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 The first day of IWC 58 starts in the WDCS hotel with the visit
of a songbird outside the hotel window of the WDCS team. The small black bird
with a ginger flash under its beak and ginger eyebrows (a Greater Antillean
Bullfinch) is common here in St Kitts. This individual sits on the back of a
chair, looks in through the window and sings sweetly to us. Spirits are raised
and, after a swift breakfast, we set off slowly (because it is already hot and
humid outside) for the Marriott and the start of IWC 58.
Many delegations
are having early morning meetings. UK Minister, Ben Bradshaw, meets with British
conservation and welfare groups in the UK delegation room at 8pm. He listens to
the pleas to speak out on various issues and then sets off for a press
conference with other leading anti-whaling figures from around the word.
Amongst other things he is preparing to speak to the issue of removing
discussion of ‘small cetaceans’ from the agenda of the IWC. This is a proposal
from Japan – part of their focus on what they refer to as ‘normalisation’ of the
IWC. (We shall undoubtedly be hearing more of this in due course.)
There
are around 75 species of small cetaceans – all the dolphins, porpoises and
smaller whales – and, since 1974 the IWC has through its scientific committee
made many useful reviews of their situations and produced much valuable
conservation advice. This role is less well known than the IWC’s focus on
whaling management but it is every bit as important. This advice has often been
critical of Japan, particularly its hunt of Dall’s porpoises. But, in fact,
advice has been issued to all parts of the world.
The UK minister (and
other members of the ‘like-minded’, the pro-conservation countries) is expected
to strongly oppose any efforts to stifle the report of the IWC’s Scientific
Committee on small cetaceans. He will probably highlight the excellent work done
to date on the most endangered of the smaller species, such as the vaquita and
the river dolphins … but enough speculation. Let’s go and find
out.
Delegates are swirling around in the meeting room when we reach it.
More greeting is going on and a gentle calypso plays in the background. After
the St Kitts national anthem is sung, there are a number of welcoming speeches
from the host nation, including an invocation prayer including a comment in
support of ‘sustainable use’. During the following ‘monologue’ there is some
disruption as a man carrying a laptop playing film of whales being killed walks
around the front of the meeting room. He is escorted out. The Jingle Bells
String Band then starts to play and some delegates are noticed to be swaying in
time to the beat. The British Minister is clicking his fingers.
A speech
from the Acting Prime Minister, Sam T. Condor follows. He makes his welcoming
remarks which include pointedly noting that ‘there is no price for our people’s
dignity’. This presumably relates to claims that the vote of the island has been
unduly influenced by Japan.
Then we suddenly break for coffee. No
questions have been answered – we still don’t know how the votes lie. Over in
the corner through the coffee break the alternate commissioner for Japan is
giving a long TV interview.
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