eating whale meat as japanese culture

[Fehrant]

After reading the entire topic, despite the fact that I never researched, nor do I have any statistics whatsoever for the whale issue, I decided to post because I'd like to present a bit of a different viewpoint --or at least, that's what I'd like to think.
The post is mostly divided into pro and con sides, both sides properly justified, despite the fact that one side keeps claiming the other's side information is absolutely invalid and unfounded. However, what both sides do, is that they keep attributing or rather justifying actions by ethical values, binary speaking 1 or 0, humanly speaking, right or wrong.

The whales might, or might not be on their way to extinction. Certainly, if they are, it is due to the grace of us humans and what we do with our free time. What does it matter, though? We cut trees, make a hole in the ozone layer bigger by the year, we polute land and water with nuclear waste, and I'm sure there are many other examples of just how wonderful humanity is.

The moment you use a car, it's the moment you are giving a **** about the planet, and this again is just one example. People complain about damaging the environment and whatnot, yet at the end of their days it means nothing as they get into their cars, use paper, etc. We humans live by consuming our environment. I am not one to quote people, or movies, but when Agent Smith in the first Matrix movie defined humanity as a "virus" I think he was 100% accurate.

So, what does it matter if we take yet another decision towards self-destruction?

 

[Hardyard]

If whales could be made as cute as koalas, would that have any effect?

We used to hunt koalas here for their skins. Would there be a market for koala skin coats?

 

[Kyoto Returnee]

Who said the habit of eating whale meat is a tradition in Japan?
In general habit of eating whale meat as Japanese culture doesn't exist anymore. We can hardly see any whale meat in any supermarkets here in
Tokyo.Whaling industry in Japan has become something that has nothing to do with our daily life for most of the Japanese. That's why most people here don't have a direct interest in whaling. and some of the confusion is being forced on the Japanese people by the GOVERNMENT and INDUSTRIES.
Even if Japan stoped whaling , the culture would not be hurt at all.

What a fantastic above comment coming straight from the source.

I heard very similar stories from all my Japanese friends and family..

It simply does not make any sense why on earth the Japanese government and a handful of killers whish to constantly pursue the slaughter..

 

[centrajapan]

Actually not. Why is it outsiders who define Japanese culture and not Japanese themselves? Imperialist Aussie pigs.

 

[Kyoto Returnee]

Actually not. Why is it outsiders who define Japanese culture and not Japanese themselves? Imperialist Aussie pigs.

Defining member sharing the earth I would think is Japanese going by the avatar flag

So, what does it matter if we take yet another decision towards self-destruction?

You have to start somewhere.

 

[centrajapan]

sharing the earth

Exactly.
You can go on a whale safari.
I can eat whale sashimi.

There is room for both of us.

 

[Rose Selavey]

Actually not. Why is it outsiders who define Japanese culture and not Japanese themselves? Imperialist Aussie pigs.

Imperialist Japanese pigs.

 

[centrajapan]

Japanese are not trying to change Aussies eating habits are they? Aussies are trying to change Japanese eating habits which makes them imperialist pigs.

 

[Kyoto Returnee]

Japanese are not trying to change Aussies eating habits are they? Aussies are trying to change Japanese eating habits which makes them imperialist pigs.

Once again, a ridiculous comment.

The majority of Australian's and no doubt many other countries disagree with slaughtering whales.

You will be saying next that Australians are racist!

 

[caster51]

The majority of Australian's and no doubt many other countries disagree with slaughtering whales

many coutries dont care about that because there is no profits.

 

[Kyoto Returnee]

many coutries dont care about that because there is no profits.

Am I seeing things LOL

 

[centrajapan]

Am I seeing things LOL

The whale market is not that huge in Japan. Therefore it would be better not to stop hunting but let the people who want to eat whales eat whales because whales eat more fish than humans on this planet and because whale meat is more environmental friendly than pork, beef or lamb.

Countries in the past have voted in favour of Japan to protect their own country's tuna stocks.

Save the earth eat a whale.

 

[Rose Selavey]

The whale market is not that huge in Japan. Therefore it would be better not to stop hunting but let the people who want to eat whales eat whales because whales eat more fish than humans on this planet and because whale meat is more environmental friendly than pork, beef or lamb.
Countries in the past have voted in favour of Japan to protect their own country's tuna stocks.
Save the earth eat a whale.

Minke , Humpback and Fin whales don't eat tuna! In the Southern hemisphere their diet mainly consists of krill and small schooling fish. This is a myth that the whales eat all the fish therefore we should hunt them.

 

[caster51]

ENVIRONMENTALIST and 2007 Australian of the Year Tim Flannery has declared his support for the hugely unpopular Japanese whaling program.

As Australia prepares to monitor the whaling fleet in Antarctica amid rising diplomatic tensions with Japan, Professor Flannery says there is nothing unsustainable about its annual cull of up to 1000 whales - particularly the common minke whale.

"In terms of sustainability, you can't be sure that the Japanese whaling is entirely unsustainable," Professor Flannery told The Daily Telegraph. "It's hard to imagine that the whaling would lead to a new decline in population."

But the staunch environmentalist, influential scientist, author and climate change crusader said he was pleased Japan had decided to ditch plans to kill up to 50 threatened humpbacks this summer.

"I'm very relieved to see the humpback whale quota dumped," he said.

Stop the whale slaughter: Sign our petition.

But the 935 minke whales that Japan aims to kill each year under its so-called scientific whaling program should not threaten the survival of that species.

Professor Flannery said there were much bigger threats to marine biodiversity and sustainability, including to the future of krill, small crustaceans essential in the sea food chain - and the main sustenance for whales in the Southern Ocean.

Krill populations are declining as a result of over-fishing and because rising sea temperatures are killing off their food sources.

Professor Flannery said he was more concerned about those issues "where our future is most under threat, which is not the minkes".

However, he is worried about how the whales are slaughtered, saying he would like to see them "killed as humanely as possible".

Professor Flannery's views have not changed since his comments on Japanese whaling back in 2003.

In a paper published that year in Quarterly Essay he argued that smaller-brained whales could be hunted sustainably.

"If these animals are closer in intelligence to the sheep than the dog, is it morally wrong to eat them if they can be harvested sustainably?" he wrote.

Japanese whalers have begun their hunt in Antarctica and plan to harpoon almost 1000 whales, including 50 endangered fin whales.

No Cookies | Daily Telegraph

Now it became cultural problem instead of a groundless of sience matter .