Hmm... the slogan "No Slaughter for Profit" caught my eye - I suppose everyone at the protest was a vegetarian? If you are going to stop killing whales, the same should go for cows, chickens, fish, sheep and pigs. Which would leave us with no tasty Japanese food....
Whales are more at risk of becoming extinct compared to cows, and chickens though.
A march for a good cause... I feel those are not enough in numbers and I tend to ignore protests because I tend to associate them with political or economic issues (The idea that humans are never satisfied). However, I'd refuse to participate in something where safety is not assured, not crazy enough to clash with the paras. XD
I respectfully disagree. Whales unlike the other animals you can not be breed on farms or in mass for human consumption. They are a very important and fragile part of the earth's ecosystem that can not be replaced and is already on the brink. Secondly, while I love Japan, the government sanctions these hunts as science, yet they sell the resulting meat as food. At least be honest as to the intended point of the hunt, which is meat.
First : http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=14 (Irony Cafe rocks) Second: I like meat, if you believe in evolution, i descend of the kind of early proto-humans that looked upon all kind of animals and asked himself "it could taste good?"
It's a controversial issue. I'm not for hunting endangered species (I'm guessing this is what this really is about)... and protests are ok when they really have a point. But lately, so called "green" organizations are using tactics just as bad as big corporations to attack the issue. Like using actors and actresses to caus e commotion, attack legitimate business just because it will gain more media attention, and worse stuff. It's becoming much like a religion. Tons of people who doesn't even know what they are fighting for, several times motivated by lies or even fear. I specially don't like the "artsy" types of protest. I'm much more for making an effort to convince politics that this is really harmful to the environment, and studying ways of making things right without causing damage to... economy or whatever. I know it's hard, I know it very oftenly won't work. But what I really see in protests like this one is a waste of money that could be put to some use. But anyways, just a personal opinion. Oh, and about the eating or not eating animal meat... I never pay attention to people who protest against eating meat. If one doesn't like eating meat, fine for me. But don't think for one minute you can dictate what I can or cannot eat, because if you do, you'll be unpleasantly surprized with what I have to say. :P
I for one would not march for a animal's cause because IMO most of those who do that tend to be illogical and are not bothered about humans.(come on, at least we are of the same species) that said, however i would march for a political cause because at least that would bring betterment to humanity.(again my opinion)
Probably wouldn't participate in this, but I'm not exactly for whaling either. I've heard some people say that the hunters/fisherman depend on the whales and I could understand that if it were true. I haven't really looked into many of the hard facts so I don't know. But special cases aside I'm usually all for preserving/conserving life(marine or not) as much as possible.
I'm somewhat neutral on topics like this. I can see that there's a benefit and downside to performing acts like the one listed above. In some sense, it's like over abusing a natural resource. On the other side, some people do indeed find that the best way to make a living is by working off the whaling.
Maybe they should first ban kangaroo hunting?
Lately these "protests" and "violent street acts" REEKS OF RACISM. Let me elaborate: 1) If they really do "care", then why not protest against PUNY little countries like Denmark, Norway, etc that HUNT WHALES WAY OUT OF PROPORTION TO THEIR NEED "for profit"???? Why has it been lately so much RACISM AND HATRED of anyone who is not "white" in land of Oz????? Beating people up without cause just because they come from Lebanon, or so "Aye-rab" "terrorist".... bullshit. On the same note, get the F@CK out of Iraq and Afghanistan and Africa!!! If Aussies really care about "animals", guess what --- BECOME A VEGETARIAN YOU HYPOCRITES!!! --- If Aussies really care about "fighting terrorists" --- STOP ACTING LIKE ON, PICK A FIGHT WITH Larry "Lucky" Silverstein!!! 2) The apologists would say that cow/chicken/pork/etc are "cultivatable" or whatever, so its OKAY to slaughter them for profit. Right????!!!!!?????? Guess the same goes for humans, that's why you have CIA/MOSSAD/Henry Kissinger/Zionist slaughtering Cambodians, Latinos, Africans, Asians, Aye-rabs, Gooks and Chinks.... Total BULLSHIT, here we have a bunch of "white folks" who CONSUME 3-4 TIMES AS MUCH FOOD PER CAPITA, often more considering they WASTE MORE FOOD (throwing in garbage, don't make use of all of the animal, etc) than MOST ASIANS, AFRICANS, POVERTY STRICKEN PEOPLE.
