Chilean President Pushes Whaling Ban

Santiago, Chile -- June 23, 2008: President Michelle Bachelet pushed to permanently ban whaling along Chile's sprawling coast at the opening Monday of the weeklong International Whaling Commission meeting.Bachelet endorsed making Chile's coastal waters -- more than 3,100 miles long and up to 200 miles from shore -- a whale sanctuary. The proposal still must be approved by Congress. Los Angeles Times

Labels: Chile, commercial whaling, International Whaling Commission, Japan, whale hunting, whale watching

¶ 12:48 PM  0 Comments

Whaling Commission's Future to be Tested in Chile

Santiago, Chile -- June 21, 2008: An International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile next week could decide the future of the deeply split panel as Japan, one of its most powerful members and the world's biggest whaler, seeks a compromise. Some 80 countries at the Santiago meeting will take up issues ranging from whale stocks and whale killing methods to the booming business of whale watching. The first IWC meeting in South America in 23 years, which runs Monday through Friday, also looks set to define the Latin America bloc of countries as the new champion of the world's biggest mammals. Reuters

Labels: Chile, International Whaling Commission, IWC, Japan, Japanese whaling, whale hunting, whale watching, whales

¶ 12:33 PM  0 Comments

Australian minister warns Japan of whale action

TOKYO, Japan -- February 1, 2008: Australia's foreign minister warned Friday of tougher action to stop Japan whaling, despite calls for calm from both sides over the increasingly emotive dispute. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith held talks in Tokyo just as Japan was reported to have resumed killing whales in the Antarctic Ocean following a two-week halt under pressure from environmental protesters. (AFP)

Labels: Australia, EIA, IWC, Japan, Southern Ocean Sanctuary, whale hunting, whale sanctuary, whales

¶ 7:58 AM  0 Comments

Five whales killed as Japan resumes slaughter

LONDON, United Kingdom -- January 31, 2008: Japan has resumed its slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean - and now stands condemned by the world. Officers aboard the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking witnessed the killing of whales - believed to be minke - about 3pm. Witnesses reported seeing up to five whales harpooned and then hauled on to the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Daily Telegraph.

Labels: Australia, EIA, IWC, Japan, Southern Ocean Sanctuary, whale hunting, whale sanctuary, whales

¶ 8:20 AM  0 Comments