[OK, the headline is a bit over the top, but quite a major step having the DPJ, the main opposition party in Japan and controller of the upper house, hear out their anti-whaling petition... Kudos to the Aussies for using a bit more diplomacy to address the issue (and the Japanese weakness for cute teens j/k 
) than resorting to violent confrontation..]
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23270236-2,00.html
THE deafening chorus of Australia's opposition to Antarctic whaling has been heard by Japanese politicians with the handover of The Daily Telegraph-Today Show's people power petition.
The presentation of the petition immediately gained an important concession when the Democratic Party of Japan admitted there was little market for whale meat and whaling was damaging Japan's international reputation.
The Daily Telegraph, along with Today Show host Karl Stefanovic and Teens Against Whaling campaigner Skye Bortoli, delivered the petition to the DPJ's Upper House Agriculture, Forestries and Fisheries committee at Tokyo's Diet building on Friday.
Citing cultural traditions and food security concerns, the 10-strong DPJ committee said they supported commercial whaling in the high seas – that is Antarctica – and in coastal Japanese waters.
But in a major concession, they also admitted the market for whale meat was not viable and that Japan's international reputation was at stake.
