JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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davidattokyo
senseiman,
In principle I think it should be, as there is no reason to make special exceptions in the case of whales.
Posted in: Japan using quake disaster budget for whaling aid
-1
davidattokyo
gogogo,
Did Briget Bardot or Paul Watson donate a cent to Japanese disaster victims in the first place?
Come on, the whole world is not infested by anti-whalers. Most people don't care about whaling. But most humans do care about it when their fellow humans are hit with disaster.
I've no doubt the vast overwhelming majority of people who donated to these disaster victims would do so again, no matter who it happens to, irrespective of their culture. (I know I will.)
Posted in: Japan using quake disaster budget for whaling aid
-2
davidattokyo
gelendestrasse,
The Japanese government answers to the Japanese public, and unlike some in places like Australia, they aren't fooled by the commercial anti-whaling industry spin.
Posted in: Japan using quake disaster budget for whaling aid
2
davidattokyo
nigelboy and a couple of others have nicely highlighted the nasty, spiteful nature of people of the anti-whaling persuasion.
The commercial anti-whaling industry groups have sought here to portray the Japanese government as raiding an "earthquake recovery fund" so as to counter the overwhelming outpouring of support that Japan has seen over the year in the wake of these disasters.
These commercial anti-whaling groups rely on donations from anti-Japanese sentiment, yet the disaster has undermined their business model this year. As for Greenpeace Japan, headed by convicted whale thief J. Sato, it is hardly improving it's image here in Japan...
billyshears,
In fact certain types of coastal whaling continue, as not all species targeted by Japanese whalers are included under IWC regulations.
The devastated whaling town in question is one of the places where these activities are based, providing livelihoods for these fellow human beings of ours. Helping them back on their feet is the Right Thing To Do.
The coastal component of the western north pacific whale research programme was also operated out of the area prior to the disaster.
Posted in: Japan using quake disaster budget for whaling aid
2
davidattokyo
The point seems to have escaped you - the primary reason it that the pelagic whaling industry is not viable right now is because of the commercial whaling moratorium (which has no proper justification) - that's why the only pelagic whaling operations now are government funded research programmes, as provided for by the whaling convention.
The rational, logical response to this crazy situation is to abolish the moratorium. The IWC Scientific Committee already has a method of setting robust, conservative and sustainable catch limits for Antarctic minke whales (and other baleen whale species). With needless restrictions on the pelagic whaling operations removed, then we could see how viable the industry is.
The whol idea of the whaling convetion is to conserve whale stocks while facilitating the development of the whaling industry. And you are complaining about the sale of products from the whaling research conducted in accordance with the whaling convention for just that purpose.
Why the hell should they! The moratorium is a violation of the spirit of the whaling convention under which it was established.
Those conditions were fulfilled almost 2 decades ago already (see above).
If you don't like whaling, you just need to say "I don't like whaling", rather than try to dress it up. Not liking whaling is a perfectly valid opinion, don't you think?
Posted in: Australia refuses to protect Japanese whalers
1
davidattokyo
NeoJamal,
You've been deceived by the Aussie politician and the media. The Japanese never requested what the Aussie politician said, only that they fulfil their international obligations as noted in the consensus IWC resolution.
(Of course Australia is free to ignore the consensus resolution and their international obligations - the point is that it has been made out that Japan has made certain requests which it has not)
Posted in: Australia refuses to protect Japanese whalers
3
davidattokyo
... I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but perhaps you don't understand "consensus"?
Consensus?
I have already explained it three times now. The non-binding nature of IWC resolutions is irrelevant. The point is the Australian politicians is telling lies about what the Japanese said, and you and your anti-whaling mates are having a matsuri about it.
Posted in: Australia refuses to protect Japanese whalers
0
davidattokyo
Actually no they have taken it to court (just before Rudd got the boot - funny that?), but the Americans said that it was an "uncertain gamble with whales' lives" to do so, and the New Zealanders also warned against it on the legal advice of Sir Geoffrey Palmer who knows a thing or two about international law.
Personally as a conservationist I can't wait for Australia's case to be completed as we will then be able to add Japan's victory at the ICJ to our list of facts supporting the balanced, moderate path of sustainable whaling, as opposed to extremist "no whaling" positions that have been adopted by the easily misled.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
-2
davidattokyo
Spidapig24,
My point was that the Australian politician is misrepresenting the Japanese. They didn't ask Australia to protect the Japanese whaling vessels, they asked them to do what the IWC agreed in it's consensus resolution
(I assume you understand "consensus")
Posted in: Australia refuses to protect Japanese whalers
-2
davidattokyo
An Aussie polly makes a wild claim and the JT anti-whaling frat goes wild, once again.
Whereas what Australia was requested by the IWC is noted here: http://www.iwcoffice.org/meetings/resolutions/Resolution2011-2.pdf
Posted in: Australia refuses to protect Japanese whalers
0
davidattokyo
SwissToni,
That's one of two objectives, you seem to have missed the conservation part, somehow. The exact text from the convention is "... to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry"
This is obviously a balanced approach between conservation and sustainable use.
