The proposal to legalize whale killing went down in flames in recent Morocco meeting. In a few short weeks, the biggest whale-saving petition in history, signed by an extraordinary number of 1.2 million of worldwide people, will be delivered directly to the key delegates at the International Whaling Commission meeting.<\/p>\n
The pro-whaling lobby tried to use political favors to win a so called ‘compromise’ that amounts to a quota for hunting whales, but as tension grew in the closed-door talks, the massive petition became a top story on the BBC\u2019s world news, and the work with friendly negotiators and other allies helped to put pressure where it was most needed and draw greater global attention.<\/p>\n
The Australian environment minister Peter Garrett received the petition for like-minded governments in front of the world’s media and said \u201cIt is a great pleasure to be here and accept this petition … I believe the people of the world\u2019s voices need to be heard. I certainly hear them today.”<\/em><\/p>\n After the meeting, one European negotiator told Avaaz activists: “We’ve managed to keep the ban in place…I’ve been checking the petition on-line. I was very impressed by how fast the numbers are rising and seeing people signing from across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This is an important victory for whales – and for global people power – who demonstrated that international decisions can be shifted by a little bit of well-placed effort from a lot of people everywhere.<\/p>\n But winning this battle won\u2019t guarantee the whales\u2019 safety yet — Japan\u2019s \u201cscientific\u201d<\/em> whaling fleet is already sailing out of harbour through IWC loopholes to kill hundreds of whales.<\/p>\n To win for good, a campaign is needed to strengthen and reform the IWC, and to mobilize in countries with pro-whaling governments, like Japan.<\/p>\n People power can stand up and win against powerful special interests. Whether it be protecting whales, countering corruption, supporting authentic democracy movements or fighting for a global climate deal, people are coming together to bridge the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want.<\/p>\n