Liebors duplicity exposed on whaling

[freediver]

I used to say that Japan should be allowed to whale but Mantra helped me see the light a bit on this issue. The truth is that most Japanese hardly or never eat whale meat. In fact a lot of it ends up as dog food, frozen in storage for long periods or thrown out because the Japanese are demanding beef, pork and chicken. The fact that the industry is heavily subsidised by Japanese taxpayers sums it up nicely.

The illegal trade of choice cuts is a worry though.

What illegal trade in choice cuts?

How does the number of Japenese who eat whales affect whether it should be banned? If fewer people started eating beef would that be a good reason to ban it?

Freediver I'm interested in your "hypocritical electorate" remark. Care to elaborate?

Every reason we give for banning whaling is hypocritical.

[mantra]

How does the number of Japenese who eat whales affect whether it should be banned? If fewer people started eating beef would that be a good reason to ban it?

Most of us are conditioned to eating beef and it has become an essential staple in our diet. Whale meat isn't - to some of those who slaughter them for the fun of it.

Freediver I'm interested in your "hypocritical electorate" remark. Care to elaborate?

Every reason we give for banning whaling is hypocritical.

What about the waste and torturous destruction of a massive sea creature for no reason aside from a sport for a group of elite Japanese businessmen? If the whale isn't being killed for essential food - why allow it?

[Ethnic]

What illegal trade in choice cuts?

How does the number of Japenese who eat whales affect whether it should be banned? If fewer people started eating beef would that be a good reason to ban it?

I'm not saying ban it. It's not my business to tell Japan how to live their lives but the fact that most of the whale meat ends up as dog food or force fed to school children indicates that too many whales are dying unnecessary deaths all due to the fact that the industry in its current state would collapse if left to the free market. The demand for whale meat is not high and only taxpayer funding is allowing it to survive on the scale it is. It needs to be a lot smaller to reflect true demand.

There was a news story not long ago about whale meat being illegally smuggled into South Korea and the US. The restaurants that ordered the choice cuts were shut down and fined.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Forget which brands now, but several of the big name canned fish companies in the US [not sure about OZ] are owned by the same Japanese companies that own the whaling vessels, so it is possible to affect their income via brand boycotting.

Whale meat pushers seem to be protected by cultural sanction, so if whaling opponents want it abated they must target the Japanese economy to turn other industries against the whaling fleet owners. What do you think the Japanese motor industry would do if Toyota, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda vehicles were boycotted over whaling?

[freediver]

Every single argument against whaling is either hypocritical, irrational, or both.

Most of us are conditioned to eating beef and it has become an essential staple in our diet. Whale meat isn't - to some of those who slaughter them for the fun of it.

So we should base our laws on what we have become accustomed to, and ban things that are strange?

What about the waste

What waste?

and torturous destruction

We are far crueller to animals we see as traditional food.

of a massive sea creature

So we shouldn't eat big animals?

for no reason aside from a sport for a group of elite Japanese businessmen

Because it is food. It is not just for elite businessmen. Are you saying that only the super rich and dogs eat it?

If the whale isn't being killed for essential food - why allow it?

So we should ban the harvest of any animal that is not essential? You are not capable of proving any single animal is essential food for Australians. And since when do the Japanese have to prove to you that it is essential for them to eat in order to get your approval to eat? How would you react if someone pulled a stunt like that on you?

I'm not saying ban it. It's not my business to tell Japan how to live their lives but the fact that most of the whale meat ends up as dog food or force fed to school children indicates that too many whales are dying unnecessary deaths all due to the fact that the industry in its current state would collapse if left to the free market.

It would not collapse. It would thrive. The only reason it is in trouble is because of the bans everywhere - because there is no free market. For example, I would try it if it wasn't banned.

There was a news story not long ago about whale meat being illegally smuggled into South Korea and the US. The restaurants that ordered the choice cuts were shut down and fined.

Sounds like demand to me.

[Ethnic]

It would not collapse. It would thrive. The only reason it is in trouble is because of the bans everywhere - because there is no free market. For example, I would try it if it wasn't banned.

But freediver the demand in Japan is low. Are you not comprehending that most of the meat ends up as either pet food, given to the workers to take home themselves or sold cheaply to schools? Very little of it is being bought by genuine Japanese customers. If countries don't want to accept whale meat then that's their choice. I doubt it would be successful in Australia. Japan have banned many food products - shall we attack them for limiting free trade?

[freediver]

If countries don't want to accept whale meat then that's their choice.

It's not my choice.

Japan have banned many food products - shall we attack them for limiting free trade?

You mean send Paul Watson after them?

[IQS.RLOW]

But freediver the demand in Japan is low. Are you not comprehending that most of the meat ends up as either pet food, given to the workers to take home themselves or sold cheaply to schools?

The demand is low because they are unable to commercially sell it. You will find like caviar and truffles, it will is in high demand for those able to thumb their nose at the hypoclitical Orrstalians

[Ethnic]

It's not my choice.

You're free to go to Japan and enjoy a nice slab of whale meat.

You mean send Paul Watson after them?

No I mean shall we lecture Japan for restricting free trade because they will not accept GM crop imports?

[IQS.RLOW]

GM crops are different to a naturally occurring and sustainable source of meat