Greetings from Agadir, Morocco, where I am attending the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

I arrived in Agadir after a long journey via the UK and immedialtey went into working groups discussing the future of the IWC,

it is shaping up to be a crucial meeting, it will decide the future of the worlds whales,

please keep informed, the whales need you,

ciao

Mick

Protect the whales not the whalers

International Whaling Commission meeting to decide the fate of the world’s whales

Media release 00/01

17 June 2010

A proposal due to be considered at the 62^nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) next week would effectively lift the moratorium on commercial whaling. This would take us back to the dark days of commercial whaling, says Mick McIntyre, Director of Whales Alive.

“It is time that the IWC started protecting whales and not the whaling industry,” he said.

An IWC moratorium on commercial whaling has been in place since 1986. However Japan has successfully exploited a loophole in this ban to carry on its spurious so-called ‘scientific’ whaling program.

Since 1986 Japan, Norway and Iceland have slaughtered 35,000 whales.

“Governments are being asked to consider this new proposal which would legitimise whaling and give the whalers everything they could wish for and would see whales cruelly butchered on Australia’s doorstep in the IWC whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean. It is incomprehensible that the member nations of the IWC would allow this proposal to succeed,” Mr McIntyre said today as he left Sydney today to attend the IWC meeting in Agadir.

“In return all Japan need do is agree to an IWC monitoring program. There is no long-term commitment to phase out whaling. The slaughter will continue unabated. Accepting this proposal would be a tragic day for whales and everything Australians believe in,” said Mr McIntyre.

Recently the Australian government has taken Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in a bid to stop it from using the legal loophole to whale in the Southern Ocean. According to documents submitted by Australia to the ICJ, Japan is allegedly breaching the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research.

Mick McIntyre is the director of the Australian conservation group, Whales Alive a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and celebration of Whales and their fragile marine habitat. He has attended every IWC meeting as an observer since 1993.

McIntyre is available for comment on a daily basis direct from the IWC meeting in Agadir, Morocco which runs from June 21 – June 25.

Please contact Michael Young in Sydney, 0410 408 492

Mick in Morocco +212 6506229432

www.whalesalive.org.au

WHALES ALIVE PRESS RELEASE

Japanese Whalers to be Prosecuted

28 May 2010

The Announcement Today By The Australian Federal Government That It Will Take Japan To The International Court Of Justice In The Hague In An Attempt To End Its Barbaric Practice Of Whaling, Is Good News, Says Mick McIntyre, Director Of Australian Based Whales Alive.

“For years Japan has exploited a loophole at the IWC which has allowed it to continue the barbaric and inhumane slaughter of these magnificent creatures in the Southern Ocean under its so-called spurious ‘scientific whaling program’, which in reality is commercial whaling. Japan will at last be called to account for its outrageous behavior,” said McIntyre.

“Action needed to be taken outside the IWC which was gridlocked on this issue, “said Macintyre.

The Australian Labour Party went to the electorate in 2007 with a promise to take Japan to court to end whaling, a promise which is now fulfilling.

“Japan has shown a lack of good faith in stopping this barbaric practice and the Australian Government knows that Australians do not want to see any more images of Japanese whalers in action, such as we saw in 2008 when photos were published of a minke whale and its calf being hauled aboard a Japanese whaler,” said McIntyre.

Whales Alive applauds this move by the Australian Government to bring Japan to the International Court of Justice to account for its behavior.

Mick McIntyre has attended every International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting since 1993 and will be attending this year’s meeting in June at Agadir, Morocco.

McIntyre Is Available For Interview Call 0408 884 999, Or Michael Young 0410 408 492

Http://www.Whalesalive.Org.Au

28 May 2010

GOVERNMENT INITIATES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE WHALING

Australia will initiate legal action in the International Court of Justice in The Hague against Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The decision underlines the Government’s commitment to bring to an end Japan’s program of so-called ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean. It also demonstrates our commitment to do what it takes to end whaling globally.

The Australian Government has not taken this decision lightly. We have been patient and committed in our efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to this issue. We have engaged in intensive discussions in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and bilaterally with Japan.

