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Abe vows efforts to resume commercial whale hunt

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By Miwa Suzuki

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"Abe vows efforts to resume commercial whale hunt" well he would woudn't - could we expect anything lessfrom a Bush-esque leader?

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

When will these guys get it.. somethings are just better to give up..

Japan is going to need friends as its neighbours grow noisier and stronger, this really doesn't help.

On top of this tradition is a terrible reason to continue something if its demonstrably harmful and not in the best interests of society or the environment.

And as far as tradition, I doubt that the antarctic was ever a traditional Japanese fishing ground, and I doubt many of the fishermen (is that the right term for whalers.. perhaps whalers) would make there or back with any whales and alive if they went in "traditional" boats.

I do not agree with my hard earned money subsidising (paying for) this.

18 ( +28 / -10 )

Japan's PM wants to resume commerical whaling despite a UN ban

Although I know it is unpopular to say so, there appears to be no need for a ban. (And it's an IWC ban, not a UN ban, isn't it?)

Japan’s consumption of the meat has considerably diminished in recent decades

Funny that, given the ban on commercial whaling...

despite a top U.N. court’s order that Tokyo must stop killing whales in the Antarctic.

The ICJ court order was for ending JARPA II, but the court order allowed for Japan to design new research programs.

The court slammed the hunt, which it said was a commercial venture masquerading as research.

I read the court's order, but didn't say that. Indeed 4 judges even dissented against the decision. Odd reporting from AFP.

“To that end, I will step up efforts further to get understanding from the international community,”

Gee. Why hadn't any Japanese Prime Minister thought of that already?

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

SHAME!

Fxgai, Japan's falling whale consumption didn't start with the moratorium, it started with wealth and the ability to buy foods the people want to eat.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

efforts to let Japanese people know that whaling and eating whale meat are part of their culture

If people don't know that something is part of their culture...then it ain't part of their culture.

It's also pretty condescending if not insulting - like telling me and other Brits that fox hunting/bear-baiting/pheasant shooting are part of my culture (they aren't, never have been, never will be) and that I should support them (no way).

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Let it go, Mr. Abe. The goodwill toward Japan for permanently ceasing whaling in the Southern Ocean would far outweigh the limited domestic interest in this issue. "Culture" in every part of the world has to change over time. Abe seems to suggest Japanese "culture" - in fact one "tradition" that needs to be propped up by us taxpayers - is unchangeable?

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Wait - the ICJ judges that so-called "scientific whaling" is actually commercial whaling in disguise, so Abe says he wants to resume "scientific whaling" with the aim of resuming commercial whaling? Is he paying attention at all?

If Japan wants to resume commercial whaling, they either have to secede from those organizations that prohibit it or convince them that the rules must be changed. Abe wants to eat his whale and have it, too.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

seems like a stupid fight to pick.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Why am I not surprised?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The guy is just a mouthpiece.

Maybe secretly their scientific research has discovered that the southern oceans are less polluted and the whales there contain less mercury? (Although this would be losing face, ie admitting that northern whale and dolphin meat contains mercury and they really shouldn't continue forcing Japanese schoolchildren to eat it.)

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Do Japanese people even consume whale meat on that scale anymore?? I know there's places for it but to make it out like this under the guise of culture, is just, well, laughable. One photo shoot of some pollies eating whale doesn't make it "Quick quick stop the presses we must do this now!" material.

Sigh Abe, wasting time on this while there are much more pressing issues to deal with.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Good. I hope they leave the IWC too.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

Inviting people to dine on whale in his ministry, he said a “whale week” campaign, which began Monday, was part of efforts to let Japanese people know that whaling and eating whale meat are part of their culture.

I wonder why it is that Abe has to let Japanese people know that whaling and eating whale are part of their culture.

If they need to be told about it, it's hardly part of their culture is it?

What is it with this guy?

6 ( +12 / -6 )

It seems nobody has picked up on the point of Abe's announcement. What he announced, is that Japan will renew efforts to get an allowance to do actual commercial whaling, with agreed quotas, without doing the "scientific whaling" ruse that they had been doing until now.

This is a reasonable goal. It sounds like it will be all above board; aiming to get approval from the IWC etc by showing that Minke whale numbers are actually increasing by a large amount, and that limited catches would not put them in danger.

When Japan joined the IWC, they did so under the promise that this allowance of whaling would be granted if they could show numbers increasing. But once they joined, the IWC changed their mind and have repeatedly denied requests to even allow small quotas of commercial whaling. This is why the scientific whaling scheme was used.

