The USA Must Stand Up For The Integrity Of Aboriginal Whaling

As the 61st annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting comes to an end, we can reflect on the position adopted by each delegation.

During the meeting the USA Government delegation strongly expressed its support for the Danish application for an expansion of the Greenlandic hunt to include humpback whales, and lobbied hard behind the scenes against countries opposed to it.

As might be expected from the last remaining super-power, particular one with its own aboriginal hunt, the position of the USA is very influential at te IWC. In the end, fearing a defeat of the proposal at this meeting, the US-appointed chair of the Commission pulled the rug from everyone’s feet minutes before the final vote; deferring the decision to another IWC meeting to be held before the end of 2009.

President Obama has pledged to make decisions based on sound science – yet the outgoing Bush- appointed US delegation seemed poised to accept an arbitrary, last-minute proposal that has not been given full scientific scrutiny. As the new US team appointed by President Obama takes full control of the US IWC position, we call upon them to review their position on this issue.

Please do all you can – in the coming weeks and months the lives of the Humpbacks will hang in the balance and together we need to ensure that the US stands up for protecting all whales from unnecessary hunting and ensuring that the rules governing Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling are applied fairly and consistently in respect of all the hunts.

 Please send this action alert today – every email will count.

You can also send personal notes to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton from these links.

Please do all you can - the lives of the Humpbacks are in the balance

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