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Belgium heads whaling committee
This month Belgium takes over the Presidency of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for a period of two years, reports Le Soir. The IWC, set up in 1946, is the international body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling. IWC meetings are known to evoke lively discussions between the countries that are in favour of whaling and those that oppose it, including Belgium.
The 65th IWC meeting takes place September 11-18 in Slovenia, and the discussions are expected to be particularly charged due to recent criticism of Japan’s defence of the use of whales for “scientific research”. The countries that attach more importance to the preservation of whales, including Belgium, are expected to argue that it is not necessary to kill whales in the name of science.
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According to a Japanese political activist who belonged to a pro-whaling group not so very long ago : “The whaling INDUSTRY long existed in Japan, and it still does because there is a demand for it. People have the right to eat whatever they like, whether this be healthy or not" (Kindly note : whale and all cetaceans meat now containing mercury...) "The decision should be made on the marketplace”. Polls conducted by Japanese media on the subject stated over 75 percent of the respondents supported COMMERCIAL whaling, also not so very long ago.
The Japanese appear to sell dolphin meat for large whale meat too, not to mention sharks. Whether or not this be "on the marketplace" (including the internet). Scientific purposes indeed ! Stone-age tradition, more likely... How stupid do the Japanese, notorious for their cruelty to man AND beast, think people worldwide are, if one may ask? And HOW COME they get away with it all? The IWC officials' answer being?... They must be awfully stupid moreover if – after SO MANY years of “scientific research” – they have not reached any conclusions yet. How cynical (and corrupt ) can you get...