John Key and his attempts at diplomacy are disgraceful! I can't believe he is willing to ignore an issue which New Zealand has a huge obligation to take action against.. John key, I hope you enjoy the petty economic benefit you retain by keeping Japan happy. Evidently you think it is well worth the degradation of our opinions of you.
Change. Its a big scary word, I know. But - its what we need to do to move into the future, lest we be stranded in the past.
Tokelau is a NZ territory why did it take them this long to "outlaw" whaling in their waters? Since the Japanese don't conduct research in Tokelau waters this means nothing to the debate. As for Bethune costing the Japanese researchers money you do realize that information is evidence against Bethune and by extension the SSCS in his upcoming trial? IWC scientific permits issued under article 8 don't have to recognize whale sanctuaries or the moratorium. According to the ATS Australia doesn't have the right to make EEZ claims that limit research in the Antarctic. Sir Geoffrey Palmer is wasting his time the whaling nations of the world aren't breaking any laws doing what they do now so they have no reason to change their position. If Japan were breaking the rules anti-whaling nations wouldn't be looking to "compromise" on the issue. The anti-whaling faction of the IWC are so clueless that they want to try to use a commission dedicated to commercial WHALING to end whaling. They need to get together and make an anti-whaling convention Then they can all agree not to go whaling while the remaining members of the IWC gets on with the business of commercial whaling. excerpts from official IWC website: "IWC HISTORY AND PURPOSE "The purpose of the Convention is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry". SCIENTIFIC PERMITS The right to issue them is enshrined in Article VIII of the 1946 Convention. Whilst member nations must submit proposals for review, in accordance with the Convention, it is the member nation that ultimately decides whether or not to issue a permit, and this right overrides any other Commission regulations including the moratorium and sanctuaries. Article VIII also requires that the animals be utilized once the scientific data have been collected. http://iwcoffice.org/conservation/permits.htm
NZ took a bold step declaring itself anti-nuclear in the 80s. Declaring its economic zone a whale sanctuary seems like a small and easy step in comparison.
Often the right solution to a problem is also the hardest, but this is just so right that it's easy to make the right one. Come one New Zealanders, fight back. Kick some a..... Regards Lars from Denmark
John Keys Government is a disgrace. We used to lead by example. Now we are led by the hollow-money men.NZ has just upgraded it's Navy with ships that are to be used for fisheries protection -its a pity defence of the whales is left to the SSCS.Bring on the next election [& retain MMP].
Good decision from Tokelau. Geoffrey Palmer on the other hands appears to be turning into our own Neville Chamberlain.