Whales - Who Cares?

[Hitcher]

And here's me lusting after a Kawasaki...

[onearmedbandit]

Wear the fox hat....

Where the fuck's that? Where the fu#k is what?

My wife is Japanese, been to Japan a few times and travelled reasonably extensively across the place. Dined at some very nice restaurants (like $800 for 3 people) and although I've kept an eye out for it I'm yet to eat whale. It is, from my experience, very uncommon. I'm not saying at all this is a reason to hunt the whales to unsustainable levels, but don't think they eat it every day all across the nation!

[Edbear]

Wolf I take your point about the planet itself, it has amazing powers of recovery if man leaves it alone! In fact if man didn't exist, the planet would probably be fine! My point is the completely unnecessary extinction of species being brought about by mankind to his own detriment along with the inhuman suffering inflicted upon these beasts! Including also the probable extinction of man himself, again, completely unnecessarily! It's a management problem, not an inherent one. I challenge anyone here to observe for themselves the beauty in nature, watch a female Whale with her calf and not be moved. For me, yes, whales and many other living creatures are special. I'm not a vegetarian, but deplore the UNNECESSARY suffering and loss inflicted by what is supposed to be the highest intelligence on the planet!

[Timber020]

Anyone got any torpedos?

The whaling industry in japan isnt that big by its nations standards, but there are other japanese industrys that are much bigger that wouldnt like to be effected by the actions of the whaling companies. Possibly the only thing we can do is put pressure on the whaling nations as consumers by effecting other japanese industrys. Anyone want to write to honda, suzuki, yamaha, kawasaki, toyota, mazda etc and tell them your not going to buy any more of there product in protest?

[James Deuce]

I'm not saying at all this is a reason to hunt the whales to unsustainable levels, but don't think they eat it every day all across the nation!

No they don't. You're completely correct. In fact they have a mountain of whale meat going to waste.

This is a point of pride being argued here. "The Gaijin told us we can't hunt whales. They can get fucked."

I'm reasonably certain that that is the only reason why Japan wants to hunt whales without limit.

[avgas]

Except for vegetarians, we all eat meat and thus animals have to die. So why are whales any different?

So if i came and killed your dog, cat etc and ate it it would be fine.
The japanese are not whaling in their own waters thats my issue.

[Ixion]

That is a very good point. What's the deal with that? Does anyone know?

It's one thing for the Japs to catch whales around their own islands. But it's a bit of a cheek for them to come all the way down here and start killing them in the Southern Ocean. Piss off back home MoriTori San, I say.

Are they allowed to do that? Come down here and start catching "our" whales ("our", so to speak), even though we're opposed to it?

If not, it's not so bad, cos presumably the whales can head down to NZ and hang out. Sort of like the ducks on the Domain duckpond come the start of shooting season.

[WINJA]

hope the shepards of the sea get to slaughter a few whalers , its not the same as eating sheep cause when you buy lamb a portion of the money gos back to raising and breeding new lambs but not with whaling , talk to most japs and they dont eat whale there is delecious alternatives so why hunt whales?

[Colapop]

Whaling. In most western culture this has become an antisocial term. We have become de-sensitised to other cultures' rights to harvest a food source that they may consider to be part of their identity. Free Willy, Shamoo, Flipper nearly every whale or sea dwelling mammal has been portrayed as being some sort of kindred spirit. Ants live in socialised communities, as do Wasps Bees, Meerkats, the list could go on and on, but where is the outcry if a nest of these creatures gets wiped out? We have been taught to identify with a species that has no real bearing on our existence. The sensationalised pictures of whale slaughter send shivers done our backs as though it were us being harpooned! There is nothing wrong with harvesting a source of food as a culturally idenifiable tradition.

The problem with this practice is twofold. In the first instance the Japanese, and to a lesser extent the Norwegians and Icelandic people, are hunting a resource that does not replenish itself at that same rate that it is being harvested. Secondly both of these cultures are using modern technology to far extend their 'traditional' hunting grounds to encompass whole oceans as a resource gathering area.

