Norway currently (2008) allows the commercial hunting of 1,052 minke whales for meat each year. Norway has killed over 8,100 whales since its whaling ban began; Japan currently (2008) kills 1,415 large whales of six species each year for scientific research. The IWC condemned this as unnecessary and called on Japan to stop the hunt in more than 20 separate resolutions. Iceland killed 200 minke whales between 2003 and 2007 for "scientific" purposes (WSPA). This is a very disturbing fact because these creatures have as much right to be on this beautiful planet earth as any human being and we are killing them senselessly and for no real reason. The products that people use, like whale oil and blubber, could be made from something else, like the crude oil we use today. This is not a new concept; Whaling has been the scene of controversy since 1946 after World War II. This apparently had no effect because there was no real solution until “the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in Washington DC on 2 December 1946” . Since many countries continue to hunt whales and the species is threatened, there should be international regulations and more funding to protect the whales. Countries that still hunt whales have certain reasons to do so, as Japan does, for cultural reasons such as having been doing so since the 12th century, so they won't stop anytime soon for this reason. The Real Truth About Japan's Ancient Whaling Tradition “There were a few isolated Japanese villages that had killed whales in the past, but Japan as a whole showed very little interest in whaling... middle of paper. .. ....Oct. 2013.."After the ban, whaling continues." WSPA. World Society for the Protection of Animals, June 27 ND Web. October 2, 2013.Hill, Tiffany. Interview via email. September 26, 2013"WWF." Whales killed by whaling after moratorium. WWF, nd Web. 7 October 2013.."Commercial whaling." Ecokids. Earth Day Canada. Web. October 8, 2013.."Donate to the Pacific Whale Foundation." Pacific Whale Foundation. Pacific Whale Foundation 2013..