Less than two months after returning from its expanded North Pacific hunt, the Japanese whaling fleet has today set off from its home port of Shimonoseki towards the Southern Ocean Sanctuary where it intends to kill a further 440 minke whales.
Over the last year Japan has also come under intense diplomatic pressure to stop its so-called 'scientific' whaling. Most recently the US has cancelled bilateral meetings with Japan in protest and is still considering trade sanctions. According to White House sources, economic sanctions are still on the table, and a report on the progress of the sanctions is being prepared for Congress. In addition, sixteen congressmen have sponsored a resolution calling on US president Clinton to withhold support for Japan's entry into a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council until Japan ends its so-called 'scientific' whale hunts. In a last minute meeting held yesterday, Clinton called on Japan's Prime Minister Mori to reduce the catch, but Mori did not agree.
Greenpeace believes that the Government of Japan's refusal to accept the will of the international community necessitates the need for other Governments to take hard action. Greenpeace is urging President Clinton to go ahead with trade sanctions and is recommending that Japan is denied a seat on the UN Security Council until it abides by the IWC moratorium. By unilaterally increasing the number and species of whales it takes under the guise of 'scientific research' Japan is undermining an international conservation treaty and for this reason is not a suitable candidate for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
