Whaling to Continue in Japan, Despite Environmental Activists’ Efforts
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Hundreds of whales are killed per year, using cruel methods like explosive harpoons; and a number of the whales are also listed as Endangered, but apparently this is not enough to stop the horrendous efforts of the Japanese whaling industry.
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with Stephen Smith, his Australian counterpart, in an attempt to encourage Australia to help prevent violent attacks by activists against Japanese whalers. A Japanese foreign ministry official said that “our minister did not clearly state that the new Japanese government supports whaling, but I understand that his remarks were quite in line with the stance held by our previous cabinet on the subject”.
Whaling in Japan started centuries ago, and even though hunts are restricted to those conducted by the Institute of Cetacean Research, much of their whaling today is done illegally. By exploiting a loophole in the IWC (International Whaling Commission) legislations, they are able to assign themselves a permit for “scientific whaling” (whaling done for scientific research), but instead continue hunting whales as they always have. This practice is described as “commercial whaling in disguise”, and rightly so; most of the “research” that they do with the whales is based on incorrect assumptions and never published in any reputable scientific papers.
To add to the mindless slaughter, a number of the whale species that have been included in the Japanese whale hunt in recent years are listed as endangered, such as the Fin Whale and the Sei Whale. They also have a nasty habit of killing whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary (or Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary), where all types of commercial whaling are supposed to be banned, but since Japan slips through the cracks of a loophole, their whaling activities remain unchallenged.
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Luckily, there are organizations like the Sea Shepherd, who take their anti-whaling efforts to a whole new extreme. If you have ever seen the Animal Planet show “Whale Wars”, you will know this ship and crew extremely well. Rather than signing petitions or fighting the laws in court and all efforts ending there, Sea Shepherd takes the fight to the seas and directly to the whaling boats themselves. Using direct-action tactics like whale or ship interception, ramming vessels, disabling ships that are still in harbor, and even the boarding of enemy vessels definitely makes this crew an extreme force to be reckoned with.
It remains to be seen if Australia will help Japan any further with their whaling efforts, but in the meantime, I hope more will take the initiative to join groups like the Sea Shepherd in their fight against the brutal practice that is whale hunting.
By Heidi Marshall
For information on how you can help Sea Shepherd with their anti-whaling efforts (including an opportunity to join their crew), check out this page to learn more.
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Tags: japan, sea sheperd, whaling, Wildlife & Flora
Yes, “Hundreds of whales are killed per year, using cruel methods like explosive harpoons”, but millions of invasive animals (i.e. animals demonstrating success in the battle for life) are killed per year, using cruel methods like poisoning. And that’s specifically done by the same people who whine about whaling (conservationists). Either death is right or it’s wrong. It can be right and wrong at the same time. Well, not if you value life consistently anyway. If you’re so wrapped up in your own self-importance that you really belive your feelings define reality, death clearly can be right and wrong at the same time, but that’s exactly why conservation is not natural history.