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Australia, NZ plead for humpbacks
Topic Started: May 29 2007, 08:07 PM (155 Views)
Kahu
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Australia, NZ plead for humpbacks
Andrew Darby, Alaska
May 29, 2007 - 9:56AM

Australia and New Zealand have made emotional, but so far fruitless, pleas to Japan to spare humpback whales from its kill, at the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

The two governments joined in appeals to spare the iconic animals from the harpoon as a gesture of goodwill, warning that the plan would seriously harm Japan's image.

"The impact on Japan of public opinion in Australia would be very severe if this were to occur," the Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, told representatives of more than 70 nations.

"Nothing Japan could do today would earn it more goodwill with the people of Australia than to abandon the humpback kill in Antarctica this year," Mr Turnbull said.

The New Zealand Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, said his country had acted as a good friend of Japan last summer.

It aided the whaling fleet when it ran into trouble with the anti-whaling activists of Sea Shepherd, gave medical help to a whaling ship crewman, and stood by when the factory ship Nisshin Maru caught fire.

"New Zealand has acted as a good friend of Japan's," Mr Carter said. "I am asking that in turn, Japan respects the powerful feelings Pacific peoples have about humpbacks."

The Japanese alternate commissioner at the IWC, Joji Morishita, said his government was attempting to make decisions based on science.

"At the same time, I do understand the need for some nations on particular species," Mr Morishita said.

Japan plans to kill 50 humpbacks in Antarctica next summer from stocks that migrate along the Australian coasts in winter. Some of these whales also migrate along the New Zealand coasts into the tropical Pacific.

Under IWC rules, Japan is allowed to grant itself a permit to kill whales for scientific research.

theage.com.au

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Lets hope the plea doesn't fall on deaf ears.
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Kahu
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They see it (whaling) as a national cultural right.
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Kahu
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NSW girls demand protection for humpbacks
By ANDREW DARBY - SMH | Tuesday, 29 May 2007

A trio of Australian girls who travelled to Alaska to try to head off Japanese humpback whale hunting have taken their passionate fight to the 77 nation International Whaling Commission in Anchorage.

The girls from Port Stephens, New South Wales, handed a 40,000 signature petition against scientific whaling to IWC chairman, William Hogarth, in what they saw as a coup for their campaign.

"We were told by lots of people that this wouldn't happen, that he wouldn't see us," said Skye Bortoli, 14. "But he did."

Ms Bortoli, her sister Caitlyn Frerk, aged eight, and Ayesha Future, 17, formed the group Teens Against Whaling.

They raised funds to spend two weeks in the sub-Arctic capital with their parents, trying to draw attention to Japanese scientific whaling, and particularly the planned humpback kill next summer.

In the hunt, Japan plans to take 50 humpbacks in Antarctica from stocks that migrate along the east and west coasts of Australia in winter.

"These are our humpback whales," said Ms Bortoli. "The first thing they see when they come from their mother's womb is the Australian coastline. So if anyone should determine what happens to them, it is us."

Ms Future said the girls were also telling IWC delegates that the whaling was very cruel. "The tourism industry is the only real commercial use for whales."

The girls joined anti-whaling protests, including a parade through Anchorage which culminated with the protesters lying on the ground in the shape of a humpback.

They plan to attend sessions of the IWC this week where the humpback hunt is emerging as a possible bargaining chip.

The Japanese delegation leader, Joji Morishita, confirmed that Japan was prepared for detailed negotiations in which its plan for a small commercial hunt of minke whales in its own waters could be part of a trade for the humpbacks.

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