Comments | yumbanana: Out comes the whale meat!

yumbanana

Out comes the whale meat!

Jan 22, 2008 21:07

Oh yes, on Monday, we had whale meat for the first time in years (they say) for school lunch. Apparently, in those days when harpooning whales was done on a regular basis, they had it for school lunch quite often. Now it's very rare so the school made it a very special occasion ( Read more... )

Comments 8

moogly_bear January 22 2008, 13:23:21 UTC

Ergh, I couldn't face whale meat either. Do you think that was what happened to the whales that the so-called 'Scientific' Japanese whaling fleet killed? :O How do you feel about that?
Personally I think it's terrible. Because a species is endangered, you can't keep killing it for the sake of tradition! They've exploited a legal loophole and people seem to be kind of turning a blind eye to it! >:(

yumbanana January 23 2008, 12:01:26 UTC

Mh, I do think that people would need to stop killing things if they know are in danger of getting extinct. It's selfish, because it doesn't leave anything for the next generation!! There wouldn't be any tradition left if they go on a big killing spree! But I don't think it's inhumane as people say, because that would make me a vegetarian or a hypocrite.

killfolkstars January 22 2008, 17:54:10 UTC

I think the total number of whales that the Japanese fleet kills each year is just under a thousand. I have no idea how much meat comes off each whale though.

I have a mixed view on whaling. It strikes me that a lot of people will crow and cry out against it because whales are an endangered species and that's about the extent of their knowledge. How many exist, how many Japan catch, how many species there are even, none of that matters, because it's just wrong to kill whales, man. Why? because they're WHALES. They don't get up in arms about the mistreatment of other animals, just the causes celebres that are whales, dolphins, lions, tigers etc. Are they so concerned about the world's severely declining tuna population? Doubt it.

Kill 'em all I say, and let new, more delicious species rise and take their place.

moogly_bear January 23 2008, 08:06:47 UTC

It's got nothing to do with it being a cause celebre, it's the fact that it's blatantly cruel! Although I can't get on my moral high horse and say "I don't eat meat or animal products" because that would a lie, I don't eat many kinds of meat and it's the kind that's from sustainable sources i.e. chicken, and generally I try and get my meat from a local butcher wherever possible, hopefully making it more likely it has come from a free range farm. Most people argue that there is no humane way to kill a whale due to the cruel methods used in the trade, like explosive harpoons.

killfolkstars January 23 2008, 13:13:38 UTC

Hmmm, I did forget about the explosive harpoons, I admit.

As I'm sure is obvious from my transparent reasoning above, I don't really support whaling, primarily because I see it as unnecessary. Every year whaling countries carp on about the scientific benfits, but when pressed as to what they actually are, they're not nearly so forthcoming. Yes there are some benefits, but I don't think enough to justify knocking off a thousand whales a year ( ... )

yumbanana January 23 2008, 12:19:38 UTC

Well, I think whales produce good oil and the bones are useful for... I forgot what. So in Japan, they traditionally use every part of the whale so I don't think they waste them like the Norwegians ( ... )

Thread 6