As someone who works with the elderly in care facilities I find that POV rather sad but you are free to have it - largely because your mother probably spent a good chunk of her life caring for you.
But how does that translate into any concern for the well being of the planet. Are there any other species you would advocate decimating by 50-60%? Sharks, dolphins, whales? Do you think any of them give a sh_t about their eco-systems or conservation in general? Do you think any of them would not consume every last food source available to the point of extinction if they had the opportunity?
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Man is capable of great harm but also of great promise. More so than any other species on the planet because we are the only ones who can look beyond our own circumstances and interpret the consequences of various actions beyond the immediate moment. Sadly, few of us, including many environmentalists, make the effort to do so.
Most people in North America who get mad at island, sea going cultures for harvesting marine mammals are hypocrites. The ocean is to them what pasture land is to us. Their marine mammals are our cows and pigs. Do we not herd them with ATV's and Quads, induce fear when we load them into trucks, slaughter them? I've helped butcher cows in a farmyard and I could graphically describe what that was like. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on ones POV) we do our best "killing" out of sight in factories - which is the only difference between us and them.
The biggest arguments that come back against the above are:
That cows and pigs are domesticated and bred for consumption. Hold on, What about hunting? Even so, would we be happier if island nations captive bred and domesticated marine mammals for consumption. Where are the "No whales or dolphins in captivity!" people on this?
That cows and pigs are not intelligent like sea mammals. Anyone who knows cows and pigs knows this is not true. But anyways, what is the defining characteristic that determines whether you get eaten or not?
That hunting is a right and part of our heritage. Hey, that's what they say.Where are the "Anti globalization/corporatization" groups on the destruction of indigenous food gathering practices and enforced reliance on foreign food sources by outside influences?
That the oceans are "special". As special to them as a farmers field is to us.
That we manage our pasture land. This is true. It is harder to control the oceans. But would environmentalists be happier if the Japanese or Faroese built whale and dolphin factories? Would they support farming the seas, building fences and creating sustainable harvests of marine mammals?
No. We don't want them to modernize, mechanize or improve their killing. We want those people, over there, to just stop, while we carry on merrily with our own way of doing things. No wonder they think we are full of crap. Perhaps they would take more notice if we shut down our beef and pork industries and outlawed deer and moose hunting.
Does this mean I support whale dolphin/killing, shark finning? No, I personally dislike it immensely. But I think the righteously indignant need to take a look in the mirror and do some changing themselves. Human beings are capable of great good but that requires self reflection and the willingness to make hard, uncomfortable admissions/corrections. True game changers lead by example (Gandhi, Mandela, King etc...). Currently, what I see, are spoiled self indulgent people who want to bully others with petitions and economic boycotts.
