Sydney Morning Herald - April 1st, 2014
Andrew Darby
The International Court of Justice has upheld Australia's bid to ban Japan's Antarctic whaling program.
ICJ president Peter Tomka said the court concluded the scientific permits granted by Japan for its whaling program were not scientific research as defined under International Whaling Commission rules.
Australia takes Japan to The Hague: Tokyo is accused of exploiting a legal loophole.
Mr Tomka said in The Hague that the court was persuaded that Japan had conducted a program for logistical and political considerations, rather than scientific research.
The court unanimously found it had jurisdiction to hear the case, and by 12 votes to four found that special permits granted by Japan in connection with the program, JARPA II, did not fall within the IWC convention.
It therefore ordered that Japan revoke any scientific permit under JARPA II and refrain from granting any further permits.
A whale breeches off the coast of Surfers Paradise in Queensland Photo: Sahlan Hayes
On Monday Japan said it would respect the ruling despite "deep disappointment" with the landmark decision.
"As a state that respects the rule of law ... and as a responsible member of the global community, Japan will abide by the decision of the court," Japan's chief negotiator Koji Tsuruoka said outside the United Nations' top court in The Hague.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/international-court-of-justice-upholds-australias-bid-to-ban-japanese-whaling-in-antarctica-20140331-35ude.html#ixzz2xfzgAW2J
The ICJ, like the human rights commission, Kyoto protocol, the UN etc don't have any authoritative force and is merely a suggestion that whaling shouldn't take place. Unfortunately eating whale is a huge part of Japanese culture and many businesses and employees depend upon whaling as an industry. With this entwined with their traditional culture, it's very hard policy to push. Furthermore, whaling disguised as 'scientific research' isn't fooling anyone, especially when there are specific whaling restaurants in Japan.
I'll be there next month and will follow up this article. I'm interested to understand Japanese thoughts and check out these restaurants, look at their menus, take some photos and find out how whale meat restaurants can be blatantly obvious and advertise to the public...I obviously won't be eating there.
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