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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
15, 1999 8:20 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace Sanae Shida - Greenpeace Japan - 00 81 3 5351 5400 |
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| Japan's Whalers Sneak To Sea | ||||
| TOKYO
- January 15 - Greenpeace researchers in Japan have determined that Japan's whaling factory
ship, the Nisshin Maru, and her fleet of catchers, departed secretly for the
Antarctic earlier this week to catch hundreds of whales for a bogus 'research'
program which has been repeatedly condemned by the International Whaling
Commission (IWC).
"The objective of this program is not to provide scientific information about whales," said Greenpeace campaigner John Frizell."It is to provide whale meat for the markets in Japan." The stealthy departure contrasts with the elaborate sendoff given to the fleet by the whaling industry on its previous departure in November, 1998. All of the 'research' catch will be sold on the open market in Japan. Last year's catch brought over US$30 million at the wholesale level and retailed for at least twice as much. On Nov 19, 1998 the Nisshin Maru caught fire while en route to the Antarctic and had to enter harbor in Noumea, New Caledonia, before returning to Japan for repairs. While in Noumea, the whalers were the subject of a non violent demonstration by Greenpeace. The loss of time due to the fire means that it is no longer possible to cover the area described in the proposal for research used to justify the hunt. Australia and the US have called on Japan not to send the factory vessel back to Antarctic in the current season. In 1998 the owners of the factory ship invested over US$ 12 million in a new catcher boat to modernize the whaling fleet. "It is economic necessity, not scientific interest that has driven this return to the Antarctic," said Frizell "The fleet was not carrying insurance against loss of income and the whalers stand to lose over US$ 30 million if they do not catch any whales, a loss they cannot afford after their heavy investment last year." Japan's whaling will be conducted within the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary which was established by the IWC in 1994 with a vote of 23 in favor and 1 opposed. Japan is the only country which does not recognize the sanctuary. ### |
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