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From International Marine Mammal Project [Earth Island Journal Fall 1999] by Paul Spong
We'd hoped it would be with a bang, but the 51st meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), in Grenada, wrapped up with a whimper. We'd hoped that some stalwart nation was going to make a clear statement condemning the Makah grey whale hunt. We expected another clear statement condemning the Caribbean humpback killings. What we got was total silence on the Makah issue, and pious comments about the brutal killings of humpback mothers and babies that have been taking place as a 'tradition' on the island of Bequia. We got expressions of hope that 77-year old whaler Athneal Ollivierre would do it better next time, that St. Vincent would finally explain their 'need' to kill whales. And we got stern warnings that vigilant eyes would be watching. The problem these days is that most IWC issues are thrashed out in back rooms where there are no observers to report on positions stated, deals made, or even body language. There were positive aspects to the meeting, Japan being an unlikely source. It came on the afternoon of the second day when Japan proposed that television cameras be invited into the meeting in order to insure total 'transparency'. This probably stems from Japan's conviction that its cause is right and that the world - once informed - will demand the IWC allow commercial whaling to start up again. To us it seemed like an announcement of the End Game, one which whale advocates are more than happy to join. Let's conduct the debate with as much visibility as possibly, we say, and let the world decide. Another good news item deserves mention. Lurking in the wings is the threat that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will 'downgrade' minke whales from Appendix I to Appendix II, thereby legitimizing trade between nations (e.g. Norway and Japan). Whalers and Wise Users have been working on CITES for years, knowing that downlisting by CITES would place huge pressure on the IWC to reopen trade in whale meat. Fortunately, the IWC sent a clear 'hands off the minke' message to CITES, with a resolution that received a substantial majority. At the very least, pro-whale forces at the CITES meeting next April will have another tool they can use. A somewhat encouraging development was the Commission's willingness to publicize Japan's shocking treatment of small cetaceans. Japan and its Caribbean allies walked out before a resolution on Dall's porpoises was voted on, as a way of reaffirming that the IWC has no right to deal with small cetacean issues. Nevertheless, there is now some pressure on Japan to reduce the thousands of Dall porpoises it slaughters annually. Unfortunately, the tragedy seems certain to continue. The porpoises best hope lies in our exposing what's happening to the world, as the Environmental Investigation Agency and a few others have been doing. The morning after the meeting closed, we woke to great news in the form of a banner headline on the front page of Granada's weekly newspaper, the Grenadian Voice. 'THE MINISTER LIED!'. The story described Grenada IWC Commissioner Michael Baptiste's misrepresentation of IWC decisions and Japan's outlaw behavior. It also explained Grenada's role as a pawn of Japan at IWC meetings, along with Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & St. Nevis, and the Solomon Islands. Though the story must have come as news to most Grenadians, and must certainly encourage the growing number f Caribbean NGO's who are working to counter their countries embarrassing positions ant the IWC, there may be little immediate fallout from the revelation. All of these nations are recipients of substantial aid from Japan, and their votes reflect it. This year's meeting also highlighted the danger inherent in the 'aboriginal whaling' provisions of the Whaling Commission. The US has opened a can of worms with its' sponsorship of Makah whaling. With natives whalers in British Columbia poised to get into the act, the best hope is that the US will actively pursue a negotiated settlement with the Makah now that their treaty 'right' has been acted out. Whether there's the will in Washington to follow this course is perhaps doubtful.
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