We have enjoyed the support of many other IWC members who share Australia's concerns and goals. We commend countries of the European Union, the Buenos Aires group of Latin American countries, and others who have joined with Australia in highlighting, in particular, the necessity for phasing out whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

But to date, the response of the whaling countries has not been positive. Recent statements by whaling countries in the Commission have provided Australia with little cause for hope that our serious commitment to conservation of the world’s whales will be reflected in any potential IWC compromise agreement.

The Government has always been firm in our resolve that if we could not find a diplomatic resolution to our differences over this issue, we would pursue legal action. The Government’s action fulfils that commitment.

Australia will remain closely engaged in the IWC process and will continue to work hard in the lead up to and at the IWC meeting in June to pursue our objectives While an outcome at that meeting which meets Australia’s fundamental conservation objectives is slim, the Government will continue to engage constructively in the diplomatic effort.

Australia and Japan share a comprehensive strategic, security and economic partnership. We share a substantial commercial relationship built over many decades, growing strategic and security linkages, and work together closely in key international forums such as the G20, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and APEC.

The Government’s action today reflects a disagreement in one element of a relationship that is deep, broad and multi-dimensional.

Both Australia and Japan have agreed that, whatever our differences on whaling, this issue should not be allowed to jeopardise the strength and the growth of our bilateral relationship.

At the same time, the Australian Government will keep working tirelessly to achieve an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean, and we will use all legal and diplomatic avenues to achieve our goal.

A formal application will be lodged in The Hague early next week.

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National Whale Day 2010 - Byron Bay

All sorts of exciting events are planned for National Whale Day 2010 in Byron Bay. Whales Alive will be up at the Cape Byron Lighthouse giving talks and presentations to the public from 11am - 1pm. You can come and meet whale researchers from the Southern Cross University Whale Research Group and learn all about whales and their environment. Following these presentations during the day, an action packed festival will then kick off in the evening.

To celebrate the return of the humpback whales, National Whale Day Festival 2010 has been organised by Whales Alive, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Surfers for Cetaceans for June 5th 2010 in Byron Bay, Australia. The day will celebrate the beauty and majesty of whales and raise awareness of their uncertain future. Come and learn about the plight of the whales whilst enjoying some great music, food and market stalls. The Festival's music lineup will feature Deya dova, Juzzie Smith, The Grains and Greg Sheehan plus a very special headline act - that's so special we can't mention their name. Vegetarian and vegan food stalls will be provided by local favourites including Soul bow, Organic Kitchen and Bay Leaf. the evening will also have silent auctions and raffles with great prizes, films by the Oceania Project and much much more!!

It is an all ages event. Gates open at 4pm and music begins at 4.30pm and will play into the late hours. The venue is 412 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay. Follow the latest news about the event on the facebook page National Whale Day (Byron Bay and Northern NSW).

Humpback Whale Migration Begins

On Saturday 24th April 2010, the first of the whales were spotted off the Cape Byron Lighthouse by Whales Alive's Liz Hawkins. It's a great sign as winter descends upon us, the whales are returning to the tropics. We are anticipating a fantastic year for the whales and look forward to seeing some of our old friends!

Green groups say IWC proposal will see a return to commercial whaling

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2881547.htm

MARK COLVIN: Environment groups say the International Whaling Commission's proposal to allow some whales to be killed is a return to commercial whaling. 

The IWC's proposal would let whalers harpoon 400 minke whales and 10 fin whales each year in Antarctic waters.

Fin whales are an endangered species and green groups say the only reason their numbers are strong again is because of the ban on commercial whaling. Australia says it won't support the proposal and in a surprise twist New Zealand has also said it won't support it.

Brigid Glanville reports from Auckland. 



BRIGID GLANVILLE: The next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Morocco in June was always going to be heated. But today's announcement from the IWC guarantees the debate will be loud and long. 

Australia is against whaling and is very worried this latest proposal may be supported. The Environment Minister, Peter Garret.



