Monday, April 2, 2007
Help Kill Whales
For some time, Japan has tried to organize a pro-whaling majority on the International Whaling Commission. Since 1982, Japan, Norway and Iceland have skirted the worldwide ban on commercial whaling by conducting whaling for "scientific purposes." Lately, Japan has suggested that whaling be renewed, claiming that whales endanger the food security of coastal nations because they eat too much fish (yes, I am serious). Efforts have been underway to lift the 1982 moratorium, and if Japan gets the voting majority it seeks, that just might happen.
Most disturbingly, it appears that Japan has been wielding its political and financial muscles to essentially buy the votes of a number of different countries, including the Eastern Caribbean island nations of Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For example, both St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines supported whale conservation during their first five years as members of the IWC. However, just two weeks after the Prime Ministers of both countries were guests of the Japanese government in Tokyo, "reviewing the economic relations between Japan and their respective countries and urging Japanese aid and investment," the countries made an abrupt change to support the Japanese position.
Most of these Eastern Caribbean nations also happen to be popular scuba diving destinations, which means that we, as divers, have a direct opportunity to make our voices heard. If we visit these countries and contribute to their economies, we (in the words of our vocal member Avra Cohen) "help kill whales." If we want to take a stand against the pro-whaling stance of these countries, we can spend our tourism dollars elsewhere, and email the tourism boards of these countries to explain why we're not visiting.
Avra has done a tremendous amount of research into this issue, and he made his voice heard loud and clear at Beneath the Sea. If you want to add your voice to his, and help save whales, download his flyer and send it to everyone you know.
Most disturbingly, it appears that Japan has been wielding its political and financial muscles to essentially buy the votes of a number of different countries, including the Eastern Caribbean island nations of Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For example, both St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines supported whale conservation during their first five years as members of the IWC. However, just two weeks after the Prime Ministers of both countries were guests of the Japanese government in Tokyo, "reviewing the economic relations between Japan and their respective countries and urging Japanese aid and investment," the countries made an abrupt change to support the Japanese position.
Most of these Eastern Caribbean nations also happen to be popular scuba diving destinations, which means that we, as divers, have a direct opportunity to make our voices heard. If we visit these countries and contribute to their economies, we (in the words of our vocal member Avra Cohen) "help kill whales." If we want to take a stand against the pro-whaling stance of these countries, we can spend our tourism dollars elsewhere, and email the tourism boards of these countries to explain why we're not visiting.
Avra has done a tremendous amount of research into this issue, and he made his voice heard loud and clear at Beneath the Sea. If you want to add your voice to his, and help save whales, download his flyer and send it to everyone you know.
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