Now they want to do it all by the books, with approval... I say good luck!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

One Japanese cultural tradition that does not seem to be at risk of dying out is the rejection of any criticism of Japan by outsiders, in this case even the ICJ.

Japan is of course free to leave the IWC and restart commercial whaling at any time. I think Japan's image can't suffer much more than it has so I wouldn't be surprised to see them pull out.

The bigger concern for me is that there is no legal mechanism to prevent a country from whaling or fishing in international waters unless they have voluntarily signed up to a convention.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"It is regrettable that this part of Japanese culture is not understood." No. It isn't regrettable at all Abe. What's regrettable is that you ever became Prime Minister.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Abe vows efforts to resume commercial whale hunt

I thought it was research!

It it regrettable that this part of Japanese culture is not understood

It's understood quite well Abe-San. The international community understands you have used lies and deceit for the past twenty years to hunt whales commercially and called it research. We also understand there is no real market for whale meat and you just waste billions of tax payer's yen to support it. You can whinge and complain all you like, but there is no way he international community will ever support your return to commercial whaling, especially in the southern oceans. This court ruling from the ICJ has made your whale hunting illegal and if you do return to the southern oceans you be a poacher, nothing more! I would love to see the Nisshin Maru hauled up onto and island and burned like Australia does with Indonesian poachers' boats.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

afanofjapan,

This is a reasonable goal. It sounds like it will be all above board; aiming to get approval from the IWC etc by showing that Minke whale numbers are actually increasing by a large amount, and that limited catches would not put them in danger.

I don't think that's quite the point. Even the IWC website will tell us that IWC's estimates for minke whales are 500,000 in the Antarctic. That the IWC still has this outdated ban in place despite itself recognising the large number of whales available, suggests that the ban only exists now for cultural/political reasons, rather than conservation ones. No amount of rational accounting of whale numbers is going to change those cultural/political forces against abolishing the outdated ban.

Now they want to do it all by the books, with approval... I say good luck!

Seems like a waste of time though. They might as well just catch however many whales they like outside of the IWC, after making a polite speech saying Japan feels the IWC isn't doing what it is supposed to do. Who will really care anyway? People will complain about whaling even if Japan does everything in perfect compliance with IWC rules.

M3M3M3,

The bigger concern for me is that there is no legal mechanism to prevent a country from whaling or fishing in international waters unless they have voluntarily signed up to a convention.

A bit hypothetical, but I'd rather see these voluntary organizations like the IWC actually permit and regulate fishing, because that's the biggest reason to fear nations not wanting to waste their resources participating in them. One thing is for sure - if you had a nation decide it wants to start whaling today, the last thing they'd want to do is join the IWC.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Can someone please explain to me how an industry which requires massive amounts of taxpayer subsidy to even get the ships out of the harbour, to travel halfway around the world to collect meat nobody wants to eat, of which there are thousands of tonnes in freezers because nobody is buying it, is "commercial"?

Oh, never mind, there's the magic word. "Culture". Stop thinking.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Harald, about the only thing that has been proved is that whale hunts in the southern oceans are not commercially viable.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

It is so horrifying to see so many people who cannot embrace DIVERSITY, and are so open about it. The diversity in food culture. Is there any rule that majority can prohibit minority food culture?

-12 ( +9 / -21 )

Seeing as whales belong to no country but to the world, it would only be fair, if commercial whaling were reintroduced, to allow a quota to each country based on its population. Given that the population of Japan accounts for what just under 2% of the global population, Japan should be given that percentage of the cull. So if it were determined that, say, 2,000 minke whales could be killed each year without harming the overall population, Japan's quota would be 40. Let's go with that.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

CH3CHO - The problem has nothing to do with the diversity of culture. It is about Japan exploiting a resource that is not sustainable. The near extinction of whales over the previous two centuries has proved that already. There are ample whales in the waters around Japan to sustain the small market for whale meat. And, Japan's desire to hunt whales commercially has very little to do with culture. It's about making money!

7 ( +13 / -6 )

“To that end, I will step up efforts further to get understanding from the international community,” he said.

We understand, we don't want you to do it. It's like saying sacrificing virgins is a tradition that dates back centuries, we don't do that do we.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@CH3CHO

It is so horrifying to see so many people who cannot embrace DIVERSITY, and are so open about it. The diversity in food culture. Is there any rule that majority can prohibit minority food culture?

