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LoginNZ-based NGOs organise to oppose Beehive’s softly softly whaling policy
Greenpeace crews get water cannoned as they try to go to the aid of a whale, with DANGER KEEP OUT written on its tail, tied to the side of a whaling ship. Image courtesy of Greenpeace.
Pacific Scoop:
Report – By PMC news-desk.
A group of New Zealand based international non-government-organisations have grouped together to fight the NZ government over its soft approach to commercial whaling.
Greenpeace, Project Jonah, Forest and Bird, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) issued a state on Monday March 22 stating they had formed a collaboration called Save the whales, not whaling.
The group has organised a petition that will be presented to the National-led Government urging it to rethink its soft strategy over commercial whaling and reject any deal that would legitimise commercial whaling and allow hunting to continue in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. It is seeking signatures and support from the public.
Supporters of conservation group Sea Shepherd collect signatures in downtown Wellington. Image by Althea Francis, courtesy of Scoop.co.nz.
On the weekend the New Zealand Government’s envoy to the International Whaling Commission, Sir Geoffrey Palmer said the current moratorium banning commercial whaling was not working and that a new approach was required, a consensus of sorts needed to be advanced, that would see more whales killed.
For video of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, see: 3News: Whaling Debate – ‘We Can’t Stop The Killing’ – Sir Geoffrey Palmer
See also the NGO group’s statement follows:
- Save the whales not whaling: NZ NGOs launch joint campaign
The New Zealand Government’s support for a proposal that could usher in a new era of commercial whaling has met with fierce opposition from animal welfare and environmental groups.
Collaborating under the banner of ‘Save the whales, not whaling’ the groups have announced petitions calling on the Government to reject any deal that would legitimise commercial whaling and allow hunting to continue in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Earlier this month the New Zealand Government came out in support of a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which would allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to hunt whales openly, despite a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.
The results of the petitions, both on and offline (1), will be presented to the Prime Minister John Key before New Zealand officials attend the June meeting of the IWC where a final decision on the proposal will be made.
The groups, which include Greenpeace, Project Jonah, Forest and Bird, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) say the Government’s support of the proposal would undo decades of conservation work by Kiwis to protect whales.
Speaking on behalf of the group Bridget Vercoe, of WSPA, said New Zealand was abandoning its post as one of the staunchest defenders of whale welfare and conservation.
“At a time when the whales need us the most, the New Zealand Government is abandoning the whales and our traditional allies in whale conservation and supporting a deal that undermines the ban on commercial whaling.”
Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said that the deal could usher in a new era of commercial whaling, going against New Zealand Government policy and public opinion.
“If the New Zealand Government supports such a deal, it will not only undermine the most important international protection the whales have, but will also wipe out decades of whale conservation work by Kiwis and sabotage New Zealand’s clean, green reputation.”
Forest and Bird marine conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles warned: “By accepting that it is okay to commercially hunt whales, it then becomes an argument about how many to kill. Whales and dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet – it is not okay to hunt them.”
Philippa Brakes, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, added: “There is no guarantee that the current deal would reduce the number of whales killed in the long-term and it misses a point of principle; whaling is cruel and unnecessary”.
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Last weekend Paul Watson and the Steve Irwin were in Wellington, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society of New Zealand had invited virtually all of the groups mentioned in this article to share the microphone in an Open Forum on the steps of Parliament. Not one of them showed up.
Everyone is right, of course…and they know it, and they are proud of it. Non-governmental organizations that profess to have the same values and goals lose the plot quibbling over methods, isolating themselves and limiting their effectiveness. A shining example of this occurred two years ago when the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza found the Japanese whaling fleet, but refused to give their coordinates to Sea Shepherd.
For years Sea Shepherd has battled it out alone in the Southern Ocean with the Japanese whalers. This year the lives of 500 whales were saved. Maybe these NGOs believe their petition will save the whales. Maybe they think bearing witness to the slaughter and taking photos will help. Maybe they think politicians will see the light and put whales before trade. Maybe they think the whale poachers will come to their senses and stop the slaughter.
However, I think that’s all nonsense; and frankly, I don’t give a damn what they think, because they don’t have the wisdom or the courage to support direct action, which is the only thing that is actually saving real whales. All the rest is empty talk, including Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s defence of IWC negotiations, an organisation he admits is “completely dysfunctional” and a process he believes will save whales by killing them.
This is creative politics at it’s finest, combining the best of old paradigm thinking and doublespeak.
Where do New Zealand and Australian governments really stand? Sir Geoffrey says that “…we have no way of enforcing our will,” but is that the truth of the matter, or are these governments fence-sitting and kowtowing to preserve trade relations with a nation that is militarily and economically more powerful?
