talkpolitics | (no subject)

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.

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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.

We should not ever support this sort of behavior.

Civil disobedience?

I don't recall Ghandi setting shit on fire.

What did the flare burn besides itself? I've set off flares for fun. Not saying it couldn't be scary or wasn't, but you seem to say it was.

Stop obsessing over the flares and pay attention to the article. They set the ships nets on fire.

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