Norway Ministry Blocked-Whaling Protest

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> Greenpeace blocks Norwegian Ministery in whale protest.


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                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> Greenpeace blocks Norwegian Ministery in whale protest.

OSLO, 03 May 1995 (GP) Fourteen Greenpeace activists this morning
blocked the entrance of the Norwegian Department of  Fisheries in
Oslo, demanding that Norway calls off this year's commercial
whale hunt which began this week.

The activists, from six countries, made a "human chain" in front
of the main entrance, denying employees at the Department of
Fisheries entering the building and getting to work.

Meanwhile, four climbers hung a 50 m2 banner from the front of
the building reading "Science proves Norway must stop".

The Norwegian Government announced last Friday that it had
overestimated the numbers of Minke whales in the North East
Atlantic by 23% (17,000 whales). The quota of 301 whales for this
year's hunt was reduced by the same percentage, to 232 whales.
However, the Fisheries Ministry has given no basis for the new
estimate, and haven't tried to defend it to international
scientists.

"Norway is being totally arrogant," said Katrin Brubakk, of
Greenpeace Norway. "The Government seems to think it can still
have credibility with this mystical new estimate. Norway is
ignoring the international ban on commercial whaling, ignoring
science and ignoring protest from the international community."

The Norwegian scientists discovered serious errors in the
software and calculation programs used to estimate the North East
Atlantic minke whale population. They admitted it to an
International Whaling Commission (IWC) working meeting in
January. They
claimed it would not effect Norway's quota for this year's hunt,
a quota supposedly scientifically based on the whale
numbers.[[But last week they changed their mind again, and
reduced the quota.  The Prime minister Gro Harlem Brundland
stated however that Norway would cooperate  with international
scientists to ensure  the science is correct.
Regardless of the mistakes found, Norway let its whaling vessels
start the hunt yesterday, about two months earlier than last year
and in total defiance of the IWC, which meets in three weeks'
time.

"Norway is doing exactly the opposite of what the Government said
it would do. Instead of cooperating, they are undermining the
international agreements and the IWC. It is simply time for
Norway stop whaling.", demanded Brubakk.

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For more information, please contact Katrin Brubakk,
Greenpeace Norway. ++47 94383057
or Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace Communications ++44 171 833 0600
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Stills will be available from Reuters later on
Footage will be available from WTN