Saturday, August 2, 2008

Crimes and Punishment

From the original IWC documents -



It recognizes that even under the most favorable management and with the most conscientious and experienced gunners and crews, it is inevitable that some whales will be taken illegally and that a certain latitude should be allowed in assessing penalties for such unavoidable taking. It may be that legal and administrative differences among the Contracting Governments will prevent the adoption of a uniform system of penalties, but it is the view of the Conference that it is desirable that the Governments should provide for the imposition of penalties sufficiently severe to discourage the illegal killing or taking of whales.



So.... where are these dam penalties?
Why did the IWC turn into a toothless crippled old dog that everyone gets to kick?

What Are Your Crimes Japan?

The Japanese are whaling in violation of the International Whaling Commission’s global moratorium on commercial whaling.

1. The Japanese are illegally killing whales from the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

2. The Japanese are illegally killing whales from the Australian Antarctic Territory.

3. The Japanese are illegally targeting fin whales this year and humpback whales next year. These are endangered species, and thus, this is a violation of CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

4. The Japanese are in violation of IWC regulation 19(a). The IWC regulations in the Schedule to the convention forbid the use of factory ships to process any protected stock: “19. (a) It is forbidden to use a factory ship or a land station for the purpose of treating any whales which are classified as Protection Stocks in paragraph 10. Paragraph 10(c) provides a definition of Protection Stocks and states that Protection Stocks are listed in the Tables of the Schedule. Table 1 lists all the baleen whales, including minke, fin, and humpback whales and states that all of them are Protection Stocks.

5. In addition, the IWC regulations specifically ban the use of factory ships to process any whales except minke whales: Paragraph 10(d) provides: “(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10 there shall be a moratorium on the taking, killing or treating of whales, except minke whales, by factory ships or whale catchers attached to factory ships. This moratorium applies to sperm whales, killer whales and baleen whales, except minke whales.” Fin and humpback whales are both baleen whales and are subject to this moratorium.

And thats just a start. Japans whaling is no different from poaching elephants or running drugs. The fact it is supported by Japan openly is a blemish upon the entire nation.
As it stands, Japan is a rogue state in violation of global treaties. That others stand by and allow this to happen is a show of great weakness.

Japan, Norway & Iceland - CITES BROKEN - TRADE IN FINWHALE RESTARTED.
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.""
-Elie Wiesel-


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