Bloody Mexicans - Theyre everywhere!! obviously we need Arizona Laws Here....

[fightingquaker13]

FQ, the Japanese are whaling under the provisions of international treaties. They are in COMPLIANCE with the law.
The Eco terrorists on the other hand are just looking for publicity.

I fully agree. They have the right of way. I'm just dealing with the ethical question. As it stands, the Japs win. I just get the lack of sympathy. Still, as I said, the whale huggers are the instigators here.
FQ13

[TAB]

The only thing that really bugs me about the entire deal is that they claim they are whaling for research, then they sell the meat for a profit.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, its a duck.

I don't have a prob with them whaling for profit as long as they do so in a reasonable manor.( you know not striping the oceans of every living thing like the japanese do with every thing esle)  I don't have a prob with them killing whales for research.  

Where I draw the line is calling comm'l whaling research.  

[tombogan03884]

FQ, I think you miss understood me. Japan is allowed by UN treaties to take X number of whales per year.
TAB, As I remember it they had to word the treaty that way to get it past some of the tree hugger countries like France, the actual reason that was given was something about Culture and traditional foods .

[TAB]

This ins't tradional hunting.

we are talking half dozen or so ships, qoutas of 1000+ and the use of modern tools to hunt and  kill the whales.

whale meat is not that tradionally in japan, atleast not in the scale it is now.  I mean maybe a few villages here and there, but to go half way accross the globe, is a bit of a strech.

[fightingquaker13]

This ins't tradional hunting.

we are talking half dozen or so ships, qoutas of 1000+ and the use of modern tools to hunt and  kill the whales.

whale meat is not that tradionally in japan, atleast not in the scale it is now.  I mean maybe a few villages here and there, but to go half way accross the globe, is a bit of a strech.

True. As far as tradition? I read an excellent book about an Indian tribe in upper Washington State that got a licence to go whaling in the '90s. They did it old school. Cedar canoe, harpoon, and some brave bastrd to jump overboard and sew the the things mouth shut before it sank so they could tow it home. Thats traditional! (and a whole lot more hard core than I'll ever be ).
FQ13 I'll try to remember the book title. It really is worth a read.

[Sponsor]

[bodean87]

Sorry deepwater. I guess my post wasnt clear. I was trying to say the crew of the japanese shipse should make sure they make it home and not the eco-nuts.

[fightingquaker13]

The book I referenced previously was "A Whale Hunt" by Robert Sullivan. It describes  a few members of the Makah tribe going out to kill a gray whale from a canoe in 1999. If you like history, hunting, the outdoors or just plain weirdness, its worth a read.
FQ13

[sledgemeister]

FQ, the Japanese are whaling under the provisions of international treaties. They are in COMPLIANCE with the law.
The Eco terrorists on the other hand are just looking for publicity.

you forgot $$$$$
All the publicity generates mega bucks which they fund other eco terrorist groups like ALF and the tree spiking crazies.

an interesting site
http://seashepherdlies.com/

[deepwater]

Sorry deepwater. I guess my post wasnt clear. I was trying to say the crew of the japanese shipse should make sure they make it home and not the eco-nuts.

I understand, what I mean to say is that the eco-terrorists are stupid doing what they do because if they go in the water as they almost did with their high tech trimaran they could very likely die. it's cold enough to freeze to death in a few minutes. remember, the Japs have tonnage over the retards.

deepwater

[rat31465]

To get right down to the bones of the matter. Meat is meat and I don't care if it is the form of whales, Deer, Elk or cattle for that matter.
It is hypocritical to pass judgement and condemn a nation whose culture is based around eating certain types of meat just because our own is based around a different view point.

Whales are animals and as a species while their numbers may be declining...in truth not one person on this planet knows just how the species is fairing.
So very little of the oceanic environment has been explored by man and there is so much that is still unknown about the migration of even this the largest species of animal left on the planet.
If Japan suddenly anounced that European Nations, United States and others whose culture revolves around eating Beef, Chicken etc...would have to stop. How do you think these nations would react?
And if a radical group of Extreme Zealots popped up and started what is nothing short of Teroristic actions in an attempt to stop them from harvesting these animals...how long would it be before there would be bloodshed over it?

It is already illegal in Missouri for the Anti-hunting groups to harrass a hunter while searching for game and arrests have ben made in the last few years over this...Japan is acting legally under a banner of Scientific research. Like it or not the international community has allowed them to do so.

The Sea Shepherds are Terrorists and it will be the best episode Animal Planet has ever aired the day the Japanese fleet tires of these tactics and sends a harpoon through the Steve Irwin just below the waterline.