 What a Gloriously Happy Day!
Video report from WDCS:
www.wdcs.org/index2.php
"Pro-whaling advocates fail to get commercial whaling condoned":
www.wdcs.org/story_details.php?select=676
Agadir, 23rd June 2010. After two days of closed-door discussions delegates to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) were unable to reach consensus on a proposal that would see the legitimization of commercial whaling.
The moratorium (ban) still stands and Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to whale outside of the sanction of the IWC.
It was clear that, despite many presentations by the pro-whaling advocates, the majority of nations were not convinced by the arguments that any whales being killed under commercial whaling was acceptable.
Nations also rejected the view that quotas could be given whilst the moratorium still stood. It became obvious to delegates that the moratorium was fundamental to any allocation of quotas, be they in the thousands or the hundreds, or even tens.
 The Latin American countries and Australia were clear on their opposition to the proposed deal if it undermines the moratorium. After weeks of uncertainty, even the EU took a strong position and rejected the proposed version while continuing to still be willing to negotiate.
It appears that the pro-deal advocates decided that it was too risky to push their proposal to a vote, and so risk it being publicly rejected in a devastating vote.
WDCS anticipates there will be further discussions in the coming year, but we now call on the nations of the world to realize that the old world view of whaling is over.
“We now call on governments to work together to ensure the moratorium is implemented fully and effectively ending commercial, and so-called scientific whaling, which have no place in the 21st century. WDCS believes that the IWC has a strong future, but not one that legitimizes this cruel, unmanageable and unnecessary industry,” says Nicolas Entrup, spokesperson of WDCS in Agadir.
The 62nd meeting of the IWC whilst not taking forward the ‘deal’ will now look at a number of important agenda items.
One important item still to be debated is the demand by Demark that Greenland should be allowed to expand its hunt to include 10 humpback whales per year.
 Thank you to each of you who came out for Save The Whales Day, who took time to sign the Wan Conservancy petition, who called the White House, sent faxes, emails, signed on line petitions, tweeted, facebooked, myspaced and cared enough to do something!! And to my awesome webmaster, Christine.
But most of all, I want to thank my friend and heroine - artist and environmental activist, Peggy Oki.
It was through Peggy's love and dedication to all cetaceans that I became aware and involved with Save The Whales. Peggy has been and remains the tireless champion for cetaceans. Please visit her website often for Save Japan Dolphin news, and to see her beautiful art and other upcoming events:
"The Origami Whales Project" page has a link for "Paintings by Peggy Oki" at the top left corner, which goes to her online art gallery.
www.peggy-oki.com/cu_origami.html
This one is about the rally reported by Keyt News video from "Rallying to Save the Whales":
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/94710954.html
From the "Origami Whales Project Dominica":
www.vimeo.com/12223755
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