Whats the problem with whaling?

[AkiraYamato]

I always wondered why so many foreigners are so much against whaling. Isn´t it double standards to commit extremly cruelity against animals in your country but to blame us for whaling? Whale meat had never great value in Japan. We started whaling after WW II to use it as protein scource. We hunt not much whales, just as much as our scientists consider no big deal for the population. Infact our whaling holds the population of the Mink Whales stable. Its a fact that their numbers exploded. The reason for that was, that european and americans destroyed the great whale populations like blue whales and so on, so Mink Whales had no competition left.

whale meat itself is not very popular in Japan. I personal do not like it. But i see the importance of it. Japan is an island empire. Our landscape is rough with much mountains. That makes it difficult to grow enough cows as meat scource for our population. We import much meat from Argentina, USA and europe. But we also want hold our whaling fleet. You never know when times change...

Beside that i don´t see why many react so crazy about it? Isn´t sturgeon slaughtered in masses as well for the western hunger for caviar?

 

[Belk]

I always wondered why so many foreigners are so much against whaling. Isn´t it double standards to commit extremly cruelity against animals in your country but to blame us for whaling? Whale meat had never great value in Japan. We started whaling after WW II to use it as protein scource. We hunt not much whales, just as much as our scientists consider no big deal for the population. Infact our whaling holds the population of the Mink Whales stable. Its a fact that their numbers exploded. The reason for that was, that european and americans destroyed the great whale populations like blue whales and so on, so Mink Whales had no competition left.

whale meat itself is not very popular in Japan. I personal do not like it. But i see the importance of it. Japan is an island empire. Our landscape is rough with much mountains. That makes it difficult to grow enough cows as meat scource for our population. We import much meat from Argentina, USA and europe. But we also want hold our whaling fleet. You never know when times change...

Beside that i don´t see why many react so crazy about it? Isn´t sturgeon slaughtered in masses as well for the western hunger for caviar?

Does this have some connection to American politics of which I am unaware?

 

[MyLordMySavior]

I always wondered why so many foreigners are so much against whaling. Isn´t it double standards to commit extremly cruelity against animals in your country but to blame us for whaling? Whale meat had never great value in Japan. We started whaling after WW II to use it as protein scource. We hunt not much whales, just as much as our scientists consider no big deal for the population. Infact our whaling holds the population of the Mink Whales stable. Its a fact that their numbers exploded. The reason for that was, that european and americans destroyed the great whale populations like blue whales and so on, so Mink Whales had no competition left.

whale meat itself is not very popular in Japan. I personal do not like it. But i see the importance of it. Japan is an island empire. Our landscape is rough with much mountains. That makes it difficult to grow enough cows as meat scource for our population. We import much meat from Argentina, USA and europe. But we also want hold our whaling fleet. You never know when times change...

Beside that i don´t see why many react so crazy about it? Isn´t sturgeon slaughtered in masses as well for the western hunger for caviar?

I don't like it because when you compare intelligence to a cow, chicken, or pig and then compare it to a whale or porpoise, you'll see the intelligence difference is extreme. Dolphins have been named smarter than chimpanzees because they can actually create. In an experiment, a trainer told a group of dolphins to make up a new trick. The dolphins went underwater together for a few moments, then synchronized, came back up and did a trick the trainers have never seen before together. This surpasses anything seen before in animals. I do not want to say that a dolphins life is more valuable then a cow, because honestly, I don't agree with the methods of the "farming" industry anyways... but, with intelligence like that, higher then chimpanzees and just below humans, I think that it would be more appropriate to eat something else. Because if dolphins can create something, then I am almost positive they can remember, grieve, and find terror in their family being slaughtered just like a human being and seeing their family slaughtered.


Despite that, whales also have high levels of mercury, toxic levels in fact. Especially dolphins. The dolphins in Japan have the highest mercury levels. Other then their astounding intelligence, they are dangerous to eat. Plus, the method in slaughtering them is cruel and inhumane. (NOT saying that they are humane here in the U.S. I highly disagree with them both. It is practically torture in both places.)

