Following a ruling by the International Court of Justice in
The Hague, Japan has decided to cut back on a whaling research program in the
northern Pacific Ocean. Though, Japan has said Friday that it would resume
research whaling in the Southern Ocean, even after the Court found that “the
hunts were in violation of Japan’s legal obligations under an international
treaty banning commercial whaling”. Critics believe these research projects to
monitor the activities and populations of whales are a cover up to hunt whales
for their meat. Japan’s consumption of whale is going down, but it seems that commercial
whaling is still evident.
It’s easy to see that the ICJ is limited in what it can
accomplish in this issue. Japan can revise their program and resume whaling,
regardless of the ICJ’s verdict. When it comes to international policing, there
is little an international court can do to prevent whaling. The ruling states
that whaling is legal for research purposes and Japan is revising plans to make
sure it says within legal boundaries.
Though activists may be the best defense against whaling practices,
it would be difficult for other nations to get involved, unless they are
united. Without much state interest in whaling, other states might be hesitant
to get involved, unless they plan on flexing their environmentalist muscles.
Posted by Evy Lopez
"Japan Plans to Resume Whaling Program, With Changes to Address Court Concerns" By Martin Fackler
http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.noctrl.edu/nationalnewsexpanded/docview/1517525966/B632590E58274205PQ/17?accountid=44854
No comments:
Post a Comment