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Google Japan's shopping site under fire for promoting sale of ivory

17 Comments
By TODD PITMAN

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17 Comments
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Anyone else waiting for the "but, it's part of out culture!" reply?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Sale of ivory products is not illegal. EIA are crazy like Sea Shepherd.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Whales, tuna, ivory. Go Japan go! What's next? Polar bear carpets?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I get tired of Google breaking the law then claiming ignorance.... You see it with YouTube (downloading), Google Maps (stealing HD info), now stores that sell illegal items. In the beginning their advertising program was famous for competitors racking up charges on your links. They seem to make a lot of money on accidents.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It always seems to be Japan, doesn't it?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

not surprised...sad and disgraceful

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The Japanese government should place a tax of 100% or more on the sale of ivory goods. The revenue collected from the tax would go to pay for elephant conservation in Africa. Japanese businesses could actually profit from selling equipment. Yamaha for instance could sell their RMAX UAV as a surveillance and data collection platform. Howa could supply rifles. Toyota could offer their HiLux trucks.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Social media alerted to Google over sight.. I am sure Google does not support Ivory Trade.. but now they must do counter measure to stop killing elephants in Africa.. the need to sponsor with their media clout.. and social consciousness effort using all the tools at their command.. to influence America first and foremost to ban Ivory Trade and also hunt down and kill with a bounty on the heads of all poachers.. for they are working for the Ivory Merchants in Thailand, China and japan..

1 ( +2 / -1 )

ihope2eatwhales MAR. 06, 2013 - 02:52PM JST Sale of ivory products is not illegal. EIA are crazy like Sea Shepherd.

try carrying one with you when flying out of the country...and dont forget to declare.

we will miss you for few years but worth to have a try. ;)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Homer never said it better: a guy who's got lots of ivory is less likely to hurt Stampy than a guy whose ivory supplies are low

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Thank goodness for the intelligent thinking and voices of reason from the West. If there weren't, nations like Japan would eat up all the flesh of the earth until nothing was left, killing all the fish, all the whales, all the elephants and destroy all of the rivers and forests and beauty of nature.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Ban it morons.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

National Geographic magazine, November 2012, had an extensive article on Blood Ivory, describing the business aspects of ivory trade, from the perspective of Japan and every other nation that is involved. The main focus was the Philippines, but also the Coptic Church and the Vatican were named, along with trade routes including pirates in Zanibar, Mindinao, Malaysia. The only country barely mentioned was the U.S. and no reference to Google, which offers its satellite transponders for free for elephant tracking through Google Earth, to real charitable organizations. Whoever this group is that is blaming Google, it cannot be left from consideration the possibility that the attack on Google is because Google is proving to be a champion of stopping illegal trade.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

For those that are apparently waiting, and in agreement with ihope2eatwhales, yes it is Japanese culture to use ivory for making seals (inkan). And furthermore, like whales, elephants are not listed as being so endangered as to require that they not be hunted at all. Under the CITES ivory ban, vulnerable ("Appendix II") controlled trade of elephants in some African countries is allowed. And in spite of these simple facts, and compliance with regulations, why is it always Japan that gets berated for doing so?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

For those that are apparently waiting, and in agreement with ihope2eatwhales, yes it is Japanese culture to use ivory for making seals (inkan).

You mean from the famous Japanese Elephant, that roamed the lands until the late 1950's?

That's like saying it's part of western culture to use ivory for piano keys.

why is it always Japan that gets berated for doing so?

It's not just Japan. Try buying some ivory in the UK.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I haven't seen an ivory seal in decades. Yes they are prized but not many are actively wanting an ivory seal. There are various other varieties like long horn ox, gold, silver, Ebony, etc. In other words it not a "Must Have" Item that people will willingly stack money for when there are alternative that are much as precious and rare.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@SamuraiBlue

I haven't seen an ivory seal in decades. Yes they are prized but not many are actively wanting an ivory seal.

Here's just 2 you can find with a simple Google search.

http://www.toyodo.co.jp/001toyodo_e-shop/zouge_map.html

and here

http://www.hankoya.com/advice/material_08.html

They say that they're licenced to sell ivory inside Japan, but not to overseas; and that they have to be registered with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

この法律に基づき、象牙製品又はタイマイ等の甲羅を取り扱う(有償、無償問わない)事業者(法人及び個人)は、あらかじめ経済産業省へ「特定国際種事業」の届出が必要になります。

これにより国内での象牙の移動は可能になりますが、海外への販売や持出しは輸出入と同じく禁止されております。

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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