Becuase Everything Else Sucks

Japan Starts Hunting Humpback for First Time in 40 Years

By Manila Ryce
Published Sunday, November 18th, 2007, 7:18 pm
Filed under: World: Asia, Videos: News, Science and Technology, Environment, World Issues, Videos

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For the first time since a mid-1960s ban, a Japanese whaling fleet is setting out with the expressed intent of harpooning humpback whales. Japan is ignoring the ban, and hopes to add 50 humpbacks to its total goal of 1,000 whale kills. Over 900 minke whales and fin whales will be part of the menu. Commercial whaling was stopped globally in 1986, but continues in Japan under the guise of scientific research. The meat from this “scientific catch” will be sold commercially.

Though whale hunts always gather protests from anyone who gives a shit, Tokyo’s plan to target humpback is of special concern due to the fact that the species was nearly hunted to extinction four decades ago. A Greenpeace campaign ship will be following the fleet. Honestly, doesn’t Japan know that in a post-9/11 world they would be better off saying that they’re killing whales because they pose a “serious threat” to their ships than to claim they’re doing it for “scientific research”?

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4 Responses to “Japan Starts Hunting Humpback for First Time in 40 Years”

  1. Humpback whales have learned to trust man in the forty-five years since we stopped hunting them.
    If Japan carries out its aim of harpooning 50 humpback whales in the Antarctic this Southern Hemisphere Summer, the whale watching industry on Australia’s east and west coasts will soon find out.
    The humpbacks are the same as those who delight Australians each year and have created a $AU 300 million a year whale watching industry.
    There is no benefit to mankind by killing these whales. Their meat won’t help the poor ease their hunger but will grace the tables of the wealthy. The killing is done in the name of science but is it science to kill the subject?
    chris pash
    http://thelastwhale.blogspot.com

    chris pash
    11/18/07 at 9:46 pm

  2. Thanks for posting a blog entry in defense of the whales. It’s reassuring to see so many other bloggers out there doing what they can to raise awareness about Japan’s senseless killing, and to offer a forum for other web surfers to comment on it.

    I went to Capitol Hill last Tuesday dressed as a whale with my Greenpeace co-workers. We were looking for the Japanese Prime Minister to tell him to stop the killing. I think my co-workers found his entourage near the White House on Friday. At that point my co-workers were on Segways (still in whale costumes) to avoid getting told to “move along” by the police.

    If you’d like to learn more about what Greenpeace is doing to save the whales, please visit my Great Whale Trail/Whale Defender page at the link below. Thanks in advance!

    http://secure.greenpeace.org/profile.php?usa&p=613124311194300282

    Be well,
    Capt. Jack Sparrow

    Capt. Jack Sparrow
    11/19/07 at 3:01 pm

  3. Just great! Now with the humpback whale being hunted by the Japanese it won’t take long before another aquatic life form is nearly fished to extinction by those seafood eating people. Is there not a creature alive in the ocean those japs haven’t tried. They’ll eat anything and everything.. They should not be allowed to rape the seas and give nothing in return. That also goes for all countries that rely on the fisheries to feed their people. With all the creatures being trawled from the seas at an astronomical degree it ‘ll be a miracle if theres anything let by the middle of the century. This greedy Capitalistic society must bridal their greed and consider the future generations and what will be left for them to enjoy, if anything!

    Ryan C
    02/7/08 at 8:24 am

  4. Ryan C.

    Your a racist pig.

    Jack
    02/7/08 at 11:17 am

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