Rudd stands firm on whaling
Maria Hawthorne; 11/6/08
Australia is still considering taking Japan to court over its whaling in the Southern Ocean, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd denying he has abandoned the plan. On the eve of his first meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Tokyo, Mr Rudd told the Japan National Press Club that legal action was still an option if diplomacy failed to resolve the issue. New Zealand has dumped plans to take Japan to court after receiving legal advice that such a challenge was doomed. Last weekend, Mr Rudd also appeared to be signalling a softening on legal action, focusing on diplomatic efforts in the lead-up to this month’s International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Chile. But today he said there was no change in the Australian Government’s position.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23848733-26103,00.html
US targets Japan’s whaling loophole
P. Parameswaran; 12/6/08
The United States has called for a review of international law to regulate the killing of whales for scientific research in an apparent bid to plug a loophole exploited by Japan. The change, which could include a protocol on scientific whaling, has drawn criticism from conservation groups, which fear it could legitimise a fundamentally illegal activity. The International Whaling Commission has imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling since 1986, but environmentalists argue that Japan has been exploiting a legal loophole allowing whaling for scientific research. Japan kills about 1000 whales a year under its scientific program and then sells the meat.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-targets-japans-whaling-loophole-20080611-2p1v.html