(from "ISANA" No. 9, 1993)

Shigeko Misaki
Counselor, International Relations, The Institute of Cetacean Research

Prior to the 45th IWC in Kyoto, Mr. McGuiness was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit Japan to observe firsthand the impact of the whaling moratorium. During his visit, he wrote four columns to The Australian, in which he made clear his firm support for "sustainable use" of abundant Antarctic minke whales, and his concern at the distress being experienced by Japan's small-type whaling communities.

Shigeko Misaki, Counselor, International Relations, at the Institute of Cetacean Research, who visited Australia in July to participate in the IJET-4 Conference held in the University of Queensland, took a trip to Sydney where she met with Mr. McGuiness. Following is her report of their conversation.

Misaki: All four of your articles you wrote during your visit to Japan that appeared in The Australian had a footnote by the editor saying "P.P. McGuiness is in Japan as a guest of the Japanese Government". It seemed as if this was a kind of criticism of your articles, that the editor thought they were too pro-Japanese.

McGuiness: No, no. I insisted that footnote be printed, because I thought it would be only fair for the readers to know my position.

M: What was the public reaction to those articles? Did you receive any "hate letters"?

McG: To my surprise, only two letters of that kind were sent to the editor. Before I left for Japan in April, I talked to a good friend of mine who is a well-known Labor politician. His advice to me then was not to write anything to suggest my support of sustainable whaling. But I did not take his advice, and when I came back he said to me that my articles were "interesting" and provided a new perspective.

The editor of "The Age" in Melbourne, who has been a colleague of mine since we both worked at "The Financial Review", also wrote a balanced article. Moreover, the "Sydney Morning Herald", in my opinion, has shown more balance on this issue.

M: What do you think is the reason for this change in media treatment of the whaling issue?

McG: I think Australians, like Japanese, do not like the idea of cultural imperialism as practiced by, in particular, Washington. What Australia needs now is stronger cooperation with Japan to reconstruct her economy. I would be surprised if there was no criticism of the American way of animal rights and protection based on emotion. The Australian Government has authorised this month the promotion of kangaroo meat for human consumption; QANTAS Airways is now serving kangaroo meat to test the reaction of passengers. A lot of cynical criticism was voiced in America against the use of kangaroo meat, but I think it is a rational policy. What I mean is that when you have to cull a species, then you should use it rationally, not waste it.

M: What was the reaction to your articles in Canberra?

McG: Canberra will not change its policy on whaling unless the U.S. changes its policy, and unless public opinion becomes overwhelmingly in favor of change. However, I hear that Greenpeace is losing popularity in New Zealand, and this would have some effect on Australians. I think sooner or later a more balanced view will prevail. A group of New Zealand scientists have reported recently about an abnormally high increase of penguins in the Antarctic. It would be only reasonable to start asking questions about the rapid increase of minke whales that feed on the same species (krill).

M: What do you think about Japan wanting to withdraw from the IWC?

McG: Japan has good reason to want to withdraw from the IWC, which has already lost its proper function as a management body. If Japan decides to withdraw, she should show in her subsequent actions that the principle of "sustainable and rational utilization of whales" is workable, otherwise the world will be disappointed.

M: In terms of timing, when do you think Japan should withdraw? Some of our politicians say Japan should walk out of the IWC if the French proposal for a sanctuary in the Southern Ocean is adopted.

McG: There will be a great uproar against Japan, if Japan decides to do so at any time. However, world opinion will subside in time when Japan demonstrates her adherence to principle. Perhaps, if the sanctuary is adopted, that would be the right time.

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