panopticon
31st March 2014, 11:32
Japan's whaling program not for scientific purposes, rules International Court of Justice (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-31/ijc-japan-whaling-southern-ocean-scientific-research/5357416)
31st March 2014
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Japan's whaling program is not for scientific purposes and has forbidden the granting of further permits.
The finding by a 16-judge panel at the ICJ is in favour of Australia's argument that Japan's whaling program is carried out for commercial purposes rather than scientific research.
Japan has been able to kill unlimited numbers of whales in the Antarctic under the treaty, arguing that they do so for scientific purposes.
"In light of the fact the Jarpa II [research program] has been going on since 2005, and has involved the killing of about 3,600 minke whales, the scientific output to date appears limited," said presiding judge Peter Tomka of Slovakia.
"Japan shall revoke any existent authorisation, permit or licence granted in relation to Jarpa II and refrain from granting any further permits in pursuance to the program."
Japan had argued it has complied with the moratorium despite a 2,000-year tradition of whale hunting, leaving coastal communities in "anguish" because they can no longer practice their ancestral traditions.
More than 10,000 whales have been killed since 1988 as a result of Japan's programs.
The ICJ's ruling is final and there will be no appeal.
Both Australia and Japan had said prior to the ruling that they would respect the court's decision.
Former environment minister Peter Garrett, who launched the legal action, said he is overjoyed by the finding.
"This is a comprehensive and resounding decision in Australia's favour," he told the ABC.
"It means we won't see harpoons in the Southern Ocean - we certainly shouldn't see them down there any longer.
"I'm absolutely over the moon for all those people who wanted to see the charade of scientific whaling cease once and for all.
"To have this ruling from the international court, which is absolutely clear and totally comprehensive, vindicates the decision that we took in taking Japan to the court."
Another former environment minister, Ian Campbell, said he hopes Japan will respect the court's decision.
"I think this is a time for the Japanese to reflect and to understand the importance of this decision; to respect the decision and then to make the right decision themselves," he said.
Greens founder Bob Brown declared on Twitter that the ICJ's ruling was a "whale of a win".
More to come.
Link to ICJ ruling:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/215438194/Summery-of-the-IJC-s-judgment-on-Whaling-in-the-Antarctic
31st March 2014
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Japan's whaling program is not for scientific purposes and has forbidden the granting of further permits.
The finding by a 16-judge panel at the ICJ is in favour of Australia's argument that Japan's whaling program is carried out for commercial purposes rather than scientific research.
Japan has been able to kill unlimited numbers of whales in the Antarctic under the treaty, arguing that they do so for scientific purposes.
"In light of the fact the Jarpa II [research program] has been going on since 2005, and has involved the killing of about 3,600 minke whales, the scientific output to date appears limited," said presiding judge Peter Tomka of Slovakia.
"Japan shall revoke any existent authorisation, permit or licence granted in relation to Jarpa II and refrain from granting any further permits in pursuance to the program."
Japan had argued it has complied with the moratorium despite a 2,000-year tradition of whale hunting, leaving coastal communities in "anguish" because they can no longer practice their ancestral traditions.
More than 10,000 whales have been killed since 1988 as a result of Japan's programs.
The ICJ's ruling is final and there will be no appeal.
Both Australia and Japan had said prior to the ruling that they would respect the court's decision.
Former environment minister Peter Garrett, who launched the legal action, said he is overjoyed by the finding.
"This is a comprehensive and resounding decision in Australia's favour," he told the ABC.
"It means we won't see harpoons in the Southern Ocean - we certainly shouldn't see them down there any longer.
"I'm absolutely over the moon for all those people who wanted to see the charade of scientific whaling cease once and for all.
"To have this ruling from the international court, which is absolutely clear and totally comprehensive, vindicates the decision that we took in taking Japan to the court."
Another former environment minister, Ian Campbell, said he hopes Japan will respect the court's decision.
"I think this is a time for the Japanese to reflect and to understand the importance of this decision; to respect the decision and then to make the right decision themselves," he said.
Greens founder Bob Brown declared on Twitter that the ICJ's ruling was a "whale of a win".
More to come.
Link to ICJ ruling:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/215438194/Summery-of-the-IJC-s-judgment-on-Whaling-in-the-Antarctic