PanOrient News | Greenpeace Condemns Japanese Government's Whaling Subsidy Increase

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Greenpeace Condemns Japanese Government's Whaling Subsidy Increase

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Full Text of NGOs Statement to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda

Tokyo- (PanOrient News) Greenpeace joined a coalition of Japanese NGOs today in condemning the Japanese government's latest attempt to prop up its so-called "scientific" whaling programme, demanding the ¥2.28 billion (US$30 million) subsidy boost allocated for whaling be redirected to recovery efforts following the March 11 Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

The Coalition of Japanese NGOs includes the Iruka & Kujira (dolphin and whale) Action Network (IKAN), Choice for Tomorrow (CFT), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and ten others.

"It is absolutely disgraceful for the Japanese government to pump yet more taxpayer money on an unneeded, unwanted and economically unviable whaling programme, when funds are desperately needed for Fukushima recovery efforts," said Junichi Sato, Greenpeace Japan Executive Director in a statement.

The new financial input comes on top of the US$10 million the whaling operation already receives in government subsidies, but with ¥1.9 billion (US$24 million) in mounting debt, these new funds are likely to be used to pay off the whaling industry’s creditors.

"The whaling programme is a black mark on Japan’s international reputation, and a black hole for taxpayer money. Pouring billions of yen into Antarctic whaling during this time of crisis is downright shameful," added Sato.

"Japan cannot afford to waste money on whaling in the Antarctic when its people are suffering at home. The Democratic Party of Japan must prove its commitment to protecting the people of Japan and not narrow business and political interests, by redirecting this money to where it is actually needed."

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that is opposed to all commercial whaling in all of the world’s oceans.

The following is the full text of the letter released by the NGOs to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda:

Oct 27, 2011
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
Minister of Finance Jun Azumi

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Michihiko Kano
NGO Statement

¥2.28 billion tax should be used for recovery of the affected area, but not unwanted whaling.

Oct 21st 2011, the cabinet agreed the additional annual budget and made the budget public. This additional annual budget is aiming to rebuild and help the affected area and people from the triple disaster on March 11. However, one of the requests that Fisheries Agency put titled as "Measures to stabilize the scientific whaling research program "was aiming "to conduct scientific whaling in Southern Ocean according to the original plan, "thus has no link to the recovery plan of the affected area.

News has reported that the whaling program was suffering from 1.9 billion yen debt with over all project cost being 3 billion yen in the last Feb. If this additional 2.28 billion yen is to be spent under the additional budget aiming for recovery of the affected area, it is unavoidable that the people think the government with the vested interests prolonging the dying whaling program with tax payers money.

Japan has been offered various helps from governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sectors all over the world. Yet, the government caused serious problems by releasing massive radiation to the sea. If we are spending our tax to the whaling program that has not been understood by the global community, the global community will have a serious doubt in terms of the attitude and seriousness of the Japanese government on recovery plan. Even, the global community might think their assistance was returned with offensive manners.

We demand that the additional budget of 2.28 billion yen to be used for priority projects that actually helps the affected people and region of the coastal area.

PanOrient News