@MACdaddy If only the whale population outnumbered the human population in Japan the same way the kangaroo does in Australia.
If I had nothing better to do, then yes. I don't have any comments on this situation...
While I am against whaling I have to admit that I am not well educated on the topic- and I agree with many others that protests are sometimes taken too far and can get personal. Regardless of any country's law, animals were put on this Earth for our dominion- so despite being sad about whales being killed it is justifiable- not my call. Maybe it is cruel to sell such a delicacy I suppose- but that is up to opinion. I let the big guy make decisions on this one when I am on the fence- I feel sorry for the whales but then again humans were left with the task of either preserving or eating species. Not really my kind of topic to have an opinion on. Activists tend to strongly force their opinions on others and they can get snappy. Watch peoples opinions- A friend of mine got offended at my opinion when I wasn't even pressing the issue.
I don't think I will ever participate in a protest, it just seems a bit stupid to me. Walking up and down streets causing a ruckus and possibly being arrested for the protest if it got out of hand is not something I want to deal with. I understand that the whaling is a bit much in Japan, but I believe they have a right to do it as it is part of their culture. If they start over hunting on an extreme level that would cause them to become extinct then I would be concerned.
firstly, in reply to some irresponsible comments made prior to this to MACdaddy, I know its a harmless joke but just to clarify things...hunting kangaroos can land you in jail. BTW, we do cultivate kangaroos and emus for meat. We are perhaps the only country in the world who legally eat our national emblems. to SilentFlute, you are out of topic and the issues you raise are for a separate discussion. There maybe a few things you might be unaware or misinformed about: 1) There is no racism in Australia, just some stupidity. It's all a matter of adapting and Australia is a free country made out of people from so many backgrounds. Although ethnically Chinese, I can fit easily into society even out there in the bush (i.e. countryside). Sure...there are some hoons here and there causing trouble. Well, what can we do...in 1000 ppl, there is sure be one fool. 2) The sense of hate which permeates your post/outlook is precisely the reason why we have a lot of problems today. I suggest you take a chill pill and take time to reflect.Be a blessing/miracle to someone else. Remember it only takes a spark to get a fire going. Which brings me to my real comment. I find protests on matters such whaling very trivial. What I liked from SilentFlute, is that we should be voicing out issues such as poverty (without rock stars please?), the plight of the Australian Aborigines, healthcare, education etc. Their energy and enthusiasm are better used for a better purpose or if not, get back to work and earn a living for both your family and your country.
