Whale meat 'made into dog food'

[tocqueville]

Japan has recently expanded its whaling programme

Meat from whales caught under Japan's "research" programme is so abundant that it is being sold as pet food, according to a UK conservation group.

Thousands of tonnes of whale meat has been stockpiled as more animals are killed each year, says the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).

The Japanese government has attempted to sell the whale meat to schools but the price has continued to fall.

A company is selling meat on the web as "healthy and safe natural" dog food.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4700418.stm

[Yollam]

1. It's almost like they want to defy the whaling ban just to be defiant...

Kind of like Bushco and ANWR - they just want to drill it because it will "bug the tree-huggers". It's not enough oil to bail us out for long at all.

From what I hear whale meat is tough and smells bad.

Why not use other, more plentiful fish?

[Richard D]

2. Personally . . .

. . . other than a few food items that are not available elsewhere, I do not buy anything Japanese for this reason. But damn, I wish they would quit so i could get that Prius!

[seemslikeadream]

3. and make the lipstick for your face.

Over the years you have been hunted
by the men who threw harpoons
And in the long run he will kill you
just to feed the pets we raise,
put the flowers in your vase
and make the lipstick for your face.
Over the years you swam the ocean
Following feelings of your own
Now you are washed up on the shoreline
I can see your body lie
It's a shame you have to die
to put the shadow on our eye
Maybe we'll go
Maybe we'll disappear
It's not that we don't know
It's just that we don't want to care.
Under the bridges
Over the foam
Wind on the water
Carry me home.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

[nebula]

4. Japan keeps crying 'research purposes'

when this proves they are killing for largely commercial reasons

maybe Japan can be sanctioned in some way? could WTO or other int'l body make a ruling against them?

[bustarbusto]

5. Maybe they needed it to feed...

these guys

[Nutmegger]

6. Poor whales...research my ass

Greenpeace has something about this.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/your-turn-to-save-whales200106