Super Harpoon makes me feel sick!!!!!

[Kate]

I read an article in a paper yesterday about a new ‘breed’ of harpoon that has been designed and going to be used by the Japanese to hunt Fin and Humpback Whales.

The article stated that the designer said it was a more humane way to kill…read it for yourself….personally it makes me feel f***ing sick to the stomach!!!!

I’m trying to find some pictures, but I’m not having any luck

Link 1

Link 2

[smudger]

I dont understand if your views are against whaling in general then thats the reason? but if the Japanese are going to hunt whale as it seems they are surely finding a more humane way is better?
The problem seems to be they have given the fingers up to dictatorial terms wouldn't we all? Which will probably cause a knee jerk reaction and result in many more whales being slaughtered for no reason, the result being that there will a whirlwind of hype and probably a few insane acts!!
I would have thought mediation rather than outrage would be better placed at the end of the day your not going to stop whaling so maybe managing the stocks would be a greater effect.
I wish to add I do not condone whaling however I feel there is no peaceful solution and just ordering a country to stop will not work which seems to be reflected in the article.....

[Dr T]

reading the description of the harpoon, basically a fragmentation grenade on the end of a pole, it is pretty grim and messy.
If the animal does not die instantly it will suffer greatly.

not nice

[chrisch]

I wonder if this is another BS excuse about "research"?

As smudger says its pretty difficult to stop another soveriegn nation doing something just 'cos you don't like it... (unless you are the US and we are talking about Iran....)

Chris

[Conor]

Originally Posted by chrisch

I wonder if this is another BS excuse about "research"?

As smudger says its pretty difficult to stop another soveriegn nation doing something just 'cos you don't like it... (unless you are the US and we are talking about Iran....)

Chris

On unless they let us have some of those harpoons too!!!!


MAAAHHHHAAAAAMMMWWWWWAAAAAHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHAAAAAAA

sorry got carried away (to clarify...it would be to fire back at them NOT the whales )

[smudger]

Originally Posted by chrisch

I wonder if this is another BS excuse about "research"?
As smudger says its pretty difficult to stop another soveriegn nation doing something just 'cos you don't like it... (unless you are the US and we are talking about Iran....)
Chris

I really don't know how it can be justified as research with the numbers they are talking about, but surely getting actual numbers and "farming" as such and taking account of deminishing stocks would help the cause otherwise it is still going to be a very short lived industry.......
I would have thought economic reasons would have more sway than ergonomics?

[chrisch]

If I won the lottery I would buy a submarine (I think you can get ex navy ones for about 2 mill..) and sink the bastards. Of course this would be wrong of me. However much one values the welfare of other species we should not put them above human life. However, I have been wrong at times in my life, besides wreck dives....

Chris

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by smudger

I really don't know how it can be justified as research with the numbers they are talking about,

No me neither, but it does seem to be the "excuse". If it were possible to ignore the ethics then the moratorium should be held good to allow "stocks" to recover to generate a "surplus" to "harvest".

I'm sure you are right also that economics are at the heart of the thing. As long as there is money to be made someone somewhere will undertake whatever activity they can get away with

Chris

[smudger]

Originally Posted by chrisch

No me neither, but it does seem to be the "excuse". If it were possible to ignore the ethics then the moratorium should be held good to allow "stocks" to recover to generate a "surplus" to "harvest".
I'm sure you are right also that economics are at the heart of the thing. As long as there is money to be made someone somewhere will undertake whatever activity they can get away with
Chris

At the end of the day they are going to hunt, so that has to be the solution I think also I worry how many non hunting nation have a finger in the pie or is that too cynical??

[Ken]

I personally find it disheartening that the three nations Japan, Norway and Iceland are still in the hunt and that Japan is decidedly eyeing larger, more endangered species. I am assuming that the acceleration to devise new weaponry is yet another attempt to quickly make good on capital investments prior to the former extended moratorium. Mindsets were/are to eek out every Yen, Kroner, Krona of investment and recycle their fleet when the stocks have diminished to zero sustainability. The former Russian fleet was a prime example. In the 70’s the Russian boats were floating rust buckets desperately trying to maximize return profit from a fishery that had simply been hunted out. After the last foray in the 70’s the Russians gave it up.

It's interesting that arguments abound on this topic. One argument revolves around a collective of nations telling a smaller nation what they should or should not harvest. My feeling is hunting thousands of Minke whales (as a part of a pseudo-research program -Japan) is inane. There is no real market for the meat apart from the occasional codger wanting a taste. Additionally, telling someone to stop is not bad manners or culture bashing. An analogy is a collective of classmates telling one obnoxious child to sit down and cut it out!

I think the greater debate with whales is whether people get it or not. The environmental indicators (especially from the UK) are clear. The issue is whether people make a stand or not. From my observations around New York City I can assure you that a lot of people here do not internalize the need to act for the planet, or for the cetaceans. They simply consume, plug into to their ipods and simply go on. It seems to be the American way – at least here in Manhattan.

As a diver and educator I have decided that I cannot stand this anymore. I will be influencing and starting discussions about global issues and whaling when I visit school systems. An early strategy will be to send letters to Gorton's seafood. This "friendly", American seafood company is owned by Nissui corporation. Nissui owns large shares in the whaling industry. Thousands of kids urging mom & dad not to buy Gorton’s product could have an effect? Hit them in their wallets I say. Knowing the stubborn nature of the Japanese they will not easily back down though. However, it’s a good fight and one worth winning for the kids.

If you are interested in filling an email form pressuring Gorton’s and Nissui it can be found here.
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/gortons

I thank you for reading my perspectives. Ken