PETER GARRETT: We'll look at the IWC statement carefully but on face value, it falls very well short of any outcome that Australia could ever accept and I repeat what we've said all through this process and that is, that Australia remains resolutely opposed to commercial and so-called scientific whaling. And we will not support a proposal which would sanction commercial whaling and we've put an alternative set of proposals which we think go towards achieving the conservation goals which we believe the IWC nations should set for themselves. 



BRIGID GLANVILLE: The IWC proposal would allow 400 minke whales and 10 fin whales to be killed each year in Antarctic waters. Australia wants a proposal that bans whaling for commercial and scientific reasons. 



PETER GARRETT: We need to strongly press for no whaling in IWC endorsed sanctuaries. We need to agree on the scientific procedures that underpin all IWC decisions. 



BRIGID GLANVILLE: Environmental groups are outraged. The WWF says this proposal endorses the killing of whales in one of the most critical feeding grounds, the Southern Ocean.

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive says the proposal is flawed.

MICK MCINTYRE: This proposal would mean the return to commercial whaling because it clearly is a proposal that would legitimise whaling over a ten year period. To me it's like if you were a parent and you said to your kids, don't worry about, don't worry about us telling you what to do or receiving any discipline. You know, you do what you like for ten years and then we'll come and talk to you about how you went and how, you know, then we'll talk to you about discipline at the end of those ten years. 

I mean it's, it's a free for all and it's completely legitimising what Japan has been doing in its scientific whaling program. It completely allows them to get away with murder basically.

BRIGID GLANVILLE: This is the first time the IWC has put a figure on the numbers of whales it would allow to be killed. The proposal was put forward in an attempt to break the deadlocked debate.

Non whaling countries which support it, such as the US, believe a compromise will mean the number of whales killed will be closely controlled.

Three weeks ago there was international outrage when New Zealand said it would consider this proposal.
But today it says the proposal is offensive and inflammatory.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully.



MURRAY MCCULLY: The proposal for a consensus decision proposed by the IWC chair and deputy chair today falls seriously short of a basis, of being a basis for diplomatic settlement to the whaling debate. 

In terms of the specifics, the proposed catch limits for the southern ocean are unrealistic and unacceptable from New Zealand's point of view. The suggestion that there should be a small quota for fin whale is an inflammatory proposal in my view. 

BRIGID GLANVILLE:

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive hopes other nations will now follow New Zealand. 

MICK MCINTYRE: New Zealand's change of heart is very, very welcome. I think commonsense has prevailed with the New Zealand government. They saw the writing on the wall that this was a complete contradiction of the proposal. That all this proposal does is give the whaling countries everything they could possibly want. 



BRIGID GLANVILLE: The members of the IWC will decide whether to adopt the proposal at the next meeting in Morocco in June. This is Brigid Glanville in Auckland for PM.

Whaling compromise 'incredibly worrying'

By environment reporter Sarah Clarke

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/12/2870047.htm?section=justin

Posted 2 hours 13 minutes ago

Conservation groups are calling on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to abandon a proposal that would overturn a global moratorium on commercial whaling.

A group of IWC nations is meeting in Washington to negotiate a way forward for the deadlocked regulatory whaling body, ahead of the annual whaling conference in June.

IWC members including Australia, New Zealand and the US are considering a deal that could overturn a 24-year ban on commercial whaling in return for Japan cutting its quota of whales killed in the name of science.

But Mick McIntyre from the group Whales Alive says the negotiations have gone too far and countries such as Australia must stop the deal from going ahead.

"This compromise proposal certainly has momentum, and that's incredibly worrying," he said.

"Now that they're getting to the point of talking about how many whales to kill, we ask the question, how did it get this far?

"We need to stand tough, work very hard to convince our other allies that we need to stop this compromise in its tracks."

Mr McIntyre says the deal undermines whale protection.

"This isn't about working to create a deal that allows whaling. This is about working to stop whaling," he said.

"Any compromise that is talked about at this meeting is just unacceptable."

The proposal needs a three-quarters majority vote to go ahead. A number of IWC nations are yet to declare their position.