Revealed: Japan’s bribes on whaling

A SUNDAY TIMES investigation has exposed Japan for bribing small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain their support for the mass slaughter of whales.

The revelations come as Japan seeks to break the 24-year moratorium on commercial whaling. An IWC meeting that will decide the fate of thousands of whales, including endangered species, begins this month in Morocco.

"They receive cash payments in envelopes at IWC meetings from Japanese officials who pay their travel and hotel bills.
- One disclosed that call girls were offered when fisheries ministers and civil servants visited Japan for meetings."

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk...

Japan denies buying the votes of IWC members. However, The Sunday Times filmed officials from pro-whaling governments admitting:

— They receive cash payments in envelopes at IWC meetings from Japanese officials who pay their travel and hotel bills.

- One disclosed that call girls were offered when fisheries ministers and civil servants visited Japan for meetings.

Barry Gardiner, an MP and former Labour biodiversity minister, said the investigation revealed “disgraceful, shady practice”, which is “effectively buying votes”.

The reporters, posing as representatives of a billionaire conservationist, approached officials from pro-whaling countries and offered them an aid package to change their vote.

Oops looks like Japan got caught red handed this time. I hope the international community in view of the evidence of bribing and soliciting prostitution to buy votes bars Japan from whaling forever.

Wonder if this will get swept under the rug or not.

However, this is how business, not just governments work, and have for thousands of years.

This is why business men made up things like business trips, and when they meet the other business, a good time is shown to the businessman trying to win his bid, vote, or anything really.

reply to post by Crimson_King


This has been known and been going on for years.
Japan has aided many small island nations because regardless of size, they get an equal vote at the IWC..

Funny thing is, the consumption of whale meat has been declining in Japan for years..
They say its a tradition but thats not true either apart from a small pocket of fishing villages, Japan did not hunt whales till McArthur suggested it after WW11. As a means of more protien during the food shortages.

[edit on 13-6-2010 by virgom129]

reply to post by virgom129


Wow thats new to me. I didnt know Japan started whaling only during WWII period. Thanks

[edit on 13-6-2010 by Crimson_King]

reply to post by Crimson_King


No, Japan had Whaling well before, but only on a small scale...

Did you also know that Australia was hunting whales upto 1978 ?