Bush Appointee - Closed door meeting to overturn Ban on Whaling

[Annces]

Secret St. Petersburg, Florida Meeting Could Sanction Commercial Whaling

USF Dean of Marine Science Leads Effort to Compromise 25-Year Whaling Ban


ST. PETE BEACH, Fla., Sept 08, 2008
The International Whaling Commission (IWC), which sets international whaling regulations, has scheduled a closed-door meeting for September 15-19 at the Trade Winds Resort, St. Pete Beach, to consider lifting the ban on commercial whale hunting. The commission, a global body of eighty-member nations, first adopted the ban in 1982 to prevent dwindling whale populations from becoming extinct. Now, just as some studies indicate certain whale species may be showing signs of recovery, whaling countries are eager to consider returning to commercial whaling. IWC chairman William T. Hogarth, who also serves as the Dean of the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, is directing the closed-door meeting of the IWC Small Working Group.

"These closed-door meetings pose a grave risk to the future of the IWC and the whales it was established to protect," said Patrick R. Ramage, Global Whale Program Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) "Whales face more threats today than at any time in history and Americans from sea to shining sea want to see them protected. The last thing we need is a secret deal to re-open whaling. Dr. Hogarth should either open up the process for scrutiny, or simply cancel the meetings."


Despite an international ban on whaling that has been in place for more than 25 years, commercial whaling still takes place in Japan, Norway, and Iceland. As a result, more than 30,000 whales have been killed for commercial purposes since 1986. Should the meeting compromise the whaling ban, those numbers will only increase.

Twenty-six IWC Member countries are expected to attend the meetings, including many that are expected to support Japan's effort to overturn the ban. For the past 15 years, Japan has engaged in a "vote consolidation" strategy using fisheries aid to persuade countries to join the IWC and vote with Japan. "The global ban on commercial whaling was one of the most important conservation victories of the last century," Ramage said. "If Japan, Norway, and Iceland, the last three countries engaged in commercial whaling are successful in their efforts to overturn the whaling ban, forty years of conservation efforts will go right down the drain."

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/secret-st-petersburg-florida-meeting/story.aspx?guid=%7BA374F9D1-28F7-4FCD-831F-9DE5A1990E27%7D&dist=hppr





William Hogarth, dean of the College of Marine Sciences, Univ. of South Florida. Hogarth was appointed as the U.S. commission to the IWC by President George W. Bush in 2006. He was elected chair of the IWC that same year for a three-year term, which runs until June 2009.




http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=742&z=31

[flvegan]

1. I'm ashamed to be a USF alum

I'm also ashamed that my country is heading this latest charge.

I don't think, though, that these 26 member countries are enough to overturn the ban at this particular meeting, but it will be a huge step backwards.

[Annces]

2. I think a lot of the wrecking crew is in action

before Bush term is over. I hope you are right about it not working. I am not familiar with how the IWC works.

[flvegan]

6. I just got off the phone with a few local activists

NObody has heard of this, that's how secret they tried to keep this. Nothing from Sea Shepherd, either.

[Annces]

7. I found out about it from surfing myspace

I think Sea Shepherd is probably working on this.

[flvegan]

9. I sent the story to both local papers.

See if they'll do some coverage and spark some local outrage.

[The Traveler]

3. The bastards will never be content

until everything wonderful in the world has been despoiled for the taking of modest profits.

[Annces]

4. Yep

Till there is nothing left, but each other. Then they become cannibals.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Call the bastard -- 727-553-1130...

and pass this article and that phone number to everyone you know. Disgusting FUCKER. :mad:

[Annces]

8. I called the number

They answered and transferred me to his office. I told them the meeting should be opened up. The secretary asked me if I want Mr. Hogarth to call me back! I don't think many people have called them yet.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Why the fuck do they want to hunt whales?

What are they trying to sell? What products are going to come from whales?

Whale oil lamps? Corset stays? Scrimshaw?

The meat is unpalatable to western tastes and it's expensive to harvest.

I just hope to God the international community shuts this down, PRONTO.

[underseasurveyor]

11. OH THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS!!!!!!

O-O-O:mad: Now they've done it. NOW I AM OFFICIALLY PISSED:nuke: