WDC Blog - From the Front Line

All the discussion of the economic problems in the global economy is annoying. Not because there is not a problem, but because I feel that the media can sometimes move from 'reporting the issues' to 'hyping the gloom'. Just look how the markets react to the latest media reports on rumours and suggestions of countries defaulting on their loans. Now it may well be about to happen, but some reports seem to help it on its way by causing such gloom that it becomes a component of causation. I am sure the Greek Government would like people to stop stating that 'its going to default on its debt', as every published article or news piece seems to add another percentage point to its repayment costs - and so hasten the default.

Unfortunately it also happens in the whaling debate. Recently in Brussels it was reported that a member of the EU Commission seemed to be telling other colleagues and MEPs that the 'IWC needs fixing before it falls apart'. This is the kind of thing we hear when people are badly briefed and think that, they, despite all the efforts of others, can 'fix the problem'.

What plank of logic this is based on I don't know. Yes the whaling interests in Norway, Japan and Iceland have worked hard to create the image of a 'dsyfunctional IWC', but its their actions that has made the IWC a difficult place to work in. The conservation-led countries don't need to hype the problems, they need to help stop the whaling interests making it worse. The EU should definately not give the whalers what they want because its the 'easy option' or because its seen as a way of 'fixing' the IWC.

It's like rewarding a screaming drunk with another bottle of booze, after everyone has said its cannot have any more because its bad for them and those around them. But the drunk is stuck in the past and like a badly behaving child, will rant and flail until they get what they want. Some justify giving in by saying its the only solution (for an easy life), because otherwise the drunk will go and smash their way into the off-licence and take the booze themselves. So they break the rules, they bend the rules, - 'because what else can they do?'

Well there is a lot they can do. And they can start by listening to those who understand the history of the whaler's manoeurverings in the IWC, and not the panicked calls of a few bureaucrats. If they are not extremely careful, their ignorance of the issue will deliver the whalers all they want, and more.

When people start believing the hype they can make mistakes. The EU Commission needs to think carefully about where its getting its briefings from and Member States should not give into the rhetoric coming from some about a 'dyfunctional' IWC, - else they may well just help create one.

It seems that two sides of the argument are in town today. That's Brussels, when I say town by the way. Over in one part the Norwegians were over to talk fisheries with the EU Parliament, where I understand that they were questioned on whaling and subsidies by the press. Good for the Belgian press I say.

Whilst in another part of town, WDCS was meeting with the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Janez Potočnik, who kindly took receipt of a 200,000 postcard petition against commercial whaling collected by WDCS, in cooperation with our pan-European educational initiative partners, Merlin Entertainments (SEA LIFE) Limited.

This petition consists of names of European citizens from all over the European Union and is a reflection of their continued and absolute opposition to commercial whaling. It also reflects their expectations that their representatives in their national Governments and the European Union should be seeking to ensure that no quotas are agreed for any commercial whaling, in any form, at the current, or any future, annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

WDCS explained to Mr. Potočnik that people of Europe believe that the current IWC Chairman’s Proposal should be rejected and that the members of the EU should take a united stand to uphold EU law requiring the strict protection of whales. It seems that he already knew as whilst we delivered 200,000 cards, he had been receiving them directly for months from all over Europe.

We reminded him that the Commission on behalf of the EU in its press release (IP/08/200) dated Brussels, 08 February 2008 had promised the people of Europe that,

‘If whaling is only banned in EU waters but not everywhere else in the world then such a ban can have only a limited effect on the well-being of whale species. This is why the international ban on commercial whaling must stay and why all EU Member States party to the IWC must oppose any move seeking to lift it. We need to move towards more international protection of whales rather than less.' .

Couldn’t have put it better myself.

I just wanted to publicly note what a privilege it has been to work with Sandy Luk and the team at ClientEarth.

WDCS has partnered with ClientEarth to look at the issue of the procedural block in the EU that seems to have stopped all efforts to oppose whaling because countries are scared that they may have to abstain on all votes where they cannot agree with unanimity.

Lost already?, you are not the only one. The EU Commission tell us that they don’t know where the solution lies, and the countries are wandering around waiting to trip over an answer.

Well Sandy has given the debate the impetus it needs and provided an excellent review of what the voting process actually should be. So hats off to the ClientEarth and lets see if the EU can now get its act together and actually start fighting to protect the whales.

You can see our arguments about the abuse of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling on the BBC website

My feeling is that the EU has gotten itself into a farcical situation.

The ludicrous EU voting system means that the Members of the EU who oppose Greenland's proposal to hunt humpback whales can not act in the interests of whale conservation as Denmark has managed to have their hands tied firmly behind their backs. Where now democracy?