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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
18, 1999 10:52 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace Luisa Colasimone (Amsterdam) +31 20 524 9546 |
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| Japan Tries To Ban Greenpeace From International Whaling Commission | ||||
| LONDON
- January 18 - The international environment group Greenpeace today condemned Japan for its
attempt to expel Greenpeace from International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings
because the organization continues to focus international criticism on Japan's
whaling operations. At a closed door meeting to be held on the 19th and 20th of January at the Cambridge, UK headquarters of the IWC, Japanese government officials will demand that Greenpeace is barred from future meetings of the IWC. "Greenpeace has played an important role at the IWC for many years," said John Frizell of Greenpeace. "For Japan to try and stop Greenpeace attending because it doesn't like the fact that we are drawing attention to the illegitimacy of its 'scientific' whaling program is preposterous. "Greenpeace calls on the IWC to dismiss Japan's proposal in order not to jeopardize the integrity of IWC meetings", added Frizell. "The reality is that world opinion is against Japan's supposedly 'scientific' whaling program. Japan can no longer continue to ignore public opinion. Trying to stifle criticism from Greenpeace will not legitimize Japan's whaling program in the eyes of the international community," said Frizell. Japan's plans were revealed by a Japanese newspaper, the Yomiuri, which said on 11th January that Japan's effort to bar Greenpeace from the IWC is based on a Greenpeace protest against two Japanese whaling ships that took place in the harbor of Noumea, New Caledonia on the 7th and 8th of December, 1998. The action ended without arrests and there was no injury to individuals or damage to property. The whaling vessels involved in the protest are currently on their way to the Antarctic to hunt within the Southern Ocean, which is recognized by the world community and the IWC as a whale sanctuary. The IWC has repeatedly called on Japan not to catch whales for 'scientific' purposes and IWC scientists have concluded that Japan's program is not required for the management of whales. "The objective of this program is not to provide scientific information about whales," said John Frizell. "It is to provide whale meat for the markets in Japan." All of the catch from the "scientific" program is sold commercially. "Japan's complaint against Greenpeace must be seen in the context of its whaling program and the worldwide outrage at that program," said Frizell. "Rather than attempting to shoot the messenger, Japan should listen to the message that is coming not only from Greenpeace but from the whole world community: its 'scientific' whaling program is a sham and must stop. ### |
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