Whaling? Not in my name.

Ludicrous EU ‘voting’ system strips the rights of UK citizens to oppose whale hunts and sets up a return to commercial whaling says WDCS

UK and other European citizens could find that they are inadvertently voting for a return to commercial whaling this Thursday (4th) whether they like it or not, thanks to an alarming loophole in voting procedure that means EU Member countries can no longer oppose whale hunts. In one of the most dramatic moves to remove the democratic rights of Europe’s citizens, European bureaucrats have created a procedural ‘Catch-22’ which means that a single pro-whaling country (Denmark) can now dictate the whole EU position on whaling. As a result, UK citizens can no longer be assured that their elected governments are free to represent their views and, indeed, must go against their declared position to protect whales or else potentially face the threat of huge fines. The whole shameful scenario will be played out at The International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) intercessional meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, on the 4th and 5th March. EU members have been advised by European Council Legal Services that, if they cannot reach consensus on a proposal to increase Greenland’s quota by 10 humpback whales, they must abstain at the IWC meeting. EU countries make up almost one third of the membership of the IWC and, because a vote of this type requires a three-quarter majority to pass, a mass abstention by the EU would, however, almost certainly result in the proposal being adopted. “It is a farcical situation”, says Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society’s chief executive, Chris Butler-Stroud. “The ludicrous EU voting system effectively means that the UK and other Members of the European Union who oppose Greenland’s proposal to hunt humpback whales can not act in the interests of whale conservation as their hands have been tied firmly behind their backs. “This is rule by force, continues Butler-Stroud. “The UK and its citizens have long opposed whaling but we now find ourselves forced into abdicating our strong, democratically established position because of the spurious guidance of unelected bureaucrats.” There are also further reaching, and catastrophic consequences beyond this current proposal as Butler-Stroud explains. “The same situation is likely to arise at the annual IWC meeting in June when the IWC will consider a proposal to suspend the global moratorium and allow commercial whaling to resume. “We anticipate that the EU IWC Members will not be able to find consensus on this deeply controversial proposal. If they have to abstain en mass at the next IWC annual meeting (IWC62), and the proposal is adopted, the consequences for whales and the future of the IWC are devastating. “These ‘bureaucratic procedures’ are making a mockery out of the European Union on the international stage. “Commercial whaling will have returned and the people of the UK and Europe will have inadvertently helped give birth to this renewed slaughter of the world’s whales regardless of their overwhelming opposition to it. How can that be right?” -Ends- For more information, please contact the WDCS Press Office on 01249 449 534, 07834 498 277 or email press@wdcs.org www.wdcs.org