Australia threat over Japan whale hunting 'unfortunate' by GinoBiffaroni

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Australia threat over Japan whale hunting 'unfortunate'

POSTED BY: GINOBIFFARONI
UPDATED: Monday, February 22, 2010 09:08
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Sunday, February 21, 2010 3:30 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8526747.stm

Australia threat over Japan whale hunting 'unfortunate'
Baird's whale slaughter (AP)
Japan's whaling season faces strong opposition

Australia's threat to take Japan to the International Court of Justice if it does not stop whale hunting is "unfortunate", FM Katsuya Okada says.

Mr Okada said Japan would defend its "legal" activities, but his Australian counterpart said Canberra wanted a halt "within a reasonable period of time".

Both men, however, insisted the issue would not harm strong bilateral ties.

On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave Japan until November to stop whale hunting in the Antarctic.

His Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, said his country could present its position before the International Whaling Commission (IWC) as early as Monday.

The Japanese fleet kills hundreds of the animals during annual hunts in Antarctic waters.

Its ships have been involved in repeated clashes with campaigners in recent weeks.

Japan abandoned commercial whaling in 1986 after agreeing to a global moratorium.

But international rules allow it to continue hunting under the auspices of a research programme.

Conservationists say the whaling is a cover for the sale and consumption of whale meat.

Current Japanese programmes aim for a total catch of more than 1,000 whales per year.

Controversial splits

Japan's foreign minister made the comments after two days of talks in Australia.

"It's very unfortunate the Australian side has indicated it will take action in an international court," Mr Okada said in the city of Perth after meeting Mr Smith.

THE LEGALITIES OF WHALING
Objection - A country formally objects to the IWC moratorium, declaring itself exempt. Example: Norway
Scientific - A nation issues unilateral 'scientific permits'; any IWC member can do this. Example: Japan
Aboriginal - IWC grants permits to indigenous groups for subsistence food. Example: Alaskan Inupiat

"Should action become a reality Japan will seek to represent its case with the IWC that its activities are legal," he said.

Mr Okada met Prime Minister Rudd on Saturday.

Mr Rudd has said his country will seek ICJ arbitration if it fails to resolve the issue with Japan.

Australia enjoys support from its traditional allies - New Zealand, the EU and the US.

Iceland and Norway also practise whale hunting.

In January, anti-whaling activists accused a Japanese vessel of ramming their high-tech speed boat during a confrontation in the Southern Ocean.

Video of the incident appeared to show the Japanese ship severely damaging the Ady Gil, but all six crew were rescued.

Good on you Australia

Either you Are with the terrorists, or ... you Are with the terrorists

Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers.
What you do today, might Burn Your Ass Tomorrow"

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Sunday, February 21, 2010 3:51 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Quote:
Good on you Australia

Agreed, this is very good news, potentially. Let's hope it DOES go to the international courts, and let's hope it DOES go against the whalers.

Not that I think that will stop them, of course - but it WILL give every other nation more ammo to bring to bear against them.

Mike

Work is the curse of the Drinking Class.
- Oscar Wilde

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Sunday, February 21, 2010 5:19 PM

GINOBIFFARONI

I think folk in Australia have been putting pressure on their government to do this for some time...

But sadly it could be that the whale wars going on

1. Raised Public Awareness

2. Make Folk in the Australia government start asking questions

or 3. Embarrassed Folk into acting

Either you Are with the terrorists, or ... you Are with the terrorists

Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers.
What you do today, might Burn Your Ass Tomorrow"

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Monday, February 22, 2010 8:04 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

That's been the aim of the Sea Shepherd, among others; to galvanize Australia's government into taking action. Part of the rationale they use is that Australia refuses to take action, so they're forced to. Would be lovely to see Australia take action...then see if the Sea Shepherd backs off for a while to let the legal authorities do their job. We'll see.

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Monday, February 22, 2010 9:08 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Agreed, this is very good news, potentially. Let's hope it DOES go to the international courts, and let's hope it DOES go against the whalers.

I support Australia's objective. Legally their case will fail on several grounds. They lack the standing to bring the action, Japan is acting within the letter of the law (spirit notwithstanding), the International Court lacks jurisdiction to make a ruling and/or the authority to make a binding decision.

At best you will get a hearing and a non-binding arbitration that may or may not decide in Australia's favor.

It should also be noted that even if Austrialia wins...the practice they complain about may continue because the whalers themselves are not a party to the dispute and the Japanese whaling permits are not at issue. The remedy here will not end whaling.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.

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