Faroe Islands Pilot Whale Slaughter

[drbill]

The near extinction of the bison populaiotn is a prime example of why we should now be smart enough to evaluate at the slaughter of other animals sooner rather than later.

Certainly agree... the passenger pigeon is another.

However, food IS a necessity and others make different choices regarding what they will eat. If the species can be hunted sustainably, who are we to judge? If the species is threatened or endangered, then hunting it should be restricted or stopped altogether.

 

[vladimir]

All cultures choose their food based on availability. Often we are quick to judge what other cultures choose without looking objectively at our own choices. The US slaughtered the American bison nearly to extinction, brought many whale species down to critical population levels in our hunt for their oil (was the meat eaten? I don't know). We choose to kill mainly domesticated animals today, but certainly there are those in India who find this intolerable.

The US slaughtered native Americans to the point of extinction too (yes, I know they're not a separate species). You're not suggesting that we use 19th century standards to judge 21st century actions in a misguided attempt at cultural sensitivity, are you? I would hope we've done some learning since then. Why not use sustainability as a culturally-neutral minimum standard? Yes, people will say we need to go further than that, in the name of ethics, but it's pretty difficult to make a rational argument that we should do less than that.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

Certainly agree... the passenger pigeon is another.

However, food IS a necessity and others make different choices regarding what they will eat. If the species can be hunted sustainably, who are we to judge? If the species is threatened or endangered, then hunting it should be restricted or stopped altogether.

With all due respect and believe me Dr. Bill when I say that I have appreciated every post of yours I have read in this forum.

My issues are definitely not the eating of meat or the use of whatever source of that is available (within reason) to your region. While I don't believe for second that the way cows and such are killed for the purpose of our food is entirely humane. I would be against a bunch of people making an event out of hacking a herd cows to death in a field and then publicly displaying there carcasses with thier unborn calves cut out of them. I also don't really believe that this event is about the harvesting of food for the locals any longer. That is of course "my opinion".

From Wikipedia:
As of the end of November 2008 the chief medical officers of the Faroe Islands have recommended that pilot whales no longer be considered fit for human consumption because of the levels of toxins in the whales

 

[smellzlikefish]

"The US slaughtered native Americans to the point of extinction too (yes, I know they're not a separate species). You're not suggesting that we use 19th century standards to judge 21st century actions in a misguided attempt at cultural sensitivity, are you? I would hope we've done some learning since then. Why not use sustainability as a culturally-neutral minimum standard? Yes, people will say we need to go further than that, in the name of ethics, but it's pretty difficult to make a rational argument that we should do less than that."

Can you say with certainty that this isn't sustainable? There are a lot of whales pictured in the article but many more swimming out in the ocean still. I recall pictures of mass strandings that brought about similar feelings of "wow, that's a lot of whales." If they can continue to harvest that number of whales every year, the hunt is sustainable and by your definition, ethically okay.

"I also don't really believe that this event is about the harvesting of food for the locals any longer. That is of course "my opinion"."

Supposedly it is. I like the idea of being honest with where the meat is going instead of hiding under the cover of "scientific research" like the Japanese. While the Faroe Island Medical Officers may recommend against eating the whales, the Surgeon General also recommends against smoking. If they were being slaughtered for the sake of sport/killing animals, I would agree that this is disgusting but I see no reason to doubt the fact that these are going to be eaten.

 

[vladimir]

Can you say with certainty that this isn't sustainable?

No. Certainty that it is sustainable would be a more logical standard though.

There are a lot of whales pictured in the article but many more swimming out in the ocean still. I recall pictures of mass strandings that brought about similar feelings of "wow, that's a lot of whales." If they can continue to harvest that number of whales every year, the hunt is sustainable and by your definition, ethically okay.

You misread my post. I did not say that sustainability makes it ethically okay. I said that sustainability was something that all rational people should be able to agree upon as a minimum standard. The ethics are more difficult to agree on, unfortunately.

 

[LadyAyla]

I do agree that not enough attention is brought to some of these species on the brink. Maybe that means some of us in the diving realm should take the initiative and utilize our skills, perhaps in underwater photography, journalism, and the like, to help?