 

[AkiraYamato]

Does this have some connection to American politics of which I am unaware?

Yes it has, since your american government tries to stop whaling globally and hides its very own crimes against the ocean behind that

 

[AkiraYamato]

I don't like it because when you compare intelligence to a cow, chicken, or pig and then compare it to a whale or porpoise, you'll see the intelligence difference is extreme. Dolphins have been named smarter than chimpanzees because they can actually create. In an experiment, a trainer told a group of dolphins to make up a new trick. The dolphins went underwater together for a few moments, then synchronized, came back up and did a trick the trainers have never seen before together. This surpasses anything seen before in animals. I do not want to say that a dolphins life is more valuable then a cow, because honestly, I don't agree with the methods of the "farming" industry anyways... but, with intelligence like that, higher then chimpanzees and just below humans, I think that it would be more appropriate to eat something else. Because if dolphins can create something, then I am almost positive they can remember, grieve, and find terror in their family being slaughtered just like a human being and seeing their family slaughtered.


Despite that, whales also have high levels of mercury, toxic levels in fact. Especially dolphins. The dolphins in Japan have the highest mercury levels. Other then their astounding intelligence, they are dangerous to eat. Plus, the method in slaughtering them is cruel and inhumane. (NOT saying that they are humane here in the U.S. I highly disagree with them both. It is practically torture in both places.)

It is hard to meassure intelligence. Octopus may be much smarter than dolphins actually and even mantis shrimps are considered extremly intelligent, yet nobody cares that they are kileld in the millions.

As i said whale meat is very unpopular in Japan. But its important to have an experienced fleet.

 

[Skaloop]

Cows and chickens and pigs are domesticated animals that are bred mostly for human consumption and are nowhere close to being extinct. Whales are wild animals that are an endangered species.

 

[AkiraYamato]

Cows and chickens and pigs are domesticated animals that are bred mostly for human consumption and are nowhere close to being extinct. Whales are wild animals that are an endangered species.

Most of our food is wild, since japanese cuisine depends heavy on the sea. So your argument is?

 

[Skaloop]

Most of our food is wild, since japanese cuisine depends heavy on the sea. So your argument is?

Are those animals endangered the way whales are?

 

[abdAlSalam]

Most of our food is wild, since japanese cuisine depends heavy on the sea. So your argument is?

Most species of whales are on the endangered species list, and many are keystone species. You said it yourself that whale meat is not popular in Japan, and yet the Japanese government continues to artificially inflate its importance and demand for no reason other than "tradition". Why is this tradition so important?

 

[AkiraYamato]

Are those animals endangered the way whales are?

The minke whale is not endangered.

The IUCN Red List labels the common minke whale as Least Concern.[11] The Antarctic minke whale is listed as Data Deficient.[12]
COSEWIC puts both species in the Not At Risk category [1]. NatureServe lists them as G5 which means the species is secure on global range [2].

 

[John Lee Pettimore III]

I always wondered why so many foreigners are so much against whaling. Isn´t it double standards to commit extremly cruelity against animals in your country but to blame us for whaling? Whale meat had never great value in Japan. We started whaling after WW II to use it as protein scource. We hunt not much whales, just as much as our scientists consider no big deal for the population. Infact our whaling holds the population of the Mink Whales stable. Its a fact that their numbers exploded. The reason for that was, that european and americans destroyed the great whale populations like blue whales and so on, so Mink Whales had no competition left.

whale meat itself is not very popular in Japan. I personal do not like it. But i see the importance of it. Japan is an island empire. Our landscape is rough with much mountains. That makes it difficult to grow enough cows as meat scource for our population. We import much meat from Argentina, USA and europe. But we also want hold our whaling fleet. You never know when times change...

Beside that i don´t see why many react so crazy about it? Isn´t sturgeon slaughtered in masses as well for the western hunger for caviar?

The fact that your whalers don't machine gun enough of the Sea Shepherd pirates.

That's the only problem I see. Whales are made out of meat, so why not eat them?

