I would like to draw everyone’s attention to a very important article that was written by Dr. Sidney Holt, who is one of the world’s foremost experts on whales/whaling and a member of the Sea Shepherd Advisory Board. Please click on the Sea Shepherd logo below to read the full article on the Sea Shepherd website.
There was some confusion as to the point of the article because of the density in wording, so I wish to break things down so that everyone can more easily soak in the truth behind the information. This is an issue that has upset me for years as the plight of whales and dolphins happens to be what pressed me toward advocating for the planet. I want everyone to understand the simple political dynamics that allow commercial whaling to continue. The article is important because it explains how, as a collective, we all let whaling countries get away with bloody murder. It very clearly points out the “loop-holes” which exist in International Whaling Commission(IWC) policy and is an excellent source to explain to those who always ask the question,”Why is whaling still allowed?”
In basic, the article sheds light on the IWC and its stunted agenda in regard to the protection of whales. The IWC’s existence is based on a treaty which was forged in 1946. In all actuality, their authority to “regulate” whaling is as impotent as it is transparent, at best. One loop-hole in this treaty indicates that any government may grant as many special permits for whaling, so long as whalers label their activities as “scientific research”. The other states that any government can file an objection to IWC mandate which excludes them from any decision, so long as the objection takes place within 3 months of said decision. Anyone who understands this would question why we have a treaty that accomplishes absolutely nothing to defend whales in regard to industrialized whaling when dealing with nations that allow the capture and slaughter of whales as well as the sale and distribution of whale products. Even if the treaty stated that no nation had the right to hunt whales, not for any reason, which nation will stop them from doing so?
What good is a moratorium on whaling without enforcement? The point of any article regarding the IWC is an obvious one. If our mutual governments would stand up and do something about the atrocities inflicted upon whales instead of playing “political pool”, perhaps groups like the Sea Shepherd and its crew wouldn’t have to give up their personal lives in an effort to protect them.
Captain Paul Watson has worked very hard toward exposing the lax agenda surrounding the IWC for as long as I can remember. Until recent years, even many animal friendly activists had little idea regarding what the International Whaling Commission was or what the treaty stands for. If it weren’t for the continued efforts of Sea Shepherd, more than likely, that would not have changed very much. IWC hearings were always held behind closed doors and with absolutely no media coverage.
In my estimation, the IWC was created merely to keep the blood off the hands of world leaders, especially those who are elected officials, as it is not very good public relations to be “pro-whaling”. It is so much easier to appoint a “lackey”, such as an IWC commissioner, so that one can “pass the buck” in the event that questions come knocking at your door. In other words, no United States president would be “pro-whaling” in any campaign, however, no United States president will appoint a “hard-nosed”, anti-whaling IWC chairman who will stand up to whalers because it will upset the governments that allow whaling. Nor will any United States president fight to change the treaty’s restricted stance, or send ships to patrol our oceans in defense of our whales.
As far as AELLA is concerned, this is more than a travesty. Leaders are supposed to be made of integrity. What we see are spineless puppets that efficiently bend to the all mighty dollar and the beckon call of their corporate constituencies. There is zero accountability to be found and no rest in sight for groups like the Sea Shepherd who keep whaling quotas as low as they possibly can by being the persistent “thorn in the side” of the whaling industry. If non-whaling world nations would scrap this treaty, declare whaling completely illegal and move expenditure toward patrolling our oceans in favor of ecology, then perhaps whaling would end. The only way this will happen is if we, the citizens of the world, stand up and make our mutual governments do just that.
Anthony Damiano
Founder of A.E.L.L.A.
