First let me just say it is not just Japan, Iceland and Norway. The USA has some nasty business going on too and if you have time and the inclination, write a letter a poem, a blog post, paint a painting, make a quilt, a cake or just a ruckuss. This cannot happen on our watch. We cannot let whales be hunted in great numbers again. http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/news-secret-us-plan-to-expand-whaling-is-revealed
I just want to also point out that said nations are suffering some nasty times. Coincidence? I think not. Notice the first part is “Coin”. I am thinking Nature is starting to pull the plug there pirates. Lets help her along shall we. Give voice to end this disgusting symptom of corruption, greed and evil.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/whale-defenders
It is good to see Green Peace alive and well and thriving. I am in full support of them getting better tech than the whalers and the creepy oil tankers need to be done as well. Where are all the solar powered ships and the submarines? I would like to see our Navy become involved in the protection of the Oceans and her creatures.
“Whaling is the illegal practice of whale hunting for commercial purposes. The practice has been prevalent since the *16th century and was condemned and declared illegal after five of the thirteen big whales were found to be endangered. In spite of this ban, Japanese ships are reported to have killed five whales in the Southern ocean.
The incidence has occurred even as Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith discussed the issue of whaling with his Japanese counterpart, Masahiko Komura in a meeting held between the two. During the meeting Mr. Smith is said to have strongly opposed Japanese whaling programs and Mr. Komura seemed to support him in his talks. According to a spokesman, During the meeting the two countries have agreed to disagree on this issue. This whaling incident took place when Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd ships had to inevitably return to refuel their vessels in Australia. Taking advantage of the situation five whales in the Southern Ocean were killed. The executive director of Sea Shepherd Kim McCoy who was on board the Steve Irwin ship describes the incidence as ‘incredibly frustrating’. “
Source: Brisbane times http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/japanese-kill-five-whales-as-talks-continue/2008/02/01/1201800974970.html
* My research shows that families in Japan have historically hunted whales even before the 13th century – and much like the Native Americans in Alaska (Inuit) it was a village tradition that was season specific and highly ritualized , they did not factory farm the whales in huge killing machines, they were matched with whales spear and spout. The rights of indiginious peoples to practice their religious connections to the land are not being discussed this posting – it is the large scale factory illegal farming that I am protesting. If the tools evolve then there needs to be an understanding that the rules have changed. Nature will not tolerate the strip mining for long and will eventually step in and give some penalties.
Image: Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/whale-defenders/gp-tv-great-whale-trail-chan
I have never ceased to be amazed at the avarice of whale hunters..And that whole “research” sign on the hunter ship is just sick. The Japanese government allowing/claiming research on whales only to kill them, slice them up on the sly and sell their meat is beyond reasonable. When they have signed treaties to end the hunting of whales – which are intelligent ancient mammals – they need to stick to their word.
Very bad Karma.
Obviously the Japanese, Icelandic, USA and Norwegian, (and other) Ministers are corrupt and need to watch Star Trek the Voyage Home about a million times. Like the world does not have enough corruption.
An alternative use for these hunter ships could be deep ocean research with robots – technology and power used for good not evil. They could lease their boats to (non-evil) scientific teams and explore the ocean and develop even better GPS – Aqua robotic sensor environments for the purpose of underwater houses and agro deep sea farming – large kelp beds. Huge money in this. Much more than tuna or whales – I am proposing the use of (non-evil) technology and the great fortunes to be made on the development and capture of patents and product. How’s that boys? Swimming in cash and not killing anything! Finding a Green and non-invasive way to build in the deep oceans will make whatever government(s) pioneering this tech, wealthy beyond reason – not even going to mention the ancillary Space research you could get in on with such technologies or the cool t-shirts you could sell made out of organic kelp. So let’s leave the fish and the whales alone and evolve. Take it to the next step Boys and all the Ships at sea. Looks like it is time for a new Moby Dick movie, mabey Old School Japanes style with a modern GreenPeace twist.
Or…..if you like…if you insist…
We could go all GMO – human DNA mixed with killer whales and even the battle out a bit.
No?
Science rules – killers of whales drool.
I grew up watching the amazing Jacques-Yves Cousteau and our Under Sea World. We need these programs much more than reality TV and tmz. We need to realize again what is important.
and it is not killing whales.
Interested in other opinions on whaling?
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/9189/whaligcon.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/getting-to-know-the-japanese/2007/01/15/1168709664244.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7153594.stm
http://www.divephotoguide.com/news/japan_continues_to_eat_whale
http://www.madmermaids.com/stop_killing_whales.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/02/0206_020206_wirewhales.html
And you have to see this page to realize the full scope of Government involvment for the Japanese. http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm (Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/24/whaling-iceland (great article on Icelandic pick-up of whaling to “save” their economic situation)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3760/is_199701/ai_n8739894
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jW_PhC_PNFdG1iyy3fY-4QpqJ-4Q (Norway on Whaling)
Animal Planet – Mother Jones article – http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2008/11/whaling-whalers (wow)
Lady of the Lake 
