Whaling record should keep Iceland out of EU (From Oxford Mail)

Whaling record should keep Iceland out of EU

10:00am Tuesday 17th August 2010 in Letters

Membership talks are currently under way following Iceland’s application to join the European Union.

However, Iceland must not be allowed to join until it ends commercial whaling.

Iceland continues to hunt whales, including the endangered fin whale, in the North Atlantic, most of which are exported.

All cetaceans – including whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected by law in the EU.

Iceland, along with Norway and Japan, is attempting to get around international restrictions by developing new industrial uses for whales, including pharmaceutical, health supplements and even cosmetics. Our marine life faces so many threats and is the least protected wildlife habitat. I urge the EU and in particular Oxfordshire’s MEPs to ensure this appalling destruction stops before Iceland’s application proceeds any further. Andrew Coles, Farmington Drive, Witney