This is really making me angry

[Daryl Morse]

Does the killing and eating of minke whales upset you more than the killing and eating of fish, cows, or chickens?
If so, why?

I'll preface this by saying that I'm an unabashed meat eater.

That said, I believe most species of whales are still languishing from excessive harvesting that took place years ago. I think the Japanese "research whaling" is appalling and it should be abolished.

Many species of fish are suffering from overfishing so perhaps that should make us upset as well.

Cows and chickens are bred and raised to be eaten. I think that puts them in a different category from whales. I'd like my steak rare and wings hot, please.

 

[drbill]

The point about killing chicken and cows for food is appropriate. All life should be respected. We are part of the "mutual eating society," and choose those species which our cultures find acceptable as food.

We feel more akin to marine mammals such as whales than we do to terrestrial mammals such as cows, or marine fish and invertebrates. Perceived intelligence may be a big part of the distinction.

I have eaten a wide range of foods while traveling to countries with vastly different cultures... in fact, the origins of some were unknown (and I didn't ask).

Given my druthers, I'd prefer to eat domesticated animals. However, in the US and other western cultures these protein sources are often subject to the "better living through chemistry" practiced by the food industry. Wild food to some degree may be less subjected to such chemical alternation (although all living things are subject to it through its diffusion and biomagnification in the "natural world").

I had enough trouble just touching a gray whale, until I realized it was actually soliciting contact with humans. I would have great trouble eating one. But if I really think about it, I would have similar problems eating many of the animals we use in this culture.

 

[Avic7]

What annoys me is that its not as if we don't have enough meat available that we must hunt for whale meat to survive. I just want to hit it into their heads that once they hunt the whales to extinction what the hell will they hunt next once they destroy their livelyhood completely?

 

[Charlie99]

I guess because chickens, (most) fish and cows haven't been hunted to the brink of extinction.

Neither cows nor Minke whales have been "hunted to the brink of extinction". OTOH, SOME fish have been hunted to extinction, so should we cease eating ALL fish?

American Cetacean Fact Sheet on Minke Whales

Whale Center of New England Species Info (scroll down to Minke).

Neither was hunted in significant numbers until recent decades, and the population has continued to grow.

Estimated population is over 1 million. Norway takes 500 per year, Japan 800.

 

[Charlie99]

The point about killing chicken and cows for food is appropriate. All life should be respected. We are part of the "mutual eating society," and choose those species which our cultures find acceptable as food.

We feel more akin to marine mammals such as whales than we do to terrestrial mammals such as cows, or marine fish and invertebrates. Perceived intelligence may be a big part of the distinction.

I think this is the key to understanding the visceral reaction some people have to whale hunting. They may go on about "hunting to extinction", but what is really the bothersome part is a feeling of kinship or respect for their intelligence.

Some cultures consume dogs. Most Americans would find that abhorrent. Similarly, some cultures consume whales, other find it abhorrent.

If you wish to impose your cultural attitudes upon the Norwegians and Japanese then you are free to try and do so, but at least be aware that this is what you are doing.

The same is even more true in regards to the yearly dolphin roundup in Japan.

 

[jonnythan]

The whales in question are extremely plentiful and nowhere near endangerment.

So, what is the problem with this again? Whales are cuter than cows, so it makes you angry for people to eat whales?

 

[wedivebc]

The whales in question are extremely plentiful and nowhere near endangerment.

So, what is the problem with this again? Whales are cuter than cows, so it makes you angry for people to eat whales?

This little snippet from Charlies link above tells my main objection to this.

Only in recent decades have minke whales been taken by whalers to any extent; they were thought to be too small to be a worthwhile catch. But as the larger whale species became depleted, the whalers began to hunt the minke as a replacement. Since the late 1960s and 1970s, Japan, Russia (which has now ceased whaling), and (to some extent) Norway have focused their whaling efforts on minke whales

 

[BigJetDriver]

Folks,

There really is no reason to catch, and kill Minke Whales. The Japanese are not researching ANYTHING by killing them. It is just another excuse to continue raping the sea. As you can see by the picture and story it is no longer even a slightly disguised pretense! This Japanese woman eating whale-burger is the result of their so-called research!!! :11:

It makes as much sense as killing sharks for their fins, so that Asian men can pretend to feel virile, and is just as defensible!!!! :scared:

 

[Kim]

Folks,

There really is no reason to catch, and kill Minke Whales. The Japanese are not researching ANYTHING by killing them. It is just another excuse to continue raping the sea. As you can see by the picture and story it is no longer even a slightly disguised pretense! This Japanese woman eating whale-burger is the result of their so-called research!!! :11:

It makes as much sense as killing sharks for their fins, so that Asian men can pretend to feel virile, and is just as defensible!!!! :scared:

Sorry Rob I have to disagree with this. To me there is a huge difference between cutting just the fins off a shark and throwing the rest back to die and killing a whale which is completely consumed in one way or another.
Japan does not have a lot of grazing land - so very few cows and pigs, and virtually no sheep. Most of the meat that is available here is imported - if it is actually Japanese it's incredibly expensive. On the other hand they do have a lot of ocean - so what do you think happened? They eat just about anything that comes out of the sea. Historically whale meat used to be about the cheapest meat that could be bought - so it was always a poor mans food. This is something that has been going on for a very long time. Believe me - if colonial Americans had been faced with the same choices they'd have be eating whale meat fast enough.
OK. Now it is not so necessary, but it's heavily ingrained in the culture. More importantly the Japanese love the taste of it - I guarantee they'd prefer to give up beef if they really had the choice. Like Charlie99 said - be careful criticizing cross-culture - there is always something in another culture that seems odd/strange/disgusting etc. The thing is though - it goes both ways and no one culture has any right to declare that they and only they, have it right. That's cultural arrogance.

 

[ssra30]

I believe I read somewhere that Iceland has also recently started whaling for "research" purpose. Even if the Japanese don't eat whales, they will continue to catch whales as they are used in many industries. Many people who wear perfume and use cosmetic may want to look at the raw ingredients in products that they use.Spraying whale or smearing whale bit on my face is not exactly my cup of tea either.
At $3.50 for a whale burger in Japan basically shows how cheap whale meat really are so the main profit of whaling is not for food consumption and whale burger is really more of a by product. Now I am not encouraging whaling for other purposes as well (well, they are so much cuter than cow and I am dying to dive with one). To stop whaling, stop people from eating whale is not going to make much impact in my opinion. It is the other industries that keep whaling profitable.
Talking about eating, how about ostreich, kangaroo, zebra, deer, bear and other wild animals, people certainly go out of their way to consume other things beside chicken and cows, I am afraid.