Blair urged to take action against whaling

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From the The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)

site

 

Press Release: 24 February 2006

 

TONY BLAIR URGED TO TAKE ACTION TO STOP SLIDE TOWARDS

RESUMPTION OF COMMERCIAL WHALING

 

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is

calling on Tony Blair to urgently increase diplomatic

pressure to halt Japan's relentless drive to overturn

the ban on commercial whaling.

 

This announcement takes place as delegates of member

countries of the International Whaling Commission

(IWC), the body tasked with the management of whale

conservation and whaling, gather next week in

Cambridge to negotiate a management plan to be used if

commercial whaling were to resume.

 

Since 2000, the Japanese Government has successfully

recruited 16 developing countries to the IWC which

vote with Japan on almost all issues. Supported by

Norway and Iceland, their ultimate goal is a

full-scale resumption of the commercial hunting of

whales, overturning the 1986 international moratorium

and eliminating the conservation mandate of the IWC.

 

Clare Perry, EIA’s Cetacean Campaign Manager, said:

 

" Last month, the hearts of millions of Britons were

captured in the desperate attempt to save a single

stranded whale in the Thames. Yet, if Japan and other

whaling nations get their way, many thousands will be

hunted and killed each year. Action needs to be taken

now.”

 

Despite the moratorium, this year alone, Japan will

kill almost 1,500 great whales through a scientific

research loophole and 20,000 small whales, dolphins

and porpoises in coastal hunts.

 

Whilst the UK government has taken firm action in

opposing commercial whaling in the past, it is now

clear that only high level diplomatic action can

counter the very real threat posed to the world's

remaining whale populations at this year's IWC.

 

NOTES:

 

The management plan meeting, called the Revised

Management Scheme Intersessional Working Group, will

take place at the University Arms, Cambridge, from

28th February to 2nd March. The meeting is closed to

press.

The 2006 International Whaling Commission (IWC)

meeting will take place in June in St Kitts & Nevis.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is the

world’s leading organisation dedicated to

investigating and exposing environmental crime.

 

http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template & a=296

 

 

 

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