Its too bad the Japanese get the bad reputation for eating whale, when so many asian cultures eat shark fin soup, or other cultures obsession with Rinocerous horn.

I dont want to eat a dog, rat, or bat, but these items are staples in some countries, and we as citizens of the world have to accept it. The natives of Alaska have eaten whale for centuries, and there is nothing wrong with out.

Hunting a specieis for sport or other gratification is short sided and selfish

You are absolutely right. I think for people who have travelled a lot and lived in other countries, this is easier to understand. Those who have not may have a more difficult time seeing this, especially if their leaders and some of the prominent NGOs whip them into an emotional frenzy.

Iceland just announced that it is resuming commercial whaling. I wonder what percentage of the people in Iceland actually support this move? I do not know Iceland well enough to assess this, but I would want to know this first before blindly condemning Iceland.

Note 21 Oct: Just found this reference to a poll from an article on CNN about the recent announcement by Iceland that it will resume commercial whaling:

It is not clear that there is much of a market for the catch either. A recent poll found only 1.1 percent of Icelanders eat whale meat once a week or more, while 82.4 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds never eat it.

If this is even remotely accurate, it seems like the situation in Iceland could be similar to that in Japan — The government may be doing things that the people do not support.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/10/20/tbr.whales/index.html

OK, now I’m going to get off my self-righteous butt and have another coffee, if I don’t hurt myself falling of this mountainous moral high ground…

Of course, in a perfect world. But how many governments and populations of voting status actually behave in such a manner?

Also, the term first-world has enormous scope. Assuming Japan falls into the first-world category, how much does the form of government and social structure in Japan have in common with other first-world nations? Arguably not a lot, which makes it quite difficult to have an apples-to-apples comparison.

Go get that coffee, and watch your step

I remember you had asked from an Austrarian tourist“Why do Jaapanese people want to kill all the whales?”

I am sorry to put on semblance of indiffrisense.
I am always asked about about etaing a matter of eating whales or soup of shark fin by fo my foreign friends.
I have eaten them, but I am not charmed by them.
I think it is troublesome to answer the question.

Bucause some Japaneses love to eat whales now, but I do not to want to eat them.
And Japanese goverment would like to maintain to catch whales.
I can not understand why some people want to eat them.

I am going to antactica on November with European tourists.
I will be anxious at questions about whales.
Haaaaa…

It’s quite clear inside Japan that most people don’t eat whale and don’t want to eat whale, but outside Japan, many people think that everyone in Japan eats whale often. The media has done a very bad job with getting the facts right. I’m sure the people on your trip to Antarctica will ask you about this. Just explain that no one you know eats whale! Have fun, and see you in January.

I will strive to explain we don’t eat whale usually.
Or I might pretend not to speak English.
See you soon!