| 06/15/2006 09:29:51 AM
 On Friday
16th June, over 60 countries will meet on the beautiful Caribbean Island of St
Kitts to debate the fate of whales at the 2006 meeting of the International
Whaling Commission (IWC). This year, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of
the ban on commercial whaling, which has saved the lives of thousands of
whales, we also anticipate with dread the beginning of the end of this
protection for these beautiful and impressive creatures.
WDCS experts
and campaigners are at the meeting working with anti-whaling countries to
maintain and increase protection for whales. See below for how you can
help.
For the first time in over 20 years, it is likely that Japan and
its pro-whaling allies will gain over 50% of the votes and take control of the
Commission’s agenda. We fear this new majority will drastically reduce the
protection from whaling provided by the IWC and prove a disaster for whales all
around the world.
Despite the success of ban on commercial whaling
Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill whales for commercial purposes
through loopholes in the IWC's founding treaty. Between them, they will kill up
to 2000 whales this year.
WDCS’s Niki Entrup said
“It’s the 21st century and there is absolutely no need to hunt whales
for commercial purposes – for food, for oil, for anything. There is also
no need to kill whales for what some governments call scientific research as
there are many non lethal methods to obtain the data needed for whale
conservation”.
To lift the ban on commercial whaling would
require a ¾ majority, which we hope pro-whaling countries will not
achieve at this year’s meeting. However by gaining over 50% of the votes,
Japan and its pro-whaling allies would be able to change the IWC’s agenda
and discard many of the important conservation and welfare measures which have
kept whales safe for years.
As in previous years, Japan will attempt
to introduce secret voting within the IWC and prevent the world’s public
from knowing how their governments have voted.
It is YOU that has the
right to know how your government voted.
It is YOU that can help WDCS to
give whales and dolphins a voice!
Helps us NOW!
WDCS
experts and campaigners are at the meeting working with anti-whaling countries
to maintain and increase protection for whales. We need your help.
Please send an e-campaign card to the
Japanese government NOW.
Please support our work, by donating
to our campaign, or adopting a whale.
Please
tell your friends, family and colleagues that whales are under threat and they
need our help!
Source: WDCS |
