Japan - How much more "reasearch" is needed?

[BrainsTracy]

How can the civilised world stop Japan etc hunting these magnificent creatures? Surely this is just commercial whaling poorly disguised and therefore illegal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...asia-pacific-15163955

[jake-the-peg]

So we shouldn't eat creatures if they're "magnificent"?

I mean there are good reasons not to hunt Whales but it seems to me the most common justification is that effectively they're pretty

[daffy654]

Why is commercial whaling banned? Is it because some of the species are endangered?

[BrainsTracy]

Whales are being hunted to extinction under a banner of lies. Ok why don't the just come clean and say we are hunting them for food and stick two fingers up to the objectors then? Why ios commercial whaling banned then?

By your ridiculous logic jake we should not be objecting to hunting tigers or Rhinos as long as it's for food. It's nothing to do with pretty/ugly most whales are ugly anyway. I said magnificent not pretty, one does not imply the other.

There are plenty of un-endagered species to hunt or farm for food.

[emmie]

I couldn't agree more. Like bull fighting, fox hunting, they should be banned outright. The Chinese are no better with their dubious medicines made from some of the planets rarest creatures. The Japanese are not alone in hunting whales, having seen some truly horrific photographs recently, but the world animal protection organisations should be out there protesting, along with Greenpeace and anyone who can make a difference.

[youngmafbog]

What about foxy woxy? If we scoffed it after hunting it would that be ok too?

Could just see the Bereley Hunt with their spit roast!

[youngmafbog]

Berkeley that is.

[didoatwork]

I am surprised that anything can live in our polluted oceans!

[Harry-Wragg]

Today is "World Animal Day", I don't suppose the animals know this - nor the Japanese.

[jake-the-peg]

You do react emotionally don't you?

Rhinos and Tigers are both endangered as are a number of whales which is one very good reason not to hunt them.

There are also arguments (probably less good ones) regarding intelligence and (better ones) regarding cruelty of the method.

I just think it's a shame that people get so worked up over protecting whales and pandas yet try to drum up interest in the Green Eyed Bush Frog and the apathy is overwhelming.

[emmie]

Dido, billions of creatures live in the oceans, but we are depleting them through stupidity, lack of legislation to protect many, and because many people just don't care. As to the whales, they are not pretty perhaps, but pretty amazing, who wouldn't care for these wonderful creatures.

[notasyoungasiwas]

"You do react emotionally don't you" It is an emotive subject though jake.
I don't know if you are joking about the green eyed bush frog, but I personally would try to help ANY endangered creature if I could.

[jake-the-peg]

Well emotion isn't going to help - So the Japanese stop hunting whales -

Great

Thousands of species go extinct every year many because of the rate we are eating into forests to feed the lifestyles we so want

[BrainsTracy]

No I don't think it's over emotional, I am concerned about all endangered species. Jake you did seem to be saying that it's ok for the japanese to hunt whales. I don't agree. There may have been reasons to hunt them in the past but I don't think there is any excuse now.

[notasyoungasiwas]

But this is why we get emotional, it makes us do something about it. In my case, I donate to charities who want to help, I lobby my MP, I write letters and spread the word to others like minded. A drop in the ocean yes, but not if everybody who feels emotional about these things all do the same. You think Brains is emotional, I think you are touchy !

[jake-the-peg]

If you're so concerned - I take it you shun Palm oil products (If you can)

http://www.orangutan....-orangutan-extinction

And it's not just Orangutans Palm oil is responsible for huge environment loss so I tend to think that giving out about Whale hunting before nipping down to Tesco is a touch niaive

[emmie]

Jake, many people wouldn't be aware of the products that are tested on animals, nor the vast swathes of land being eaten up by humans, population explosion will kill off more and more species as the animals like the Mountain Gorilla and Panda will have no where to roam, eat and make it's home.

[BrainsTracy]

I'm not much of an activist, are you saying that unless I am, I'm not allowed to be against whaling. It's curious that you seem to be turning this into some sort "caring" consistency argument. OK, I probably do use palm oil products (what are they? no doubt there are lots!) so obviously I'm not allowed to care about endangered species.

[sandyRoe]

They're hypocrites, claiming they need to kill whales for research. They've also bribes other countries on the whaling commission to get them to change their vote and authorise resumption of commercial whaling.

[keepontrucking]

There is no need to kill whales for research they kill them for food for the high class sushi bars.

[ludwig]

It obviously takes a lot of research to ascertain which bit of a whale tastes best with wasabi. It's good to know that hundreds of japanese boffins are working tirelessly to answer that crucial question.