Reject whale plan, Greenpeace tells leaders

Greenpeace urged leaders from New Zealand, United States, Australia and other International Whaling Commission members to reject proposals that could see Whaling increase.

The call comes amid revelations of United States involvement in behind-the-scenes negotiations that could see increased whaling off the coast of Japan in returned for a marginal drop in the so-called “scientific” quota of whales hunted in the South Ocean Whale Sanctuary – a move which would not benefit whale conservation and could put additional populations at risk.

Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas says that all leaders – whether they come from New Zealand, the United States or Japan – should be working towards ending whaling, not entrenching it.


“The governments of New Zealand and Australia can be in no doubt about public opposition in their countries to whaling, and President Obama has also been clear in his views on whaling prior to his election,” she said.

It was revealed overnight that just days after the inauguration of new US president Barack Obama, appointees from the out-going Bush administration still in place are already attempting to undermine Obama’s foreign policy on whaling.