I have no objection to people who want to eat whale meat per se. I do however object to paying for it with my taxes under blatantly false pretences and their insistance on travelling half way around the planet to catch their dinner.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Serious victim-rescuer, but never perpetrator, complex.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

“I want to aim for the resumption of commercial whaling by conducting whaling research in order to obtain scientific data indispensable for the management of whale resources” I'm not sure subsidizing a bunch of men with exploding harpoons is the best way to conduct that research Abe you numpty

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Ah yes, the ancient Japanese tradition of Antarctic whaling. Dating all the way back to, er, 1934, in a ship built in Scotland, and kitted out with Norwegian equipment which the crew were taught to use by Norwegians.

Revere our unique Japanese culture!

Some things never change, though: 1937 - Regardless of efforts to establish limits, due to Japan ignoring the 89 day season limit and continuing for 125 days, 45,010 whales were taken in a single season.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Japan has hunted whales under a loophole in the 1986 global moratorium

has made no secret of the fact that their meat ends up in restaurants and on fish markets

Despite being told numerous times, these articles continue with these inaccurate statements. Article VIII of the ICRW is not a loophole, it is an integral part of the document, and it predates the moratorium by almost 40 years. It also requires the whales to be processed to the extent practicable.

as do hunts in coastal waters which are not covered by the moratorium.

Any hunting of whales by an IWC member is covered by the moratorium, whether it is in coastal waters or not.

if its demonstrably harmful and not in the best interests of society or the environment.

Where have these things been demostrated about Japanese whaling?

Wait - the ICJ judges that so-called "scientific whaling" is actually commercial whaling in disguise, so Abe says he wants to resume "scientific whaling" with the aim of resuming commercial whaling? Is he paying attention at all?

No, some of the ICJ judges ruled that the JARPAII whaling was commercial whaling in disguise. They most certainly did not rule that ALL scientific whaling was commercial whaling in disguise. In fact their decision even discussed the issues that any new scientific permits should consider to keep from being commercial.

If Japan wants to resume commercial whaling, they either have to secede from those organizations that prohibit it or convince them that the rules must be changed.

And they are trying to convince them using the organizations own rules. While the organization ignores their own rules.

Maybe secretly their scientific research has discovered that the southern oceans are less polluted and the whales there contain less mercury?

No secret about it. The published research clearly shows that the whale meat from the Southern Ocean is less polluted.

When Japan joined the IWC, they did so under the promise that this allowance of whaling would be granted if they could show numbers increasing.

Japan joined the IWC in 1951, decades before the moratium. Their joining contained no such promise as it would have had no meaning since there was no moratorium at the time.

to allow a quota to each country based on its population

Nice thought, but that isn't how any international quotas for any species are awarded.

The problem has nothing to do with the diversity of culture. It is about Japan exploiting a resource that is not sustainable. The near extinction of whales over the previous two centuries has proved that already.

No, what was proven was that whaling at the levels seen in the 1800's through the 1960's weren't sustainable. It has not been shown that hunting at lower levels isn't sustainable.

I'm not sure subsidizing a bunch of men with exploding harpoons is the best way to conduct that research Abe

Then how would you suggest they collect the data. Especially given that even the IWC agrees that some of it can't be obtained with non-lethal research. And throwing in the fact that the IWC obligated themselves to collect and anaylize data by 1990 (and every 10 years thereafter) to monitor whether any given species required the continued protection of the moratorium, yet they haven't conducted a single such anaylisis.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Few would be surprised by Abe’s vow to resume commercial whale hunt. Abe is Abe.

Accord to Akie Abe, Abe has never been a perosn who is able to admit his mistakes even he knew he is wrong.

It’s really a paradox, on the one hand, Abe seems eagerly to advocate rule-of-law on the international theaters at any opportunities he gets, on the other hand, his admin tries to circumvent ICJ’s ruling. Unfortunately, such duplicity will hurt Japan’s credibility and inadvertently cast further negativity on Japan’s as well as Abe's already-tarnished image.

A series of double dealings with N.K and Russia has made Whitehouse wary about Abe. Case in point, during last week’s G7 meeting, Abe asked the US for a formal summit, but Whitehouse firmly turned his request down although Obama talked with Abe for 5 minutes so at the side line.

