Japan Buying Votes to End Whaling Ban

A National Geographic article this week chronicles Japans efforts over the last couple of years to "recruit" nations to vote to overturn the ban on whaling. Previous nations that have supported and voted with Japan in an attempt to overturn the ban in the past include Gambia and Togo.

According to National geographic,

...early this March Japanese officials invited representatives from 12 developing countries to Tokyo for a special meeting to obtain "understanding of Japan's position on sustainable whaling."

Also in the past Japan has been able to court nations previously thought to support the ban by offering development plans ($$$$).