Over this century, commercial whaling has decimated whale populations, often to the point of extinction.  For example:  the world's blue whales plunged in numbers from 228,000 to 11,700.  Sei whales plummeted from 256,000 to 54,000, and Humpback whales from more than 115,000 to just 10,000!"  Unbelievable!     "Today, many whale populations show little sign of recovery.  But, that hasn't stopped those who want to undo the moratorium."  

Let's say an estimate of over one-half million whales just this past century, there are roughly 75,000 whales left today!!! 

   "Norway openly flouts the ban year after year.  Japan uses the ruse of "scientific research" to achieve the same end -- the killing of whales in defiance of the IWC (International Whaling Commission) moratorium." 

   It's the 7th consecutive year that Norway has undertaken commercial whaling.  But this year, violating the whale hunting moratorium isn't enough.  The Norwegian government is actively pressing the international community for a full resumption of commercial whaling and for an end to the legal ban on trading in whale products.

   Japan, Norway's ally in commercial whaling, continues to kill whales, hiding behind the false pretense of "scientific research."  As a result of this "research," every year some 1,700 tons of whale meat -- representing $50 million in revenue -- somehow ends up in exclusive Tokyo restaurants.

   But, Japan's determination to kill whales extends far beyond this scientific scan.

   It extends to influence peddling in the international political community.  For example, through trade negotiations and outlays of financial aid, Japan has convinced six Caribbean nations to support it position in the IWC.

   It extends to influence peddling in the international political community.  For example, through trade negotiations and outlays of financial aid, Japan has convinced six Caribbean nations to support its position in the IWC.

   This bloc of nations supported by Japan in its unsuccessful effort to expel Greenpeace from the IWC.  Japan is again counting on their support to back its efforts to re-start large scale commercial shaling through the re-opening of international trade..........

   Two whale sanctuaries already exist today: The Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary and the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.  In addition, plans are in the making for two new sanctuaries -- the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary (advanced by New Zealand and Australia) and the Southern Atlantic Sanctuary (recommended by Brazil).

   If accepted, these new sanctuaries would start where the Southern Ocean Sanctuary ends.  Protected waters would then extend from the freezing waters of the Antarctic to warm equatorial waters.  Whales in the Southern Hemisphere could live their entire lives in an area free from commercial whaling -- making permanent the protections offered by the currently threatened moratorium on commercial whaling..........

   This is truly a make-or-break moment for the world's remaining great whales.  Russia, once the world's largest commercial whaler, has made clear its intention to resume whale hunting should Norway and Japan succeed in their efforts to re-open international trade.

   Russia, by itself, could kill tens of thousands of whales each year.  We must never let the ruthless over-exploitation of one of our planet's most beautiful and intelligent creatures happen again."

   Maybe just in OUR lifetime, MAN will destroy what is left of these creatures!  We ALL have to be active to stop this unnecessary slaughter be extinction!   There are over 6 billion  people in this world today and we all have a responsibility.

Quoted from Greenpeace.  

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