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The real reason Japan keeps whaling (the-diplomat.com)
11 points by holdupadam on Dec 13, 2010 | hide | past | favorite | 11 comments


tl;dr;

Just let the Japanese and Scandanavian countries catch a strictly limited and monitored number of Whales for domestic consumption. Stop this fig-leaf of scientific research and make it legitimate under an international agreement.

Whales are long part of those countries diet and have a part in their history. If there is a case for stopping the hunt it should come from within their own culture.

Personallly I wouldn't like it if the Japanese went around causing trouble trying to get me to stop eating Kangaroos.

The process of whaling is undoubtedly gruesome and one that turns my stomach. But I've no doubt we do things in my country that the Japanese find abhorrent.

Of all the problems in the world, both diplomatic and environmental, the tiny harvest of whales is not the one that should be receiving anywhere near the amount of attention it does. But as the article says, truth is always the first casualty in a war. Think of all the other fish and crustaceans that get harvested every day. Who is protesting for them?


The linked article explictly states that the consumption of whale meat was a post WWII thing.

Also, "Tradition" is the worst reason to carry on a pointless activity with mainly negative consequences.

As for 'Roos, they're hardly endangered. There's so many of them they're almost a pest.


Think of all the other fish and crustaceans that get harvested every day. Who is protesting for them?

Actually, we all can. Just ensure you only buy fish that has been line caught or sourced from managed reserves.

The main issue with any and all fishing is that in order to catch the most amount of fish, fishermen are destroying the habitats as well as removing more fish than can be replensished by natural reproduction.

Maybe someone can help out naming this documentary I watched (Channel 4, UK, couple of months ago). It showed that large Japanese corproration are now stockpiling certain types of fish and putting them on ice as there's so few left they'll be worth a small fortune soon.


Who is protesting for [other marine species]?

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Pacific_bluef...


What does kangaroo taste like?


Kind of like a gamey beef. It's quite delicious rare and medium rare, but doesn't take well to long cooking.

It's best as steaks, grilled kebabs and such... The mince makes an OK substitute for beef in dishes that are moist (Such as a bolognese) but isn't good for dry dishes (Like burgers).

If you're using it for something more moist, you should lard it with something... I use butter, because Hey, nothing wrong with extra butter.


It's a gamey meat compared to steak, and susceptible to overcooking if you're not careful. But it provides a high protein, low fat, affordable alternative to beef. And if you're into that sort of thing, is apparently more 'sustainable'.


Moose.

Well... somewhere between chicken and beef but chewier. Moose is more beefy than chickeny.


It's a little gamey, but quite a lean meat so the flavour isn't overwhelming.


Whale.


Also regarding their slaughter of dolphins http://www.savejapandolphins.org/educate.php




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