International Whaling Commission changes member voting
Updated
The International Whaling Commission has agreed to put off votes on a Japanese bid to resume commercial whaling.
It also has postponed voting on an environmentalist initiative to create a whale reserve in the South Atlantic.
The 80 nation IWC is divided over the issue of commercial whaling.
Iceland, Japan and Norway are among those in favor.
Australia does not support commercial whaling.
Voting right changes
The International Whaling Commission has officially endorsed changes to members' voting rights.
As environment reporter Sarah Clarke explains, the conditions make it tougher for new members to participate in debate.
The IWC chairman introduced the amendments which change the commission's terms of reference.
New members must now wait thirty days before they're given voting rights.
Rob Nicoll from Greenpeace says it's a positive step.
"This new approach of thirty days will definitely prevent some of the vote buying aspects, allowing countries to join up and surprises at the meeting," he said.
But the new rules don't come into effect until 2009, which means countries like Tanzania who signed up on Tuesday can still take part in this year's meeting.
