Will Japan's 'bribery' funds sway new International Whaling Commission members?

This week saw media reports that Japan is to hold talks in Tokyo tomorrow with 12 nations ahead of the next International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual general meeting in June.

These talks appear to target developing nations which are new members of the IWC or are thinking of joining.
Japan has been accused in the past of targeting its overseas aid towards poor countries which may be persuaded to vote in favour of its position.

Here's how the online media is reporting Japan's latest push to overturn the international ban on whaling.

Oppn calls for global whale sanctuaryABC Online, Australia - 40 minutes agoThe Federal Opposition has called for a global whale sanctuary to be set up as a way of ending Japan's so-called scientific whaling. ... Push to close whale loophole Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 7 hours ago AUSTRALIA'S push to end Japanese whaling has intensified with a delegation being sent to the International Whaling Commission to urge them to end all ... ... IWC research could stop Japan Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 8 hours ago Standing firm ... Peter Garrett at Maroubra Beach yesterday outlines the Government's plans to modernise the IWC. AUSTRALIA will push an International ... Whaling reform won't be easy, warns Greenpeace ABC Online, Australia - 15 hours ago Greenpeace is warning the Federal Government that a plan to reform the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is likely to face opposition from new nations ... Australia to tackle Japan on whaling The Age, Australia - 17 hours ago Australia will send an envoy to Japan and propose the International Whaling Commission (IWC) closes loopholes that allow Japan to continue whaling, ... Japan Plans Meeting to Sway Developing Nations on Whaling Ban Bloomberg - 18 hours ago By Stuart Biggs March 1 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's government will hold talks with delegates from 12 developing nations who recently joined or plan to join the ... Garrett takes aim at 'scientific' whaling ABC Online, Australia - 19 hours ago The Federal Government says it is stepping up its campaign against whaling by taking charge within the International Whaling Commission (IWC). ... Japan moves to strenghten standing at IWC ABC Online, Australia - 29 Feb 2008 Japan, in a feud with Western nations over whaling, has said it will meet with 12 developing states in a bid to boost its clout in the deadlocked ... Japanese schoolkids have whale of a lunchtime Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 27 Feb 2008 JAPAN'S whaling researchers dumped 10 tonnes of unsold whale meat into primary school lunches, labelling the event "traditional school lunch week". ... Whaling reform won't be easy, warns Greenpeace Radio New Zealand, New Zealand - 12 hours ago Greenpeace is warning that a plan to reform the International Whaling Commission is likely to face opposition from new nations joining it. ... Australia to propose closing 'scientific' whaling loophole AFP - 15 hours ago SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia said Saturday it hoped to close a loophole in International Whaling Commission (IWC) rules that allows Japan to conduct whaling as ... Japan to lobby whaling commission CNN International - 17 hours ago TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japan will lobby a dozen members of the International Whaling Commission at a meeting Monday to support its much-criticized Antarctic ... Australia urges IWC to close whaling loopholes LIVENEWS.com.au, Australia - 15 hours ago Australia is preparing to step up its fight against Japanese whalers taking it straight to the global whaling watchdog. The Rudd government will this week ... Aus to fight whaling Sky News Australia, Australia - 17 hours ago A special Australian envoy will be sent to Japan to propose three major changes to the whaling mission in the Southern Ocean. In the latest move to stop the ... Sea Shepherd Receives Message From the Australian Government Indymedia UK, UK - 23 hours ago Captain Paul Watson onboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin received an email from the Australian government. See the letter and Captain Watson's ... Australia to ask world whaling body to scrutinize science behind ... The Canadian Press, Australia - 4 hours ago SYDNEY, Australia — Australia says it will push the International Whaling Commission next week to ensure that commercial whaling can no longer be conducted ... Garrett begins action against 'scientific' whaling Scopical, Australia - 17 hours ago Environment Minister Peter Garrett will this week step up his attacks on Japan's "scientific" whaling program, with Australia to take a more hands-on roll ...