Australia hits back over pro-Japan whaling video; denies racism is factor

"People often think lots of things without seemingly understanding the circumstances fully".
So true.
I think the video intend to get support from the Japanese population.
If you ask to anyone about the whaling thing here, it is not a big deal. However if they present the whaling thing like another old Japanese tradition wich is not tolerated by the west, then people will support even if they don't really agree that "hunting whale is vital for Japan".
Sorry to always compare with my country but this situation really reminds me of the Mururoa Tests.
At the beginning when Chirac said he wanted to make it, people in were confused and sometime shocked(it was not mentionned in his programm and we just elected him). What the hell we need it? Modernize our arsenal? Like 350 warhead to blow earth one time is not enough...So people didn't feel confortable and a debate started where the left wing was putting pressure on Chirac.
But at the same moment the world reaction ended the debate. When people saw in France the agressive TV advertisement showing a sniper targeting a french guy in his balls for finally shooting a bottle of wine- With a "Stop buying French products now"...Then everyone thought the world was against France sovereignety and people started to argue against australia (what about the aborigenes? who sold uranium to UK and rented his land for test? etc).
We even had a funny one where a French sniper was targetting an Australian guy balls for finally shooting a kangoroos with the slogan "stop F...ing Kangoroos now".:-)
People started to defend their country instead of debatting if we really needed these tests...
They missed the point why countries were angry and they closed the debate: "We do whatever we want on our lands".
I was supporting the side against the nuke tests in France and people in the street were telling me: You don't like your country, you support the anglo saxon!
It was a good lesson, so today I don't think making spots saying about how cruel Japanese are is going to help.
So in fact the aggressive campaign against the tests helped Chirac. Remember that saying "F...ck you to the rest of the world, really help in inside politics.
Another point I would like to add is that I don't understand why there is not so much involvement for the protection of sharks. I love chinese shark fins but I don't eat them anymore. There is no regulation and south eastern asian seas are losing their sharks reserve...And there is no IWC to limit it. I mean some sharks species are in extinction and we focus the strenght to save the minke which have a 200 000 population.
Let's let Japan have 1000 per year and for eating but not more and we should control it. Then we should moratory on fishes who are on the edge of extinction.

 

Whether it's vital or not is totally besides the point. There are lots of non-vital activities that go on in the world, we don't go banning every single one that some one or some particular group has a complaint about.



I agree with the gist. But instead of "1000 per year " we ought to say "up to as many as the scientists agree would be sustainable".

 

I agree with natadiem; the confrontational approach of the radial activists creates such a strong impression that most Japanese will never listen to anything beyond. Aggressive words,pressures and hysteria will not only fail in Japan, but will be violently despised or ignored no matter how correct you are.

If those anti-whaling camp were wise and competent, they would be creating an impression that thay are approaching with a compromise and a calm head.

If you are not well respected by Japanese, your mission there is likely to fail.

 

By Vital for Japan:
Understand vital for its geopolitics interests.
Playing basketball is not vital I agree, but it doesn't really hurt 1.5 billion minds when you do so... Please understand that hunting whales has a risk for Japan foreign policy.
So you should have a reward for this policy somewhere, and except some good publicity for nationalist group I don't see where Japan is winning anything.
In its policy of China containments upset the western world might not be the way to go.

Remaining in good terms with the intertional community IS vital for Japan and hunting whales is not helping. But sure you can do a lot of vital things which have no impact on foreign relationships. Don't deny the wheight of the decision of hunting whales no matter what argument you have, you will lose something for this: People often think lots of things without seemingly understanding the circumstances fully
So please understand for your country that this decision will have consequences. Foreign ennemies of Japan appreciate the Whale huntings, it divides strong allies like Japan and Australia which is a good thing for them.

"up to as many as the scientists agree would be sustainable".
But you know that scientists disagree. Check the global warming case...
The ones from Australia and Japan won't agree on the subject. So only a politic solution is important with an average number agreed by both sides. And for this Australia should sit in the table: I agree with you.
I appreciate the will of Japan to settle the situation by the negociation. A moratory is temporary. Now it is time to fix how many whales can be fish every year without damaging the reserve.
But Japan should only eat the whales he is hunting.
You should not buy it from other countries, because it will create black markets and an appeal for countries who won't respect the rules.
This way both sides will respect each other.

 

mtt,

Being on good terms is indeed good for Japan, but let's be serious. Whaling is not a big deal. Even Australia, the most uppity of the anti-whaling nations, agrees with Japan that this issue should not be allowed to damage the relations between the two countries.



With respect to whaling, the IWC already has an agreed "RMP" for setting catch limits, designed and agreed upon by it's scientists from all countries. All that is required is for the politicians to agree to put this into action.



Japan has a DNA registry set up to monitor the meat market, so too do Iceland and Norway. The whale meat market will be one of the most closely monitored markets in the world when it opens up again internationally.

