-pass the IWC (International Whaling Commission) moratorium, " Bradshaw

said.

Japan's whaling programme includes fin and humpback whales, both of which

are on the World Conservation Union's list of threatened species. Most of

the whales killed are minke.

Other signatories of the statement were Argentina, Austria, Belgium,

Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain

and Sweden.

Australia on Monday had called on Japanese whalers and environmental group

Greenpeace to calm down following life-threatening confrontations between

then. In the latest incident, on Saturday, a harpoon fired at a minke whale

narrowly missed a protest boat.

Recommended Posts