(no subject)

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14132320

Despite continued international pressure and the acts of radical environmental groups Japan's whaling fleet will be shipping out again.

Frankly I wish Japan would just knock off the whaling. For one, if you've seen Star Trek IV you know why we want to keep whales around. Whales are cool and enjoy swimming with Vulcans. But mostly because the whole whaling thing in Japan is nothing but political theater to garner support for the LDP but looking as if they're "protecting traditional Japanese culture" from asshole Westerners who want to impose their values on Japan. Of course, the fact that only like seven villages in the whole of Japan ever did whaling and it was never more than a small scale thing has no bearing on the matter. "Anti-foreigners" is a song that never fails to pack the house in Japan so why would they stop just because good sense says so?

Not that a lack of sense is exclusive to the Japanese side of this.

Sea Shepherd activists have staged demonstrations outside the IWC meeting here - the organisation is barred from attending - and it is clear that it will send its fleet to the Southern Ocean again if Japan does return.

"Sea Shepherd will also return and will once again intercept and block their operations," the organisation's head Paul Watson wrote on his blog earlier this week.

"If they return, we will launch Operation Divine Wind, and our vessels the Bob Barker, the Steve Irwin, and the Brigitte Bardot will soon return to the remote and stormy seas of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to do what we do best - defend the whales!"


Bwhahaha! That guy couldn't have sounded more absurd if he'd posted "Kneel before Zod, whalers of Japan!" And I can't help but imagine they people on the Bob Barker shouting "The price is wrong, bitch!" as they try and ram a whaling boat or throw acid on its nets.


Honestly, on both sides there's so much absurdity it's amazing anyone is able to take either side seriously.

Comments

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

You can question their motives, but SS have been more successful in stopping whaling in Japan than everyone else, their shenanigans last year cut the season short and saved the lives of hundreds of whales.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but it also involved *attacking boats*. Ya know, violence.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

That does indeed bother me. Well, not so much attacking the boats as injuring people on board. I've heard some great arguments that violence can't be committed against inanimate objects (these were in relation to all the damage that happened at the WTO meeting in Seattle in '99).

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Honestly, that Japan gets away with blatant violations of international law like this whaling is one reason I have no respect for international law except when convenient in Internet arguments. Because this is illegal under the laws of nations and you will not tend to see this brought up by the states that should be putting a stop to it.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

There is a prohibition against whaling that is International Law??? I thought that if you didn't sign the International Convention for Regulation of Whaling, then it wouldn't apply.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Hey, we do the same thing. Look at the recent execution in Texas, in clear violation of US commitments to treaties on access to consular facilities.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

Australia has launched an injunction with the ICJ, Japan's response is due next March.

Reality TV

[russj.livejournal.com]

It's now a 'reality' TV show.
Some people will do anything to get on TV.

Re: Reality TV

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Sure, just ask Sarah Palin. (http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/03/sarah_palin_sells_her_alaska_r.html)

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

I say nuke the fucking whales, those bastards!

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

It's the only way to be sure.

[raichu100.livejournal.com]

I don't know that physically trying to block whalers is "absurd". Frankly I think something NEEDS to be done about it, if a species of whale goes extinct, it is irreversible and could have unforseen effects on the ocean environment...

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Blocking and setting stuff on FIRE are rather different things.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

You know what? I used to care. Then I found out how many Minke whales there are and how many Japan takes every year. And then I started wondering why they weren't out interfering with the Norwegian or Icelandic fleets, who take just about as many whales. And then I wondered, why whales? What is so special about what is, at bottom, a very large sea going cow?

You want to harass a marine fishery? Why not go after the tuna industry? Or the cod industry? Or the halibut fishery? Or the Pacific NW salmon industry? Or head to the Volga or the Caspian Sea and protest the caviar industry?

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Don't remind me of those Icelandic fleets... =(

[telemann.livejournal.com]

There are groups that do actually.

[brockulfsen.livejournal.com]

The Norwegian and Icelandic fleets aren't whaling in a sanctuary.

The Japanese may as well be wearing a "kick me" sign.

Just wish Australia would man up and prosecute the Japanese for violating the sanctuary.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

The Fin whale is endangered, however.

You do make a good point, whilst I don't think the attempts to reduce whaling were wrong, there probably should have been a bit more focus on cod and tuna.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

We'll probably succeed in wiping all the whales out if people don't fight to stop it.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

So vandalism is okay then? Would it be cool if they set fire to the ship owners' cars as well? Fired flares at their houses? What about the crewmen? Are their houses and cars fair game as well?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I just can't really accept this sort of vigilante behavior. I think the discovery channel should be penalized for supporting it too.

If you want to fight against an activity, do it within the law. Sue Australia for not protecting their sanctuaries.

What's next? Someone park a van in front of an abortion clinic so nobody can enter? Hey its ok because it works right? Wups do those guys happen to have a cause we don't like? Does that suddenly make the action wrong? Why is it ok when it's something we support but not when it's not?

We should not ever support this sort of behavior.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

We should not ever support this sort of behavior.

Civil disobedience?

[raichu100.livejournal.com]

So should we just let the whales die? Is that a viable alternative?