Japan to postpone humpback whale catch
Posted by ampontan on Friday, December 21, 2007
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY MACHIMURA NOBUTAKA announced on the 21st that the government had decided to postpone their planned catch of 50 humpback whales during the current whaling expedition on the condition that the operations of the International Whaling Commission, in which whaling nations and nations opposed to whaling are in conflict, are “normalized”.
The intention to catch humpbacks created such an uproar in Australia and New Zealand that some countries pleaded with the Japanese to call off that part of the hunt. The Australian government planned to shadow the Japanese whaling fleet to film the operation for a possible legal challenge.
Mr. Machimura’s comments are worth noting. He said, “We didn’t give any consideration to Australia in particular, but hope this will result in improved relations…Some Australians cherish the humpback whales and give them names. Those sentiments are a little difficult for me to understand.”
One wonders what he would say about Sea Shepherd, which considers whaling to be cannibalism. That radical eco-group will still try to interfere with the expedition, regardless of the Japanese decision.
kyklops said
Ampontan, it seems to me that, whether Japan likes it or not, or even whether international objections to Japanese whaling are grounded in reason or not, the simple fact is, if Japan wants to get along it must at least pretend to be aware of the “feelings” of other countries.
I personally could care less if the Japanese stuffed themselves senseless on whale, so long as whales were not in danger of extinction.
I’m no Greenpeace fan (Canadian exposed to the “baby seal” propaganda), but this “research whaling” business stretches credulity.
Chris_B said
Perhaps Mr. Machimura has better sense than to further dignify the Sea Shepherd and its crew?
Lyons W said
Sir,
Political issues aside, there are scientific reasons not to eat either whale or dolphin meant. The flesh from these mammals is simply dangerous, especially for children and pregnant and nursing women. The level of PCBs, mercury, and other toxic substances make consumption questionable if not foolish.
I work on international science and innovation policy, especially in regard to Asia. Thus, my interests in these issues are apolitical. My colleagues who work on global health issues are mystified by this debate.
ampontan said
Serious questions: Could you give us a comparison of the toxicity of whale meat compared to other seafood not grown on fish farms? Why would it be worse than that found in tuna, for example?
It would also be interesting to see a comparison between whale meat and beef grown in the US, which are given hormones and antibiotics, and with some flavor additives included for sale over the counter.
In fact, I’ll run your answer as a post on the site if you want to write it up.
Aceface said
“The flesh from these mammals is simply dangerous, especially for children and pregnant and nursing women. The level of PCBs, mercury, and other toxic substances make consumption questionable if not foolish.”
“My colleagues who work on global health issues are mystified by this debate.”
That’s just not the opinion of the officials at the Ministry of Health of Japan,who happens to be in charge of the population of the longest life expectancy in the world.
bender said
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7155255.stm
The BBC “have your say” is full of anti-whaling posts…I for one oppose whaling, but the comments that westerners make there definitely look racist. I wonder how comments like “Jap” and “should torpedo whaling ships” could be even pass moderation. It’s really disgusting.
bender said
Oops…typo…”could even pass moderation”.
ampontan said
Bender: I took a brief look at it, but gave up after about 10 notes (not all were bad).
The one I gave up after was the guy who said it was the same people killing whales who ripped the fins off the sharks for shark fin soup and threw them back in the water alive.
That’s legal in Hawaii, most of the people eating that soup are Chinese (or going to Chinese restaurants), and the fishermen do seem to kill them first.
I guess you all look alike to some “Brits”.
bender said
I looked at the “readers recommended”, and they’re horrible.
Yes, some of the posts I agree with, like the one that points out that the Aussies are culling roos. But these don’t get recommended. I liked the one by “GI Joe”, who told to give the whales guns that commentators wanted to take away from Yankees at another “have your say” forum.
bern said
USA hunts 50 humpback each year.
Aceface said
Added: Tuesday, 25 December, 2007, 20:46 GMT 20:46 UK
two words….. Enola Gay. Worked last time.
Richard Dixon, Stevenage
Added: Tuesday, 25 December, 2007, 17:51 GMT 17:51 UK
During the second world war propaganda said the Japanese were a cruel barbaric race…maybe it wasn’t propaganda
[Thanks4thefish], Hull, United Kingdom
I will say again what I’ve been said in the past,
BBC is definitly the most overrated media in the world.
ampontan said
Aceface: In some ways, the BBC might be like the New York Times, or even the Japan Times. They have terrible straight news stories, but some of the other stories can be quite good.
I used to listen to shortwave radio, and some of the BBC’s radio programs are excellent. I’m not talking about straight news, but feature stories or cultural stories.
Some people even in the US use the BBC website as a sort of reference website. (For example, if they want to know who the prime minister of a certain country is.)
I read a few British websites, and there are a lot of people in Britain very upset with the BBC too, by the way. Also, you have to pay to get it, and the penalties are harsh for people watching and not paying.
Aceface said
Still doesn’t change the fact that BBC have shitty website.This isn’t their first time,you know.