Campaign no fluke: towns adopt whale-saving tactics (humpbacks to be slaughtered by Japan whalers)

[Barrett808]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Campaign no fluke: towns adopt whale-saving tactics
Andrew Darby in Launceston
July 14, 2007

FROM the Sunshine Coast to southern Tasmania, towns are joining forces in a push for Federal Government action to stop the looming humpback slaughter by Japanese whalers.

Thirty-two towns have begun adopting individual humpbacks in the lead-up to the visit of Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and the federal election.

But despite admitting that diplomacy had failed to halt the hunt, the Prime Minister, John Howard, said yesterday his Government would not change tactics when Mr Abe visits in September.

The first humpbacks of the southern migration - pregnant females - will start to head south to Antarctica within weeks, according to the Hervey Bay whale researcher Wally Franklin.

Australian humpbacks from the east and west coast will be met by harpoons from December, as Japan adds 50 of the species to its scientific whaling quota.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/campaign-no-fluke-towns-adopt-whalesaving-tactics/2007/07/13/1183833772678.html

[villager]

1. I hope Sea Shepherd gets down there ahead of the "scientific" whalers...

n/t

[LeftyMom]

2. "Scientific whaling"

Ah great, yet another white paper on "The Pricing of Whale Flesh in Japanese Grocery Stores 1999-2004."

This would be like poachers in East Africa claiming that shooting rhinos and removing their horns was a DNA collection method and a key part of the species survival plan.

[Judi Lynn]

3. The merciful people of the world need a stronger voice. Hope these actions are going to increase

until the assholes among us find it easier to pull back from hated, barbaric, uncivilized behavior, like this dirty charade of "scientific" whaling.

[ClintonTyree]

4. A related article: "Japanese urged to consume whale meat".

The article is from June 2006 but is still very relevant.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Japanese-urged-to-consume-whale-meat/2006/06/13/1149964509128.html

<snip>

In the face of sluggish demand for whale meat, the Fisheries Agency in Japan is behind a newly formed wholesaler established to boost whale meat consumption as stocks derived from scientific whaling rise.

<snip>

"I want to promote whale meat as a healthy food because it is high in protein and low in calories, a food suited to the age. I plan to develop new recipes and cultivate a new market for hospital meals and school lunches over the next five years," said Nakada said.

Scientific whaling has been permitted even though the IWC banned commercial whaling about 20 years ago.

<snip>

A fish trader at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market said: "Whale meat prices are comparatively high compared to those for fresh tuna and beef. The number of people who feeling nostalgia for whale meat is decreasing, and without measures to boost sales it is only natural that sales should slacken."'

An industry source said: "There have been concerns at the Fisheries Agency and the Institute of Cetacean Research that demand for whale meat will dwindle at this rate. The idea to create Geishoku Labo emerged as they racked their brains about what to do."

So it appears that the slaughter of these beautiful creatures is for "nostalgia", not any pressing need for animal protein. How disgusting. :puke: These freaking Japanese capitalistic pigs should be made to ingest every ounce of blood, meat, skin, gristle and bone from each whale they slaughter for their nostalgic trip down memory lane. :mad:

[AndyTiedye]

5. If the Japanese Government Didn't Subsidize Whaling, the Whalers Would Go Bankrupt

Those subsidies will have to be higher now, to cover the increase in the cost of oil. Those huge whaling ships burn a lot of oil —
So much they have to send other ships down to the Antarctic to refuel them (which is also illegal).

[ClintonTyree]

6. And the beat goes on.....

so the Japanese government will further promote the consumption of whale meat to justify their further expenditures. :grr: Thankfully, a new generation of Japanese are turning away from this barbaric tradition. Nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be. They're more globally conscious than their ancestors and demand change. Good for them! :applause: Now, if we could just get people in OUR country to feel the same way about oil consumption...... but I guess I'm asking for too much from we extremely selfish Americans.

[xchrom]

7. scientific whaling = ignorant barbarity.

[Nihil]

8. Here's hoping ...

... that someone will harpoon that f*cker (Shinzo Abe) when he turns up ...
then render him into something to feed to schoolkids or their pets ...
:grr: