Japan may pull out from whaling body

[Judi Lynn]

Source: UPI

Published: June 1, 2007 at 1:09 PM E-mail Story | Print Preview | License

Japan may pull out from whaling body

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 1 (UPI) -- The Japanese delegation to the International Whaling Commission indicated at an Anchorage, Alaska, meeting their country may withdraw from the body.

After its proposal to allow small-scale coastal whaling for four Japanese communities was met with strong opposition, Japan's delegates blasted the commission for its "dysfunction" since a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling, Kyodo News reported Friday.
(snip)

"Our resolution was really well thought out and there is no logical reason to turn it down from the resource management perspective," he said.

The delegation said it may discuss the formation of a separate whaling body with other countries.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/06/01/japan_may_pull_out_from_whaling_body/6046/

[dbackjon]

1. If they do, and resume whaling

The U.S. should impose stiff sanctions on them.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. They're pissed off because certain Alaska Native villages

get to continue with their subsistence bowhead hunt while their four "subsistence" villages don't get to hunt the minkes. The difference was that the Japanese villages were planning to sell some of the whale meat while the Natives simply share it with their family and friends. The Japanese say, however, that the Natives sell their artwork made from the whalebone, baleen, etc., so that's no different than them having a market for the whale meat. I think if the Japanese didn't have such an abysmal record of slaughtering whales, there might be some conceivable merit to their argument, but I don't think any of the other countries in the IWC trust them at this point.

[Tyler Durden]

4. Personally, I think the Alaskan Native Villages should stop too.

The Bowhead Whale, an intelligent cetacian with a possible lifespan of 150-200 years is still below 50% of its pre-whaling population.

As the Native population takes about 50 whales a year, perhaps it's time to abandon this practice. I do not accept the "Traditional Lifestyle" excuse anymore.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. On some levels I agree with you...

...but having just recently watched coverage on our local news of the hunt out of Barrow and the aftermath of celebration and feasting, it's hard to deny these people this remnant of their cultural past.

The story and video are here http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?s=6499336 if you're interested.

[Tyler Durden]

7. I wish I could feel more sympathetic....

But their culture does not recognize these intelligent and necessary living entities for what they are.

ALL things must pass. I would imagine that the Cro-Magnon culture of France and Spain that painted the caves in Europe had a marvelous culture of depth and beauty, but all things not only WILL pass, but they MUST pass.

Ritualized Whale Slaughter is something the human race, including the Inuit, must outgrow forever.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. It's a difficult question...

and one that I as an urban Caucasian can't really address with any degree of first-hand knowledge. As the whaling captain said, the ocean is their garden up there -- you sure can't grow anything on land in that short season -- and the cost of "Western" food is very high in the remote areas. A whale feeds a LOT of people.

I have mixed feelings on this, and I certainly understand your viewpoint.

[Endangered Specie]

3. Some people with more morbid imaginations...

might read that headline a little wrong.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Ewww....

[Wiley50]

8. Pulling out of Whale body? Good. I'm sure those friggin' Harpoons Hurt! n/t