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Violence threatens peaceful protest at Whale Embassy in South Korea
26 May 2005
“The ‘Whale Embassy’ and our personal safety have been threatened by
violence all so that they can prepare for an oceans’ day ceremony on
this very site, but how can the Government seriously consider
celebrating the oceans on the site of a proposed whale meat factory? It
would be funny, if the consequences for the whales were not so
serious,” said Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner, Jim Wickens.
Greenpeace and KFEM say that building a whale meat factory will hasten the decline of Korea’s few remaining whales, by industrialising the trade in whale meat, a trade which scientists predict will push Korea’s whales to extinction. In Korea, whales can be brought ashore and sold for meat only if they are accidentally caught. However Korea has accidental bycatch rates up to a hundred times higher than nations that do not have a whale meat trade (3).
“It does not take a genius to see that in a country where dead whales are worth up to $100000, that this industry will encourage the deliberate targeting and illegal hunting of Korea’s disappearing whales”, said Wickens. "It is a bit like building an ivory factory in Kenya for elephants that have accidentally died."
This threat comes as the whaling debate within Korea reaches new heights, only weeks before Ulsan plays host to the 57th IWC meeting in June. Greenpeace state that the Government is sending out clear signals that they intend to follow the Japanese Government’s tactics of resuming scientific whaling under the excuse of fatal scientific research. This claim is backed up by the Korean Government’s agreed plans for a dolphin cull of several hundred dolphins over the next few years.
Contrary to the claims of environmentalists, the government defines the factory as a ‘check point for dealing with accidentally caught whale carcasses in an environmentally-friendly and sanitary manner’.
“It is quite clear that the only thing being sanitized here is the truth; these whales are destined to become part of a lucrative whale meat industry, an industry that will lead to the extinction of Korea’s minke whales within our lifetime,” said Yeyong, Choi, from KFEM.
Greenpeace and KFEM say that building a whale meat factory will hasten the decline of Korea’s few remaining whales, by industrialising the trade in whale meat, a trade which scientists predict will push Korea’s whales to extinction. In Korea, whales can be brought ashore and sold for meat only if they are accidentally caught. However Korea has accidental bycatch rates up to a hundred times higher than nations that do not have a whale meat trade (3).
“It does not take a genius to see that in a country where dead whales are worth up to $100000, that this industry will encourage the deliberate targeting and illegal hunting of Korea’s disappearing whales”, said Wickens. "It is a bit like building an ivory factory in Kenya for elephants that have accidentally died."
This threat comes as the whaling debate within Korea reaches new heights, only weeks before Ulsan plays host to the 57th IWC meeting in June. Greenpeace state that the Government is sending out clear signals that they intend to follow the Japanese Government’s tactics of resuming scientific whaling under the excuse of fatal scientific research. This claim is backed up by the Korean Government’s agreed plans for a dolphin cull of several hundred dolphins over the next few years.
Contrary to the claims of environmentalists, the government defines the factory as a ‘check point for dealing with accidentally caught whale carcasses in an environmentally-friendly and sanitary manner’.
“It is quite clear that the only thing being sanitized here is the truth; these whales are destined to become part of a lucrative whale meat industry, an industry that will lead to the extinction of Korea’s minke whales within our lifetime,” said Yeyong, Choi, from KFEM.
Notes to Editor
(1) A copy of the letter can be found on www.greenpeace.org
(2) Countries represented at the embassy include Spain, Germany, UK, USA, Brazil, Austria, Columbia, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the Czech Republic and Italy.
(3) In 2003 alone, Korea "accidentally" caught in excess of 84 whales, compared to less than five per year in non-whaling nations.
Further contact information for reporters to get video, photos or report details
For further information on the KFEM and Greenpeace campaign to protect whales, see: www.comebackwhales.com/news/
Contact information
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Jim Wickens: Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner +82 102 233 0760
Mhairi Dunlop: Greenpeace International Media Officer +31 646 162 026
Yeyong, Choi: KFEM Director +82 164 587 488