Environmentalists pursue Japan's whalers

[matsuki]

Nice try but how many aquariums have I been to in Japan that serve sushi in the restaurants.

A Japanese person will go to an aquarium, see a fish, and think oishisou.

I love seafood but never once have I seen a live fish and thought it looked delicious. Same goes for beef and a field full of cows.

Agree.

On the other hand, with pigs I cannot suppress culinary fantasies. These animals are made to be cut to pieces and fried.

[GomiGirl]

Right, but TIJ so you get their attention with the slutty/cute preteen girls and you try to make them believe the girls care about dolphins/whales while educating.

BULLSHIT.

This whole slutty pre-teen thing to get a broad audience is a myth. These are used to get the attention of a particular segment of the population and it is so tired and overdone without any new or fresh concepts it is really hard to get much attention even now.

The rest just turn a blind eye to it.

Japanese consumers are very good at blocking out things that are not of interest to them. They don't get all offended by gratuitous imagery, they just ignore it. This is not really tacit approval, it is more about being apathetic about stuff that is off their radar. You rarely here the "but what about the children?" arguments that you hear in other countries.

[matsuki]

Right, but TIJ so you get their attention with the slutty/cute preteen girls and you try to make them believe the girls care about dolphins/whales while educating.

BULLSHIT.

This whole slutty pre-teen thing to get a broad audience is a myth. These are used to get the attention of a particular segment of the population and it is so tired and overdone without any new or fresh concepts it is really hard to get much attention even now.

The rest just turn a blind eye to it.

Japanese consumers are very good at blocking out things that are not of interest to them. They don't get all offended by gratuitous imagery, they just ignore it. This is not really tacit approval, it is more about being apathetic about stuff that is off their radar.

It isn't easy to ignore when it's plastered all over everything from the conbini to your coffee but obviously it's got the attention of more than just the particular brand of otaku. Not saying everyone loves it but enough people believe that most people do. Anyhow, we're getting off on a tangent. My point is the same thing you're saying, market it to the Japanese with Japanese, not with angry foreign hippies on boats and skull logos. (too easy to write em off as anti-Japanese and no way will they get much sympathy for their cause)

You rarely here the "but what about the children?" arguments that you hear in other countries.

Only when they're referring to the possibility of getting bullied at school.

[GomiGirl]

Anyhow, we're getting off on a tangent. My point is the same thing you're saying, market it to the Japanese with Japanese, not with angry foreign hippies on boats and skull logos. (too easy to write em off as anti-Japanese and no way will they get much sympathy for their cause)

Yep - my thoughts exactly.

I watched The Cove and the biggest lesson I got from that was the high level of mercury in the dolphin meat they were passing off in supermarkets as whale or other meat. Or worse, trying to palm off to the kids in school lunches. THIS is what the general population should be hearing about and getting angry - the food supply and re-labeling of tainted food.

The whaling/dolphin slaughter will stop if it is not economical to do it anymore or there is enough outcry from within Japan. Green haired, placard waving, twitter experts marching around the diet is going to do squat.

[matsuki]

I watched The Cove and the biggest lesson I got from that was the high level of mercury in the dolphin meat they were passing off in supermarkets as whale or other meat. Or worse, trying to palm off to the kids in school lunches. THIS is what the general population should be hearing about and getting angry - the food supply and re-labeling of tainted food.

That's what I don't understand...where the hell is the Ministry of preventing idiots poisoning everyone with this stuff? The testing/results from a trustworthy source within Japan would seem to be enough to deter most reasonable people.

[Coligny]

I watched The Cove and the biggest lesson I got from that was the high level of mercury in the dolphin meat they were passing off in supermarkets as whale or other meat. Or worse, trying to palm off to the kids in school lunches. THIS is what the general population should be hearing about and getting angry - the food supply and re-labeling of tainted food.

That's what I don't understand...where the hell is the Ministry of preventing idiots poisoning everyone with this stuff? The testing/results from a trustworthy source within Japan would seem to be enough to deter most reasonable people.

You two are spreading rumors to create stress and anxiety to hard working japanese fishermen working hard to make an honest living.Prepare to be sued... get ready to rot in jail.

Damn I start speaking like a japanese politishiunz... no good...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Anybody who thinks Japanese whaling has anything to do with food or the livelihood of poor fisherfolk is fucken deluded.

But GG is right that anti-whaling spactivists are worthless (for anything other than perpetuating the system).

[yanpa]

Anybody who thinks Japanese whaling has anything to do with food or the livelihood of poor fisherfolk is fucken deluded.

It's all about the science, innit

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Anybody who thinks Japanese whaling has anything to do with food or the livelihood of poor fisherfolk is fucken deluded.

It's all about the science, innit

I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it. Of course that's what it is...Japanese scientific research being the paragon of excellence that it is....

[yanpa]

Anybody who thinks Japanese whaling has anything to do with food or the livelihood of poor fisherfolk is fucken deluded.

It's all about the science, innit

I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it. Of course that's what it is...Japanese scientific research being the paragon of excellence that it is....

Not for nothing is Japan a world leader in harpoon technology.

[matsuki]

You mean the science of embezzlement and corruption? Japan is definitely at the cutting edge of that research and rightfully so with that much funding....

[yanpa]

Whale-barrel politics still providing role for cetacea huggers

Japanese whaling industry 'dead in the water', says animal welfare group

Charity says industry struggling to survive despite government bailout and calls for resources to be diverted to whale-watching

Japan's whaling industry is "dead in the water" and cannot survive without huge taxpayer subsidies, according to a study.

The report, to be published on Tuesday by the charity International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), draws on Japanese government data for the first time to build a case against the use of millions of dollars in public subsidies to prop up the industry amid a dramatic decline in consumption of whale meat.

Last year those subsidies included ¥2.28bn (£15.6m) siphoned off from the budget for reconstructing the region devastated by the March 2011 tsunami.

The report, seen by the Guardian, calls on the government to divert resources to Japan's fledgling whale-watching industry as a "pro-economy, pro-whale" alternative to its annual "research" hunts in the Antarctic. "Whaling is an unprofitable business that can survive only with substantial subsidies and one that caters to an increasingly shrinking and ageing market," the report says.

Annual subsidies, channelled through the Institute for Cetacean Research, average about ¥782m (£5.3m), it said, adding that the government spent at least ¥30bn (£205m) on whaling between 1987 and last year.

...more...

[Mike Oxlong]

Military icebreaker arrives to defend Japanese whalers

Japan has sent a giant military icebreaker to bolster its whaling fleet in the conflict with Sea Shepherd off the Australian Antarctic Territory, anti-whaling activists say.

The 12,500 tonne Shirase, operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, has appeared near whalers and Sea Shepherd activists 50 nautical miles off the coast of the territory, the group said.

The ship was recognised on radar by its identification signal, according to Sea Shepherd.

The Korean tanker Sun Laurel was making a renewed attempt to refuel the whalers' factory ship Nisshin Maru under the shelter of a Coast Guard helicopter from Shirase, Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said.
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The powerful icebreaker can carry up to 250 crew and three helicopters, and has conducted Antarctic resupply duties for Japan, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defence website.

Shirase was scheduled to be in the region conducting Antarctic scientific work off nearby Cape Darnley, an informed Australian source said.

The ship was due to be working on ocean moorings, which are used to collect oceanographic data.

The Japanese Government had no immediate comment on the Shirase's use, or the presence of the helicopter over the Sun Laurel...

MoAr @ Sydney Morning Herald

[Coligny]

!? Japan have icebreakers !?
!? military have icebreakers !?

!? Japanz military have icebreakerz... !?

File that under the same level of stupidity as Military firetrucks painted in woodland digital camo...
Even Russians got theirs in bright red with white conspicuousity stripes (oot rant over...)

[matsuki]

...and WTH is a Korean refueling ship doing way the fuck down there? (searching for the origins of the Korean people or more evidence Koreans invented everything?) The icing on the cake is the Japanese military being used to escort the whalers in the "scientific research." More money going down the drain to keep the tap these dudes have on government money flowing. Still surprised nobody is shooting each other yet and we haven't seen any real explosions. That video in the link is pretty crazy though, ships that big colliding is always "fun"

[Samurai_Jerk]

Sweet ....

Court: Anti-whaling protesters are 'pirates'

Their supporters call them heroes. The Japanese government calls them terrorists.
Late Monday, the United States' largest federal court labeled them pirates.
In doing so, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals castigated Paul Watson and members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society he founded for the tactics used in their relentless campaign to disrupt the annual whale hunt off the dangerous waters of Antarctica.
"You don't need a peg leg or an eye patch," Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel. "When you ram ships; hurl glass containers of acid; drag metal-reinforced ropes in the water to damage propellers and rudders; launch smoke bombs and flares with hooks; and point high-powered lasers at other ships, you are, without a doubt, a pirate, no matter how high-minded you believe your purpose to be."

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

International Court of Justice hearing begins this week...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/25/australia-japan-whaling-antarctic-challenge

[matsuki]

International Court of Justice hearing begins this week...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/25/australia-japan-whaling-antarctic-challenge

Worries me because if the Aussies do't bring it and Japan "wins" this case, it will further empower them. Though I did like reading this:

The Antarctic hunts have divided opinion in Japan. While many Japanese believe their country has a right to continue its tradition of hunting and eating the animals, a significant number oppose the Southern Ocean hunts because they rely on huge government subsidies.

Japanese activists also point to plummeting consumption of whale meat.

"It doesn't sell in Japan, and I don't see that changing any time soon," said Nanami Kurasawa of the Dolphin and Whale Action Network, a Tokyo-based pressure group.

According to a recent study by the Nippon Research Group, whale meat consumption has fallen to about 1% of its 1960s peak. Current stockpiles of unsold whale meat have increased to nearly 5,000 tonnes, about four times greater than they were 15 years ago.

"Selling meat on the open market has been a total failure," Kurasawa said. "If the court rules in Australia's favour, it will be a good opportunity for Japan to stop the Antarctic hunts. It would be the intelligent thing to do."

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Worries me because if the Aussies do't bring it and Japan "wins" this case, it will further empower them.

That seems likely to be the case...

Interesting to see that this issue has attracted nothing more than minimal attention among Japan's mainstream media, contrasting with the frenzy garnered any time there's positive international reaction to an issue involving this cuntry.

Personally, if Japan is whaling in a manner that makes it sustainable (which I'm skeptical about considering it's record in fishing), then let them do it, but let's stop the charade of it being "for scientific research" and funding it -- and the hyper-bloated bureaucracy sustained by it -- with donations people gave to help those victimized by the Tohoku disasters.

Aussies should get off their high-horse and be a little less racist in dealing with the issue, too. But Australia has a pretty racist record in dealing with Japan, so this may not be as easy as it seems.

[Yokohammer]

On the other hand, at least as far as the whaling issue is concerned, Japan's stance that Japanese culture* trumps international opinion is pretty racist too. Especially in international waters. They can do whatever they like in their own territorial waters ... well, except dump nuclear waste that will spread throughout the world, for example.

* Which in this case it isn't.

[matsuki]

Personally, if Japan is whaling in a manner that makes it sustainable (which I'm skeptical about considering it's record in fishing), then let them do it, but let's stop the charade of it being "for scientific research" and funding it -- and the hyper-bloated bureaucracy sustained by it -- with donations people gave to help those victimized by the Tohoku disasters. .

THIS

I dunno about you guys but I personally told my friends/family NOT to donate anything to the disaster recover effort UNLESS it was directly people they knew in the area. The was the donations were used pissed off everyone I know that donated but like everything, Japan is going to take even donations on their own terms....along with loophole and BS a bunch to embezzle as much of the funds as they can.

On the other hand, at least as far as the whaling issue is concerned, Japan's stance that Japanese culture trumps international opinion is pretty racist too.

Even that stance is BS because whaling isn't "Japanese culture" and there is no demand for the meat or the "research." Cultural/religious freedom is sooo often a go to BS excuse and unfortunately works well in the nationalistic atmosphere as of late when they paint it as "Japan's culture is under attack by gaijin."

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Even that stance is BS because whaling isn't "Japanese culture" and there is no demand for the meat or the "research." Cultural/religious freedom is sooo often a go to BS excuse and unfortunately works well in the nationalistic atmosphere as of late when they paint it as "Japan's culture is under attack by gaijin."

That's what Hammer points out with his addendum to the post, but you're right.

Cuntries pull out the nationalist arguments all the time and Japan is no exception. (That doesn't make it right, but...) I dislike the righteous indignation you're greeted with if you point out contradictions, like how Japan can argue on a matter like ratifying the Hague Treaty that it has different ideas toward imposed Western values like human rights, but then have its envoys claim to be highest-rank respecters of people's entitlements and anyone else can "shaddup and stop laughing."

But this is an unfortunate fight that will give great credence to Japan's whaling body, I fear.

[matsuki]

I dislike the righteous indignation you're greeted with if you point out contradictions, like how Japan can argue on a matter like ratifying the Hague Treaty that it has different ideas toward imposed Western values like human rights, but then have its envoys claim to be highest-rank respecters of people's entitlements and anyone else can "shaddup and stop laughing."

How they go on and on about being a modern country and protecting human rights but then want human rights on their own terms? (lack of human rights)

But this is an unfortunate fight that will give great credence to Japan's whaling body, I fear.

Like I originally said, that's how I see this backfiring...being touted in the media as the International court backing Japan's actions/position Who knows though, maybe the Japanese will get caught trying to bribe or the court will look at the whole picture....stranger things have happened.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Like I originally said, that's how I see this backfiring...being touted in the media as the International court backing Japan's actions/position Who knows though, maybe the Japanese will get caught trying to bribe or the court will look at the whole picture....stranger things have happened.

Sorry, I should have credited you on that.
What I think will be sad about this particular case is that today the fact Japan was taken to court and accused of lying by one of its largest and most important trading partners was ignored by this cuntry's mass media.
When Japan wins on a technicality as it is almost certain to do, the vindication you mentioned will be trumpeted far and wide with enormous percussive support.

[Yokohammer]

Quite the festival of foregone conclusions we have here. I'm not so sure that Japan will be victorious.

On the other hand, if they do win I won't be turning on the TV for several weeks. The wankfest will be unbearable.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Quite the festival of foregone conclusions we have here. I'm not so sure that Japan will be victorious.

It may not be a foregone conclusion, but anything short of an outright ban, which the ICJ will not give, is effectively a win for Japan, which will not need to stop its commercial whaling. It's just the extent of the Japanese win, IMHO.

Also interesting to note is with the traditional bloodletting of the Australian Labor Party last night most of the main players in the decision to take Japan to court are gone from the front lines and will have left Parliament by the Sept. 14 election. Mind you, returning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a Chinese lackey and thus no friend of Japan's.

[Yokohammer]

Also interesting to note is with the traditional bloodletting of the Australian Labor Party last night most of the main players in the decision to take Japan to court are gone from the front lines and will have left Parliament by the Sept. 14 election. Mind you, returning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a Chinese lackey and thus no friend of Japan's.

I noticed the abrupt shift in the parliamentary reality field yesterday. Very interesting.

But yes, anything could happen. I do think that a lot of people are just fed up with Japan's duplicity re. the whaling, but I am afraid that the antics of the Sea Shepherd idiots might deflect some sympathy to the Japanese side. Really. Those dumbfucks have done far more damage than good.

/// Tapatalking ///

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

But yes, anything could happen. I do think that a lot of people are just fed up with Japan's duplicity re. the whaling, but I am afraid that the antics of the Sea Shepherd idiots might deflect some sympathy to the Japanese side. Really. Those dumbfucks have done far more damage than good

Agree. Nobody in this side looks good.

[Mike Oxlong]

I do think that a lot of people are just fed up with Japan's duplicity re. the whaling, but I am afraid that the antics of the Sea Shepherd idiots might deflect some sympathy to the Japanese side. Really. Those dumbfucks have done far more damage than good.

Hard for even a diehard SS Whalewhores fan not to agree with your sentiments. The lowered carcass count is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's really doubtful that they'll "bankrupt" the system here, as it is not a market economy thing, and public opinion in support of whales anywhere is lukewarm at best, and as you say they are not doing much to swing the general public in their direction.

[Mike Oxlong]

Japan tells court whaling case is not a 'medieval inquisition'

The Japanese government told the UN's top judicial body it was a court of law, not a "medieval inquisition", as proceedings wrapped up in the whaling dispute between Australia and Japan.

Japan used the final day of the three-week hearing to argue the international court of justice (ICJ) did not have the authority to decide what was or wasn't science.

Canberra wants the 16-judge panel to ban Japan's annual hunt on the basis it is not "for purposes of scientific research" as allowed under article eight of the 1946 whaling convention.

Australia argues the Southern Ocean JARPA program is actually a commercial operation.

But Japan insists lethal research is both lawful and necessary.

The deputy foreign affairs minister, Koji Tsuruoka, on Tuesday said Tokyo was seeking "scientific information on the basis of which Japan might be able to ask for the moratorium [on commercial whaling] to be lifted".

"This court is a court of law not a court of scientific truth," Tsuruoka said in The Hague.

Lawyer Alain Pellet, who teaches international economic law at the University Paris Ouest, made a similar point on Tuesday.

"The court ... has the greatest possible authority to settle the legal disputes which it is seized of," he said through a translator.

"But it cannot decide between opposing scientific assessments."

Pellet said Australia was promoting "an elitist, metaphysical and sectarian view of science" whereas Japan was conducting "applied science".

"It is not up to us as legal persons to determine the validity on the merits of one or the other scientific view. We are not a medieval inquisition."

Australia has argued Japan's research is not science but rather "a heap of body parts taken from a large number of dead whales".

JARPA lacked defined and achievable objectives, appropriate methods, peer review and unnecessarily killed the stock being studied, the Australian government has told the court.

But Tsuruoka on Tuesday said the ICJ hearing had allowed Japan to finally show the world the truth about its whale research.

"We can thank Australia for this," he said...