Whale Wars

The Legal Debate Over Whaling
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THE LEGAL DEBATE OVER WHALING

Top legal experts hash out the complicated issues surrounding whaling from all sides, answering questions about what is and isn't illegal on the high seas, the origins of the legal documents shaping this argument, and the cultural and historical context that informs our ideas of whaling today.

The International Whaling Commission
Should the International Whaling Commission focus on protecting whales or managing them for further hunting?

The Whaling Moratorium
Is the international whaling moratorium effective at protecting whale populations?

The Use of Sanctions
Should countries use sanctions to force other countries to follow IWC resolutions?

Enforcement in International Waters
Can IWC resolutions be legally enforced in international waters?

Objecting to the Moratorium
Can countries voluntarily object to the international whaling moratorium?

Aboriginal Whaling
Does aboriginal whaling create a double standard for countries like Japan?

Japan's Scientific Whaling
Is Japan's scientific whaling a violation of the IWC treaty?

Japan and Scientific Legitimacy
Is Japan's scientific whaling program scientifically legitimate?

Putting Pressure on Japan
Is it right for other countries to pressure Japan to stop whaling?

Whaling: Culturally Significant?
Is whaling culturally significant to Japan?
The West and Hypocrisy
Is the West's stance on whaling hypocritical?

Non-Endangered Whales
Is it OK for Japan to kill non-endangered whales?

Should Japan Leave the IWC?
Should Japan leave the International Whaling Commission?

Japan and the Law
Are the Japanese acting illegally by whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary?

The Antarctic Treaty
Is Japan complying with its environmental obligations under the Antarctic Treaty?

Types of Sanctuaries
Can Australia police the international Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, the sanctuary proclaimed by the IWC?

The Law of the Sea
Is there a "Law of the Sea" that all ships, including Sea Shepherd's, are obliged to follow?

Sea Shepherd's Legitimacy
Is Sea Shepherd a legitimate organization?

Sea Shepherd's Legal Authority
Does the World Charter for Nature give Sea Shepherd the legal authority to police Japanese whaling ships?