Wednesday February 15, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

dontpanic's past comments

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dontpanicJul. 25, 2010 - 09:49PM JST

Governments regulate business, therefore businesses have every right to lobby government. That said, the Scottish government has explained the reasons behind its decision to release al-Megrahi, its a sovereign nation not in conflict with the US. The US senate is overstepping its remit.

Posted in: UK reiterates BP not involved in Lockerbie bomber's release
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dontpanicJul. 23, 2010 - 03:28PM JST

This story's going to get worse. US politicians are now arranging another public hanging demanding British politicians appear before the senate hearing next week.

Whether BP is involved or not, whatever you feel about Al-Megrahi, what pedestal has the US senate placed itself on? The US must get its own house in order and deal with others openly and honestly before staging any more of these reality shows from on high.

Posted in: Obama, British PM: Lockerbie bomber's release not BP's doing
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dontpanicJun. 14, 2010 - 10:20PM JST

Tumbledry - the British people arent complaining about BP having to pay for the damage. Theyre complaining about the US political class' vilification of the company. That vilification has harmed millions of UK and US citizens pensions, caused tens of thousands of layoffs globally but especially in the US and distances a very supportive ally. Does that amuse you too?

Posted in: BP deploys deepsea sensors to better measure spill
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dontpanicMay. 26, 2010 - 09:20PM JST

Toyota Prius and Honda Insight batteries seem to last longer than a year.

Posted in: Ghosn says U.S. demand growing for Nissan electric car
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dontpanicMar. 28, 2010 - 06:54PM JST

fleetwood77 you're made of meat, are you putting yourself in the frame?

Posted in: 'Heroes' actress Hayden Panettiere gets chilly reception in Taiji
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dontpanicMar. 26, 2010 - 10:32PM JST

HeyLars - "I would rather one hunted animal die a horrible horrible death than 100 live in a box only to die as "humanely" as they do at the slaughterhouse"

I couldnt condone either. In my opinion you raise your food animals with good standards of welfare and kill them quickly. If you have to hunt animals for food, kill them quickly. These are attainable standards for most communities.

Posted in: 'Heroes' actress Hayden Panettiere gets chilly reception in Taiji
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dontpanicMar. 26, 2010 - 05:56PM JST

davidattokyo - "Humane living" should be taken into much greater consideration than it is"

I think few could disagree with that statement and that is what good animal husbandry is about. As for humane killing being an oxymoron, only someone looking to divert attention from their own agenda would say that. Any ethical proffessional will tell you ending the animal requires no less consideration. Any other route is simply to disregard the animal in favour of a short cut (pun intended).

Hunting, terrorizing and despatching animals in the way you defend simply shows no thought for the animals. Your supposed high regard for the freedom these animals enjoy is nothing but a smoke screen for taking a cheap option.

Posted in: 'Heroes' actress Hayden Panettiere gets chilly reception in Taiji
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dontpanicMar. 19, 2010 - 10:17PM JST

"There is a problem with overfishing, and ICCAT needs to enforce its catch limits more strictly"

Or.....maybe the marketplace can help regulate itsefl? Perhaps Japan can contribute to this conservation measure by announcing limits to the amount it buys?

Being the main draw for the fish and then blaming everyone else for not regulating their catches is like a fence blaming the Police for not catching enough burglars.

Posted in: Hatoyama, fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection
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dontpanicMar. 19, 2010 - 02:15AM JST

Quote fropm Susan Lieberman, director of international policy with the Pew Environment Group in Washington. "The fish is too valuable for its own good."

Posted in: Japan leading charge against bluefin ban
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dontpanicMar. 18, 2010 - 04:25PM JST

"Just saying there is a blanket trade ban does not stop people catching fish they aren't supposed to be catching"

No but it does take away the market for their catch. Complaining nations dont police their fishing fleets well is just so much smoke and mirrors. The multinational nature of this business and the vast sums of money available make it impossible for disparate nations to monitor quotas in any meaningful way. The Japanese authorities know that and are playing divide and conquer here as in the whaling dispute. I can understand that Japanese business will feel some real pain if this market disappears but fishing on as is is not acceptable and quota proposals are unenforceable.

Quotas have been set and ignored for way too long. Play the long game, support a trade ban.

Posted in: Japan leading charge against bluefin ban
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dontpanicMar. 17, 2010 - 09:49PM JST

davidattokyo - "There is no need for research if you don't intend to have sustainable use. The goal of sustainable use is the aim"

The goal of sustainable use would logically include a requirement to demonstrate need.

In all these years all Japans whalers have demonstrated is a need to keep their jobs. There is no demonstrable need to commit the acts of cruelty required to maintain this industry.

