Following is a brief summary of events that occurred in Santiago over the last week.
When will the Whales and Dolphins swim free?
After a week attending sessions and gatherings at the International Whaling Commission IWC in Santiago, Chile I am left wondering in what forum will the decision to end whaling occur. After all, apart from the NGO crew sitting up the back of the hall, the many of the voters are just politicians from whaling backgrounds or they are heavily subsidised by Japanese aid.
Peter Garret made a gallant effort to try to bring about reform within the IWC suggesting ways to close the loopholes that allow lethal scientific research and turn it into more of a group that concerns itself with whale conservation issues for the benefit of the whales themselves and not just so humans can manage stocks so they can harvest their flesh.
The IWC was triing to operate from consensus, with out voting, but Greenland forced a vote on Thursday on aboriginal subsistence whaling and their desire to kill 10 humpback whales. The vote was taken and failed 36 NO, 29 YES. The main objections for this proposal were that the advice from the scientific committee was only given as interim advice and that there are serious question over the 'subsistence' needs of the Greenland hunt, with proof emerging that whale meat is openly sold in Greenland supermarkets.
Australia was definitely leading the conservation pack as far as proposals and reforms went getting lots of support from other countries, yet when I mentioned to Peter that Japan was clearly a renegaded whaling nation and asked what it will take, to take Japan to the International Court he said that that proposal was still on the table and then proceeded to comment on how productive Australias input has been into the IWC.
What has changed this week? Not much. Japan still plans to kill up to 1000 minke whales in the South Pacific whale sanctuary and another 700 in the north Pacific. Iceland and Norway have not been forced or told to stop their commercial and scientific hunts, Dolphins are not even recognised as whales in the IWC and therefor Japan can continue to slaughter 20,000 dolphins without question and illegal international trade in whale meat goes unchallenged.
The energy, inspiration and passion brought to Chile and the IWC by the Australian and Byron crew can not be underestimated. Skye Bortoli from Teens Against Whaling, David Rastovich and Howie cooke from Surfers For Cetaceans and our very own Mermaid, Hannah Fraser left quite a splash on the IWC. And with the addition of Sea Shepherd Paul Watson and Ian Campbell, the press conference held by the pool in the Sheraton on Thursday attracted massive media attention. We wernt quite sure how the heavy security presence would respond to our banners saying "Stop Japan Stop, No Killing No Capture". "Hands off Ozzy Humpbacks" and "Boycott Japanese Produces and Services" and "Stop the dolphin Slaughters".
Byron Mermaid, Hannah Fraser said in the press release, "When a killing cove runs red with dolphins blood, will you stand by and watch or will you stand up and do something. When a great whale thrashes in pain, will you watch and be dismayed and helpless, or will you do something. Each year we allow Japan and other whaling nations to railroad our governments due to economic pressure and trade relations. The IWC horse-trades the great whales with the world's small cetaceans unmanaged and unprotected, and reduces the whole idea of whale conservation to number crunching. We are taught as young people, that animal cruelty is a crime punishable by Law, yet our governments allow other countries to walk all over us, giving the clear message that innocent lives are lost while politics prosper and trade agreements are paramount. Our message is clear, Stop the slaughter and capture of all cetaceans."
The next IWC will be hosted by Portugal in 2009 with most of the ozzy and Byron crew vowing to return. As the politicians at the IWC talk for yet another year about the importance of whale conservation, the same Ozzy crew that are here in Santiago along with a dedicated international crew will join Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherds in yet another voyage into the South Pacific whale sanctuary to confront these outlawed Japanese whaling ships as the last line of defence of our friends the whales.
Reports and interviews recorded throughout the IWC are viewable at http://www.planetearthinternettv.com
Also see www.surfersforcetaceans.com www.visualpetition.com www.seashepherd.org, www.teensagainstwhaling.com www.chiletour08.com
