“Japan might kill world’s only white whale.” . . . What kind of nonsense is this?

Question

This article is from Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/12/eawhale112.xml

Please read the following before answering . . .

As a 17 year-old Japanese I am absolutely appalled by this news. It is nauseating. I can understand that the west is upset about our whale-eating tradition, but please, whatever evidence the Australians have, we’re not stupid enough to not realize the uniqueness and preciousness of the world’s only white whale. We would rather explore the beauty of such an animal through observing it in its natural habitat, unharmed and untouched, and sharing it with the whole of Japan through the media. This is what we have always done with seals, whales, and penguins that have accidentally arrived in parts of Japan such as Tokyo Bay, which were rare occurrences. I have seen the news myself. All we did was observe their activities, and make sure they returned to their homes safely.

I can understand that a majority of you think it is cruel to kill and eat cetaceans (which are known to be both graceful and intelligent), but you must understand that it is the Japanese tradition, and like all other animal-killing traditions in many other countries, I believe it must be accepted as an important part of the culture and thus must never be criticized.

I truly wish the west would stop hurting Japan by advertising our “cruelty” through these claims. I’m sure the Japanese will receive this news as a racist attack. I have read both Japanese and English articles on debates between Japan and Australia regarding the whaling issue . . . and sadly, the only strong message that has reached me is that Australia is using the fact that we kill whales to make our race look savage and heartless. I feel horrible about it.

So . . . what do you think? I would like to hear your opinions.

(Note: I have never eaten whales or dolphins.)

Answer 1

No worries. IWC know what kind of whales Japan is hunting. IWC have the list of endangered whales. Actually not all whales are endangered and they do not ban whole whaling. Japan follows the IWC's rule. (most people in the world don't know this though).

After the BSE (mad cow disease) and bird flue epidemic, the world is preferring eating fish to meat. Japan know some whales are consuming enormous marine resources, including fishes of our meal, every year. As the crude oil, the price of fishes are rising gradually now.

Answer 2

if there be a market for whalemeat somebody somewhere will decide that they are more interested in turning a quick buck (or in this case a quick yen) than in protecting biodiversity.

the larger and the easier of access this market is, the more likely such a person will be found.

it is a japanese tradition to eat whalemeat, and the japanese have protected this tradition even though all whales are now species at risk.

it is a somalian tradition to circumcise and infibulate young women. the fact that it is a tradition does not mean that it is right. to point out that this tradition is not right does not make one a racist.

when the last white humpback has been killed and processed into sushi (perhaps 'by accident') it will be too late to debate the ethics of japanese gastronomic autonomy.

Answer 3

Humbbacks don’t fall under endangered but they are vulnerable [threaten] no one should be hunting this beautiful creatures. The Fin whales are under endangered . Clearly some people in Japan don’t give a dam if this beautifully creature are around in the far future. I realize that people from different cultures eat different animals that is fine as long as thus creature is not on the endangered or threaten species list

If they kill Migaloo shame on them. The article says they [Japanese] don’t even say they wouldn’t, if they weren’t going to try and kill him it be easy to say that. I will pray that the Lord continues takes care of this beautiful animal.

If whales are killed on Whale Sanctuary it is no different then people poaching animals on land who live in a national park of some type and are meant to be protected by living there. I also agree you don’t need to kill for scientific purposes that is a joke, even if you needed to 1 would be sufficient not 50.

Answer 4

If Japanese people want to eat whales, that's fine by me provided they eat the whales that come into Japanese waters. In any case, the Japanese keep telling us they are not killing the whales to eat them but for scientific purposes.

All the information Japan is collecting on whales can be gathered without killing the whales. Australia does it all the time with whales in Antarctica and off the Australian coast. Australia has offered the information and technology to Japan but Japan insists on killing whales.

OK you want to eat whales, you catch and kill those in Japanese waters. You don't need to go into the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and kill whales there - which is what you are doing. You also don't need to kill humpback whales which provide pleasure for millions of people who watch the whales migrate up the east and west coasts of Australia.

It is not racist to criticise Japan for eating whales. I criticise Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway for doing the same thing. At least the Europeans are honest and don't disguise their whale eating under lies like "scientific whaling" as the Japanese do.

You eat your whales and leave ours alone.

Answer 5

Yes, nonsense, like onions have several layers, before we reach the core of the nonsense.