GREENPEACE URGES NORWAY TO CONDEMN JAPANESE VOTE BUYING AT INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

23 July 2001

Oslo, Norway - Twenty Greenpeace activists from five countries (1) climbed the Norwegian Prime Minister’s office in Oslo this morning and called on Norway to publicly distance itself from its pro-whaling ally, Japan, and abstain from voting at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that started in London today. The move followed last week’s startling admission from a senior Japanese official that Japan has been using development aid to buy votes at the IWC. (2)

“Norway must distance itself from this shameful corruption. Every vote Norway casts on pro-whaling initiatives will take advantage of Japan’s bought votes. Norway prides itself on the role it plays within international conventions; if it wants to retain its credibility, Norway must distance itself from this form of vote rigging which undermines the IWC and has severe implications for other international fora,” said Greenpeace Norway whale campaigner, Frode Pleym.

At this week’s IWC meeting, member states will vote on whether or not to create a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary (SPWS). The creation of such a sanctuary is supported by 16 South Pacific nations(3). South Pacific nations see the sustainable utilisation of whales as the creation of a whale watching industry, whereas Japan would rather return to commercial whaling. Japan has actively recruited developing states to the IWC with the promise of overseas development aid (ODA). If the proposal fails, Norway, Japan and their bought allies are set to deny the South Pacific nations their right to a whale sanctuary.

“Norway can argue that it will vote independently,” said Pleym. “However, it cannot deny that if the vote on the creation of a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary is defeated it will be because of the countries whose vote Japan has bought. This is not international debate or diplomacy, this is international corruption on a massive scale and Norway would be guilty by association,” he added.

If Japan’s vote buying goes unchecked, the IWC will effectively be bought by Japan and whales will be stripped of all protection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International + 31 6 535 04701
http://whales.greenpeace.org

(1) The activists were from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany. (2) In interview broadcast on ABC TV last week, a senior Japanese official, Mr Komatsu, described minke whales as ‘cockroaches of the sea’ and admitted that Japan saw development aid as ‘a major tool’ in ensuring that key developing countries voted in favour of whaling at the IWC.

(3) Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, American Samoa, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna.