Japan gains key whaling victory

Cam · 19-Jun-2006, 13:20

Pro-whaling nations have won their first vote towards the resumption of commercial whaling for 20 years.

The International Whaling Commission meeting backed a resolution calling for the eventual return of commercial whaling by a majority of just one vote.

Japan said the outcome was "historic", but it does not mean a lifting of the 1986 ban - that would need support from three-quarters of the commission.

Anti-whaling countries say they will challenge the decision.

Conservation groups have expressed dismay, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) saying anti-whaling nations needed to work harder to prevent the ban eventually being overturned.

Japan and other pro-whaling nations want to move the International Whaling Commission (IWC) away from conservation and towards managing whale numbers.

The resolution declared: "The moratorium, which was clearly intended as a temporary measure, is no longer necessary."

It was tabled by six Caribbean nations, including St Kitts and Nevis, where the annual IWC meeting is being held.

The resolution was approved by a vote of 33 to 32, with one member - China - abstaining.

Although the ban aimed at protecting the endangered species is still in place, there is no doubt commercial hunting is a step closer, the BBC's Richard Black in St Kitts says.

'Whalers' club'

Ifaw spokesman Joth Singh described the decision as a "wake-up call" for countries which claimed they cared for whales.

"It is clear that the intent is for the IWC to revert back to a whalers' club, which is what it was up to the 1970s," he said.

After the vote, Brazil and New Zealand said they would challenge the resolution.

"This is the most serious defeat the conservation cause has ever suffered at the IWC," New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter told AFP news agency.

"It has been a significant diplomatic victory for Japan."

Some conservationists have singled out Denmark for particular attention, after it voted with Japan despite being a European Union member, our correspondent says.

As well as St Kitts and Nevis, the resolution was drafted by St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua.

It says whales consume large quantities of fish, which those backing the overturning of the ban say makes whaling an issue of food security - a view dismissed by anti-whaling campaigners.

Tokyo believes whale numbers have risen sufficiently to allow the hunting of certain species.

But Japan's Deputy Whaling Commissioner Joji Morishita said any future commercial whaling would be on a much smaller scale than in the past.

"It's not going back to the commercial whaling, it should be the beginning of sustainable whaling, plus protection of depleted and endangered species," he said.

The slim victory for Japan followed its defeat in four other votes at the IWC meeting, including a proposal to end work on the conservation of small cetaceans such as dolphins and porpoises.

Environmental groups have accused developing countries of voting with Japan on whaling issues in return for money for fisheries projects - claims which have been repeatedly denied by all the countries involved, the Associated Press news agency says.

Currently, Japan and Iceland kill whales under an IWC ruling which allows nations to catch whales for "scientific research".

Norway, which formally objected to the 1986 ban, openly conducts commercial whaling.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5093350.stm

Cam · 19-Jun-2006, 13:22

Dont Know about you but i think its disgusting ,ok im a bit of a hypocrite as i eat meat but i really do believe there is a difference between Farm animals Bred for meat and a species that could be facing Extinction.

Neutron · 19-Jun-2006, 13:23

I agree cam, I'd happily see the nuke sub fleet put to good use sinking these bastards.

Jonkai · 19-Jun-2006, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neutron

I agree cam, I'd happily see the nuke sub fleet put to good use sinking these bastards.

Thumbs up from me too.

Blunteh · 19-Jun-2006, 16:00

Can we get them to sink a few Spaniards on the way home ?

Panther · 19-Jun-2006, 16:25

Japan just covers up its current commercial whaling as 'scientific research' anyway. Whaling is unessary & cruel, in most cases the whales take 10-30 minutes to die once harpooned. Japan does not need whaling for economic reasons and if they succeed it will be not be very long before humpbacks and fin whales are extinct.

Neutron · 19-Jun-2006, 16:31

Maybe we should start a campaign to fit whales with frikin' laser beams?

