Dominica - “the Nature Island” - Supports Whaling
Dominica has rejected criticism that its vote on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was up for sale, after the prime minister returned with financial aid from Japan and renewed his support for commercial whaling. Ironically, the Caribbean island markets itself as the "Nature Island", with whale watching being one of its attractions. As a response to the contribution from Japan, a television advertising campaign has been commissioned to try to persuade the inhabitants of Dominica and five other West Indies nations not to support Japan's plan to overturn the ban on commercial whale hunting. People are also being asked to e-mail the government departments of Dominica and the other nations, urging them to oppose commercial whaling.