To Melbourne_Observer: "Which brings me to my real comment. I find protests on matters such whaling very trivial. What I liked from SilentFlute, is that we should be voicing out issues such as poverty (without rock stars please?), the plight of the Australian Aborigines, healthcare, education etc. Their energy and enthusiasm are better used for a better purpose or if not, get back to work and earn a living for both your family and your country." You are right and that I should "lay low". But you are wrong about 2 very fundamental matters: "There is no racism in Australia..." ---- unfortunately that is very UNTRUE. Pretending otherwise or ignoring the issue will not solve it. Lately, there have been many of these "race" issues, not all in Oz. For example, the Canadian government (and police, and local "western" citizens) have been violating Native Aboriginal rights in Ontario. The media plays it out as "drunk, uneducated, natives with NO RIGHTS to these lands...etc" Treaty or no treaty (it becomes invalid since they "entered" into under a) unfair conditions, b) unknowingly, and c) without recourse to 'refuse' these treaties. In either case, a similar thing is happening in New Zealand, Lakota Nation in the USA, etc. It IS a race issue, if not then why not the "ATTENTION" on Denmark? On Norway? etc. Why "SPECIFICALLY" an Asian nation like Japan, a "Yellow Man" nation?!? Don't make the mistake of assuming they don't "know" about Denmark, or Norway, etc. If they are really moved by "whale hunting" then they would have been less "selective" of their protests. Secondly, out of 1000s people, you forgot the most import aspect --- CLOSET RACISTS. These days it is "POLITICALLY INCORRECT" to be an open racists, so you have MANY, MANY CLOSET RACISTS. In Canada, we have racist and rabid zionist in our highest levels of government: -- Stephen Harper, who is an OPEN ZIONIST, advocates the FALSE detention and imprisonment of Aye-rabs by framing them for "alleged" "bomb-making" "activities", just for have lawn fertilizer in their car DURING SPRING/SUMMER??? He also AUTHORIZED and ORCHESTRATED the VIOLENT OVERTHROW of DEMOCRACTICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT in HAITI. He also orchestrated Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, and tried (unsuccessfully) to get "involved" in Iraq... -- Defense Minister Peter McKay is an OPEN RACIST ZIONIST. A heavy "supporter" of Stephen Harper, and ADVOCATES "returning" Canada to how it was in the 19th century and early 20th century, by "making it a White Nation" through DEPORTATION of ALL NON-WHITES.
Protests IMO are pointless: the only thing they are good for is to bring attention to an issue. Since whale hunting is already on the government's agenda, this protest was just there for shock value, and I despise actions which try to use shock to galvanise opinions. That said, I don't think the Japanese are entitled to go out into international waters to hunt for whales. The justification is that they are preserving the small industry which lives off whale hunting: if so, they should do so in their own coastal waters. Whale as a meat isn't all that popular anyway: you only see them sometimes as a sashimi/sushi dish, and most of the stuff gets made into pet food. I've tasted whale meat myself (friend bought me a can from Japan): it tastes like a soft sweet version of pork: not a bad taste to me, but not so delicious as to justify hunting them against international opinion. I think it's all just a lot of diplomatic face-saving that's at stake here.
I feel this post will turn out like the dolphins' one. SilentFlute, I know you're kinda pissed off for some reason, but not only you are generalizing, using offensive terms to describe populations and stating irrelevant things. One prime example of that is that if countless people still suffer everyday in the world is because of corrupt governments, unemployment, discrimination and conflicts between ethnicities. You didn't need to go for "Guess the same goes for humans, that's why you have CIA/MOSSAD/Henry Kissinger/Zionist slaughtering Cambodians, Latinos, Africans, Asians, Aye-rabs, Gooks and Chinks...." and only reading this part quite pissed me off in turn. (Who the heck are you to call people like that?) I am not asking you to become politically correct, but you shouldn't express yourself in such a violent way. Or it is that you want to want to bring flame here. Go tell the Natives or Indigenous people of Canada "Aboriginals" and they sure will be quite angry at you. I still wonder why you have brought Canadian politics in that discussion and how you mixed up everything. You seriously need to not get invaded by your emotions and spill them out of the blue like you did... twice.
To SilentFlute: I like your enthusiasm and I do encourage it. Just make sure it's constructive unlike the hoons who think 'destroy' is the only way to go when implementing change. I don't know Canada but at least we got rid of the openly 'racist' politicians. Heck, we now have a Chinese (Malaysian descent) lady as one of the cabinet ministers. I hope we are making progress. Don't forget that Australia has a stake in Asia-Pacific power-plays. This may be one in many issues which will go back and forth in the coming years. Sigh....politicians...if only they put in more concern for our national education, healthcare, property prices/interest rates status. Anyway, getting back to whaling... Anyone else have tasted whale or used something from a whale?
@silentflute: i think you are way out of topic here, this is a post about whaling not racism. if you have so much hate i suggest you take it up with your government or your circle of activists instead. and whats with the racist remarks?? didnt you read the lines above the comment form? it says:# No swearing, racist, sexist, gayist, mooist, schmooist remarks - please. so chill please.
i don`t know what to say..or i can say it but not in an accurate way....God d... gaijins they sholud care about themselves doing those kind of things are useless ......and doing that thing with the jappanese flag full of blood ...thats definetly an insult an offense or a war declaration in certain way.....fishing resources are used to be consumed everything can be done in a sustained and constant way.
