New tensions as Japan pushes whaling

by AFP

Opinions Jul. 05, 2012 - 06:18AM JST ( 21 )

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21 Comments

7

TamaramaJul. 05, 2012 - 08:25AM JST

Our ancestors started utilizing beached whales thousands of years ago

As opposed to everyone else's ancestors, who never touched whales? Completely self-centered approach to the whole spirit of the moratorium.

Japan kills hundreds of whales each year on the high seas, infuriating Australia and New Zealand, by using a loophole in a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling that allows lethal research on the ocean giants.

The Japanese Institute for Cetaecean Research's most recent findings are : "Our research concludes that there are now 1000 less Minke whales in the Antarctic region. Gambaremashita."
7

gogogoJul. 05, 2012 - 08:42AM JST

“Our ancestors started utilizing beached whales thousands of years ago,” he said. “Whale meat and blubber are integral parts of our culture ... with traditional practices handed down from generation to generation.”

So stick to tradition and only eat beached whales that land on your own shores, don't go half way around the world to kill whales that are thousands of KMs away, there is no tradition in that.
5

tkoind2Jul. 05, 2012 - 09:21AM JST

Japan is the singular most self destructive culture I know of. Idiots in office, a population with its head in the sand. And an boundless capacity to make a fool of itself on key global issues. Well done Japan way to raise the bar on making yourselves look silly and pointless.
-2

ProbieJul. 05, 2012 - 09:28AM JST

In a proposal to International Whaling Commission talks in Panama, Japan called for a resumption of killing minke whales in its eastern coastal waters.

...

Australia’s envoy Donna Petrachenko strongly criticized Japan’s proposal, saying that, if approved, it would mean “completely undermining the moratorium.”

See, all those who say that if it's in their own back yard, fine, what do you think about this??

While not killing minke whales, Japan each year hunts thousands of other cetaceans unregulated by the International Whaling Commission off its coasts—most notoriously dolphins, which the western town of Taiji spears to death.

Wow. Bias again. And Sea Shepherd, not mentioned in the article, but there's a photo of them. I think we know the writers/editors stance on whaling...
-2

Jose BarreraJul. 05, 2012 - 09:51AM JST

tkoind2.... Most destructive culture you know of???.. then you dont know much at all
3

sourpussJul. 05, 2012 - 10:59AM JST

S. Korea has now joined the game officially. They are going to start scientific whaling.
-1

lostrune2Jul. 05, 2012 - 12:52PM JST

South Korea is considering resuming whaling using the same scientific loophole that Japan uses.

If that happens, then Japan now has some competition, in addition to the Sea Shepherd, hahaha.
0

shawnthJul. 05, 2012 - 12:56PM JST

Minke whales aren't endangered, it makes no sense to restrict hunting as long as catches are sensibly monitored. This frankly is the west trying to instill their local ideals.
0

tkoind2Jul. 05, 2012 - 12:58PM JST

Jose, please read again not "destructive" I wrote "self-destructive" read it again mate. Perhaps I know enough to read the entire word to gather the meaning of the sentence...
6

Tom WebbJul. 05, 2012 - 01:04PM JST

Don't buy Japanese goods. Boycott all things made in Japan to protest whaling.
6

Thomas AndersonJul. 05, 2012 - 01:12PM JST

First off, who gives a crap whether it's tradition or not... that's not necessarily a good reason for keep doing something. You can use "it's our tradition" as an excuse for anything. It's our tradition to eat endangered species... it's our tradition to invade other countries... it goes on and on.

And stop pretending that it's for "scientific research" when it's really for commercial purposes. Some people have no shame.
-1

SwissToniJul. 05, 2012 - 05:35PM JST

shawnth, "Minke whales aren't endangered, it makes no sense to restrict hunting as long as catches are sensibly monitored."

Noone knows how many there are. The estimates are so innacurate that there might be enough Minke to sustain a limited hunt, there might not be.

If Japan gets agreement to hunt locally, what happens then? South Korea, China, Russia? All notorious for breaching agreements and make no contribution toward finding a humane killing method. Perhaps progress could be made if those that whale participate in some genuine research rather than continue the same old pork barrel diplomacy and name calling.
2

oberstJul. 05, 2012 - 07:58PM JST

Using the cultural heritage is bogus. Do we hear the Solomon Islanders demanding a headhunting restart ? Come on, Japan, grow up.
1

Tom WebbJul. 05, 2012 - 08:37PM JST

In the old days, cutting heads off in Japan was a tradition used by the samurais. I think that tradition went by the sideline; eating whale meat can also go by the sideline. Damn poor execuse by JP government; of course certain lobbies have a powerful hold on politicians so its hard to break with tradition. Don't by Japanese; just boycott all goods made in JP.
0

tmarieJul. 05, 2012 - 09:16PM JST

What? No comment about how there are tonnes of unwanted frozen whale sitting in freezers as no one is buying it?? Pathetic.
3

Frank VaughnJul. 05, 2012 - 09:30PM JST

“Whale meat and blubber are integral parts of our culture

If that is true then why were they unable to sell at auction 75% of the meat offered and why according to other posters in that article is there over 4,000 tons of meat in freezers with no market? Then in following these stories I read where a vast majority of readers here do not like whale.

Why go after an animal that almost no one wants to eat?
2

Thunderbird2Jul. 05, 2012 - 10:25PM JST

“Our ancestors started utilizing beached whales thousands of years ago,” he said. “Whale meat and blubber are integral parts of our culture ... with traditional practices handed down from generation to generation.”

Culture again... so what? As nations grow and become sophisticated they leave the trappings of their ancient past behind. You don't see druids running about England (except at the Solstice) and I certainly don't run about the hills naked and painted blue. Leave the whales alone and embrace the present.
0

mrmaliceJul. 06, 2012 - 06:27AM JST

All i can say is that they will be whaling until there's no more whales, after that the problem will have solved itself and culture will have to without it
0

Tom WebbJul. 06, 2012 - 09:40AM JST

I know the Japanese can't be that stupid to allow whaling on its eastern coastal waters. I thought these whales feed on quills and squids; aren't these things radioactive from the Fukushima radiation leaks?
-5

ihope2eatwhalesJul. 06, 2012 - 10:25AM JST

tmarie, in Japan, what is freezer for is storing meat that is not eaten immediately.
0

tmarieJul. 06, 2012 - 01:58PM JST

Ihope, not eaten immediatly? Seems Japan has more than a few years supplies so perhaps they could, say, not bother hunting them until they "need" more? Kind of like how people don't buy MORE frozen food when they freezer is full.

I know the Japanese can't be that stupid to allow whaling on its eastern coastal waters. I thought these whales feed on quills and squids; aren't these things radioactive from the Fukushima radiation leaks?

So, you're new to Japan right?