Why is everyone so upset with Japanese whaling?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100528/ap_on_re_as/as_australia_japan_whaling

Believe it or not, Japan is not hunting endangered species, they have been hunting them for centuries and not until westerners got into, did they hit the brink of extinction. They are no longer endangered because everyone else stopped. If westerners now don't want to eat whales, fine. Why do they feel they have to stop Japan? Why doesn't Japan try to stop westerners from eating cows?

They aren't harming the environment, why is everyone bashing them for whale hunting?

PS., Canada, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Greenland and Russia also whale. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling

Answer 1

Because you can insult Japanese culture and not be called a racist.



For centuries the Japanese have eaten and utilised whales, it is part of their cultural norm. They don't eat it in europe or america, and don't expect europe or america to change their laws to suit Japanese culture. The complainants are trying to change Japanese culture and laws to reflect their western values, otherwise known as 'Cultural Imperialism'.

Answer 2

There are only very few whales left and although japan may only be hunting a certain amount so the whale population can still increase with time, people dont want to take any chances if any natural causes could kill off the whales if there was some sort of illness or a shortage of food for the whales.



We farm cows because there easy to produce but you dont see americans eating pandas do you and im sure a lot of japanese and chinese people would start complaining if we were eating pandas but not enough to for them to go extinct



I dont see why people have such a fit when it comes to somones culture because in all seriousness it really doesnt matter. My culture was the slaughtering of other religious groups, fighting with foreign countrys for no reason other than to be surpriour and do ****. I dont htink anyone like it if I was doing that.



I aint saying they cant do it, but give it time so the whale population can with stand other causes of death. its more likely they will die from something else than over hunting but the hunting will increase that chance with a smaller population.



And like the other guy said how they were going to other countries oceans to hunt which is a little unfair, just because australia aint doing it doesnt mean japan can hunt the whales there.

Answer 3

The Japanese have only been eating whales since the end of World War Two when they were hungry. So it is not part of their cultural tradition. The Japanese are the world's biggest whaling nation and do this under a loophole, where they say they are doing it for scientific research. How can you trust their research when it is not unbiased and most probably made up by them to suit their situation. The method of slaughter is cruel. Australia has now begun its own scientific study of whales and this proves that you do not have to kill whales to study them. Whales are an endangered species whereas cows are not. We breed cows to eat so the population is not endangered. Whales are in their natural habitat and the Japanese do not own them as they have not bought them. The Japanese have become wealthy by exploiting the world's resources and should stick to made-made fish farming in their own back yard, instead of fishing our Southern ocean and destroying our eco system. Extinction is forever.

As well as being part of our eco system whales are a big part of the Australian and New Zealand tourism industry. Our peoples love them and when they beach, our local radio stations put out the word for everybody to go down to the beach and help get them back into the sea. The Whale is part of the New Zealand Maori culture, and our friends of the sea. Whales have nothing to do with Japanese culture except for food when they were hungry after World War II; Modern day whaling by the Japanese is solely for commercialisation and profits. Whaling is done solely for consumerism and whale oil is used in making cosmetics.

http://nz.travel.yahoo.com/b/clistwag/120/whale-on-the-table

Additional notes:

The article says, "MAY HAVE", so the neutrality of the article is disputed. This is stated in the wikipedia article as anyone can add to the article. The Japanese have no validated evidence that whaling was part of their culture and any claims to the fact that whaling is part of their culture are unsubstantiated claims based on their own personal bias and racism.

Answer 4

Yes, but Japan does not hunt whales in its own waters because there are almost none left.



Instead they sail all the way to Antartica and kill the whales swimming around Australia and New Zealand.



If they want to whale then they should stay within their own waters. If there are no whales left in their own waters, well that's their fault for eating them all.



You can't call sailing to the other end of the world in factory ships traditional Japanese hunting.

Answer 5

The idea that only a particular species is targeted is false, along with the idea that endangerment has passed. Given the vast distances whales travel, sparsely populating enormous areas, and the amount of time whales invest in reproduction and rearing infants, which takes a very long time comparative to other mammals, endangerment is not over.



But I find the lack of openness of the Japanese the most offensive. I could live with them being honest and admitting to killing them for food. I don't appreciate their claims of "scientific research" and "counting". Why do you need to slaughter a whale and disect is to "count" it? Everyone knows it ends up in a Tokyo restaurant.



I haven't tried whale myself, but most who have seem to tell me it is disgusting.

Answer 6

Japan would not poach whales. Whale hunters poach whales. which would be like me asserting usa poaches buffalo even although basically a handful of yankee persons poach them. Sushi is uncooked fish, by utilising the way. Little usa of bigots? haha! look who's speaking.

Answer 7

simple. most people are just intolerant

whaling as you know has been a cultural tradition from japan that has been around for a very very long time.... i've never eaten whale but i assume that the taste of the meat is very appealing or some other crap like that

the point is, all these people protesting against whaling are so intolerant that they cannot even begin to see from any point of view besides theirs.... what if cows and chickens were 'endangered'? i honestly doubt everybody would stop eating them. i just believe that most people are so arrogant that they cannot see the problems with their own societies so they must go criticize another one for their own pleasure.

what about USA gun laws? what about carbon emissions? what about rich people protesting against whaling while their actions have a much more harmful effect on the world?

yes whaling can be harmful to the ecosystem but the truth is, hypocrites just have wayyyy too much time on their hands

Answer 8

Cows can be easily bred on farms so we can have as many of them as we want. Whales cannot be artificially bred on a commercial scale and so we have to rely on them replenishing their population naturally. They are a long-lived species so it takes them a long time to replenish their numbers. If they are continually hunted during this time then they could become extinct.

Answer 9

Cows aren't endangered. And unless you know the amount they are killing, then you can't say they shouldn't stop them. if someone doesn't make a stand for endangered species then a lot will be lost.

Answer 10

Because Japan can suck mike ditka. Stop killing whales. They know its wrong. Stop being a pc of ****. It's not like Japan can't afford to feed its own people.

Answer 11

I think I see your point, but I think hunting whales is primitive already and there is no practical use for it anymore, there is other sources of meat and fat....its outdated.

Answer 12

because its not as though everyone is going to starve,there is absolutely no reason on this planet to hunt and kill these beautiful creatures. it should be outlawed ..FULL STOP????



edit: yes we know, and in tailand they eat dogs, how would you feel if someone started spit roasting your pooch????

Answer 13

Because of that dumb show on Animal Planet.

Answer 14

FOOOWK YUUU WHALEEEEE!!