Japan’s quick turnaround on whaling disappointing

News that Japan plans to recommence some form of “scientific” whaling programme so quickly after the International Court of Justice’s ruling against it is very disappointing, says David Shearer, Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

“New Zealanders expected the ICJ ruling - that Japan’s whaling programme did not stack up as ‘scientific’ and it should cease the program ‘with immediate effect’ - would cause it to completely rethink its operations and end the unnecessary killing of whales.

“Japan’s agreement at the time that it would abide by the ICJ’s ruling was also encouraging.

“That it has reconsidered so soon is alarming.

“Any new plans will still need to satisfy the Court’s ruling that the programme was not justified.
“The Japanese government must reconsider the need to kill whales when there are non-lethal research methods available that would further our scientific understanding of these beautiful creatures.

“The New Zealand government should be using all the diplomatic means it can to ensure Japan ends the slaughter,” said David Shearer.

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