Why won't the U.S. impose sanctions on Japan/Iceland for whaling when does this for less trivial things?

Question

In fact, rich countries (the U.S. included) will readily impose trade sanctions on poor countries to "protect" their countries' economies.

As of today, nearly all countries agree that whaling is wrong. So why don't rich countries do anything about it?

Unlike the effect on poor countries, imposing sanctions due to whaling will not kill the rich economies of Japan/Iceland.

Is this a case of rich countries turning a blind eye (even when they are wrong) because they are rich? Shouldn't right and wrong NOT be something dictated by one's money?

Answer 1

Hi,

I suppose the real answer to your question should be that they have absolutely no legal or political right to do so.

Japan in particular has been bombarded with requests to stop whaling, but refuses to comply. The Japanese enjoy eating whale meat (which is a damn sight better than OUR reasons for whaling in years gone by...we would happily kill a huge whale, just to obtain a few ounces of ambergris to make perfume!)

However, the killing of any sea creature for food is not illegal and little can be done to prevent countries from continuing with this practce. (I do not include here the 'laws' surrounding EU waters, where the EU authorities have the 'authority' to take half a 'catch' and empty it into the sea, or order the ship's captain do do so...where's the sense in that?

It is possible that sanctions would have an effect if imposed by the US government, but it would result in a huge diplomatic argument and would not be upheld in any international court.

It's also possible that the effects of, say 'banning' imports of Japanese cars and other equipment would hurt the Japanese authorities, but it would also hurt the employment prospects of many Amnerican citizens. And what sanctions would you impose on Iceland? Do you buy ANYTHING from there? I don't think so.

You have partly answered your own question with regard to rich and poor countries. It is fairly obvious that any sanction imposed on a poor country will have a greater effect than one on a rich country. I really don't think it's a 'blind eye' policy, merely one of rights and fairness.

Japan and Iceland are not doing anything illegal, they are not repressing their own, or other countries' peoples. Their only 'crime' is a moral one and, for them, unfortunately, morals run second to money.

Cheers,

BobSpain

Answer 2

I think the main reason is that US does a bit of whaling of its own. Iceland and Japan are not the only countries in the world that practice whaling. There are others too that do it under the excuse that it's "traditional" for certain nations/tribes to do it, but personally I don't see the difference between letting Native Americans and Icelanders do it.

As for right and wrong being dictated by one's wealth, I think it shouldn't be like that, but sadly it often is. Money is power and power is money in this crazy world.

Answer 3

Then you woke up and realized this is the real world I hope? Or are you just a naive college student that knows how to solve the worlds problems but have never been a part of them?