WHY IS IT WRONG THAT THE JAPANESE HUNT WHALES FOR CULTURAL REASONS?

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

(4) WHY IS IT WRONG THAT THE JAPANESE HUNT WHALES FOR CULTURAL REASONS?

Japan does indeed have a long history of whaling. The oldest records date back to the eighth century when Emperor Jimmu was fed whale meat and the villages used whale oil in their lanterns. The numbers of whales killed is disputed, however all sources agree it was no more than 10 whales a year per major coastal town. Food was scarce and the oil provided a valuable means for lighting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/world/asia/14whaling.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin

However, It was a long time later, after World War 2 when whale meat became a large part of the majority populations diet. Again, food was extremely scarce and the people were poor. Whale meat was a cheap source of protein and it was critical to harvest it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_Japan

Japans whale consumption peaked in 1962 when 226, 000 tons were harvested. In 1985 (a year before the global ban on whaling), Japan only harvested 15, 000 tons as many Japanese citizens were beginning to shun whale meat for better food options.

While Japan does have a “history” of whaling dating back many centuries, the initial “cultural” need is no longer there. Japan is one of the world’s riches, powerful and technologically advanced nations around today. No longer is there that critical need to obtain whale oil to light their night lamps and lanterns. No longer are Japanese citizens starving to death because of food shortages like there was after World War 2.

Japan cannot be allowed to claim “Cultural” reasons, when less than 1% of the population eat whale meat and when they are hunting these remarkable creatures thousands of miles from their coastal villages where the initial whaling took place.

http://climateofourfuture.org/fearing-us-reaction-japanese-whaling-fleet-hides-in-port/

Japan has close to 4,000 tons of whale meat from its “scientific” whaling program in cold storage - uneaten, unsold, and unwanted ~ !!!



▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