Posts Tagged ‘IWC66’
Are the Japanese people growing tired of whaling?
The influential Japanese news title, the Asahi Shimbun, through an editorial, is calling on the Japanese Government to change its whaling strategy. In its editorial of November 1st 2016, titled It’s time for Japan to change its controversial whaling strategy, the paper believes that at this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission, ‘Japan appears to have…
Read MoreSo how was the IWC for you?
So IWC66 ends with a celebration of whale-themed ties, which, believe it or not, was won by a Japanese delegate. He was sporting a bright Moby Dick themed tie. so I guess that, as it’s a whaling themed tie, the individual concerned may be allowed back into Japan’s Far Seas Fisheries building where their whaling…
Read MoreDay Five of IWC 2016
Agenda Item 19 Finance and Administration The meeting opens slightly late due to technical difficulties. Bruno: regarding yesterday’s Agenda, I forgot to confirm that all delegates are happy for the Commission to endorse cooperation with other organisations? (General assent). Also apologizes to IGO/NGOs that he was ‘a little too fast’ in closing yesterday. The Chair…
Read MoreInternational Whaling Commission passes groundbreaking resolution in the shadow of Japan's research whaling
Portoroz: While today the world was awaiting the decision of the International Whaling Commission on a way forward regarding Japan´s scientific whaling, delegates in Slovenia have just made environmental history by deciding on a highly unusual and groundbreaking proposal. They were asked to consider whales as essential contributors to a healthy marine ecosystem and climate.…
Read MoreDay Four of IWC 2016
As we mentioned yesterday, this is not a complete transcript but is intended to give a brief overview on the day’s discussions. This is especially true today, when there was a break in the transmission from the meeting due to technical problems, so there may be gaps, for which we are sorry. For the really…
Read MoreDay Three (afternoon) of IWC 2016
Agenda Item 10 Cetacean Habitat 10.1 State of Cetacean Environment (SOCER) The Chair of the IWC Scientific Committee, Caterina, highlights elements of the Franciscana Action Plan. The Committee recommends that the stabilisation of the Brazilian dam is urgent and highlighted the critical need to adopt knowledge from disasters, such as deep–water accidents and to share…
Read MoreDay Three (Morning) of IWC 2016
This is not a full script, as whilst some comments are verbatim, others are paraphrased, but we endeavour to capture the essence of what was said. The morning shift So back to it, and the Chairman is asking for progress from drafting groups. Japan opened the meeting rather aggressively in the view of this observer,…
Read MoreDay Two of IWC 2016
This is meant as a brief update on progress and hurdles this morning at IWC66 in Slovenia. We shall update when we get another gap between sessions. IWC66/09 South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary The day started badly for the whales when the Schedule Amendment that would have established the South Atlantic Sanctuary (#SAWS) was defeated with…
Read MoreDenmark: Wanting their whale and eating it
So Denmark has submitted its opening statement to the IWC and I guess the question is, have they learned their lesson since the last meeting? One reading of the statement would suggest that Denmark wants to ‘have their cake’, and, as the old saying goes, quite literally, ‘eat it’. I asked in a previous post…
Read MoreA Kingdom divided
It seems that whilst Denmark has been doing its utmost within the EU to pander to its overseas territories in Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the Danish citizens of these two distant lands are not so grateful. The Arctic Journal (20th October 2016) reports that Greenland and the Faroes are demanding that Denmark, their representative…
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