great news for the whales

[Ken Gargett]

fantastic to see the international court of justice rule in favour of banning japan's whaling program, even if only on a temporary basis.

hats off to sea shepherd and others for their tireless work, in dangerous conditions, to finally stop this barbaric slaughter. one assumes they'll now focus on some of the european nations.

[Maplepie]

maybe now, when i go on whale watching tours, i'll actually see something........

Ah yeah! good for those whales! i learned in grade school their mating season is reason the water is so salty......

[westg]

Great news ...when you see these animals up close it absolutely baffles me how anyone could kill them ...and for scientific reasons that was just all B S ..

[finecigar]

Wonderful news! Thanks for sharing Ken

[sharks]

Watched a short news clip from a previous Japanese negotiator and he stated it doesn't matter what they say we will

continue the whale hunting program regardless . Will be interesting to see what happens

[Ken Gargett]

Watched a short news clip from a previous Japanese negotiator and he stated it doesn't matter what they say we will

continue the whale hunting program regardless . Will be interesting to see what happens

interesting. the reports i saw all said that while they may disagree and regret the decision, they would comply. indicated that they were far more concerned with being seen as a legit part of the international community - it was actually a really good, respectful response. the decision is for the antarctic so may be he was talking about elsewhere.

[LordAnubis]

Yeah. I one decisions from an "international" court that would be much liek the UN and have basically no power anyway, doens't mean anything. The **** will still do it. I say we take a leaf out of the Chasers book ....

[Ken Gargett]

Yeah. I one decisions from an "international" court that would be much liek the UN and have basically no power anyway, doens't mean anything. The **** will still do it. I say we take a leaf out of the Chasers book ....

i would think acting like the chasers in any way would be about as counter-productive as one could imagine.

the ICJ has problems - largely that enforcement may need to be via the security council. that means any of the 5 permanent members can veto that action - the most obvious example being the actions by the US to veto in respect of the decision where the ICJ found for nicaragua against the states back in the 80s.

but that won't apply here.

i think that japan has now to be given the opportunity to comply. if it does, all well and good. if not, then i suspect that they'd bring far more problems down on themselves than would be solved by slaughtering a few whales.

[LordAnubis]

I don't believe any of the "UN" can do anything about anyhting in this world, other than apply sanctions. Beuracratic red tape is all they are good for. I loved russias response to being removed from the G8, was an absolute pearler.

I wonder what guise Norway and Iceland use for their whaling operations. I think it's Norway that actually targets breeding females if i'm not mistaken. That's not good for survival of species i don't think.

[Ken Gargett]

I don't believe any of the "UN" can do anything about anyhting in this world, other than apply sanctions. Beuracratic red tape is all they are good for. I loved russias response to being removed from the G8, was an absolute pearler.

I wonder what guise Norway and Iceland use for their whaling operations. I think it's Norway that actually targets breeding females if i'm not mistaken. That's not good for survival of species i don't think.

i'm no fonder of the UN and certainly think it a largely useless, lumbering mob of bureaucrats most of whom are feathering their own nest or using it to feel important after they have lost relevance in their home states but as a former lawyer, i'd like to see the court succeed. it will have obstacles, like the security council veto power, but i think we have to give it a go and see what happens. then further action.

tough for australia to bring an action against norway unless they start killing down here.

[assassin]

Yes good news indeed ----scientific research my a--e!

[Hiroshiro]

But what if we grew up Eating Whale? In Hiroshima and the South Whale is still very popular. I've had it and enjoyed it when i was younger and had it once last year during a board meeting. For most Japanese international News isn't much interest so I don't think they will really get fed this information. They will just see "Oh it is more expensive...I wonder why?" (Tilts head to the side)

Obviously I don't support Killing endangered species it is just the fact that many Japanese are ignorant to these things. Watch White Light Black Rain a HBO special on the Atomic Bombs... Literally "What happened today August 6th 1945? 'Uh I don't know what?'"
PS: BTW they asked that question in Hiroshima... --__-- mendou da yo!

[Ken Gargett]

Yes good news indeed ----scientific research my a--e!

what? you don't think they needed to slaughter all 10,000 plus whales for science?

if i had my way, paul watson would be 'man of the century'.