Posted in: Researchers back from Antarctic no-kill whale trip
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dontpanicMar. 16, 2010 - 04:44PM JST

" This research will lead to a cure for diseases that kill millions of people every year"

I take it you're referring to the Japanese research which is presented as understanding whales more thoroughly to enable a sustainable harvest. How does that cure diseases? Unless of course youre referring to diseases connected with marine pollution, which could of course be avoided by not eating the whales.

Posted in: Researchers back from Antarctic no-kill whale trip
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dontpanicMar. 10, 2010 - 07:19PM JST

Cleo, timorborder, I didnt say the chips were tracking devices. My understanding of the proposal is that when dogs are chipped, ownership data will be logged. That data will be used to ensure there is insurance coverage for the dog. Where there is none the UK authorities will make sure insurance is taken out. Pretty much the same system they have for tracking car tax and insurance only instead of registration plate, read chip.

The proposal is for the scheme to be self funding from insurance premiums. The UK doesnt have a great record of providing cheap services and as its insurance based I wouldnt hold my breath for pensioner discounts.

Dangerous dog owners outside the law really wont care if their dogs are taken away, they arent buying them for love, the dogs are bought for sport or to be used as weapons. They'll simply go and get another one as they do now when their current animal is killed or is too injured to carry on.

I think you are being a little naive if you think this proposal is simply a well meaning plan that needs further thought. My own opinion is that the plan is about the UK authorities abrogating responsibility and want to put dealing with dangerous dogs in the 'hard to do draw' while having a pool of compensation money available for victims.

Posted in: Mandatory insurance proposed for dogs in UK
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dontpanicMar. 10, 2010 - 05:38PM JST

Its a shame this proposal has come about, and it will penalise the vast majority who's dogs cause no problems. The real issue, as has already been pointed out, is with bad breeders and those that want a trophy dog to look hard or to to fight. Staffs, pitbulls and the like are paraded openly on some estates in the UK and more and more are fought out of sight.

At the end of the day I think the insurance proposal is simply there to fund the UK governments inability to deal with the criminals. Compulsory chipping would allow the government to track down those who obey the law and ensure they pay. Those on the outside of the law will continue to breed, sell and fight dangerous breeds with little risk.

Posted in: Mandatory insurance proposed for dogs in UK
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dontpanicMar. 08, 2010 - 10:36PM JST

"The question is was it just a one-off or is it going to spread elsewhere as people start to wake up" The real question is is how much will it cost Iceland to borrow now?

Posted in: Iceland votes 'no' to debt deal for collapsed bank
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dontpanicMar. 01, 2010 - 10:42PM JST

"Dozens of demonstrators rallied to criticize Australia which opposes to Japan’s whale hunting"

This is good news. Anything a few dozen protesters outside the oz embassey can do to raise the issue is great. I hope this spurs a genuine debate in Japan not based upon nationalism or sovereignty but open talks that account for all opinions.

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dontpanicFeb. 27, 2010 - 04:41PM JST

KingRat - "No I meant he need MORE doners otherwise he wouldn't quit the whale war."

I think youll find he's getting them. Besides, the number of doners to Sea Shepherd wont have an impact on a mechanical fault on his ship.

Come next season when the IWC has failed to agree to end the 'research' whaling cover up I hope Sea Shepherd will be back and again sticking to the whalers like s*#t to a blanket.

In the meantime congratulations to Sea Shepherd for preventing foul cruelty and raising the anti whaling lobbys media profile for as long as they have.

Posted in: Sea Shepherd ends Antarctic campaign against whalers
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dontpanicFeb. 26, 2010 - 10:53PM JST

"All this apologizing for things in the past that had nothing to do with the current population is utterly pointless and stupid"

Because its past doesnt meen its over, especially for the victims. Gordon Brown did the right thing.

"This is nothing short of human trafficking- slavery" Its not Britains proudest moment for sure, but your hyperbole adds nothing but hysteria. The two issues are not even comparable.

Posted in: UK prime minister apologizes to children shipped to former colonies
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dontpanicFeb. 26, 2010 - 10:37PM JST

"This means Watson needs more doners" Considering the number of boats he's in the market for, I'd suggest he's already getting them.

Posted in: Sea Shepherd ends Antarctic campaign against whalers
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dontpanicFeb. 17, 2010 - 03:43AM JST

A quote from Dr Harry Lillie, a ship's physician on an Antarctic whaling trip in the 1940s. Dr Lillie wrote: "If we can imagine a horse having two or three explosive spears stuck in its stomach and being made to pull a butcher's truck through the streets of London while it pours blood into the gutter, we shall have an idea of the method of killing".

If you saw that going on in your street you'd put a stop to it, legal or not. Theres no humane way to kill a whale. Killing methods have barely changed in decades and the JARPA whalers kill barely 40% outright.

Sea Shepherd are bringing this horror to the attention of the world and standing in harms way to help put a stop to it. Donate your money so thay can send more ships next year.

Posted in: Antiwhaling protester to be brought to Japan for questioning