Apparently, Obama no longer shows interest on Abe’s gambit (using the US to purport Abe’s ultra-nationalistic agenda) after his last April’s “state-visit” in Japan.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

When will you realize what kind of country you live in? Tis Japan.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

As some posters have noted, if people dont know something is part of their culture then its not part of their culture. These kinds of unsolicited attempts by the government to 'educate' its own electorate are not exclusive to whale hunting. Abe wants to teach kids to love their country too. If you have to be taught to love your own country then it stands to reason that either A: Your country is somehow perceieved as not being worthy of being loved at face value. B. You are inadvertently diminishing the love people have for their own country by making it an obligation rather than a naturally arrived at sentiment.

The government's role should not be in the political education of its electorate. In a democratic society people like Abe should remember they are public servants. That is to say, their job is to serve the public rather than make the public serve them. Of course if Abe thinks the governement's role is to educate the populace in line with his own ideologies, interests and lobby groups, then he need look no further than China to see how well that works (in a dictatorship).

4 ( +4 / -0 )

he said a “whale week” campaign, which began Monday,

Good Lord. The Japan government just simply does not get it. It is a pity all the wonderful people/friends I knew in my ten years in Japan are represented by such absolute morons. No sense concentrating on important issues like the falling birthrate or the crumbling pension system, when you can waste time and piss off the entire world by focusing on whaling.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

'Whale week'? Tell you what, how about 'stop wasting our sodding taxes week'?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

As a merchantile nation, Japan is also shooting itself in the foot by picking this unnecessary fight with its customers around the globe. Japan really can't afford to have an image problem if it wants to promote its brands. Rakuten understands this very clearly.

In fact, China is somewhat better at managing its image. I remeber reading about how they shut down many of the dog meat factories in the run up to the Olympics. They understand that dog meat means game over for 'made in china' with soppy western consumers even though it is apparently quite delicious.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As if the consumers could really give a care...

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

But dealing in whale meat “does not violate international or domestic laws in any way”, said Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

This is 100% WRONG, in most developed countries it is ILLEGAL to serve and eat whale meat.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/02/10/sushi-chefs-plead-guilty-to-serving-whale-meat-at-santa-monica-restaurant/

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What really ought to concern the Japanese government people is every time Abe and his administration open their mouths North Korea and China breath a sigh-of-relief as they get a free get-out-of-jail-card as the J-boys strain their relations with the United States and the international community. What Japan really doesn't need and what really, really upsets the international community is Japan creating problems and distractions when the the rest of the world is trying speak in unison and tighten the screws on China and North Korea. I just hope the International community and more importantly the American government and people don't get fed up with Japan and it's ammeter style politics and leave Japan to fend for itself. But that may well be what it takes for the Japanese to wake up when they no-longer have big-brother standing beside them and Japan has to be the one to clean up the mess it makes for itself.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Frank Thornton

As if the consumers could really give a care...

Why do you think Rakuten decided to ban the sale of whale meat? I'm sure they ran a focus group before coming to their decision and it showed that people do care. I think this issue ties into a broader threatening feeling that people have about Asia raping the planet for resources, even if it may be subconcious most of the time. Its not an image Japan wants to be associated with.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

on the other hand, his admin tries to circumvent ICJ’s ruling

They aren't trying to circumvent the ICJ ruling, they are complying with it.

This is 100% WRONG, in most developed countries it is ILLEGAL to serve and eat whale meat.

No he was 100% RIGHT. He was talking for Japan where it isn't ILLEGAL and internationally where it also isn't ILLEGAL.

and leave Japan to fend for itself

Very little chance this will every happen. The US and most of the rest of the western world have too many issues with China and North Korea to seriously harm their relationship with Japan over whaling.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Please check how much mercury whale meat contains. I tried it once but that was before I bothered to check how toxic it was. Why would you promote something that's going to poison us? Why?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Mr Abe doesn't realise his "abenomic" has become the laughing stock of the world while he tries his hand again in this dead weight of a commercial business that does eat up the precious economy of the country. Lawmakers seem far too oblivious of their failings they have plenty time to eat whales.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

0.0000001% of the Japanese GDP and citizens' interest put so high in the agenda. I am just voiceless.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What an embarrassment for the people of Japan. With huge stockpiles of whale meat already in warehouses, there is no need to resume the antarctic hunt. And to try to justify it yet again by labeling it "research" is even more embarrassing in light of the World Court ruling. Certainly if the PM's aim was really to gather data to justify roll back fo the whaling moratorium, non-lethal research methods could certainly be used. And then to add insult to injury, the need to educate Japanese people their whale eating culture is an oxymoron as others have pointed out so well.

