Outrage: Obama Backs Lifting Ban on Whaling
By Karin Bennett
While U.S. residents watch and worry about the oil spill, a different kind of oceanic nightmare is brewing, one that will cause immense suffering and death for countless whales for many years to come.
On June 20, the International Whaling Commission will meet in Morocco to vote on a proposal to lift a 24-year international ban on commercial whaling for Japan, Norway, and Iceland—the three countries that have pretty much thumbed their noses at the ban. The Obama administration backs the lifting of the ban. Anyone who knows anything about the history of the ban—which has slashed the killing from somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 whales a year to between 1,200 and 1,700—is outraged that the president is going back on his election pledge to strengthen a ban and instead throwing the country's might behind lifting it.
We know some fascinating things about whales: Humpbacks create "bubble-netting" by blowing a stream of bubbles to surround their prey, and females form long-lasting friendships with each other. Many people know that sperm whales have the biggest brains of any living being, but did you know that they're able to dive more than a mile? Or that they communicate by clicking? Or that some scientists believe that sperm whales "are so self-aware that they might have begun to evolve a concept of religion."
We also know that if the whaling ban is lifted, whale families will be torn apart as more are slaughtered. Act now to help animals: Politely tell President Obama that you oppose the cruel slaughter of sentient beings. Then prove it by going vegan if you haven't already.
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Humpbacks? Sperm whales? Wait a second. These three countries do not hunt endangered species of whales. If there is a large amount of the certain species in the wild (such as Minke whales) then it is justifiable. It's just like hunting any other animal, or raising livestock for food .
It is true that the slaughter of these giant mammals for their meat , bone, oil and blubber is no new phenomenon—it is an age-old practice that has been carried out for centuries—however the patterns, methods and purposes behind whaling have changed as time has passed. Japanese are known to cover the whaling by labeling it as " research " but without backing their facts as to why "more research" is really needed. They never give details, it is always considered "TOP SECRET".
Thanks to the scientist that have and continue to follow the trails of these mammals we have been given the opportunity to learn more about them without "researching AKA KILLING" them.
Drill it in your heads that commercial whaling has had a very serious impact on the world’s whale populations. Whales reproduce AT A VERY SLOW RATE, so the small numbers of whales being born each year were not able to keep up with the fast rate at which they were being killed . This resulted in a severe overkill of the whale population, leading to the extinction of many whale species and the endangerment of many others, including the blue, fin, right, sperm, grey, humpback and sei whales. It doesn't matter if you mask whaling with the word "regulated" no country follows the rules since their interest in the money behind it leaving us and our future grandchildren without the opportunity of even meeting these great mammals.
...is one of the better opinions I've read from PeTA. The last two paragraphs are very good...excluding the last sentence.
I could never kill a pig, but I can eat 'em.
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid. - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
The whale moratorium back in 1986 was incorrect decision by IWC. They should have allowed limited annual catch so the the commercial industry would not stop and maintained the market for whalemeat and maintained the knowledge within the industry. Whale has been and will be important food for human and it is logical that human utilize the natural resources.
To be able to understand what whale eat and hence their impact on the ecosystem then you need to investigate what are in their stomach. You can't do that without hunting the animals .
The bottom line is that:
SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF THE WHALESTOCK IS PART OF OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
The fact of the matter is, whaling numbers are already and consistently being falsely reported. Placing limits, which have already been done, is ineffective. The amount of money spent on Whaling vessels and whaling " research " vessels would be better spent elsewhere. These funds are spent travelling far distances, and polluting our ocean and ozone layer ; the least they can do is kill off something else that isn't near danger of extinction. And btw, there are not just fin and minke whales being hunted, so whoever is peddling that crap should take it elsewhere. They are killing dozens and dozens of species of porpoises and whales, and they are lying about their numbers. If you claim people NEED whale meat to live, what will happen when that resource runs out (yes, I realize it will still take an incredibly long time for it to run out)? It's the same with every limited resource; just stop using it now and use something sustainable and more efficient. Same reason why we need to get rid of oil . If we can fix an inevitable problem before it happens, why wouldn't we? Duh!
No, I'm not a member of PETA (do a little research and you'll know why) , no I'm not a vegan , and no, I'm not even a registered Democrat. That being said, I am however, DISGUSTED by the act and process of whaling. Commercial whaling has been banned since 1986 (Thanks in part to President Regan). The continued whaling under the guise of scientific research is what sickens me. Someone below said that "well they're not hunting Humpback whales or anything", this is simply not true. Under the whaling for research guidelines the Japanese whaling fleet are allowed 50...that's right, 50, humpback whales per season, almost 1000 minke whales and a slew of other almost endangered species of whales. PER SEASON! Not to mention that the majority of this hunting takes place in a WHALE SANCTUARY in the Southern Ocean. I mean, hunters are not allowed to hunt in sanctuaries, why should the rules change for whalers? My disgust really is towards the entire Obama administration and their love of $$$. The whaling industry is a MILLION dollar industry, and I'm sure they're just chomping at the bit to get their piece of the action. And what the hell...you know someone is doing something illegal ....don't punish them for it...goodness no! Just make it legal . President Obama....(and I use that term loosely)...SHAME ON YOU!
whales are pretty close to sentience, if not already there... kinda not cool to kill them, i mean, why? what the crap do we get from them?
Iceland is only hunting Fin and Minke whale
Fin whale
http://www.fisheries.is/main-species/marine-mammals/fin-whale /
"Sighting surveys indicate that there are around 24,000 fin whales in the East Greenland/Iceland and Jan Mayen stock area and 14,000 in the area between Iceland and Greenland. According to a recent assessment, the stock is likely to be close to its pre-exploitation level.
Minke whale
http://www.fisheries.is/main-species/marine-mammals/common-minke-whale /
"A recent assessment by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO shows that the common minke whale fishery in the past decades has had no significant effect on the status of the stock. It is also concluded that an annual harvest of 400 animals for 20 years would most likely maintain the stock above 70% of the pre-exploitation level. "
PETA I see where you are coming from, an extreme point of view. Too many of any living creature is a bad thing. That's why we have hunting , abortion , the prison industrial complex, and the continent of Africa, and soon, whaling.
Now you see how bad that sounded, well that PETA, is how you and your group of radical activists sound to most.
The argument against whaling was that there were not enough animals in the ocean to tolerate exploitation of these animals. The fact is that there are plentyful of fin and minke whale so the stock tolerate some exploitation. So the argument for the whale moratorium is not valid and hence Mr Obama has correct focus in this matter.
It is natural that human utililize the food resources available,incluing the whales .
SUSTAINABLE WHALING IS PART OF OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.