During the meetings, the Japanese pass notes to the Caribbean officials, and prompt them to speak. And it's not just Dominica. A total of six island states now support Japan. Small islands are enormously vulnerable to offers of aid. Through extortion with aid, Japan has been able to get many island nations to join the International Whaling Commission and vote its way,' said Martin.
Japan is the world's most generous aid donor, and insists there is no connection with whaling votes.
We give aid to countries such as India, Peru and Argentina who are anti-whaling. But the uncomfortable truth for environmental groups is that Japan is simply copying the tactics employed to get the ban on whaling through in the first place. Prior to the crucial vote in 1982, countries such as Egypt, Belize, Monaco, Oman, Costa Rica and Senegal were all signed up to the IWC to swell the anti-whaling vote. Just like the Japanese, environmental groups also paid for the membership fees. I am not commenting on it.