The consumption rate does not justify the hunt. My heart goes out to the people of Japan whose national reputation will be besmirched by such arrogance and ignorance.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If it's Japanese culture, why do they never do it within Japanese territorial waters?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yildiray.

They do catch whales in local waters in addition to 2 research catches.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The only aspect of Japanese culture involved in the whaling issue is the culture of throwing a toddler tantrum whenever the foreign community asks Japan to comply with international standards of behaviour.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

meh. Politician playing all sides. Respect the vote, but vow to get back to business as soon as possible.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Certainly if the PM's aim was really to gather data to justify roll back fo the whaling moratorium, non-lethal research methods could certainly be used.

The IWC is who would have to do the rolling back. Their Scientific Committee has stated that some of the data cannot be obtained with non-lethal methods.

why do they never do it within Japanese territorial waters?

They do 'do it' within Japanese territorial waters. But even there the IWC moratorium applies.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They do 'do it' within Japanese territorial waters. But even there the IWC moratorium applies.

So why are Australia always angry? (serious question, I genuinely have no idea about whaling)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" it would redesign the mission in a bid to make it more scientific." So is this admitting past research was not really scientific? Also why would a research animal end up on dinner tables? This is Japan's ignorant and arrogant defiance toward preservation of the ocean for everyone on this planet... Japan is blessed with wealth and abundance of food and we don't need to kill the whales to survive. Abe is desperate to stabilize the economy and he will do what ever it takes to oil the economy.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So is this admitting past research was not really scientific?

No, it is admitting to what the majority of the ICJ found.

Also why would a research animal end up on dinner tables?

Well Article VIII of the ICRW, that authorizes research whaling, requires the whales remains to be processed to the extent practicable.

with wealth and abundance of food

If Japan is blessed with an abundance of food, why do they import so much? And you may want to look at Japan's recent ecomonic situation, pay close attention to their government debt.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

However, powerful lobbying forces have ensured the continued subsidisation of the hunt with taxpayer money.

That's what I think this is really all about. If there weren't rural conservatives with disproportionate amounts of voting clout and people with money and influence to throw about backing this whole thing, there wouldn't be any more whaling. Abe isn't really bothered about protecting Japanese customs and traditions, he's just looking out for himself.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'm a supporter of whaling but the government shouldn't intervene. We should not use any tax payer's money and it should be done only within Japan's territorial waters.

And the consumption of whale meat is declining so hopefully it should be gone in 20 years or so voluntarily.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Why support a busness that can't sell its ean and requires a hugh government subsidy to surive when most Japanese don't eat whale meat nor want to? Most of it now goes into dog food. Whale meat is not needed much any more and it is a dying tradition. Time to move into the 21first century.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan should buy Whale meat from Scandinavia countries instead of hunting. Left-wing activists and Animal right activists will campaign against Japan for hunting Whale if Japan resumes Whaling. Also buying Whale meat from Commercial Whaling countries will be cheaper than hunting. For sake of Japan image, importing Whale meat from Commercial Whaling countries is best option for Japanese Government.

Whale meat is healthier food than Beef, Lamb, Chicken and other meats sold in market.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"Abe vows efforts to resume commercial whale hunt" well he would woudn't - could we expect anything lessfrom a Bush-esque leader?

I had No idea, Bush liked eating whale meat.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

While I do agree that it is okay to whale, let me explain my feeling. I feel that if the whales were killed in a human way, such as being put down right away, it would be better. Also the amount of whaling is far too high.

I always hear people commenting that "there is tonnes of whale meat already kept frozen". Okay I am willing to believe that, and if that is the case then Japan shouldn't whale right now until they "need" more meat.

I myself enjoy whale meat as a delicacy, so I would not like whaling to stop completely, but as I mentioned above; it could be scaled down a little bit more, and done in a humane way.

As for the Prime Minister of Japan to make this remark, and so long after the world court had made the verdict is folly. What are you trying to prove Abe? Are you trying to act all hard to your elders? Are you trying to be all PRO Japan and that Japan does not answer to Gaijin rules? I really don't know why the PM is getting involved in this small issue... when he should be repairing relationships with China and his neighbours.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

“It is regrettable that this part of Japanese culture is not understood,”

What's regrettable is that you say it's necessary for science but then fall back on it being for culture, and worse yet still you're going to force it on people during "Whale Week" (no doubt at least one school lunch will be whale!) and TELL them it's their culture.

