What do you think of Japan violating the IWC moratorium by resuming the whale hunt?

Question

The International Whaling Commission (IWC), of which Japan is a member, refused to lift the moratorium but the Japanese are whaling again anyway. Do the Japanese really need whale meat to feed their people? Or is this more of a traditional cultural issue for them? What do you think about this?

Thank you for your answer!:)

Answer 1

I am very fond of Japan and the Japanese people, having lived and worked there (teaching English as a Second Language) for almost two years. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in that beautiful country and befriended many people I met along the way. In no way should my comments be misconstrued as an attack upon the Japanese people, for whom I have the highest regard. That said, Japan is entirely in the wrong on this issue.

Look, the Japanese not only have a strong agricultural economy but they also reap enormous benefits from the surrounding seas (a very large portion of their national diet is seafood). No one in Japan is going to starve if they honour the IWC moratorium on whaling. They need whale meat NOT. They need to slaughter whales NOT. No modern nation does. This is sheer madness!

Actually, Moon, one of your follow-up questions raises what I believe to be the central issue here. I don't think the Japanese public covets whale meat, rather, I believe this is entirely a traditional and cultural issue for the people of Japan. But I wonder how many Japanese really feel the need to maintain such an uncivilized "tradition." I think it is their outdated whaling industry -- and the politicians who support this -- who want to restore the old "tradition" of whaling. The whaling industry, like any other such blood industry in the world, is completely heartless and couldn't care less about the innate nobility and intelligence of the whales -- to say nothing of the very real threat of their total extinction. The politicians are gutless (just like ours over here) and are going along with this monstrous plan for mercenary reasons, masquerading as a "cultural heritage" issue. So now, assuming the rest of the civilized world can't intervene to prevent it, the Japanese whaling industry will bloody the seas with the barbaric slaughter of whales... all in the name of "tradition." This is truly despicable.

And just for the record, the vile whaling industry is not limited to Japan. Other, supposedly civilized, nations still engage in this hateful practice, including Norway. Please remember this when you contemplate product boycotts.

SAVE THE WHALES!

Answer 2

It's definitely more of a traditional/cultural issue. Japan has plenty of food available (trust me on this) and they don't need whale meat to survive. I think if the animal is truly endangered and hunting them disrupts the balance of the ecosystem (ie the food chain effect: less whales = higher krill populations booming since they lost their #1 predator = too much krill eating too much phytoplankton which cover much of the surface of the ocean and photosynthesizes sunlight to produce oxygen = less plankton = less oxygen produced in the atmosphere per surface area of the ocean = consequences that affect people too) which then it shouldn't be allowed anymore than killing off the last remaining Bison herds in the U.S. If there is a healthy enough population, and people want to save it just because it's a cute and intelligent animal then that's tougher to argue since there's a lot of things people eat that are cute and intelligent but tasty too. Agree? ;)

Answer 3

As MacSteed gave a wonderful (as always), and very thorough answer, there is no need for me to say anything further really. :)

I will say however, that I'm COMPLETELY against this, and any other type of cruelty to ANY type of animal, whether it be on land, or in the sea!

Answer 4

i live in japan and i haven't seen whale meat in the stores...what are you talking about...

Answer 5

So much for Japan being pacifist. :-)