Whaling won't stay dead
I don't know what to do about this Japanese whaling thing. I don't know what to think - or rather, I know what I think, and am uncertain of its fairness. Perhaps it isn't as big a story overseas as here in NZ, just a few hundred kilometres from the controversy... But Japan has been killing minke, humpback and fin whales in the waters around Antarctica, ostensibly for 'scientific' purposes. They plan to take 935 minke whales, as well as humpback and fin. 935 minke whales! Whales!*possible, rather sarcastic rant ahead*
Other than the instinctive, righteous disgust at seeing anything as noble and rare as these creatures slaughtered, the justification given by JARPA seems glaringly suspicious. 'Scientific purposes'. Okay...
The Japanese behind the whaling declare, in a response to enquiries, that "Our research is perfectly legal in every aspect referred to by anti-whaling opponents and scientifically necessary to ensure the best decisions can be made for sustainable resource management." Sustainable resource management. Sounds fine, even admirable. However, the Japanese are the only nation to require such large numbers of whales for these tests - over 1000 in a single year. 1 whale is a magnificent thing, a wonder steadily disappearing from the world - to kill 1000 of them? To kill humpback whales? To begin the slaughter of such harmless, awe-inspiring mammals? Both humpback and fin whales are under risk, classified as vulnerable and endangered: so why exactly are such relatively large numbers required? Could it be, that among the almost seven thousand already taken since the anti-whaling laws came into effect 18 years ago, that they are missing some special whale? Are 7000 not enough, I ask? Do whales, with their naturally long life span, change so much within a year that 1000 more are needed? Did the Japanese laboratories trying to discover means of 'sustainable resource management' miraculously misplace some critical part of every single whale they have already taken? Did they take notes so messily they feel it necessary to begin again?
Perhaps my entry is unfair... but half-way through the article I read this morning, already questioning, I came across something else.
In the 31 years before whaling was declared illegal, the number taken by the Japanese for scientific research globally was 840. Less, in 31 years, than the total for 2005 alone. After commercial whaling was banned, these numbers rose fast. Why the increase? Why, when 840 whales had been considered enough to satisfy the scientist community, did their research suddenly require the ruthless slaughter of thousands? What knowledge is so important that it cannot be gained from scanning the brains of 100 whales, but demands 1000?
I do not blame anyone but those in command. The issue of legality is a critical one, but I do not know enough to discuss it, and so must stay within the bounds of moral disagreement. Their actions, to me, send a clear message, and show a group which is disgracefully manipulating the law to reduce the already declining numbers of some of the world's most magnificent creatures.
Once these whales are gone, there will be no more. To see one sacrificed before your eyes to research in which you have no faith is harrowing, shameful... and yet those responsible have a legal shield to hide behind, and are free to ignore concerted efforts against them.
Perhaps a post like this needs a disclaimer: and so, the information cited was taken from The Press, a Christchurch newspaper. The facts may be a little out (journalists, bloggers) but the point is the same. See here for ways to help.
posted by Anonymous @ 11:08 PM
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