These two points in themself negate the "need" to resume large scale whaling. How can a nation claim that they are acting in their traditional interest if they are not behaving in a traditional manner? Because a practice is termed 'traditional' it does not automatically garuntee the people claiming such rights open slather on all that they determine comes under that umbrella. Traditional Maori kai moana gathering is carried out for Tangi and Hui and the premise is to "take only enough to feed your whanau". We have seen that this customary right has been abused but we, as a whole community, have not moved to curb the practice. People fear treading on culturally sensitive issues. Whaling is being touted as being under the same cultural umbrella.

I have no problem with sustainable harvest - of any sort. But it must be sustainable.

[Finn]

hope the shepards of the sea get to slaughter a few whalers , its not the same as eating sheep cause when you buy lamb a portion of the money gos back to raising and breeding new lambs but not with whaling , talk to most japs and they dont eat whale there is delecious alternatives so why hunt whales?

You're just nervous they're coming for you next blubber boy. Don't worry, I don't think they'll make it up the Waikato.

[The_Dover]

I've harpooned a whale or two in my time, I blame my alcoholism.

But can't say that they were that tasty.

[metric]

In the first instance the Japanese, and to a lesser extent the Norwegians and Icelandic people, are hunting a resource that does not replenish itself at that same rate that it is being harvested. Secondly both of these cultures are using modern technology to far extend their 'traditional' hunting grounds to encompass whole oceans as a resource gathering area.

well said

(10c)

[Paul in NZ]

The sensationalised pictures of whale slaughter send shivers done our backs as though it were us being harpooned! There is nothing wrong with harvesting a source of food as a culturally idenifiable tradition.

The problem with this practice is twofold. In the first instance the Japanese, and to a lesser extent the Norwegians and Icelandic people, are hunting a resource that does not replenish itself at that same rate that it is being harvested. Secondly both of these cultures are using modern technology to far extend their 'traditional' hunting grounds to encompass whole oceans as a resource gathering area..

Well said that man...

Whales and birds migrate over vast areas and as such, belong to no one.

If people want to risk their lives and row out to sea in handmade boats and lob bone pointed harpoons tied to hemp or rawhide ropes at a few whales I don't have much issue with that.

But to claim a traditional or cultural right and then employ heliocopters, radar, steel ships and explosive harpoons on the other side of the globe? Hmmm.. How long has this technology been around? Well less time than europeans have been in NZ so in that case my family not only has a valid cultural claim to NZ but I demand the goverment supplies me with old motorcycles as has been my custom for many weeks.

It's a crock of poo....

Just like a good garden, the world needs it's wild places and mysterious creatures. Not everything is food and if it's a high priced treat, chances are it's just $$ talking.

[Wolf]

But to claim a traditional or cultural right and then employ heliocopters, radar, steel ships and explosive harpoons on the other side of the globe? Hmmm.. How long has this technology been around? Well less time than europeans have been in NZ so in that case my family not only has a valid cultural claim to NZ but I demand the goverment supplies me with old motorcycles as has been my custom for many weeks.

Yep, and I claim my cultural right to run around this side of the world cutting off people's heads as trophies as my ancient Celtic ancestors did. Instead of facing them mano e mano with a sword, however, I assert my traditional right to shoot them from a distance with a high powered, scoped rifle (the Walther WA2000 in .300 WinMag looks suitable) and to remove their heads with a chainsaw (you can get OOS trying to hack through neck bones with a mere sword, donchaknow).

I figure I could beat Cu Chullain's head-taking within the space of a week with some modern high-tech means of head harvesting... Woohoo!

[onearmedbandit]

No they don't. You're completely correct. In fact they have a mountain of whale meat going to waste.

This is a point of pride being argued here. "The Gaijin told us we can't hunt whales. They can get fucked."

I'm reasonably certain that that is the only reason why Japan wants to hunt whales without limit.

I believe that you're right Jim2, there probably is some degree of truth in that theory. All I'm saying, and yes I do have a personal interest in this, is don't generalise all Japanese, as some here are doing.