Ashen · 19-Jun-2006, 16:34

Agree with you guys tbh, pisses me off that humanity is wiling to make a different species exstinct just for gains in commerce.

terroristteddy · 19-Jun-2006, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam

Dont Know about you but i think its disgusting ,ok im a bit of a hypocrite as i eat meat but i really do believe there is a difference between Farm animals Bred for meat and a species that could be facing Extinction.

ditto

GunZenBomZ · 19-Jun-2006, 23:43

i'll actually read what has been said, tomorrow.

I hate how japan can use scientific research as a good enough excuse 2 keep whaling, fking sick.

Harry Palmer · 19-Jun-2006, 23:44

maybe North Korea will drop a missile on them

pHk · 20-Jun-2006, 09:43

Why do they so desperatly want to do it anyway, is it culture related or do they make a lot of money with it?

Red7 · 20-Jun-2006, 19:29

Quote:

Why do they so desperatly want to do it anyway, is it culture related or do they make a lot of money with it?

Whale tastes good.

Andy018 · 20-Jun-2006, 19:37

They use whale for medicinal purposes (not paracetamol along the lines of those little herbal shops you see)

As Red7 said its more cultural then anything WE are a bit hypocrital though to be honest as we are going to cause the extinction of Cod fish within the next 10 years IIRC due to our requirement for fish and chips when there are other fish that taste identical or better.

In the Japanese case its a mixture of Cultural need, food, religious requirement and medicinal use.

[n00b]Zippy · 20-Jun-2006, 19:44

Yes but the amount of chips required for whale and chips is endangering the potato

Wilco · 20-Jun-2006, 22:43

The endangered species (Humpback and blue) wouldn't be allowed to be hunted, many other whale species are doing quite well. Obviously any allowance would need to be monitored, and the issue of cruelty doesn't go away. (but would any conservation groups allow humane whale fishing?). A novel option would be to put international whaling licences up for sale, and then the conservation groups can outbid the whalers. Plus Japanese demand of whale meat is declining, so there's less demand over there.

*read Economist article on it

*

Orange · 20-Jun-2006, 22:47

Yep, a market solution is the way to go, but the difficulty is allocating the proceeds from the sale of the licenses (haven't read the article though).

Harry Palmer · 20-Jun-2006, 22:55

There was a chap talking about it on the radio this morning, the radio guy asked whether market forces would force them out of business, but aparrently the Jap commercial whaling companies have handed all the boats over to the Government as they cannot make it a going concern, so the Jap Government is going to totally subsidise whaling while still having massive stocks of whale meat in storage because they cannot sell it....

Orange · 20-Jun-2006, 23:07

Interesting - if you see an article about that let me know

SoleX · 21-Jun-2006, 01:00

How any country in the world can sit back and watch this happen is beyond me.

Majestic · 21-Jun-2006, 02:58

So what? They need 3/4 to overturn the ruling. There is an endless list of species which are hunted to extinction every day... I don't hear many folk crying about them...

Nutsy · 21-Jun-2006, 12:47

Well latly i had started to respect Japan in some ways... And then this lands on our laps... Almost makes me want to Nuke the country as a big slap in teh face.

Its already been proven Whales are intelligent sociable creatures. Killing them is nothing more than murder.

They are not cows they are not sheep. They are inteligent, They have an advanced language that they use to comunicate with each other. They look after there family.

They should be treated with respect and kindness not harpooned for there meat.

Its just wrong.

Not to mention 2000 dolphin slaughters every year. its just sick and unjust.

FFS Japans one of the richest countrys in the world and they need to do this... Fekk off its pride and ignorence. One of the worst natures in human kind. You dont see Whales going off like this. Maybe they could teach us a few things on how to be better people.

Nutsy · 21-Jun-2006, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic

So what? They need 3/4 to overturn the ruling. There is an endless list of species which are hunted to extinction every day... I don't hear many folk crying about them...

In all fairness you do. But you do tend to need to take a ticket and wait. If you just flood everyone with teh same story with different victims and bad guys you end up creating a white noise afair and most people would ignore it.

terroristteddy · 21-Jun-2006, 12:56

which species are being hunted to extinction every day and not being 'cried about'?

Derek Smart 3000 · 21-Jun-2006, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutsy

Well latly i had started to respect Japan in some ways... And then this lands on our laps... Almost makes me want to Nuke the country as a big slap in teh face.

Its already been proven Whales are intelligent sociable creatures. Killing them is nothing more than murder.

They are not cows they are not sheep. They are inteligent, They have an advanced language that they use to comunicate with each other. They look after there family.

They should be treated with respect and kindness not harpooned for there meat.

Its just wrong.

Not to mention 2000 dolphin slaughters every year. its just sick and unjust.

FFS Japans one of the richest countrys in the world and they need to do this... Fekk off its pride and ignorence. One of the worst natures in human kind. You dont see Whales going off like this. Maybe they could teach us a few things on how to be better people.

Well of course, nuke them - NUKE THEM IN THE FACE - after all the Japanese are not intelligent sociable creatures with a developed language, so they are marked for death anyway.

I dont know what surpises me more, your overreaction or your defending of creatures with no fur.

Perhaps you should go and be one with the animals, at least until you have progressed a little further up the evolutionary chain, and realise that life is entirely sick and unjust.

Majestic · 21-Jun-2006, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by terroristteddy

which species are being hunted to extinction every day and not being 'cried about'?

Tons of them. This website carries a list of animals that are nearly extinct which include loads I've never even heard of.

http://www.50birds.com/extan/gextanimals1.htm

MaNiC^ · 21-Jun-2006, 14:05

Quote:

Its already been proven Whales are intelligent sociable creatures. Killing them is nothing more than murder.

They are not cows they are not sheep. They have an advanced language that they use to comunicate with each other. They look after there family.

So by that logic, its ok by you, to kill people who are retarded and mentally ill ?

Derek Smart 3000 · 21-Jun-2006, 14:37

I'm not sure he would advocate suicide...

Nutsy · 21-Jun-2006, 14:44

Manic thats not what i said.
And Derek I said It almost makes me want to. not I would, Get it right. Fekk you say you have a Phd and you cant even read.

I guess by your standards its perfectly fine to slaughter so many intelligent mammles that the sea actualy runs red. But hay! heres to your PHD *Cheers*

terroristteddy · 21-Jun-2006, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic

Tons of them. This website carries a list of animals that are nearly extinct which include loads I've never even heard of.

http://www.50birds.com/extan/gextanimals1.htm

That's a list of animals that are already extinct through hunting in the past, look at the dates on them. I have only looked at a copuple of the pages but the dates are from way before i was born. Makes sense that you wouldn't have heard of them. Whales came close to being hunted to extinction, hunting of them was made illegal and numbers got back up. So now that they are being threatened again what exactly is your problem with people kicking up a fuss?