As for trying to get the understanding of the international community, you never, ever will.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

It is regrettable that this part of Japanese culture is not understood

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - whaling in NOT A UNIQUE JAPANESE CULTURAL PRACTICE, and many, many countries around the world have cultures and traditions of whaling. Including Australia and New Zealand. The difference is that when the International community decided it was time to cease whaling, most good international citizens stopped, despite the domestic, industry based protest against the move.

This is petty, arrogant and against the spirit of international harmony.

I guess 'Wa' is reserved for Japan only.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Tamarama - That's pretty well spot on! I'd go even further to state that, the whale populations that Japan intends to expire for profit were created by the money other countries that stopped whaling. I fail to see why Japan thinks they have the sole right to exploit this resource. It's like jumping your neighbor's fence to steal his mangoes.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Recently when Icelandic whalers shipped a boatload of 2,000 tons of whale meat to Japan, they effectively doubled the "huge stockpiles" of whale meat available in Japan to over 4,000 tons.

That's right, the equivalent of 2 boatloads of food - and to all the experts here, it's a "huge stockpile" :)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This would mean Japan leaving the IWC and then rejoining at a later date like Iceland and Norway did.

Norway never left (or rejoined) the IWC.

And if Japan left the IWC they could restart commercial whaling immediately, there would be no need or reason to rejoin the IWC.

But what Japan apparently wants is for the IWC to follow their obligation, review the data on Minke whales and make a scientific statement as to whether or not Minke whales can be sustainably hunted. The IWC was obligated to do this by 1990 (and every 10 years thereafter) by the moratorium. They have NEVER issued any reviews for any of the species Japan hunts.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

what Japan apparently wants is for the IWC to follow their obligation, review the data on Minke whales and make a scientific statement as to whether or not Minke whales can be sustainably hunted. The IWC was obligated to do this by 1990 (and every 10 years thereafter) by the moratorium. They have NEVER issued any reviews for any of the species Japan hunts.

This is the heart of the issue. No one can claim with any accuracy that whales are endangered, or that there are not enough stocks to be hunted, because any research into the matter has been prevented since the '80s, even though the moratorium specifically requires it (as you pointed out).

1 ( +2 / -1 )

M3M3M3Jun. 09, 2014 - 07:20PM JST

I have no objection to people who want to eat whale meat per se. I do however object to paying for it with my taxes under blatantly false pretences and their insistance on travelling half way around the planet to catch their dinner.

Your tax? I am pretty sure the Parliament has approved the budget. There are enough taxpayers here who love to see their tax spent on research whaling. Their voice should be also heard.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I do not agree with my hard earned money subsidising (paying for) this

Then work to get politicians elected who will spend your hard earned money for things you do agree with.

I will bet that at least a few people do not agree with just about every government expenditure. And that is where the voting process comes into the system. Vote for people you agree with and if you are in the majority then the majority of expiditures will be ones you agree with. if you aren't in the majority then you work to change opinions and gain the majority.

Or you find someplace where you agree with the majority government's spending and move there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No matter what Mr. Abe says on the "pull at their heartstrings"emotional tone--religeous cereminy at the end of the season to pray for the repose of the spirits of the killed animals-- to justify whale-hunting ,I would presume it won't get anywhere in his effort to get the international=anti-whaling western countries around to the Japanese way of thinking that whaling is part of the Japanese food culture.They have the hierachial order about animal kingdom with horses and dogs at the top as far as terrestial animals are concerned, and with whales and dolphins given the utmost importance as far as marine animals go. Given the choice between going with the western values or sticking to the " whaling is part of the Japanese culture" What should Japan choose to do? To live up to the "Japan is a law-abiding country( implying as compared with China)", Japan would have no other choice but to comply, which should translate into a shift in our view vis-a vis whales from killing the animals toward a coexistence-oriented mode of utilizing the resouces, say, through whale-watching.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

To live up to the "Japan is a law-abiding country( implying as compared with China)",

Would that be as compared to Australia, New Zealand and other anti-whaling countries that blatantly ignore the law they passed in the IWC and refuse to analyze the data on Minke whales?

Japan would have no other choice but to comply, which should translate into a shift in our view vis-a vis whales from killing the animals toward a coexistence-oriented mode of utilizing the resouces, say, through whale-watching.

So what you seem to be saying is that the only correct opinion is the one espoused by the Western cultures and Japan's only option is to toe the line and adopt everything from Western culture?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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