 

[AkiraYamato]

Most species of whales are on the endangered species list, and many are keystone species. You said it yourself that whale meat is not popular in Japan, and yet the Japanese government continues to artificially inflate its importance and demand for no reason other than "tradition". Why is this tradition so important?

It is important to keep us able to hunt whales. We import much meat from argentina and usa. What happenes if we enter more conflict rich times and are under sanctions? We must guarantee that our population is fed. Thats the reason. We keep it low level but enough to have experienced hunters and a functional fleet.

 

[ChristOurCaptain]

Are those animals endangered the way whales are?

Not all whales are endangered.

This is kinda an issue for me as well, since another part of our Commonwealth (the Faroe Islands) also are somewhat dependant on whaling for food.
And no skanky "whales are people too!"-environmentalist should interfere with that.
Unfortunately, our government doesn't have the cojones to tell "people" like those in Sea Shepherd that if they'd better have lifeboats if they intend to harass Islanders whaling, because a torpedo is coming their way...

The fact that your whalers don't machine gun enough of the Sea Shepherd pirates.

That's the only problem I see. Whales are made out of meat, so why not eat them?

This.

But yes - this topic doesn't belong in "American politics", but in "International politics".

 

[ChristOurCaptain]

Most species of whales are on the endangered species list, and many are keystone species. You said it yourself that whale meat is not popular in Japan, and yet the Japanese government continues to artificially inflate its importance and demand for no reason other than "tradition". Why is this tradition so important?

Bahaha....
The pot calling the kettle black

 

[abdAlSalam]

Bahaha....
The pot calling the kettle black

Care to explain why this is the pot calling the kettle black?

 

[ChristOurCaptain]

Care to explain why this is the pot calling the kettle black?

Because you criticized Japan for killing animals for the sake of "tradition" (which is partially wrong because there is also food involved), while supposedly (since you're muslim and this supposedly is required in islam) supporting animal sacrifice = "for the sake of tradition".

Ergo: Pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Merope]

Because you criticized Japan for killing animals for the sake of "tradition" (which is partially wrong because there is also food involved), while supposedly (since you're muslim and this supposedly is required in islam) supporting animal sacrifice = "for the sake of tradition".

Ergo: Pot calling the kettle black.

I'd apply for the "Most informed critic of another religion" award.

 

[ChristOurCaptain]

I'd apply for the "Most informed critic of another religion" award.

Your sarcasm is unwarranted, because:

1: I AM actually relatively well-informed
2: I did not criticize islam. I criticized the poster's double-standards.

 

[abdAlSalam]

Because you criticized Japan for killing animals for the sake of "tradition" (which is partially wrong because there is also food involved), while supposedly (since you're muslim and this supposedly is required in islam) supporting animal sacrifice = "for the sake of tradition".

Ergo: Pot calling the kettle black.

A couple of differences:
1. Whale meat is not popular in Japan.
2. Whaling in Japan is not a religious rite.
3. I didn't criticize the claims of tradition, I asked why this tradition was important. The reason I used quotes around tradition was that I had thought that whaling was a modern phenomenon in Japan, and after some research I have found that it dates back to a pretty early time in Japanese history. But once again, why is this tradition important? AkiraYamato has only claimed that the tradition is needed just in case Japan needs to rely on whale meat for sustenance. I think this is a rather weak argument personally, but so it goes.

 

[AkiraYamato]

A couple of differences:
1. Whale meat is not popular in Japan.
2. Whaling in Japan is not a religious rite.
3. I didn't criticize the claims of tradition, I asked why this tradition was important. The reason I used quotes around tradition was that I had thought that whaling was a modern phenomenon in Japan, and after some research I have found that it dates back to a pretty early time in Japanese history. But once again, why is this tradition important? AkiraYamato has only claimed that the tradition is needed just in case Japan needs to rely on whale meat for sustenance. I think this is a rather weak argument personally, but so it goes.

Whaling was done small scale back then. But, we should not forget one thing. anti-whaling is not "world opinion" ? rather, it is a predominantly Western phenomenon in developed countries amplified by anti-whaling fundraising NGOs and the Western media. Almost half of the IWC members support the sustainable use of whale resources.