This is a very interesting link about the whole thing from the IWC:
http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/permits.htm
Site with some info bout Southern Sancutary:
http://www.asoc.org/old%20meetings/meetings_IWC.htm
Interesting article by BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4118990.stm
The 11 Articles agreed upon in Whaling convention (article 8 is the loophole):
http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm#protocol
What I find very intersting is the fact that as a result of the lopphole Japan has been able to issue itself a scientific permit... when as you will see they are not adhering to the guidelines of such research... so isnt it in any way possible to prevent them from continuing given this? These 'guidelines' which are used by the The Scientific Committee’s review, focus on the following issues in relation to scientific research on whales, Japan fails to meet at least 3 of these points!
1.whether the permit adequately specifies its aims, methodology and the samples to be taken;
2.whether the research is essential for rational management, the work of the Scientific Committee or other critically important research needs;
3.
whether the methodology and sample size are likely to provide reliable answers to the questions being asked;(Their sample size has now doubled for the coming years to like 800 or something.....why?)
4.whether the questions can be answered using non-lethal research methods;<-- Id really like to know what questions are trying to be answered that reqire a sample size of 800
5.
whether the catches will have an adverse effect on the stock;(This one is kinda obvious, taking endangered species of whales is ridiculous)
6.
whether there is the potential for scientists from other nations to join the research programme.(Australia has a ship out their now doing non-lethal research, why couldnt they combine and go about their 'research' another way?)
ALSO of interesting is that the reasons for lethal methods of research are:
1.the age of an animal (obtained from earplugs)
2.the reproductive status and history of females (obtained from ovaries).
So they need to kill 800 whales now, some of which are endangered...... to determine their age (their dead now instead of growing on) or their reporductive status (well that whale wont be able to reporduce anymore)?
They also provide the question "The question then becomes one of whether the answers one obtains using such data are ‘essential’, ‘reliable enough’ or ‘critical’?" is asked...... how can it be that essential that they further endanger some whales and massacre up to 800?
Lastly, their is info about a 'scientific permit' Japan has in the antarctic, and much like they are doing in our waters now, they are constantly increasing their quotas.... I would really like to know the reasoning behind this? From starting their 'research' which quotas of 100 common minke whales, 50 Bryde’s whales and 10 sperm whales they increased to 220 common minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales, 100 sei and 10 sperm whales. Does minke whale meat have a better market value or something?
All in all, this shows how the scientific research thing is total bullshyte, they fail in numerous areas to achieve the criteria set out by the IWC....... so what they are doing is nothing more than illegal. I also wander what is the point of even having the IWC at all if they are 100% powerless to stop such illegal acts!
In any case, the things the whaling convention agreed upon should be amended in order to prevent the whole thing from being exploited in the future (if any whales are left!), this means fucking off or altering article 8 of the convention in particular which allows any member to issue to itself a Special Permit to kill whales for the purposes of scientific research.... like WTF were they thinking with that article anyway I dont know.... blind freddy can tell you countries like Japan will exploit it!!! I dont understand as well why they would set out that a nation could make its own permit and THEN they can go into another countries waters... I can understand maybe them doing their own permit and wahling in international waters but why didnt they specifically set out that if they had to whale in another country they had to also get permission or something from that nation! Their needs to be change in the regulations quite simply, this loophole is ridiculous...... and the thing was made in like 1946 so its no wander their are floors in it....UPDATE the regulations I say!
). And I think somehow an organisation must be created that actually polices this crap, because its becoming a serious issue when you have countries like Norway and Japan killing animals which are endangered and then doing so in a primitive and inhumane fasion.