One could hardly claim that Sea Shepherd's extremist protectionist stance is even remotely balanced in comparison. All anti-whaling groups are quite extreme, except for perhaps WWF which some years ago seemed to be contemplating arguing in favour of sustainable whaling in some instances. They seem to get dragged to the far right again by some of their extremist members though, sadly.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
3
davidattokyo
banz10,
What conservationists like myself would like to see is a return to regulated whaling using the Revised Management Procedure for sustainable whaling of baleen whale stocks, under international oversight.
If you know of any problems with potential for the devious Japanese government to corrupt the implementation process of the Revised management procedure, then by all means tell me about it. I think it's a pretty robust process myself, and the last thing we conservationists want to see is a government having undue influence over it. (This is the risk we run at present, due to the IWC failing to manage whaling activities.)
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
1
davidattokyo
Spidapig24,
It's sad that anyone could think it's a better use of resources by Australia to push a frivolous case against Japan's legal activities at the ICJ instead of doing more to help our fellow human beings.
Not only that, Australia's laxity in preventing eco-terrorists from infesting it's ports has forced the Japanese government to make extra outlays for security for it's citizens, at a time when Japan is trying to recover from the earthquake and tsunami disaster.
One questions if anti-whaling Australians even acknowledge Japanese people to be human?
I think your comments have been moderated because they are impolite to other participants. You would do well to learn to accept and tolerate the diversity that exists in the world, I believe.
Patrick Smash,
When your argument is so weak that you claim everyone who disagrees with you is "being paid", you should accept that you have lost and take a second (and if necessary third) look at your own opinions.
Lift the commercial moratorium and we might finally get a shot at that... As it stands, the anti-whalers have pinned the whaling industry to the ground, punched it in the guts, and are holding it there. And you are sitting complaining that the whaling industry does not stand up.
Do you have ice-cream in your freezer at home, and if so, why?
You're misplaced belief that the research is "obvious nonsense" suggests that the oyaji pride lies within you...
Tell that to Australia in light of it's destined-to-fail ICJ case against Japan.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
2
davidattokyo
Ahhh, the commercial anti-whaling industry and their sheep....
The government passed an extra budget, which included funding to protect it's citizens from eco-terrorists, as well as funding for the earthquake recovery.
The commercial anti-whaling industry with assistance from media in pirate outpost Australia spins this to claim the Japanese government has raided an "earthquake recovery fund" and diverted funds for whaling activities...
No doubt I'm not the only one who thinks it is despicable that the commercial anti-whaling movement would seek to profit from the plight of these people.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
2
davidattokyo
banz10,
Easy to blame Japan, is it? Leaving that aside, your concerns are why there is an international whaling convention - "to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry".
Anyone who truly cares about conservation ought to see the whaling convention as a part of the solution to your concerns. (As opposed to just wanting to have an irrational, scientifically baseless blanket ban on all whaling, as if that is realistic, pragmatic or necessary. I for one wish to see actual solutions!)
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
2
davidattokyo
SwissToni, the thing is, you are saying people should go look for what the Scientific Committee thinks about Japan's research "in the ether".
That's the problem. In the ether there is loads of information that reflects the bias of the anti-whaling side.
My point is that if we are going to talk about what the Scientific Committee thinks, then reading the Scientific Committee's report - e.g. straight from the horses mouth - is the best place to go, if one is serious about avoiding those biases...
Am I wrong here? Is it biased of me to actually listen to the Scientific Committee itself, rather than what is written on the ether? Personally I don't think so at all.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
3
davidattokyo
banz10,
I doesn't have to be, but that's where the whale stock most suitable for sustainable commercial whaling is located.
...? Japan DOES catch whales in their local waters.
Is that something that you know, or else is it something that you believe?
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
3
davidattokyo
SwissToni,
What the Scientific Committee thinks is in the Scientific Committee's reports to the IWC. In the ether is all sorts of bollocks generated by the commercial anti-whaling industry. Do you believe tobacco industry scientists too?
If you want the Scientific Committee's views, get it from the horses mouth. That means read the Scientific Committee's reports - on the IWC home page. As I pointed out, they state again this year that they are using Japan's data for the Antarctic minke whale stock assessment.
How you reconcile that with your wishful idea that the same committee that writes this report and uses the data doesn't rate it is your headache (or you could simply put the old hands across the eyes and pretend it isn't true, which would be to form)
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
3
davidattokyo
Loose Cannon, the difference is the Japanese are weak diplomatically, where as when this stuff goes down against Canadian, Icelandic or Norwegian interests it gets dealt with and everyone moves on.
For this much, Japan is to blame.
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures
3
davidattokyo
OssanAmerica,
It's good you raise this Ossan, because it is an opportunity for it to once again be noted by the anti-whalers reading these comments that the Scientific Committee reports in it's 2011 advice that data from Japan's research programme continues to be used in statistical catch-at-age analysis for the Antarctic minke whale stock assessment.
Not like those whales are dying just so they can be eaten, as the commercial anti-whaling industry propaganda machine that has fooled so many easily impressionable youngsters would have it... (but do you think they can break the shackles!)
Posted in: Whaling fleet off to Antarctica with beefed up security measures