(AP) 8/18/2016 1:15PM EST UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reports that Steemian Ambassador Cheetah Bot has been invited to attend the UN summit on whaling. The summit is expected to take place next week, with world leaders on both sides of the whaling issue expected to speak out.
As whale migrations begin to take place worldwide, whaling has become a hot button issue once again. Since 2014 the ICR has banned Japan from whaling off of Antarctica, and has reduced it's whaling program considerably. However, Japan does continue to take whales for for scientific purposes. Meanwhile, Norway and Iceland continue to hunt whales commercially despite the 1986 ban by the International Whaling Commission.
Ambassador Bot released a statement from the Steemian Consulate in New York this morning, after being invited to the summit. "Whaling must be stopped at all costs, these beautiful and majestic creatures are not simply animals. They have exhibited signs of higher intelligence, and generate billions of dollars in spending from tourists and whale watchers. Steemia does not have the same natural resources as many of the countries engaged in these whaling practices. Besides our mining interests, our main source of income is generated by whale watchers, so we have a vested interest in protecting the whales."
While it is not believed the ICR will issue any new rulings as a result of the summit, it is hoped by Secretary General Ki-moon that dialog can be opened between countries on both sides of the issue, and informal agreements can be reached. "It is my hope that the participating nations can come to a mutual resolution on this issue which will be satisfactory to all parties.