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Announcement of Australian Governments legal action against Japanese
whaling highlights EUs lack of clear position says WDCS
In an official press statement earlier today (May
28th), the Australian Government has announced legal action against
Japanese whaling at the International Court of Justice. The basis of the
case is that Japan has flouted the global moratorium on commercial
whaling via its "scientific" whaling program in the Southern Ocean,
which is doubly protected as a Whale Sanctuary under International
Whaling Commission (IWC) rules.
"Now it is the
turn of the European Union to take a clear position against whaling and
publicly stand behind Australia and its strong efforts to bring and end
to commercial and scientific whaling", said Chris Butler-Stroud, chief
executive of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
"Europes citizens have strong views against whaling, as
do many governments of the EU Member States, but the European Union, as
a block, has failed to stand strong against whaling in the past months.
This is appalling."
When the Chair of the IWC
recently put forward a proposal which would legitimize all current
whaling activities for 10 years, Australia was quick to voice its
criticism. Three months on and The European Union has still not made up
its mind about its own position regarding this proposal.
"Europe, it is clearly now time for you to step up and
also clearly oppose commercial whaling", says Butler-Stroud.
-Ends-
For more information,
please contact;
WDCS Press Office on 01249 449 534, 07834 498
277 or email press@wdcs.org
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