Japanese Whaling is Not a Tradition

[Annces]

Run time: 04:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bME6OevTQqk   Posted on YouTube: November 28, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 29, 2008 By DU Member: Annces Views on DU: 1775

 


The Japanese are still engaged in Commercial Whaling using the Big Lie of Scientific Research. They also claim it is a tradition. However the Japanese did not start whaling until after WWII when the United States suggested they learn how to do commercial whaling in order to get whale meat, during their post WWII regeneration, when they needed food.

[DainBramaged]

1. Buying Japanese supports whaling by default

for shame.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. Hontou desu..

I really wish Japan would stop. Its one of the few things
that still makes me cringe..when its in the news. My ancestors
knew better than that.. It makes me cry to see this.

To those who hunt whales:
BAKA! Ima Yame!!

[smiley]

3. interesting...

I've been watching the new show on Animal Planet called "Whale Wars". These people put their lives at risk to disrupt the Japanese whale killing operations. Much respect.

But what I didn't realize was the animosity between Greenpeace and The Sea Shepherds (the organization shown in the show). I would think Greenpeace would be supportive of The Sea Shepherds work. But it sure doesn't sound that way.

[life long demo]

8. Captain Watson was a co-founder of Greenpeace

but was voted (kicked) out. Maybe because Watson wanted more direct action to stop whaling? I remember reading that Greenpeace wasn't even going to Antarctica this year to protest whaling, don't under stand that. Never heard why they made that decision. I also have been watching Whale Wars. Excellent! I highly recommend it. Animal Plant rebroadcasts all the episodes thru the week, each new one is on Friday evenings.

[ben_meyers]

4. Not only is the premise of the video totally bogus

your statement that Japanese Whaling is Not a Tradition is also erroneous.

Some of the most powerful Buddhist Emperors in the 500 to 1000 AD time period forbade the slaughter and eating of 4 legged animals. Japanese diets became almost totally meat free. How ever fish were exempt from the rules and whales were considered fish. Whale meat became the primary source of animal protein in the Japanese diet.

And I'm sure you'll recall that when you studied Melville in English Lit. he wrote extensively about the Japanese whaling grounds and whalers in the 1700 and 1800's.

You do your cause no good when you just pull crap out of your butt.

[DUlover2909]

6. I appreciate the info, but whaling is evil anyways.

I wish Moby Dick would kick their asses like in the book.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. A bit of Japanese Whaling History

The oldest written mention of whaling in Japanese records is from Kojiki, the oldest extant Japanese book, which was written in the eighth century. In this book whale meat was eaten by Emperor Jimmu. In Man'yoshu, the word "Whaling" was frequently used in depicting the ocean or beaches.

Japanese traditional whaling technique was dramatically developed in the 17th century in Taiji, Wakayama. Wada Chubei organized the group hunting system and introduced new handheld harpoon in 1606. Wada Kakuemon, later known as Taiji Kakuemon, invented the whaling net technique called Amitori hou and increased the safety and efficiency of whaling.

Whales have long been a source of food, oil, and crafts' material. A famous Proverb quotes: "There's nothing to throw away from a whale except its voice."

In 1853, a US naval officer Matthew Perry sailed into Edo bay. One of the purposes was to obtain a base for whaling in the north-west Pacific Ocean.

When Norwegian-style modern whaling, based on the use of power-driven vessels and whaling guns, was introduced in the Meiji era, most Japanese fishermen were opposed to the indiscriminate killing of whales, which they regarded as deities of the sea and which helped to corral fish.

In the early 1900s, Japanese whaling techniques developed further and Japanese whalers began turning to the West for modern whaling techniques.

Following the devastation of World War II, food was scarce, consequently whales, being a cheap source of protein, became a larger part of the Japanese post-war diet.

**wikipedia.

[soulcore]

9. The problem isn't that they are killing whales...

Its that they are killing whales for "research" and to preserve their "traditions", when in fact almost 100% of the meat ends up in consumer's stomachs.

The videos of them killing whales on deck while holding up signs in English with phrases like "We are weighing stomach contents" and "we are collecting tissue samples" pretty much puts to rest any doubts about what they are really doing considering the lengths they will go to cover it up.

I suppose that pesky loophole where any whales killed for research purposes can be sold as meat has NOTHING To do with it either.

[DUlover2909]

5. Looks like a holocaust to me.

Dictionary.com - any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life

[TypeKast]

10. Mmm

Mmm, whale.