November 18, 2007
I'm probably being naive
but it strikes me that when so many countries are opposed to whaling, Japan's decision to recommence hunting humpbacks is deliberately provocative.
(Thank you Wikipedia)
I recognise that as a typical Brit, I'm guilty of showing sympathy for animals I deem cute, but in this case the arguments in favour of hunting the White Fella and his mates don't convince me at all.
The Japanese claim that they want to cull 50 humpbacks (together with 50 fin whales and several hundred minke whales) for scientific purposes, but all I've read suggests that they are really only interested in proving the case for the return of commercial whaling because Japanese consumers will pay top dollar for a blubbery snack.
Four decades ago, humans came close to wiping out the humpback, hence the moratorium imposed in 1963. The Japanese reckon that population estimates justify an end to the moratorium. Many countries disagree.
For what it's worth (not much) I would respectfully like to make the following point to my esteemed Japanese cousins:
