Whaling meeting 'ignores needs of whales'

[GliderGuider]

Whaling meeting 'ignores needs of whales'

The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) annual meeting has closed after a tense final day when relations between opposing blocs came close to collapse.

Latin American nations attempted to force a vote on a proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. Pro-whaling countries walked out, but eventually it was decided to shelve any vote until next year's meeting.

"Whale species and populations from the Southern Atlantic oceanic basin were amongst the ones that suffered the most due to commercial whaling on a large scale," Roxana Schteinbarg, from the Argentina-based Institute for the Conservation of Whales, told delegates.

"Fifty-four species live in the waters where the sanctuary is proposed - it is therefore appropriate that the protection of these species in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary be extended and complemented in the reproduction areas in the Atlantic Southern basin."

I like the idea of creating a whale sanctuary and putting the Sea Shepherds in charge of securing the perimeter.

[Glorfindel]

1. "Pro-whaling countries" ? WTF is WRONG with these people?

:puke:

[GliderGuider]

2. It looks like the move was led by Japan and Iceland

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Japan-walkout-throws-whaling-apf-1450365260.html

Delegates from Japan, Iceland and a number of allied Caribbean and African nations walked out when the issue came up at the IWC's annual talks in Jersey, throwing the meeting into disarray.

The IWC agreed during the four-day talks to reform its financing structure to address allegations of corruption and vote-buying. From now on the organization will only accept membership dues by bank transfers, which are easily traceable, rather than by cash or checks.

The move came in response to allegations that Japan had been securing the support of some developing nations by paying their membership dues. Japan denies any wrongdoing.

Japan is the spoiler here. It looks like they have been buying support. Caribbean and African nations have no reason whatsoever to disrupt plans for a southern Atlantic whale sanctuary.

I hope the crew remembers to close the ballast valves of the Nisshin Maru nice and tight when she's docked in Tokyo.

[Nihil]

3. That bit has to be a joke doesn't it?

> The IWC agreed during the four-day talks to reform its financing structure
> to address allegations of corruption and vote-buying.
(Long overdue but better late than never)
> From now on the organization will only accept membership dues by bank transfers,
> which are easily traceable, rather than by cash or checks.

:wtf:

We've suddenly gone back to "never" rather than "late" again.

Those dipshits think that the only opportunity for corruption is when
Japan pays the membership for Dumbfuckistan by a cheque drawn on
"The Japanese Whaler Association" or suchlike?

What a complete waste of time - again.

:grr:

[xchrom]

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