| Japan's Whale Research Kills Hundreds | 10 February 09 |
 Japan is being offered two "compromise packages" by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to phase out whale hunting. Activists with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society recently made headlines for harassing Japanese whaling fleets saying research expeditions are a cover for commercial whaling.Since 1986 there has been a global moratorium on commercial whaling. The IWC allows whales to be killed for research purposes and under these rules Japan plans to harvest up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales in the Antarctic Ocean this season. The IWC has proposed Japan be allowed to hunt whales in its territorial waters if the scientific whaling program is phased out or allow Japan's research program to continue if it adheres to annual limits set by the IWC's Scientific Committee. Japan has threatened to leave the IWC if the commercial whaling ban is not lifted. Iceland and Norway are the only two countries that do not recognize IWC rules and have authorized fisherman to hunt whales to sell for meat. View February 18, 2009 GreenPeace International press releaseView February 2, 2009 CTV article View December 9, 2008 Greenpeace Canada article View February 2, 2009 Google News Video View February 3, 2009 The China Post article View February 2, 2009 WWF article Sources: CTV, Greenpeace, Associated Press, The China Post, WWF, YouTube |
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