OK, for those too lazy to do for themselves you can start here. (All of these pages come from the Japanese Cetacean Research Institute; the organisation undertaking the actual "research".) Read this because it outlines the "historic and cultural justifications" of Japan's whaling research.
Next, read what is essentially ICR's "Mission Statement". Think as you read this, how much of this research would require the killing of whales. "Observation", "sighting surveys"? OK are they that dumb they have to kill it so that they can say "Oh, it is a whale!"? As a matter of interest, NZ is running very similar "surveys" to those being undertaken by CRI. It involves taking tissue samples by dart (roughly 50 grams of flesh) from the whale. You want a link to that too?
The justification for killing whales is briefly outlined here. Take a read, it is only two pages. Make up your own mind whether the killing of 440 whales a year (their number) is justified. Think too at the same time what might happen to the (minimum) 1000 tonnes of whale meat.
Then read this letter from ICR to the NZ Ambassador to Japan. Make your own mind up about that as well.
Finally, remember all of this comes from ICR. None from those who are opposing the Japanese whaling.
This is an odd thought; but if NOBODY wants all that whale meat, then the market for it would dry up quicker than hand gun conceal permits in New York City.
You would think so. But if someone offered you protein food at half the price or less of good beef would you at least hesitate? Read some of the Japanese opposition web pages (with as much scepticism as you need). At least two I came across mentioned that whale meat was being provided to junior schools as part of the Japanese government's "food for schools" programme. Is that true? Well I take it with a couple grains of salt, but I would not be at all surprised if it were true.
[Afterthought] Both of those pages included "letters from Japanese mothers" stating their opposition to their children being fed whale meat. No, TF, I don't believe everything I read on the 'net...
3 comments:
I'm glad you took the time to post this over here. First off, I'm not in favor of whaling, however, my way of not supporting such a business is simply to not purchase whale products. If enough individuals stopped the consumption of whale products the demand would force an end to whaling; basic supply/demand under a free market system.
Secondly, the environmental group IRC has no authority to enforce their agenda. Even if I supported their beliefs, the manner in which they strong arm the free market system places them at odds with what I consider acceptable. As I mentioned in my own comment section, they are not much different than the Sierra Club or the Climate Control whackos in that they forget that those who do not agree with their mission have every right to a different approach to life and how to use the resources of the planet which are in the oceans or under the ground.
It boils down to opinion at a certain point, and a group of like minded individuals such as the IRC hold no more sway than even one individual who is acting to improve his/her situation as long as they do not violate international law, as is the case with whaling.
It has been my experience that most of the environmental groups are run by anti-capitalists. I have checked the background of many environmental groups only to find they are run by pure socialists who seek the destruction of the free market system by any means possible. I have not done any research into the ICR group, nor do I give a rat's pattootie about them for that matter; however, what I have read leads me to believe they are driven by the same mentality of environmental morality enforcement folks, "Do it our way or you are evil". These types of organizations would have everyone believe they have the high ground on morality; a self proclaimed righteousness medal pinned to their chest as if by doing so gave them more of a voice. Try something else, that won't float with me.
I'm glad you took the time to post this over here. First off, I'm not in favor of whaling, however, my way of not supporting such a business is simply to not purchase whale products. If enough individuals stopped the consumption of whale products the demand would force an end to whaling; basic supply/demand under a free market system.
Secondly, the environmental group IRC has no authority to enforce their agenda. Even if I supported their beliefs, the manner in which they strong arm the free market system places them at odds with what I consider acceptable. As I mentioned in my own comment section, they are not much different than the Sierra Club or the Climate Control whackos in that they forget that those who do not agree with their mission have every right to a different approach to life and how to use the resources of the planet which are in the oceans or under the ground.
It boils down to opinion at a certain point, and a group of like minded individuals such as the IRC hold no more sway than even one individual who is acting to improve his/her situation as long as they do not violate international law, as is the case with whaling.
It has been my experience that most of the environmental groups are run by anti-capitalists. I have checked the background of many environmental groups only to find they are run by pure socialists who seek the destruction of the free market system by any means possible. I have not done any research into the ICR group, nor do I give a rat's pattootie about them for that matter; however, what I have read leads me to believe they are driven by the same mentality of environmental morality enforcement folks, "Do it our way or you are evil". These types of organizations would have everyone believe they have the high ground on morality; a self proclaimed righteousness medal pinned to their chest as if by doing so gave them more of a voice. Try something else, that won't float with me.
Point is, TF, that ICR is not a "greenie group.
They are the people doing the whaling, the "research".
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