@tsukishi69: This protest strangely looks Greenpeace-ish, don't you agree?
No comment on the current situation =S im still a kid XD but the current situation seems scary with the girl pouring red paint as blood all over Japan flag.
I would never participate on such a protest, I think what the Japanese fishers do is bad, however, like someone mentioned previously, doing that to the Japanese flag is an insult to the whole country. From my point of view both are wrong at what they are doing.
Nice body paint ! Unfortunatly, she forgot to remove her undergarments. The job half way done ! Tsk, tsk...
It's a powerful symbol (them pouring blood over the Japanese flag) but they've missed out one important thing: it really isn't the Japanese nation as a whole who's hunting down the whales. From what I know, most Japanese aren't even aware of the situation. Yes the Japanese government should do something but I just feel that this whole stop killing whales thing is overrated. Stop killing for profit? There are a whole lotta other things we could stop destroying/killing then!
This protest is insulting other people... Japanese people who doesn't even hunt whales or do whatever you can do with the remnants of a dead whale. If I'm going to do a "protest" about something, it has to be morally oriented, respectful and rigthful... like Richard Stallman campaigns. In the least, protesting is agression anyways. if all those people were from the dark ages, knowing nothing about morals and respect, they would be carrying swords and stuff to execute the people who do what they don't like. It's just plain wrong... Some old wise folk put it this way: you are not going to change the world, but you can change, and after changing yourself, your family will subsequently change, and then your neighbors, and then the town, then the city and then the country, reaching the entire world.... It's not about protesting and resisting, struggling to make others stop. what you can do is offer a different way of life, show peace by methods you apply, rigtheousness by actions, not words. So no, I wouldn't participate =D, would you people?
What is a 1000 whale compared to the number of Chinese they killed/murdered/massacred/exterminated at Nanking for sport.
Whales don't do anything for me, so if the Japanese want to kill them, that's there prerogative. Of course, this is coming from someone who doesn't see any problem with cannablism.
that reminds me...something which people who live or had lived in Japan, could help me out. Do they do referendums in Japan? and if they do...do you think this is an issue which they should have a referendum on? It'd be good to get some feedback from the ground, not from the pollies.
They're asking for trouble by using the flag like that. if this was in singapore they'll be thrown into jail, dying whales or not. instead of protesting, they should try to enlighten the everyday man/woman about such incidents. prostesting is, in my opinion, useless; everytime i see something like this it either erupts into a brawl and nothing is accomplished, else it's "is it me or the government and other people don't really give a d@mn?" feeling. the consulate shutting the doors just confirmed my second theory.
The Goverment DOES NOT care about protestor that much unless they satart to get global attention by famous movie stars or goverment officals. Then comes in the world pressure. Then the Goverment will be in the hot seat. However I think they look like flys in the eye of the goverment. Only if whales are a little more cute?
Ahem, I think that flag is just a bit too much. Spilling red paint over the flag and interpreting it as blood? Are they implying that the whole nation of Japan likes slaughtering whales? I'm not Japanese, but even I find it kind of crossing the line a bit. >_>
These people are foolish, trying to force their opinions on others. The whales aren't going to thank them, and they are wasting their time and being a nuisance. This would never be permitted in Malaysia.
whales are an endangered or threatened species... all of them.. and japan hunts them just becasue.. everything they provide can be made with something else.. so there killing them just becasue.. never could understand that.. almost every other contry has stoped whaling.... the one of a few black marks about japan...
There is no logical reason why Japan would bother whaling to begin with. It surprises me why there's even such an effort when the end result (the so-called 'profits') aren't easily quantifiable, no less identifiable in the fishery economy of Japan. Whaling is so wrong on so many levels especially the shadowy way it's worming into the economic streams. And none of it is transparent.