 

sorry that last one was to natadiem

 

Thank you for the link.

I guess I'm practical and calculating so that I don't want Japan to waste much time, energy and funds on such an unwinnable battle.
What we lose on PRs is quite big, while the whaling industry is neithr vital now or promising in the future for Japan.
There are many things we can do well, and I think we should shift our talents, energy and efforts to those areas.

This is just one opinion of one Japanese who doesn't know anything much beyond the surface on the issue.

 

mtt,

I understand your feelings. At the same time, it's also an unwinnable battle for the anti-whaling industry to think they will ever stamp out all whaling either.

A Japanese official has a good explanation about why Japan persists on the whaling issue here:
http://www.e-kujira.or.jp/geiron/morishita/1/

 

I agree that there is a lot of things that Japan do well today (huge help for development in Africa for almost no benefit).
That is a big reason why I have faith in this country.
But only a few people are aware of it in the west.
Mainly because there is few efforts from Japan to communicate it.
Maybe this is the way of Japan, to be modest.
But at the same time, this whale issue is a problem because from the west you never hear Japan arguments.
I would love to have this Japanese official comment translated in English (my Japan skills are Kanji-Limited). If Nationalist really want to help Japan to keep its tradition on whaling. Explain arguments in English is the way to go.
Explaining since how long you have been hunting the whale, that is has a special meaning for you (ceremony for death of the whale in the harbor, you eat 100% of it) etc. Show the dishes, explain that whale was a source of protein when Japan can't access to imported meat, and people miss it etc...Invite people to go in Japan to try in Asakusa before to say "it's not good". After all if Japan has the best restaurant in the world its mostly because of the variety of the recipes.
I m not saying you will change their opinon but your case will be stronger and you will find other countries who try to defend their right to think different.
Many countries try to keep their misunderstood culture. I come from the south west of France and I support Corrida and Foie Gras so believe me I have some experience about it!
Each time I go to the US someone pick on me on this subject.Which I respect, after all I pick on them about their way of life (junk food, weapons dealer at every corner etc). But I understand that USA has its own way of thinking.
Each time I explain carefully without agressivity, they still disagree but they got my points.
This video is helping anti-whaling hunting because "We can hunt whales because Australian kill Kangoroos" doesn't really make any sense.

New countries don't really understand, they are born in modern areas so they don't see the point about keeping old traditions. You don't miss what you never had.

Not like I am a big english language supporter ( I am french after all) but this is THE international language.

 

Animal activists today held a macabre protest at the Japanese consulate, likening Australia’s commercial cull of kangaroos to the Japanese whale harvest.
The protesters, some of which were dressed as Kangaroos and were mock-executed by men brandishing firearms, stated: "Japan slaughters whales – Australia slaughters Kangaroos – What’s the bloody difference?"
Animal Liberation staged the protest in opposition to the Revised Code of Conduct for the Human Killing of Kangaroos.
http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/01/11/Whaling...

But why are they demonstrating against kangaroo culling at the Japanese consulate?

 

Because in Australia you can protest at the Japanese embassy and not get arrested, whereas the Aussie police won't turn the other way if you are protesting elsewhere.

 

That's a pretty big call, any proof?

 

Debiddo had directed me to an article written by a Japanese official in which he tries to justify and explain Japan's pro-whaling stance as something opposing the Australia's 100% anti-whaling position rooted in their irrational idolization of whales as special animals ( like cows in India).
I find it nothing wrong for Australians to take this anti-whaling position as long as the majority of them supports it, or for them to worship whales as their god or whatever. It's none of my or others' business.

Moreover, they don't have the power to push their cultural values to any other country and they are not claiming they do.
Australia is but one member of IWC with one vote, and all different opinions are expected there anyway.

If the majority of IWC members voted to ban the whaling, except for some tribes who still survive on whale meat (as well as not competetive yet enough to change thier life style), why does the Japanese pro-whaling group single out Australia?
Why do they go all the way to the Antarctic irritating the cultural sensitivity of nearby Australians?

If Japanese whalers dare defy the non-binding IWC resolution, why can't they show some discretion and consideration to the decision and the cultural values of the majority?

 

I meant to write;
.............cultural values of the majority by whaling only around Japan?

 

Yes. It's good the Japanese are starting to understand that slaughtering the endangered species humpback whales is basically wrong. It's quite obvious. Lets hope that Japan Australia relations improve through this. I often hear Japanese say how delicious whale is but then I ask them and it turns out they know nothing of their special unique qualities. I could never understand how Japanese could eat kangaroo when they go down under. Kangaroos are so wonderful. It's beyond me how could you even think of eating them?
Apparently about 6500 kangaroos just outside Canberra are facing starvation due to drought conditions, causing damage to the land and threatening endangered species such as the grassland earless dragon, striped legless lizard and golden sun moth. That's basically their reason behind the culling.