Our ship, the Arctic Sunrise, has gone from the Southern Ocean
to St. Kitts, this time ready to confront the Japanese whalers in
the political arena. But we've been denied entry into the waters
surrounding St. Kitts, without any explanation as to why.
But what started out badly improved markedly, when by the
narrowest of margins, Japan lost the most important votes it was
pursuing. Japan's efforts to eliminate protection for dolphins,
porpoises, and small whales, introduce a secret voting ballot,
abolish the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and earn an exemption
on the moratorium against commercial whaling, all failed to pass by
just a few votes.
This was great news for whales, but was quickly overshadowed by
a non-binding resolution following the arrival of another
pro-whaling nation, which revealed that Japan has indeed gained a
simple majority vote on the IWC.
This turning of the tides signals a serious threat for whales,
and one last vote has us particularly interested. Japan would gladly hand
Greenpeace our ejection notice for 'interference with whale
research.' The vote to remove our observer status at the IWC
meetings, including next year's meetings in Alaska, will take place
in a couple of days - a retribution for our efforts to protect
whales in the Southern Ocean.
But that won't stop us from returning to the Southern Oceans
again this year, and confronting the Japanese whalers as they
attempt to slaughter even more whales.
Already this year, Japan's whalers increased their slaughter -
under the guise of 'scientific research' - killing 853 whales,
including 10 fin whales, the second largest whales in the world's
oceans, and one of the most endangered. And they've already
announced plans to increase the slaughter next year, including 50
fin whales and plan to add endangered humpback whales to the menu
in 2007/2008.
It is clear that Japan has now gained a simple majority of
votes, and next year's meeting in Alaska promises to be a turning
point, unless anti-whaling nations like ours really fight back. If
Japan gains control of the IWC, it will start turning back the
clock on whale conservation and laying the groundwork to undo the
ban on commercial whaling.
We'll continue our fight to keep that from happening. Will you
join us?
Donate Now
The fight to protect whales promises to wage on, and we promise to be in the thick of it. Help Support our efforts as we return to the Southern Ocean.