19-Jun-2006, 13:20	#1
Cam each time i post god kills a kitten Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,457	Japan gains key whaling victory Pro-whaling nations have won their first vote towards the resumption of commercial whaling for 20 years. The International Whaling Commission meeting backed a resolution calling for the eventual return of commercial whaling by a majority of just one vote. Japan said the outcome was "historic", but it does not mean a lifting of the 1986 ban - that would need support from three-quarters of the commission. Anti-whaling countries say they will challenge the decision. Conservation groups have expressed dismay, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) saying anti-whaling nations needed to work harder to prevent the ban eventually being overturned. Japan and other pro-whaling nations want to move the International Whaling Commission (IWC) away from conservation and towards managing whale numbers. The resolution declared: "The moratorium, which was clearly intended as a temporary measure, is no longer necessary." It was tabled by six Caribbean nations, including St Kitts and Nevis, where the annual IWC meeting is being held. The resolution was approved by a vote of 33 to 32, with one member - China - abstaining. Although the ban aimed at protecting the endangered species is still in place, there is no doubt commercial hunting is a step closer, the BBC's Richard Black in St Kitts says. 'Whalers' club' Ifaw spokesman Joth Singh described the decision as a "wake-up call" for countries which claimed they cared for whales. "It is clear that the intent is for the IWC to revert back to a whalers' club, which is what it was up to the 1970s," he said. After the vote, Brazil and New Zealand said they would challenge the resolution. "This is the most serious defeat the conservation cause has ever suffered at the IWC," New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter told AFP news agency. "It has been a significant diplomatic victory for Japan." Some conservationists have singled out Denmark for particular attention, after it voted with Japan despite being a European Union member, our correspondent says. As well as St Kitts and Nevis, the resolution was drafted by St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua. It says whales consume large quantities of fish, which those backing the overturning of the ban say makes whaling an issue of food security - a view dismissed by anti-whaling campaigners. Tokyo believes whale numbers have risen sufficiently to allow the hunting of certain species. But Japan's Deputy Whaling Commissioner Joji Morishita said any future commercial whaling would be on a much smaller scale than in the past. "It's not going back to the commercial whaling, it should be the beginning of sustainable whaling, plus protection of depleted and endangered species," he said. The slim victory for Japan followed its defeat in four other votes at the IWC meeting, including a proposal to end work on the conservation of small cetaceans such as dolphins and porpoises. Environmental groups have accused developing countries of voting with Japan on whaling issues in return for money for fisheries projects - claims which have been repeatedly denied by all the countries involved, the Associated Press news agency says. Currently, Japan and Iceland kill whales under an IWC ruling which allows nations to catch whales for "scientific research". Norway, which formally objected to the 1986 ban, openly conducts commercial whaling. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5093350.stm __________________ Breast awareness // Meet Cam. He's a breastologist and loves his work!

19-Jun-2006, 13:22	#2
Cam each time i post god kills a kitten Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,457	Dont Know about you but i think its disgusting ,ok im a bit of a hypocrite as i eat meat but i really do believe there is a difference between Farm animals Bred for meat and a species that could be facing Extinction. __________________ Breast awareness // Meet Cam. He's a breastologist and loves his work!

19-Jun-2006, 16:25	#6
Panther forum hax Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bristol Posts: 531	Japan just covers up its current commercial whaling as 'scientific research' anyway. Whaling is unessary & cruel, in most cases the whales take 10-30 minutes to die once harpooned. Japan does not need whaling for economic reasons and if they succeed it will be not be very long before humpbacks and fin whales are extinct. __________________ +++ Divide by cucumber error. Please reinstall universe and reboot +++

19-Jun-2006, 16:34	#8
Ashen Fitness Monkey Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,072	Agree with you guys tbh, pisses me off that humanity is wiling to make a different species exstinct just for gains in commerce. __________________ Redfielduk 360 live \| AKA CelchuGameplay/Wireplay\| WOW \| Screamweaver - 80 rogue retired

19-Jun-2006, 23:44	#11
Harry Palmer Gun nut Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: War Zone Posts: 12,281	maybe North Korea will drop a missile on them __________________ Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Reminder: "Do not look into laser with remaining good eye."

19-Jun-2006, 13:23	#3
Neutron MILF Molester Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Up your mothers chuff Posts: 9,664	I agree cam, I'd happily see the nuke sub fleet put to good use sinking these bastards.

19-Jun-2006, 16:00	#5
Blunteh Return of the Colander Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 7,687	Can we get them to sink a few Spaniards on the way home ?

19-Jun-2006, 16:31	#7
Neutron MILF Molester Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Up your mothers chuff Posts: 9,664	Maybe we should start a campaign to fit whales with frikin' laser beams?

19-Jun-2006, 23:43	#10
GunZenBomZ topic of the pops Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Off-planet Posts: 2,360	i'll actually read what has been said, tomorrow. I hate how japan can use scientific research as a good enough excuse 2 keep whaling, fking sick.

20-Jun-2006, 09:43	#12
pHk lolzipan Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,966	Why do they so desperatly want to do it anyway, is it culture related or do they make a lot of money with it?

20-Jun-2006, 19:37	#14
Andy018 got topic a topic or two Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Liverpool, UK (Evertonian) Posts: 2,944	They use whale for medicinal purposes (not paracetamol along the lines of those little herbal shops you see) As Red7 said its more cultural then anything WE are a bit hypocrital though to be honest as we are going to cause the extinction of Cod fish within the next 10 years IIRC due to our requirement for fish and chips when there are other fish that taste identical or better. In the Japanese case its a mixture of Cultural need, food, religious requirement and medicinal use.

20-Jun-2006, 19:44	#15
[n00b]Zippy Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Great Rollright Posts: 8,968	Yes but the amount of chips required for whale and chips is endangering the potato __________________ Explain me one more time, when they kill it's a crime When you kill it is justice

20-Jun-2006, 22:43	#16
Wilco spam tbh Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 925	The endangered species (Humpback and blue) wouldn't be allowed to be hunted, many other whale species are doing quite well. Obviously any allowance would need to be monitored, and the issue of cruelty doesn't go away. (but would any conservation groups allow humane whale fishing?). A novel option would be to put international whaling licences up for sale, and then the conservation groups can outbid the whalers. Plus Japanese demand of whale meat is declining, so there's less demand over there. read Economist article on it

20-Jun-2006, 22:47	#17
Orange reads your posts Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,667	Yep, a market solution is the way to go, but the difficulty is allocating the proceeds from the sale of the licenses (haven't read the article though).

20-Jun-2006, 22:55	#18
Harry Palmer Gun nut Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: War Zone Posts: 12,281	There was a chap talking about it on the radio this morning, the radio guy asked whether market forces would force them out of business, but aparrently the Jap commercial whaling companies have handed all the boats over to the Government as they cannot make it a going concern, so the Jap Government is going to totally subsidise whaling while still having massive stocks of whale meat in storage because they cannot sell it.... __________________ Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Reminder: "Do not look into laser with remaining good eye."

20-Jun-2006, 23:07	#19
Orange reads your posts Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,667	Interesting - if you see an article about that let me know

21-Jun-2006, 02:58	#21
Majestic Nacho Nacho Man Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,438	So what? They need 3/4 to overturn the ruling. There is an endless list of species which are hunted to extinction every day... I don't hear many folk crying about them... __________________ A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

21-Jun-2006, 12:47	#22
Nutsy flame fodder Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 105	Well latly i had started to respect Japan in some ways... And then this lands on our laps... Almost makes me want to Nuke the country as a big slap in teh face. Its already been proven Whales are intelligent sociable creatures. Killing them is nothing more than murder. They are not cows they are not sheep. They are inteligent, They have an advanced language that they use to comunicate with each other. They look after there family. They should be treated with respect and kindness not harpooned for there meat. Its just wrong. Not to mention 2000 dolphin slaughters every year. its just sick and unjust. FFS Japans one of the richest countrys in the world and they need to do this... Fekk off its pride and ignorence. One of the worst natures in human kind. You dont see Whales going off like this. Maybe they could teach us a few things on how to be better people. __________________ WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE PLOP!

21-Jun-2006, 12:56	#24
terroristteddy posts for a living Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: West Sussex Posts: 4,242	which species are being hunted to extinction every day and not being 'cried about'?

21-Jun-2006, 14:37	#28
Derek Smart 3000 flame fodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4	I'm not sure he would advocate suicide...

21-Jun-2006, 14:44	#29
Nutsy flame fodder Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 105	Manic thats not what i said. And Derek I said It almost makes me want to. not I would, Get it right. Fekk you say you have a Phd and you cant even read. I guess by your standards its perfectly fine to slaughter so many intelligent mammles that the sea actualy runs red. But hay! heres to your PHD Cheers __________________ WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE PLOP!