Latin America urges Japan to stop whaling

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Latin America urges Japan to stop whaling
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 -- 4:20 pm

BUENOS AIRES – Latin American members of the International Whaling Commission urged Japan Monday to stop "scientific" whaling in Antarctic waters and respect sanctuaries for the species.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay have refused to hunt nearly a thousand whales, including endangered species, in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, according to a statement posted on an official Argentine government website.

The countries are members of the anti-whaling Group of Buenos Aires (GBA).

Japanese whalers kill hundreds of the mammals a year in Antarctic waters.

Commercial whaling has been banned worldwide since 1986, but Japan justifies its hunts as scientific research, while not hiding the fact that the whale meat is later sold in shops and restaurants.



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/15/latin-america-urges-japan-to-stop-whaling/