Regardless of the issue I'm kind of disturbed by the attitude towards protesting here. Protesting is an important civil right we all should be entitled to and perfectly comfortable with exercising. It gets shit done.
Whitetestament: "In the least, protesting is agression anyways." Except it's not. It's not aggression in the least. Better peaceful protests (let's face it: these kinds of spectacular protests are still peaceful even if provocative) than terrorist attacks or something more violent.
(well actually it's a human right I think, but it applies to both)
I have no problem with a protest as long as it's not destructive and violent. Sometimes it's good to confront people with an issue, to shake up their complacency a bit. It's not my style. I'd much rather inform and engage rationally and reasonably, but I can see the value of the other approach.
Well, if anything, it's more infuriating for companies that actually run whaling operations to ignore all types of criticism or even attempt at open communication. We really shouldn't be angry at protesters here, no matter how flamboyant. The big companies that run shady business and engage (quite openly and blatantly as with whaling in Japan and with other nations), they must be faced off with and leveled with.
whales are an important part of the Earth. I dread the day when a massive extraterrestrial tube-shaped space probe from a civilization far more advanced than us arrives, ionizes our atmosphere and dooms us all; and that the only creatures who can communicate with it to stop earths destruction are gasp! WHALES!!! then we'd be monumentally boned
I know that whaling is a serious problem and stuff but i dont think its appropriate to use a nations flag that way
this it totally f*cked up man. wwhaling is kept under close control by the japanese government, or so we are told. Moreover, an australian environmentalist (forgot his name) said that he isnt against whaling, since no species that are under danger of extinction or even close are whaled, and much more whales are born than hunted every year. And other issue, how are whales any different from cows and pigs and chicken? All of those guys better be vegetarian if they want to make a point.
Bulat, the Japanese government, no less its fishing industry has shady practices. Let's not be Japanophiles about a real issue that everybody knows about. Also, it's a fact that all the hunted, large class whales are endangered. It's typically the smaller, less hunted species that aren't. And again, comparing pigs and cows to whales, ENDANGERED whales does not make sense. I think we went over this in other threads like this. Including the dolphin thread.
Considering how ineffective the International Whaling Commission has been in terms of preventing commercial hunting of whales, and the overharvesting of fish stocks on a global scale, this protest is much ado about nothing. I wish I could care, and really I do care about whales being hunted to extinction, but I can't. Not when people keep chopping trees without any replanting of seedlings, sucking underground water supplies dry, and generally not caring about anything that have long-term consequences to the survival of everybody. And please brand the ringleader of the Sea Shepherd as a terrorist, thanks. Willful sabotage of sea vessels, even if the purpose is to stop whales from being hunted to extinction, isn't anymore different than releasing sarin gas in Tokyo subways.
Well, I live in a country with large seas that's pretty close to Antarctica . Lots of whale species come to the south (Patagonia) and you can actually sail through them while they gather near the coast. The most popular species is the South Right Whale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Right_Whale) which is one of our "national monuments". Its hunting is forbidden, yet we hear lots of cases of illegal hunting. At least once every 2 months a ship is caught doing dirty things and some of these ships are Japanese. I don't particurarly like the way Greenpeace does things but every whale hunting TV spot I get to see have japanese ships hunting whales on it. So... yes, some Japanese ships do illegally hunt down endangered whales. I guess most japanese citizens don't even know about this and this demonstration can be considered offensive, but let's not forget that the hunting of endangered species is illegal, it's carried out by some Japanese fishermen and the Japanese government seems not to do much about it. Here's a list of articles by Greenpeace on how the Japanese are involved in this issue... I'm not sure if all of these is true... Unfortunately, they're in Spanish: http://www.greenpeace.org/argentina/ballenas/mas-informaci-n There's even an article that describes how the Japanese government has invested in annulling some legislations about it.
omg i live in melbourne but I didn't know about it. But I'm not really against whaling because the ones they hunt aren't endangered. I wouldn't go even if I was against it because there are higher priorities.
