To whom it may concern.

Island Nations Support of Japans Whaling Plans

We are writing to various Political representatives & the news media in Island Nations that are reportedly planning on supporting Japan in the resumption of commercial whaling by the removal of the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling. Of course we all know that since the 1986 moratorium came into force Japan has used a loophole to carry out “so called” research whaling. In fact they have killed a minimum of 13686 whales since 1986. The research they supposedly have carried out can be done by non-lethal methods; the research is not needed or wanted by the IWC. It is clear that Japan has been carrying out illegal commercial whaling and has plans to include more endangered species from 2007. In particular of the estimated 10,000 endangered [ESA & IUCN] Humpback whales they plan to kill 50 in 2007 along with 50 endangered Fin whales. DNA testing of whale meat has proved that they have already killed a number of listed endangered species. Many Islands Nations gain much income from tourists doing whaling watching trips, one of the main species being Humpback whales. Why would you kill a whale that year after year provides you with tourist income for the short term return of whale meat, which incidentally is being stockpiled in Japanese cold stores because it is not selling. So it is ending up as dog food and being fed to school children in school lunches. Did you know that whale meat is contaminated by heavy metals and chemicals? The whole idea of a whale meat industry just does not make sense on any level or for any reason. This far beyond the scope & extent of ‘Indigenous peoples whaling’.

SO why do some small nations support Japan? In some cases Japan provides foreign aid and other “incentives” to get support. Want to reads more? See:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0513-01.htm

For further background reading see:

http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/editor/061_ramblings_02072004.asp

As a small environmental group in New Zealand we have started a web site which is attracting world-wide support:

http://www.stopwhaling.co.nz We are calling for a consumer’s boycott of Japanese goods by individuals until they stop whaling. This maybe extended to Nations that support commercial whaling. After June 2006 we will know who to target, we hope its not you!

The Japanese are whaling in violation of the International Whaling Commission’s global moratorium on commercial whaling.

1. The Japanese are killing whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.
2. The Japanese are killing whales in the Australian Antarctic Territory.
3. The Japanese are targeting fin whales this year and humpback whales next year. These are endangered species, and thus, this is a violation of CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
4. The Japanese are in violation of IWC regulation 19(a). The IWC regulations in the Schedule to the convention forbid the use of factory ships to process any protected stock: “19. (a) It is forbidden to use a factory ship or a land station for the purpose of treating any whales which are classified as Protection Stocks in paragraph 10. Paragraph 10(c) provides a definition of Protection Stocks and states that Protection Stocks are listed in the Tables of the Schedule. Table 1 lists all the baleen whales, including minke, fin, and humpback whales and states that all of them are Protection Stocks.
5. In addition, the IWC regulations specifically ban the use of factory ships to process any whales except minke whales: Paragraph 10(d) provides: “(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10 there shall be a moratorium on the taking, killing or treating of whales, except minke whales, by factory ships or whale catchers attached to factory ships. This moratorium applies to sperm whales, killer whales and baleen whales, except minke whales.” Fin and humpback whales are both baleen whales and are subject to this moratorium.

The Legal Powers to stop whaling are:

Contained in the UN World Charter for Nature (1982). Under the charter individuals singly and collectively have an obligation and duty to safeguard nature against illegal activities:

S. 21: States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities, international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall:

(a) Implement the applicable international legal provisions for the conservation of nature, and the protection of the environment;

- (d) Ensure that activities within their jurisdiction , or control do not cause damage to the natural systems located within other States or in the areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;

- (e) Safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

S.24: Each person has a duty to act in accordance with the provisions of the present Charter; acting individually, in association with others or through participation in the political process, each person shall strive to ensure that the objectives and requirements of the present charter are met. “

We look forward to responses and to debate in your nation.

David G Head
Marine Environment Projects Manager
Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre INC.
Napier, New Zealand
May 2006

ENDS

www.stopwhaling.co.nz

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