June 23, 2005
a touch of humor
Maybe Australia could bring a case against Japan to the International Court of Justice?
Japan failed to gut the International Whaling Commission’s agenda. According to Humane Society International:
"Japan had planned to wipe out discussions of humane killing, whale sanctuaries, human health concerns, environmental threats and to abolish the Conservation Committee---taking the life blood out of conservation issues at the IWC."
Thank goodness.
Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research has a few pitiful papers published in peer reviewed scientific journals to show for 18 years worth of killing whales for 'scientific research'.
However, Australia is in a difficult position. Ian Campbell, Australia's Environment Minister, challenges Japan's cultural heritage argument on conservationist grounds. Yet he defends the destructive cattle grazing in Victoria's alpine national parks on cultural heritage grounds.
Hypocrisy in a coalition politician? Ah well, we shouldn't be surprised...
;-)>
Cameron,
He actually donned the cattleman's outfit and rode a horse around the Parliamentary grounds cracking a whip and talking about Australia's identity.
That's cultural politics for you. Tis a long way from the culture of the diasporia, is it not?
Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson on June 30, 2005 10:22 PM