Scientists gather as Japan prepares for whaling fight - AFP

[Eugene]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Scientists gather as Japan prepares for whaling fight

by Laurent Thomet Mon May 7, 4:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Japan geared for its perennial clash
with conservationists over lifting a commercial hunting
ban Monday ahead of the polarized International Whaling
Commission's annual meeting.

But as the IWC's scientific committee began two weeks
of closed sessions in Anchorage, Alaska to prepare a
report for the May 28-31 meeting, the global body's
future could also be at stake as Japan has warned it
could quit.

-snip-

Although Japan is unlikely to win the three-quarters
majority needed to lift the hunting moratorium,
environmentalists fear that pro-whaling nations could
make further gains this year if they can muster simple
majority votes on key issues.

-snip-

With a simple majority vote, pro-whaling groups could
force secret balloting, eliminate a conservation panel
and redirect the scientific committee to only study
hunting quotas and stop environmental work, said Kitty
Block, director of treaty law at Humane Society
International.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070507/wl_asia_afp/environmentwhaling_070507204827

[xchrom]

1. to hunt a whale -- is to be a willful savage. n/t

[Glorfindel]

2. Agreed wholeheartedly.

Isn't there some way we can shame or boycott the Japanese into ceasing their monstrous predation on whales? To me, it's close to murder and borders on cannibalism.

[xchrom]

3. we agree -- and the only thing i can think of

beyond supporting animal rights groups -- is to write the embassies here -- letting them know that you are actively petitioning your rep regarding this.

i've done this -- just as my own protest -- but it would take significant work to from a lot of individuals to get a response.