The Japanese government says that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s antiwhaling activists will be arrested if they try to disrupt its whaling fleet this year.
More.. Japan to Arrest Antiwhaling Activists
Japan to arrest anti-whaling activists, newspaper reports
- Thread starter Frankie
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The Japanese government says that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s antiwhaling activists will be arrested if they try to disrupt its whaling fleet this year.
More.. Japan to Arrest Antiwhaling Activists
Frank I was reading a "related" article when you posted this just now.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28141932/wid/18298287/
(I'm doing my GREEN research for work and ran across this)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28141932/wid/18298287/
(I'm doing my GREEN research for work and ran across this)
yungreefer2410
Well-Known Member
this really lowers my opinion of Japan...
new reefer 03
Active Member
whats the point in whaling? what do they need to kill a whale for, a small house?
lcstorc
Well-Known Member
Need is an interresting question, but it is quite a large industry.
Read the links Frankie and Al provided.
Heritage and pride
These days whale meat is considered a delicacy that few can afford to eat regularly, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many older Japanese because it was widely served during the lean postwar years when other meats were more rare and expensive.
"When I was a poor student in university, we all ate deep-fried whale cutlets, because we couldn't afford pork," said Kazuo Hirano, 67, a public relations consultant in Tokyo.
The Japanese have hunted whales for centuries, and many consider it an honorable profession and a proud part of Japanese heritage
Read the links Frankie and Al provided.
Heritage and pride
These days whale meat is considered a delicacy that few can afford to eat regularly, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many older Japanese because it was widely served during the lean postwar years when other meats were more rare and expensive.
"When I was a poor student in university, we all ate deep-fried whale cutlets, because we couldn't afford pork," said Kazuo Hirano, 67, a public relations consultant in Tokyo.
The Japanese have hunted whales for centuries, and many consider it an honorable profession and a proud part of Japanese heritage
clownmorph
Member
Have any of you seen the show that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has called Whale Wars? I've been watching it since it started.
yungreefer2410
Well-Known Member
saw the previews looked good. there was gunfire. do they not relize they are endangered?!?
chipmunkofdoom2
Well-Known Member
There are so many dynamics to this that it's hard to assess the issue accurately. At first I thought "Wow, this is terrible" but after some research, I'm not so sure.
The way in which they are harvesting the whales is unacceptable.. there's no question about that. Sometimes they die instantly, but other times they can struggle for minutes and up to hours before death. That is in no way humane. Nor is the fact that many whales are endangered. It's also rather shady that they hide their whaling behind a scientific guise. They are not researching and everyone knows it. Even if they are researching, they are researching to see if the populations are able to sustain regular whaling again.
Having said that, what many people don't understand is that whale used to be a major staple in the Japanese diet and has become culturally important. Coming from a rich land like the United States, it's hard to imagine a land where it's difficult to farm to support the populace, but Japan is one of those places. Farming is difficult and whaling has been a great portion of the Japanese food pyramid since about 6,000 BC, or so one early whaling spear suggests.
Another issue worth examining is how humans typically have a problem with killing intelligent or "cute" animals, but cows and chickens get slaughtered by the thousands in this country every day and only hardcore animal rights activists have a problem with it. There are differences, I'm not denying that. Cows, chickens and pigs are raised to be killed for food and whales are not, but we fish don't we? We take fish and crab and lobster from the oceans and they're not raised to be eaten. Also, cows, chickens and pigs are typically killed humanely, but what about crabs and lobsters? They suffer terrible deaths before they are eaten.. they are boiled alive and do not stop feeling pain until their nervous system is literally destroyed, which is just before death, or so most experts say.
If it's done humanely and populations are able to sustain, I don't have a problem with it, but that's not reality at this point. People like those aboard the Sea Shepherd aren't helping.
What is the solution? I don't know. I doubt there will be one. I'm willing to compromise though and I would like to see a non-violent truce in this situation. Issac Asimov once said that violence is the last refuge of the ignorant, and that applies to both sides here. The whalers need to understand that the way and reasons they are harvesting whales for need to change and the world needs to realize these people aren't blood thirsty savages that enjoy making whales suffer.
The way in which they are harvesting the whales is unacceptable.. there's no question about that. Sometimes they die instantly, but other times they can struggle for minutes and up to hours before death. That is in no way humane. Nor is the fact that many whales are endangered. It's also rather shady that they hide their whaling behind a scientific guise. They are not researching and everyone knows it. Even if they are researching, they are researching to see if the populations are able to sustain regular whaling again.
Having said that, what many people don't understand is that whale used to be a major staple in the Japanese diet and has become culturally important. Coming from a rich land like the United States, it's hard to imagine a land where it's difficult to farm to support the populace, but Japan is one of those places. Farming is difficult and whaling has been a great portion of the Japanese food pyramid since about 6,000 BC, or so one early whaling spear suggests.
Another issue worth examining is how humans typically have a problem with killing intelligent or "cute" animals, but cows and chickens get slaughtered by the thousands in this country every day and only hardcore animal rights activists have a problem with it. There are differences, I'm not denying that. Cows, chickens and pigs are raised to be killed for food and whales are not, but we fish don't we? We take fish and crab and lobster from the oceans and they're not raised to be eaten. Also, cows, chickens and pigs are typically killed humanely, but what about crabs and lobsters? They suffer terrible deaths before they are eaten.. they are boiled alive and do not stop feeling pain until their nervous system is literally destroyed, which is just before death, or so most experts say.
If it's done humanely and populations are able to sustain, I don't have a problem with it, but that's not reality at this point. People like those aboard the Sea Shepherd aren't helping.
What is the solution? I don't know. I doubt there will be one. I'm willing to compromise though and I would like to see a non-violent truce in this situation. Issac Asimov once said that violence is the last refuge of the ignorant, and that applies to both sides here. The whalers need to understand that the way and reasons they are harvesting whales for need to change and the world needs to realize these people aren't blood thirsty savages that enjoy making whales suffer.
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yungreefer2410
Well-Known Member
which is i why i think they're should be more fish farms
I'm with Dennis. Very well written. It's tough to take "typed word" and touch on such a strong and passionate subject and not step on toes. You've done well and I have to say.... I do agree with you. Many times it's hard for us to understand how they could do such a thing.... we need to try and walk in their shoes at least to SOME extent to try and see both sides.
Very well done chipmunk
Very well done chipmunk
chipmunkofdoom2
Well-Known Member
Haha, thanks guys. I'll get off my soapbox now
