The current Greenpeace siege of Iceland is only the latest NGO tactic of pseudo-pressure against this island nation's decision to take matters into their own hands, and resume scientific research whaling in 2004. A Greenpeace ship has been dispatched from its Amsterdam headquarters to ports in Iceland, with the intent to bully and harass Icelanders into giving up their program. Campaigners are hoping that the visits will appear as credible threats to Iceland's tourism industry, that includes whale watch tours, and to Iceland's fish exports, which are a mainstay of the economy. This pseudo-siege of Iceland is not likely to make any difference at all to the success of Icelandic tourism or to its fishing businesses.

Last year, despite efforts on the part of anti-whaling campaigners to adversely affect tourism from mainland Europe, more people than ever visited beautiful Iceland, and enjoyed the scenery, the local fish and whale cuisine, the opera and other cultural attractions, and most of all, the whale watch tours, which are famous for the number of whales that may be observed from the many tour boats that are available. The fishing industry did not suffer in the least.

Icelanders are a modern, vigorous society of courageous people who refuse to be bullied by those who would exercise power over their decisions to conduct their own livelihood. Iceland's scientists and political leaders recognized that something had to be done to assess and then control the hoards of minke and perhaps, other whales that abound in their own waters. To ignore the impact of cetaceans on Icelandic fish resources would be irresponsible, given the state of scientific knowledge about whale abundance and the capacity of cetaceans to deplete fish stocks.

According to highly reliable sources, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is also moving on to the Icelandic front, which has become the privileged playground of wealthy organizations.

IWMC congratulates Icelandic leaders for their courage and foresight in this matter. May Iceland continue to prevail in advancing the legitimate interests of their own society against each pseudo-siege that comes along.