Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan was actually killing whales for human consumption rather than for "scientific" purposes. But now, Japan is trying to get around the ruling.
For years, Japan has been claiming that the whales it systematically murders every year were killed for "research" purpose. In reality, many conservationists suspected that the beautiful, intelligent creatures were being slaughtered for human consumption.
Japan has said it will obey the IJC's ruling. But it will also try to appeal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which oversees global whale management, by submitting a "revamped" whaling plan to them for approval.
Japan signed a 1986 ban on whaling, but has continued to hunt minke, fin and humpback whales in the Southern Ocean every year, citing a 1946 treaty that permits killing whales for research. The IJC felt that the number of gentle giants being murdered didn't make sense f or these "scientific" purposes -- now, it's up to the IWC to hold strong and continue to protect the ocean's whales.
"У нас есть свобода, но не осталось времени" Dolores ORiordan 