Philippa Brakes' thoughtful entry should be followed-up. It is indeed unfortunate that the children are being led to the doom of a bad deal on whaling by Kiwi Pied Pipers, among others. The bad deal rewards Japan for intransigence while its whalers await the recovery of fin and blue whales in the Antarctic, to be 'mined' again profitably in a few years. And, furthermore, its whaling fraternity have a long history of breaking promises in the IWC; I would need evidence that the leopard has changed his spots.
My fear is the great political pressure for consensus; national delegations are uncomfortable in breaking consensus by demanding a vote. Delegates feel isolated. Who will dare, at the next IWC meeting, in June in Morocco to raise their cards and say "Mr Chairman, I ask for a vote"? If they do, then we shall win, because I am convinced there is at least a blocking vote against any authorisation of whaling in the southern hemisphere, whether it be called 'scientific' or 'commercial'.