Japan Plans To Double Its Antarctic Whale Catch To More Than 800
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
United States
February 7, 2007 1:08am CST
Japan plans to double its Antarctic Minke whale catch to more than 800 under its new "scientific whaling" program, a move that is strongly opposed by many countries.
Japan will also run feasibility trials on catching and selling giant Fins and Humpbacks, and that the program, will extend over a larger area of the Southern Ocean.
Whales seem like such intelligent animals and I can't imagine killing one or eating one.
What do you think about the killing of whales? Do you think it is necessary to kill whales to feed the people of Japan?
And what do you think people who oppose this type of thing should do to protest it if you are against it?
Lloyd
4 people like this
5 responses
@angelicEmu (1311)
•
28 Feb 07
This is a really touchy subject, and I'm sure that many people here will disagree wholeheartedly with my stance, but here it is anyway. The whole reason we stopped hunting whales wasn't because they're beautiful, majestic, or even intelligent, but that they were endangered. I think that the outrage of people who aren't vegetarian, at the idea of killing whales is pure hypocrisy. All life is as valuable as all other life - the way a whale looks, or how developed its brain is doesn't make it any more or less entitled to live than any other animal. The fact is that whales probably aren't endangered anymore, so the whole debate is no longer a moral issue (apart from to those who feel that killing any animal is morally wrong), so to claim otherwise is pure hypocrisy by the leather-wearing, meat-eaters of the world. And if whales are protected and their numbers become unsupportable in our oceans, then one of two things will happen: other species in the ocean will die out, altering the ecosystem even more, or there will have to be a mass cull, meaning that there will be too many whale products to feasably use, and their deaths will have been in vain. Surely moderation is the key here, in order to ensure the survival of those species.
1 person likes this
@angelicEmu (1311)
•
1 Mar 07
Thank-you for your positive rating, and for giving me the "best answer"! I have to say that in my opinion, humans ARE endangering all life on this planet, and I think that either nature (which we are all a part of, and rely on absolutely, however much we may like to think otherwise), or we ourselves through war and pollution, will probably "cull" millions of humans in the not too distant future. In my opinion, nature is already trying to control the already out-of-control human population, via superviruses, natural disasters etc. These things, in my opinion, are the earth's immune system trying to ensure the survival of the planet. As far as whales are concerned, as with each and every other species, regardless of how much or little awe they fill us with, their survival IS essential to our survival - but we're not talking about endangerment anymore. Were the whales to have a population boom, this would have a direct influence on the whole ecosystem, and many knock-on effects on the whole planet. In my opinion, whales and chickens, and even mice, are all as valuable life-forms as each other. Life doesn't become more valuable because the animal is beautiful, or intelligent, it just makes modern humans less likely to kill them, because of the value systems of our society. Whaling used to be the only means of survival for Eskimos, as they provide such a wealth of different resources which they used to harvest. In my opinion, the World Authorities ought to look at the numbers, and regulate and license limited hunting of these animals, in order to maintain the balance in nature which the existence of humans on the planet, endangers every day. All the best, and thank-you for not being reactionary to my viewpoint!
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Thanks for further explaining your position. I understand where you are coming from.
Disagree with some of it, but understand your feelings.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Thank you for your opposing point of view. We will always be able to agree to disagree.
I don't believe that we are the ones to decide whether the numbers of whales in our oceans are in numbers that have become unsupportable.
What would your position be if life on earth became unsupportable because of our growing population?
Would there ever be a scenerio when humans should be culled?
I do think that whales are majestic, intelligent and beautiful. We have a lot still left to learn from them. They have been around long before man and it's very arrogant of humans to treat them like some commodity.
I don't think they need our intervention to ensure their survival. We need their survival to ensure our survival.
Humans have always attacked things that they don't understand. Once we truly understand them, we'll have more respect for them.
They aren't your everyday food supply. They aren't chickens raised on a farm. They are a very special being.
Let's treat them with the respect they deserve.
I gave you a plus rating for your opposing opinion. I'd like to hear others who agree with you.
Thanks.
Lloyd
@huggiebear22 (2007)
• Canada
28 Feb 07
I belive the only reason Japan is increasing the amount of whales they are taking is for the same reason peopel poach bears is that there is huge money in it for them. A bears gallbladder fetches $3000-$10000 soemtimes. Whale meat is a delicasy there so they charge people huge amounts of money for it. It is not like the average person can afford it. If people oppsethis sort of thing Antarica is not owned by any country they should protest to the UN and To japan it self to stop.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
28 Feb 07
All I know is that we better be careful. The animals were here before us and will be here after us.
Show such disrespect for God's creations has it's repurcutions
The people of Japan need to step up to the plate and do some soul searching.
Lloyd
@huggiebear22 (2007)
• Canada
28 Feb 07
Japan should step up to the plate but they will not they have a total diffent outlook on things. They set drift nets that are a few miles long and anything that swims into them is fair game they keep everything and anything. So long as they are in international waters it is all there for the taking. Here we spend millions on protecting and reviving salmon habitats and one japanese factory ship can wipe out the entire run.
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
23 Feb 07
As a committed vegetarian, I am morally outraged, and distressed by the slaughter or any innocent, living creature just for food for greedfy people, who can survive perfectly healtily without it. What makes it worse, is the manner these poor whales are slaughtered - their end is not quick, or clean, - they suffer in agony for many hours before they die, and many are are butchered, and cut while still alive for these peoples' greed. I am a menber of Greenpeace, and many other organisations, and charities supporting wildlife, and have protested against hunting, and killing all over the woprld in the past, and yes I would still do it now.
Cheers,
Rose
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I was checking out the Greenpeace website earlier. They have some really good information over there.
Lloyd
@Tenerifelynn (575)
•
23 Feb 07
This indeed is very sad news in deed, how can anyone kill these beautiful intelligent creatures, there is a lot of food out there without killing whales. If there are any potitions to be signed I deffinatly will sign it!
Just glad that the whales and dolphins in and around the waters of the Canary Isles where Tenerife is a part are protected, anyone caught harming them there faces stiff penalties
Lynn-Marie
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
23 Feb 07
It's ashame that they don't respect world opinion on this matter.
It's nothing but pure greed. It's amazing that they can't find alternative sources of food.
You may want to go to the Green Peace website to see how you can help.
Lloyd
@Tenerifelynn (575)
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23 Feb 07
Certainly will do... Anything to try help these poor whales.. I love whales and dolphins. Thats one of the big pulls to Tenerife to go out on the boats to observe these creatrues in thier natuaral habitat.
Lynn-Marie
@salil_44 (52)
• India
23 Feb 07
Japan needs to be taught a lesson but in the near future it is impossible but I admire a fiction titled VENOM in which the author has openly criticised the various cruielties of Japan and he has boldly said that Japan deserves Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I'm not going to go that far in my critique of Japan, but I do think that they to kill over 900 whales per year for research.
It's just not necessary in my opinion.
Lloyd
