Japan hints at leaving IWC after its whaling proposal rejected

The International Whaling Commission voted down Friday a Japanese proposal to resume commercial whaling, prompting Japan to hint that it may withdraw from the organization.Tokyo had hoped to resume commercial whaling of relatively abundant species such as minke whales, but antiwhaling countries including Australia and New Zealand opposed the motion.Twenty-seven countries supported Japan's proposal on the final day of the five-day annual meeting in Florianopolis, Brazil, while 41 voted against it.Masaaki Taniai, vice minister for Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and he…READ FULL ARTICLE