U.S. Congressional Action Intensifies Against Japanese Whaling on Eve of First-Ever Bush/Koizumi Meeting

ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.

U.S. Congressional Action Intensifies Against Japanese Whaling

on Eve of First-Ever Bush/Koizumi Meeting

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TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDITOR:

U.S. Congressional Action Intensifies Against Japanese Whaling

on Eve of First-Ever Bush/Koizumi Meeting

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Jun. 29 -/E-Wire/-- U.S. Congressional action against Japanese whaling intensified yesterday as 45 Members of Congress signed a letter addressed to U.S. President George Bush calling on him to take up the issue of Japanese whaling with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at their planned 30 June meeting at Camp David. This was followed, today, by Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) introduction of a resolution calling for tough U.S. action against Japan for its continued whaling practices. Senator Kerry serves as Chairman of both the sub-committee on Oceans, Fisheries, and the Environment of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Foreign Relations Committee.

The resolution being submitted today is similar to a bi-partisan, anti- whaling resolution introduced earlier this week in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ), Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), and George Miller (D-CA). This followed the release on Monday of U.S. national poll results from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW - www.ifaw.org), and carried out by noted Republican pollster Fred Steeper of Market Strategies, Inc., which showed that U.S. voters are strongly opposed to commercial whaling by Japan and Norway and want the U.S. government to take action.

"This Resolution renews the United States' firm opposition to commercial whaling," said Senator John F. Kerry of the Senate resolution. "These remarkable animals can travel thousands of miles across the ocean and that leaves them vulnerable to whalers taking advantage of loopholes in the law. The need to protect these magnificent creatures is clear and I urge the IWC to take action."

Japan kills hundreds of whales each year under the guise of what it calls "scientific whaling" and has recently expanded its hunt to include endangered Bryde's and sperm whales -- whales protected by international conventions. Norway simply ignores a moratorium imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Both countries are currently hunting whales.

The new poll results show that 83% of U.S. voters are opposed to Japanese and Norwegian commercial whaling, and that nearly 70% would be supportive of the U.S. government to apply trade sanctions against those countries until they stop killing whales. A strong 72% of U.S. voters would support a boycott of Japanese and Norwegian companies linked to commercial whaling.

The U.S. government took a strong stand against whaling in September 2000, when it threatened trade sanctions against Japan for its killing of protected whale species. As recently as last month, the Bush Administration, through a State Department public statement, sharply criticized Japan for expanding its program to kill scores of internationally protected whales in the name of research.

This news and congressional action comes not only days before the Bush/Koizumi meeting, but also less than one month prior to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in London July 23-27, where the issue of Japanese and Norwegian commercial whaling is set to receive much international criticism from both inside and outside the IWC meeting.

"As Japanese and Norwegian whalers are aiming their high-powered harpoons, U.S. voters have made their views clear - they are overwhelmingly opposed to commercial whaling," said IFAW President Fred O'Regan. "These poll results and the intense bi-partisan congressional action we have seen this week should send a strong signal to President Bush that this pressing issue must be discussed with Prime Minister Koizumi at this weekend's meeting."

To find out more about this issue listen to an archive of our 26 June 2001 press briefing at: http://www.videonewswire.com/IFAW/062601/.

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

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