June 22nd, 2010 by Editor
Once upon a time, gigantic marine creatures ranging in size from a relatively modest 11 feet all the way up to 115 feet (known more familiarly as beluga, sperm, blue, pilot, humpback and killer whales in the Cetacea order) –– used to enjoy thriving populations…that isuntil man got in on the action.
Once we figured out that we could profit from the sale of their flesh, oil and ambergris, we launched massive commercial hunting expeditions (as early as the 1600s) which were so successful that we severely compromised their numbers.
As the years have progressed, whales continue to be faced with added threats such as ocean-bound pollution, fishing net entanglement, Navy underwatership shockexplosive tests and collisions with sea faring crafts.
Whether they’re the subject ofillegal sushi slinging,climate change-fighting excrement,unprecedented celebrity activismorPierce Brosnan’s latestsave the whalespublic service announcement, it might be natural to think that our society haswhale on the brain…so you’re probably scratching your head and asking yourself why the 88 countries participating in the International Whaling Commission’s peace talks are hashing out the details behind closed doors. Frankly,so are we.
Do they have something to hide? Former 80sMidnight Oilfrontman and Australia’s current Minister for Environment ProtectionPeter Garrett– who penned such notable eco-tinged hits as “Blue Sky Mine” and “Beds Are Burning” – is troubled by the development, noting that transparency is the best policy.
At stake: trying decide whether Iceland, Norway and Japan should be allowed to legally resume Antarctic whale hunting for one decade as long as they gradual decrease the total amount taken, which currently hovers at around 2,000 whales (some of which are threatened with extinction).
The World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace and the Pew Environment Group have offered a preliminary bargaining tool which gives the thumbs up to whaling as long as endangered species are exempt, unilaterally determined whaling quotas are abolished, whale meat/products are expressly prohibited from trade and Southern Ocean whaling is off limits (among other conditions), but other notable environmental groups have immediately vetoed any deal that supports commercial whaling in anyway, shape or form.
Greenpeace has explained that while they support a global ban on whaling, most of what occurs is “outside the reach of the IWC. The only way to properly make the moratorium work is to bring commercial whaling under the reach of the IWC and then to enforce the ban.”
Unfortunately, a loophole has enabled Japan to kill approximately 1,200 whales annually for supposed scientific study and to fuel a cultural practice that despite falling out of favor with its residents is stillinexplicably subsidized by its government.
If only the whales could speak up and set everyone straight.
ViaSydney Morning HeraldandGuardian
By Elizah Leigh
Found on the net by our news bot
Antarctic, Australia, Celebrities, eco, Environment, fashion, Garrett, greenpeace, hunting, Iceland, international whaling commission, Japan, killer whales, marine creatures, Norway, Oilfrontman, Sky Mine, Southern Ocean, sustainability, way, whale, whale hunting, world wildlife fund
