2 Greenpeace members indicted for stealing whale meat

Saturday 12th July, 05:54 AM JST

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RepublicofTexas at 11:27 AM JST - 12th July

Whale hunting is a legitimate part of Japanese culture (though it could be scaled back). The people arguing against it are just proponents of Western cultural imperialism. Even the IWC was created for the purpose of ensuring future stocks for hunting, not for a total permanent ban. As for world opinion, major players like Russia, China, Canada are all opposed to a whaling ban as well as Norway, Iceland and an array of smaller countries.
serindipity at 12:52 PM JST - 12th July

Good on ya Texas! Allow me to correct your statement:

Whale hunting is a legitimate part of Japanese culture - which is currently being carried under the false guise of scientific research, to which the rest of the world has been strongly objecting to since the onset.

So, these Greenies have been indicted for stealing whale meat, which was stolen in the first place by people who shouldn't even have it. Alright, that makes sense (in Japan). Why have the original thieves not been indicted?
Zen_Builder at 12:56 PM JST - 12th July

This NOT about whaling or if it s legit, etc. They guys commited a crime, don't matter why they did it.

How would you like cops, etc in your country to search a place without a warrant because they know they could nail you.

Do you think that evidence obtained via a crime will be admitted in ANY court?
browny1 at 04:02 PM JST - 12th July

Irregardless of "the logistics and illegality of the crime(?)" for sure this is a pathetic attempt at "We'll show you who's boss".

The energy, time & costs involved from the public (police/prosecutors) side and the constant howling of their said advocates further add to the disbelief that any sort of intelligent discussion/protest can occur on this topic.

Whistle blowers should be shaking, coz technically breaking the law to prove a wrong will get you not a whiff in.

Boffinism wins again.
USNinJapan2 at 04:43 PM JST - 12th July

...two members of Greenpeace Japan for trespassing and stealing whale meat, which the conservation group presented to law-enforcement authorities as evidence in its allegations of a whale meat embezzlement scandal...

Yeah, these amateurs presented the whale meat to the authorities after sampling it themselves. What a bunch of clowns...
TJrandom at 04:44 PM JST - 12th July

trespassing and stealing

Anyone know what the code penalty for this crime is? Given the value is minimal, and the perps are first timers who have admitted to their crime - they should get a minimum sentence and have it suspended.

They would have done better for themselves if they had used video to get their evidence.
Bovinus at 01:34 PM JST - 13th July

I don't believe hunting whales actually is part of Japanese culture. Yes, small communities had been hunting whales for centuries before WWII but there had never been large scale commercial whaling before then. So large scale commercial whaling cannot be said to be part of Japan's culture.

I wonder why it's a nationalistic issue considering mass scale whaling was forced on Japan by the Americans to help provide protein after Japan lost the war. If Japan really looked at its history they might think differently about whaling.
presto345 at 02:03 PM JST - 13th July

Someone mentioned it: Large scale commercial whaling never was a part of Japanese culture. But after WWII the people developed a taste for it.
RepublicofTexas at 04:09 PM JST - 13th July

Someone mentioned it: Large scale commercial whaling never was a part of Japanese culture. But after WWII the people developed a taste for it.

Guess where that taste developed from. To make up for the protein deficiency as their was little meat and not enough fish, the Americans urged the Japanese to hunt whales.

Moderator: All readers back on topic please. The subject is the arrest of two Greenpeace members.
Farmboy at 05:12 PM JST - 13th July

Robin Hood would never have approved...they took what was intended to be food and by stealing it turned it into garbage. Didn't feed anyone, and didn't help the whale much either. Oh, and they didn't realize stealing was unlawful. Great work.
cleo at 06:09 PM JST - 13th July

The real crime here is that the authorities are complying with the icr and kyodo senpan in the embezzlement of 'research by-products' that are supposed to be sold on the open market to help offset the public cost (ie the drain on taxes) of the 'scientific research'.
presto345 at 08:07 PM JST - 13th July

I agree Cleo, the prosecutors need to get their priorities in order and not waste time and tax money on petty misdemeanors.
wilbur at 10:49 PM JST - 13th July

why would anyone eat that crap ? unless you're TRYING to give yourself mercury poisoning
okapake at 04:26 AM JST - 14th July

A few of my Japanese friends of mine have eaten whale meat. They did not consider it anything special - just ma ma.
Molenir at 06:10 AM JST - 14th July

I think this is great! Thieves are actually being prosecuted. Don't see a thing wrong with it. Doesn't matter what they stole, or why they stole it. Stealing is stealing, didn't your mothers teach you that?