Ecobreves – LATIN AMERICA: Concerted Efforts Needed to Protect Whales

By - - and IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

BUENOS AIRES, May 30 2011 (IPS) - Close to 20 Latin American organizations devoted to the conservation of whales are urging Venezuela to resume full membership in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The Whale Conservation Institute, Cethus Foundation, Promar Foundation and other organizations throughout the region have joined together to draft a letter that has been submitted to the Venezuelan consulates and embassies in their respective countries.

“Our goal is for all of Latin America to be united together in the IWC for the protection of whales,” Roxana Schteinbarg of the Whale Conservation Institute told Tierramérica.

Schteinbarg explained that the Buenos Aires Group, which gathers together the Latin American countries with an interest in whale preservation, needs the reinforcement of countries that have ceased to participate in the WCI for non-payment of membership fees.

The Dominican Republic and Colombia recently rejoined the WCI, and now it is Venezuela’s turn, she said.