Save the whales not whaling : New Zealand pro-whaling debate

New Zealands delegate to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Sir Geoffrey Palmer explains New Zealand's support on commercial whaling. Instead of closing the loophole on scientific whaling he says 24 years perfectly working current moratorium is not working and to save the whales, some may need to be killed. Sir Palmer naively says that a deal needs to be done and believes this will stop protests and save whales. How allowing to return commercial whaling will restore faith in the IWC remains a mystery. A group of New Zealand based international non-government-organisations have grouped together to fight the NZ government over its soft approach to commercial whaling.

Greenpeace, Project Jonah, Forest and Bird, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) issued a state on Monday March 22 stating they had formed a collaboration called Save the whales, not whaling.

The group has organised a petition that will be presented to the National-led Government urging it to rethink its soft strategy over commercial whaling and reject any deal that would legitimise commercial whaling and allow hunting to continue in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It is seeking signatures and support from the public.

NGO groups statement follows:

Save the whales not whaling: NZ NGOs launch joint campaign
The New Zealand Governments support for a proposal that could usher in a new era of commercial whaling has met with fierce opposition from animal welfare and environmental groups.

Collaborating under the banner of Save the whales, not whaling the groups have announced petitions calling on the Government to reject any deal that would legitimise commercial whaling and allow hunting to continue in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Earlier this month the New Zealand Government came out in support of a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which would allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to hunt whales openly, despite a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.

The results of the petitions, both on and offline (1), will be presented to the Prime Minister John Key before New Zealand officials attend the June meeting of the IWC where a final decision on the proposal will be made.

The groups, which include Greenpeace, Project Jonah, Forest and Bird, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) say the Governments support of the proposal would undo decades of conservation work by Kiwis to protect whales.

Speaking on behalf of the group Bridget Vercoe, of WSPA, said New Zealand was abandoning its post as one of the staunchest defenders of whale welfare and conservation.

At a time when the whales need us the most, the New Zealand Government is abandoning the whales and our traditional allies in whale conservation and supporting a deal that undermines the ban on commercial whaling.

Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said that the deal could usher in a new era of commercial whaling, going against New Zealand Government policy and public opinion.

If the New Zealand Government supports such a deal, it will not only undermine the most important international protection the whales have, but will also wipe out decades of whale conservation work by Kiwis and sabotage New Zealands clean, green reputation.

Forest and Bird marine conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles warned: By accepting that it is okay to commercially hunt whales, it then becomes an argument about how many to kill. Whales and dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet it is not okay to hunt them.

Philippa Brakes, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, added: There is no guarantee that the current deal would reduce the number of whales killed in the long-term and it misses a point of principle; whaling is cruel and unnecessary.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• The IWC
• Japan's vote buying
• Whaling
• commercial whaling
• anti-whaling protest
• Sea Shepherd
• Project Jonah
• Forest and Bird
• WSPA
• WDCS
• Greenpeace

[Podcod]

I wonder what whales taste like :)

[miley1434]

Not good as yours.

[bevanpalmer]

So, I have come to understand the NZnats channel have blocked me. Which means I am unable to subscribe to this channel. Under what reason and right have you to block me. I am a contributing member of society.

Regards

Bevan Palmer Mobile(021)129-6663

[miley1434]

It is not wise you give your personal information on the internet, in addition whay good would come of leaving your cell phone number here info in here, I seriously do not know.

Don't do this.

[Lorraine56838]

This is NOT a compromise!!!!!!!!!!!!! Idiots! This would be doing nothing more than bowing down to Commercial Whaling Nations and saying "OK well we dont have the balls to stop you so go on ahead and continue doing as you please"

[irishveganboy]

only way to save whales is to STOP WHALING for god's sake,.

[ITSGLENN83]

@clairehappiness who told you their are only 2000 fat whales left in the world?

an you think i need to use my common sense?

i hope some one drunk drives into you durring new years

[ITSGLENN83]

@clairehappiness you must be out your crack smokeing mind

[ITSGLENN83]

@clairehappiness would you like some chees with that whine :(

"2000 whales left" whare are you getting your facts from? your a fucking idiot if you think theirs only 2000 whaes left. japan is not the only whaleing country in the world. combine japan an the rest of the world that does comerical whaleing like Russia & Europe. thats more than 2000 whales you dipship. an theirs still a lot of FAT WHALES.

but seriousley. whare are you getting your facs from? go look it up on google

[NaRuToCrAzY12629]

Stupid idiot

[legitleyepic]

@jessicafischerqueen wow. you really are an asshole. just a plain asshole.

[ITSGLENN83]

whales are smart animals. they got big brains. they are smart enough 2 commit suicide. beached whales.better off if japan kills them.i dont want no rotten stinkin whale carcass on my beaches.GO TEAM JAPAN WHOOOOO!!!!!!!

[plbuster]

@cocom0o Hunting whales is not murder.