U.S. to sanction Iceland for resuming commercial whaling

Rogue whaling nations like Iceland plan on increasing whaling so as to distribute whale meat worldwide

The civilized world is still in the future when it comes to whaling and three nations, Japan, Norway, and Iceland still engage in this barbaric practice despite an international ban. Finally the US appears to be getting involved, at least where Iceland is concerned, by threatening sanctions if they don’t stop killing whales.  We shall have to step back and watch to see what happens.

Here’s the summary from Newser:

The United States will soon announce possible trade and diplomatic sanctions against Iceland for ramping up its whale hunts despite an international moratorium on commercial whaling. The Obama administration will cite Iceland under a domestic law that allows the president to act against foreign nationals or countries who flout international animal conservation rules, say US officials. After today’s announcement, the president has 60 days to decide on sanctions. Sometimes, the threat alone is enough to make targeted countries change their practices.

The move comes less than a week after the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission stalled in discord between pro-whaling nations such as Iceland and Japan and their opponents. Iceland, Norway, and Japan continue to hunt whales despite a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. The US is particularly concerned about Iceland’s escalated hunt for endangered fin whales and its recent resumption of exports of whale meat to other pro-whaling nations.

I cannot imagine eating whale meat, as a matter of fact I am having a harder and harder time eating meat at all.  Unfortunately for our creatures, when it comes to the whales, there are still those who believe they are there to be harvested not protected.  What do you think about whales and whaling?  Do you think we are doing the right hing by pursuing sanctions against Iceland?