Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Australia condemns Japan and Iceland over whaling
Reuters Canberra, July 21
Australia condemned Japan and Iceland on Wednesday for plans to increase the number of whales killed for scientific research and urged them to abandon the practice altogether.
Environment Minister Ian Campbell said Japan and Iceland were using scientific research as a "guise" for plans to kill around 850 whales of various species next year. Whaling was abandoned by Australia 25 years ago.
"Killing whales in the name of science is an affront to science. It is not science -- it is commercial slaughter," Campbell said in a statement.
Australia wants the establishment of a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary and a permanent end to commercial whaling and will push its plans at a meeting of the 57-member International Whaling Commission in Sorrento, Italy, which started on Monday.
Australia and New Zealand are among the most forceful proponents of whale sanctuaries, arguing that populations of some species are dangerously low and sanctuaries are vital to their survival.
Whales currently have two sanctuaries -- in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean -- where no whaling is permitted, even for scientific research.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.