The truth revealed by the documentary led me to a question: To prevent dolphins from being slaughtered, which link should be taken to prevent the hugely profitable trade chain of live dolphins? When I was a child, I went to Hong Kong Ocean Park and watched the dolphin Tin Ding performance of the worker's body. After learning about animal protection, I was sensible. Even if I had the opportunity, I would not go to any underwater world. Just in response to the famous slogan of the WWF Species Trade Project: No buying, no killing.
For a long time, it can be said that up to now, I believe that individual emotional behavior cannot play a long-term role in nature conservation, and we must believe in system operation, rational scientific judgment and government power. So, to block the international trade chain of live dolphins in Japan, should we consider the intergovernmental force - the CITES Convention?
CITES is the only international convention with practical benefits aimed at protecting biodiversity. It lists many rare and endangered animals and plants in the world in an appendix. This appendix is divided into three levels. Appendix I is equivalent to the first-level key protected species in our country. Commercial trade is completely prohibited, and only scientific research, zoos are allowed between countries. , museums or for the purpose of conservation and breeding. Appendix II is equivalent to the second-level key protection and can be used moderately, but the premise of legal use is to judge whether these trades will endanger the survival of species. Appendix III is under the control of countries themselves.
In the CITES appendix, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops trunctus) and most other dolphins are included in Appendix II as a member of the order Cetacea. In 2007, a video of a group of surfer beauties preventing the slaughter of dolphins in Tai Chi appeared on YouTube, causing great public outrage. At that time, many people submitted a letter to CITES, asking to intervene and stop the international trade of live Japanese dolphins. The Secretary-General of CITES issued a statement for this, explaining that the principle of CITES is based on the judgment of the harmlessness of trade, and that the international trade of dolphins does not violate this principle.
He said: "Each country or region has its own criteria as to whether an export would negatively impact wild populations... In the case of the live dolphin trade, the Secretariat has not found any evidence to support the harmless determination of those export licenses. Insufficient. Similarly, there is no clear evidence of any detrimental effects of current or impending trade on wild dolphin populations. Therefore, there is currently no reason for the CITES Secretariat to propose a ban on this trade.”
Why not What about the evidence that those export licenses are harmful?
Because a country makes its own judgment in exporting endangered wild animals and plants, although it is scientists who make the judgment, it is still not immune to the government's influence. What's more, in Japanese society, even whaling is under the banner of scientific research, how can they judge that their behavior of exporting live dolphins is unjust?
Compared with the huge international pressure that China faces by using captive tigers, the CITES Convention is simply appeasement of Japan's whaling and dolphin slaughter. At its 11th Conference of the Parties, CITES adopted a resolution on cetaceans, which was revised at the 12th Conference, namely Conf.11.4 (Rev.CoP12). CITES and the International Whaling Commission form a framework for cooperation. At the 14th Conference of the States Parties, CITES adopted Decision 14.18: "While the International Whaling Commission implements a no-fishing policy, no periodic review of any cetacean, including fin whales, shall be conducted." Basically gave up the management will.
Management needs basis, democracy relies on voting, and the system judges whether things are correct or not through procedures. Even if we don't go to the aquarium, we have approved the introduction of animals into the aquarium. Because evidently and procedurally, I have no reason to prevent the trade from happening. Tickets can be lobbied or even bought.
Like Rick's rebuke to the IWC in the film: "The government is really good at getting people together and talking and smiling and shaking hands, but they've never really done anything. As Margaret Mead says Past: Never expect the government or official institutions to solve any major problems.”
In 2006, the International Whaling Commission passed the resolution of Japan and other countries to resume commercial whaling by one vote. Some insiders said that the vote came from China. The delegation finally defected in exchange for Japan's support for the 2008 Olympic Games in China!
Therefore, the so-called rationality and the overall situation cannot save those dolphins at all.
Let the government officials go, close the doors, and let the public and heroes go.
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