Environmental groups heaved a sigh of relief this week when Environment and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles assured the daily newspaper La Nacion Wednesday that he will vote against lifting the ban on whale hunting in the multi-nation international commission governing the protection of the endangered species.

Dobles said unnamed “private interests” had agreed to pay $31,819 back dues the country owes to the commission and, without which payment the country cannot vote on the issue. (The Costa Rican Coalition for Whales has offered to pay some $300,000 this country owes the commission over and above the debt cited above—but only if Dobles keeps his word about voting against eliminating the whaling ban.

Last week, the English-language weekly The Tico Times reported that environmental groups were nervous about the amount of money Japan was donating to social projects here, worried that that country was attempting to sway Costa Rica’s vote on the ban. Japan and Norway want the ban lifted and Japan has been especially active in lobbying governments regarding the whaling issue. Japanese officials told the newspaper that their lavish financial help had no strings attached.

Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a concert of local rock groups sponsored by the Coalition at the Culture Plaza in downtown San Jose will draw attention to the plight of the whales