British work to protect the whales
Published: April 16, 2007 at 12:42 PM
LONDON, April 16 (UPI) -- The British have persuaded six nations to join the International Whaling Commission to counter a Japanese takeover and protect great whales.
At issue is the reopening of commercial whaling that occurred last year when Japan and its commission allies repealed the 1986 moratorium on hunting great whales, The Independent reported.
After being outvoted, the British launched a lobbying campaign complete with a glossy brochure setting out the case against whaling and signed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and noted environmentalists.
The six nations that will align with the British when the whaling commission meets in Alaska in May are Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Peru and Slovenia.
Senior British sources told the Independent they are confident the votes of the six new members will be enough to nullify the Japanese majority, which included Norway, Iceland and several smaller whaling nations.
At issue is the reopening of commercial whaling that occurred last year when Japan and its commission allies repealed the 1986 moratorium on hunting great whales, The Independent reported.
After being outvoted, the British launched a lobbying campaign complete with a glossy brochure setting out the case against whaling and signed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and noted environmentalists.
The six nations that will align with the British when the whaling commission meets in Alaska in May are Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Peru and Slovenia.
Senior British sources told the Independent they are confident the votes of the six new members will be enough to nullify the Japanese majority, which included Norway, Iceland and several smaller whaling nations.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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