Australian Minister Says Scientific Whaling “a Sham”

Text of report by Radio Australia, international service of the government-funded ABC, on 19 December

Diplomatic protests and ocean surveillance will form part of the Australian government’s efforts to stop Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. The customs ship Oceanic Viking will carry out the surveillance; gathering evidence which may be used in an international legal case against Japan.

Australia’s environment minister, Peter Garrett, says the government is also planning to step up efforts in the International Whaling Commission to bring about an end to the slaughter.

[Garrett] The IWC review of Japan’s scientific whaling has clearly found that the pretext of scientific whaling is a sham. There are non-lethal ways of continuing and developing your research into whales. You don’t have to harpoon them to find out important scientific research information.

Originally published by Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0700 19 Dec 07.

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