Japan in plan to expand whaling

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4436231.stm

Tuesday, 12 April, 2005

Japan in plan to expand whaling

Japan is proposing to expand its controversial whaling research programme.

The plan would see Japan nearly double its catch of minke whales and start catching humpback and fin whales.

The plan will be submitted to the International Whaling Commission in May, though it does not need approval.

Any increase in whaling will anger international lobby groups, who say Japan's research programme circumvents a ban on commercial whaling.

A spokeswoman for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) said it had received the Japanese proposal.

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[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[ozone_man]

5. They need to 'analyze the ecosystem'.

According to sources cited by Japan's Kyodo news agency, the new plan is based on Japan's argument that there is a need to increase hunting activities in order to analyze the ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean.

:mad:

[flvegan]

2. It also appears that Korea is doing the same

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/exposed-korea-s-secret-plans

[maxsolomon]

3. those whale populations are out of control

just like those horrid seals in newfoundland. everywhere i turn there's a goddamn whale swimming in my way, eating all my plankton.

its us or them.

[Gregorian]

8. Irony noted.

See below.
Edit- :) (I'm not angry. Just commenting on a rather huge issue.)

[Demeter]

4. Why Why Why?

Why are they doing this? Sheer stubbornness? Desperate lack of food? The modern Japanese don't even like whale meat.

[Baclava]

6. 400 whales a year isn't enough to maintain a "cultural heritage?"

"Whale meat is seen as a delicacy in Japan, and officials in Tokyo maintain that the tradition is an important part of the nation's cultural heritage."

So - the tuna and swordfish fleets are there to rape the rest of the oceans?

[MrPrax]

7. Maybe the Chinese Have The Right Idea..?

Japan has gotten a pass for too many years on too many issues that pass under the radar...