[Hiroshiro]

what? you don't think they needed to slaughter all 10,000 plus whales for science?

if i had my way, paul watson would be 'man of the century'.

actually only 3660 whales have been caught since 2006 not including any whales that were hurt and unable to be caught but reported at Port once unloaded

[Ken Gargett]

actually only 3660 whales have been caught since 2006 not including any whales that were hurt and unable to be caught but reported at Port once unloaded

i think you are correct when you talk about most japanese not hearing. saw a doco not so long ago where the makers were interviewing many japanese, especially younger people. i was stunned at how few had any idea what was happening. quite a few outraged when they heard.

as to figures, i doubt we'll ever know the truth, unless the japanese authorities release the correct numbers and i can't see that happening until this has all long been forgotten.

the 3,600 is, if i understand correctly, the japanese figure for minke whales in southern oceans. it doesn't include fin and humpbacks. and doesn't include figures for whales slaughtered outside the southern oceans - and there are still significant numbers, i gather.

the 10,000 is the figure that australia quoted in its case to the ICJ - where they got it i don't know but they'd be brave/silly to quote that figure if they could not justify it.

[Hiroshiro]

i think you are correct when you talk about most japanese not hearing. saw a doco not so long ago where the makers were interviewing many japanese, especially younger people. i was stunned at how few had any idea what was happening. quite a few outraged when they heard.

as to figures, i doubt we'll ever know the truth, unless the japanese authorities release the correct numbers and i can't see that happening until this has all long been forgotten.

the 3,600 is, if i understand correctly, the japanese figure for minke whales in southern oceans. it doesn't include fin and humpbacks. and doesn't include figures for whales slaughtered outside the southern oceans - and there are still significant numbers, i gather.

the 10,000 is the figure that australia quoted in its case to the ICJ - where they got it i don't know but they'd be brave/silly to quote that figure if they could not justify it.

yea Even the Okinawans Still Hunt whales on their own which is not reported and how accessible Whale is everywhere in Japan I'm sure its a pretty high number. Even here in SoCal where it is illegal you can find Whale being served at many Japanese Sushi Resturants... Which when you talk to the Chefs they say they import from Japan. We will see what comes of it but I know they won't stop since it is part of the diet

PS: Most sushi places here in SoCal are Korean and Chinese run but If you encounter actual Japanese Sushi restaurants it is a whole different world

[Ken Gargett]

yea Even the Okinawans Still Hunt whales on their own which is not reported and how accessible Whale is everywhere in Japan I'm sure its a pretty high number. Even here in SoCal where it is illegal you can find Whale being served at many Japanese Sushi Resturants... Which when you talk to the Chefs they say they import from Japan. We will see what comes of it but I know they won't stop since it is part of the diet

PS: Most sushi places here in SoCal are Korean and Chinese run but If you encounter actual Japanese Sushi restaurants it is a whole different world

i think in the end the way it will stop is public condemnation, both of the slaughter and of eating/using it. same goes for things like foie gras, rhino horn, tiger penis, shark fin and so on. until the public refuses to support them, people will kill and sell and eat the lot.

i was stunned recently to read that the chinese word for shark fin dishes gave no clue that the content was shark fin (that seems very odd). so a great many chinese understandably had no idea of its origins.

it is not dis-similar to public condemnation of smoking in restaurants etc.

[Fuzz AI]

Wonder if Sea Shepherd will now focus on Japan's dolphin hunting?

[Hiroshiro]

Is shark illegal in the states? I live in a highly Chinese community and it's everywhere. I never bothered to check. I don't really like it personally

[Ken Gargett]

Wonder if Sea Shepherd will now focus on Japan's dolphin hunting?

fuzz, sea shepherd has been extremely focused on the japanese dolphin slaughter for many years. they do a lot more than just fight the whalers.

[Ken Gargett]

Is shark illegal in the states? I live in a highly Chinese community and it's everywhere. I never bothered to check. I don't really like it personally

not certain but would be interested if someone knew.

i tried it years ago and found it very bland.

it was later explained to me that its appeal was in the texture - can sort of understand that - and because it is excellent at picking up whatever is the key flavour of the dish and enhancing it. all of that is wonderful and does make it very useful for many dishes, but sadly to get it, 10s of 1,000s of sharks are slaughtered every year and this will have a massively adverse effect on the oceans.

[Lotusguy]

Illegal in California http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-shark-fin-ban-upheld-by-federal-judge-5348461.php?cmpid=hp-hc-bayarea

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[CaptainQuintero]

Everyone is missing the easiest way to solve this; grant whales Russian citizenship/ethnic-Russian status

[Mr.T]

Very good to see this....