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Sustainable
eNews |
19 June 2003 |
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IWC 55 -
Berlin, Germany |
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IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
Last year IWMC warned that the IWC needed to take
three steps in order to operate as a credible and meaningful international
body.
First it needed to manage
its meetings in a more desirable manner, putting behind it the endless
rantings, challenges and rulings. Second, delegations should reaffirm the
principle of sustainable use and the key role of science as their guide for
decision-making. Third, delegates should spend more time considering the
human consequences of their decisions.
Berlin will be remembered
not only as a missed opportunity to make progress with these essential
steps, but as the meeting that took some decisive steps backwards.
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And not one delegate from any of the
anti-whaling countries so much as mentioned the impact of IWC decisions on
people. |
Once again, the annual
meeting was characterized by the usual bickering, pressure on the Chairman
and endless disagreements.
Meanwhile, no progress was
made on the RMS, the core of the IWC’s work.
With the passing of the
proposal to set up a so-called Conservation Committee, sustainable use and
science has now been officially jettisoned in favor of protectionism. Power
has been transferred away from national representatives to the trustees of
anonymous foundations in the United States.And not one delegate from any of
the anti-whaling countries so much as mentioned the impact of IWC decisions
on people. So the coastal whalers in Japan will continue to suffer
institutional prejudice against their traditional activities.
The IWC’s lease on its
headquarters runs out in seven years time. Rather than renew it, the
question now is whether the IWC will need a full seven years to complete
the implosion process. 
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