In reality both arguments are spurious and completely worthless, because the oceans are dying. Species are being hunted to extinction or wiped out from pollution because the oceans have become garbage dumps that no country takes responsibility for. The Pacific Gyre now extends from Japan to California, and plastic threatens to exterminate all marine life. In the face of this tragedy of the commons, we continue to engage in petty bickering over methods? Bloody ludicrous, I reckon.
Funny how things change in a week an original proposal sent out to all above mentioned groups and one basically who didnt even respond to us(funnily the same one that disgusted its own crew members when they did it to the Sea Shepherd ships a couple of years ago) Now take credit for it and leave Sea Shepherd out of the article this time but I guess thats typical of that NGO considering half the money it raises comes from a lie about saving whales yet has done buggar all apart from steal a parcel of whale meat from some Japanese Whalers and then run to the press…due respect to the two Japanese Activists in Tokyo…But where was Greenpeace this year in the southern Ocean?
While I as a member of Sea Shepherd applaud the NGO’s who put this statement forward, I ask you what are you really hoping to acheive do you honestly think this excuse for a government is going to listen to you? Greenpeace goes on about baring witness to the death of the Whales in the Southern Ocean, yet this year they didnt even show up…So much for baring witness! The organisation has become nothing more than a front for cash collection to run there plush offices around the globe. Greenpeace is just a banner hanger and publicity seeking organisation that gets very little in the way of results !!! I was niave to think that these groups when I sent out the e-mail(yes I still have them on my PC) proposing we get together and produce a memo of understanding…what we got was one group saying they couldnt make it and the others citing other reasons.
It now seems yet again Greenpeace saw a good idea and stole it to yet again make themselves look like they were yet again saving whales…when in fact they didnt lift a finger this year to save one…NOT ONE FINGER!
I have utmost respect for the volunteers but as for the GP paid workers…they are in fact just empty suits.
ONe last point too before I go.
When the Greep Peace ships turned up and did in fact that year that Bill is talking about the Japanese laughed at there banners and continued to whale didnt slow down one bit…not for a second continued there death harvest of Cetaceans…one old Sea Shepherd little black ship turned up and the Whalers ran…and no Whales died While SeaShepherd was there!!!!
The Whalers lifted there skirts and took off like the cowards they are…If only GreenPeace had done the same eh?
Instead they just filmed Whales dieing…I mean for gods sake how many whales need to be filmed? How many “Snuff Movies” of these beautiful creatures need to be made and do you think any of it changes the mindset of the Japanese Whaling Industry?
So again I ask just how many whales did GP with its “baring witness” really save Hmmm? You know its a bit like standing outside of a german death camp with a sign saying “Please Dont Kill the Prisoners”
So do all your posturing hang your banners make empty words because this last weekend New Zealanders in Welly spoke with there hearts, there anger, and there pockets! And as a group of non-paid volunteers I am proud to call the small shore crew and the ships crews my freinds…And I thank the people of Welly for there support, they know who is doing what and they are quickly becoming aware of those who say they are doing great things but in reality are doing very little for our Whales…
GP I have this to say if you spent half of the energy you throw at us in rebukes, critism and negative comments just on saving whales in the southern ocean then myself as a New Zealander would respect you at the moment as I have said you are just another banner waver, full of empty words that in actuality does very little.
I gotta say that in the several years that I have been actively campaigning to save the whales, the only help I ever got was recently from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Now maybe i haven’t asked enough, or become pushy enough, or asked the right people, I dont know. (I’m trained in prof sales).
I am pretty visible, and I need help to help the whales.. I would have thought that my footage of anti-whaling events and whales and dolphins would be sought after to fuel the awareness campaign, and perhaps my expenses would be collected for me by people who cared for whales, but nothing until recently when the Japanese imprisoned one of our nationals and the government chose to ignore our majority of citizens and agree to more whale murder…
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and my friends put on a music event featuring New Zealands #1 performer, Tiki Taane, and several well known acts, yet the media in general turned a wilful blind eye.
How do I continue to help the whales? do I have to go to Antarctica as well???? what can we do here onshore that is effective and worthwhile, to reduce the kill?? It seems clear that fundraising for the ships and crew expenses is an imperative, and continued awareness campaigns to raise up the people to this shocking and unacceptable behaviour, that must be stopped NOW, not after the whales are gone, extinct…
So yes, if you have a boat or a ship that is seaworthy and capable of travel to the Whale Sanctuary, please consider going, I am pledged to raise funds, support you, go on board, lie down in front of the whale bulldozers… create the media and footage for the world, basically do whatever it takes to help end this stupid and illegal activity against the life support system that we all need, called PLANET EARTH.
Paul Moss