Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Mother and calf hauled aboard whaling ship. (Photo: Brisbane Times)
Seeking to eliminate a repeat of last year’s vote-buying scandal, the United Kingdom has proposed reforms to the International Whaling Commission that would alter how nations fund the international body.
A British media investigation in 2010 uncovered allegations that Japan used foreign aid, prostitutes and personal favors to buy votes from commission members.
The commission opened its annual meeting Monday in Great Britain.
The most significant change urged by the UK would require countries to pay their membership subscriptions by bank transfer, in order to end the practice of dues being paid in cash. The old way made it easier for Japanese officials to bribe IWC representatives, reformers argue.
Each year about 1,500 whales are killed by Japan, Iceland and Norway, with the blessing of the IWC. Japan slaughters the majority of whales, claiming the hunt is purely for scientific research. In reality, most of the whale meat ends up on dinner tables, not lab benches.
Sparks flew Tuesday when Japan requested that Australia do more to protect its whaling boats from anti-whaling protesters in Antarctic waters, where 80% of whaling occurs. Australia refused.
Japan insists that much of its hunting is for scientific research, which allows it to skirt international restrictions. Not everyone agrees.
“This so-called scientific whaling lacks any scientific argument behind it,” Australia’s Environment Minister Tony Burke said. “What's going on there is commercial whaling. Australia is opposed to commercial whaling.”
Australia has launched a complaint against Japanese whaling at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the UN's highest court. Commercial whaling is banned by a 1986 moratorium.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Anti-Corruption Measures Debated at Whaling Talks (by David MacDougall, Associated Press)
"Clean-Up Bid" Tops Agenda for Whaling Meet (by Richard Black, BBC News)
Japan Accused of Trading Money and Sex for Whaling Votes (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
Japan, Australia Clash at Whaling Talks (by David MacDougall, Associated Press)
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