End Of Japanese Whaling May Be In Sight

Auckland, 13 November, 2009 – A major review of Japanese government spending could spell the end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, according to Greenpeace, after the review committee proposed massive cuts in subsidies to a body which funds the so-called scientific research programme.

The Spending Review Committee recommended that the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Fund (OFCF), which gives loans to the Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) to run the discredited science programme, have all of its funding revoked, except monies needed for loans in 2010.

The OFCF claims it needs 70.4 billion yen (nearly US$80 million) for various programmes, most likely including whaling, in 2010. The Review Committee and Cabinet Office will have the final decision if the proposed operations for 2010 are actually “necessary” or should also be cut.

If the loans for whaling are revoked it is unlikely the ICR can continue to operate (1).

Bunny McDiarmid, Greenpeace New Zealand Executive Director said the potential end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was encouraging news but there would be no celebrations until it was confirmed by the Japanese Government.

“After years of campaigning against Japanese whaling in the southern ocean it will be a landmark day when the end is announced.”

News of the review committee’s recommendation comes less than 24 hours before US President Barack Obama is due to arrive in Tokyo. Whaling was already on the agenda for discussions between the two heads of state.

“Prime Minister Hatoyama has a unique opportunity to signal he is serious about his election promises to clean up government spending by ending this controversial, corrupt and wasteful programme,” said Sara Holden, Greenpeace International whales campaign. “We urge President Barack Obama to support Prime Minister Hatoyama and at the same time uphold his election promise and support Prime Minister Hatoyama in ending whaling in the Southern Ocean (2).”

The committee recommendations also reinforce the assertions of the Greenpeace activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the Tokyo Two, who are currently awaiting trial for exposing the corruption of the whaling programme and the waste of taxpayers’ money(3).

Greenpeace generated a global protest against whaling more than 30 years ago, and the campaign was won in 1986 when an international moratorium on commercial whaling was declared. Since then a rearguard action has been underway to stop the Japanese government from abusing a loophole in the agreement that allowed for lethal ‘scientific’ whaling. Greenpeace has mobilised millions of people worldwide in that time, sending ship expeditions to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, with activists placing themselves between the whale and the harpoons to stop the hunt. In recent years Greenpeace has been the only environmental organisation to prioritise its campaign inside in Japan in order to successfully turn government and public opinion.

Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.

ENDS