One shot at saving the worlds’ whales

May 28, 2007

As this year’s International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting opens in Alaska today (Monday 28th May), the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is spearheading a campaign to ensure whale welfare is top of the agenda and an anti-whaling majority pulled back.

Last year the anti-whaling bloc lost the majority of the Commission for the first time in a quarter of a century in St. Kitts and Nevis. WSPA is calling on IWC commissioners and the public to re-state their opposition to this inherently cruel and unnecessary practice and is also calling on whaling nations to be transparent about their whaling operations.

Leah Garcés, Director of Programmes for WSPA, said: “It is vital that we win back  an anti-whaling majority at the IWC this year and block any advances to lift the ban on commercial whaling. Without regaining this majority, the future of whales and their welfare could fall into the hands of the whaling nations and her allies.

“Despite the ban, more that 2500 whales will be cruelly killed by Japan, Norway and Iceland this year alone. There is no humane way to kill a whale at sea and little market for this meat. Its continuation is nothing more than a political game, with the innocent victims being these majestic sentient marine mammals. ”

WSPA and its supporters have also called on Tony Blair to exit the office of Prime Minister with a legacy of helping them to stop whales suffering by positively influencing other countries to join the anti-whaling lobby.

Also adding their voice to the campaign are several celebrities, including actress Miranda Richardson, who will be attending the IWC to support WSPA, and Olympic rower James Cracknell.