Yuratuhl wrote:
The harpooner's family would get his worker's comp, I imagine. As for other potential outcomes, those would depend entirely on where the boat was when so attacked. Japan has a nasty habit of whaling just within the borders of another country's waters.
Legally, the Japanese are conducting scientific research and selling the meat for market once "research" is conducted. Whaling in another country's waters amounts to conducting unauthorized, environmentally hostile research in foreign territory. If one of your idiots dies because a pissed off national gasses his stupid ass, there's no recourse.
That's fair, but it is my understanding that the "territorial waters" business is just something these dillholes blow smoke about to cover their own asses. Australia has made some claims to waters in the antarctic that are far in excess of what has traditionally been recognized as territorial waters, and this claim (which the Japanese claim is specious) still wouldn't cover their ass except that the registry of the ships these asshats use is in some 3rd world backwater that makes the bulk of its money by providing ship's registries. It's not like Tojo is sailing into Sydney harbor blasting pilot whales with RPGs and making off into the sunset.
The one group of people on this planet who have the most to lose in over-harvesting whales are the people who actually harvest them and use their bits and pieces. Last time I checked, that was pretty much just Japan and a few Scandanavian countries...and maybe Inuits, but who the fuck knows shit about what's going on with Eskimo Joe, amirite? Japan claims they monitor the whale population (one of the reasons for their "research") and don't harvest enough to further damage the population.
Not that I want to put a buttload of faith in something the government of any country has to say, but if the choice is between Japan in general and smelly rich-kid self-righteous assholes in particular, I'm going to go with the guys that draw Gundams...by which I mean the Japanese, just so no one is confused.
I think it's also important to note that Japan is acting well within the limits of any and all treaties it has signed regarding whaling.
Yuratuhl wrote:
The idea that any animal (or person) is sacred is laughable. The idea that hunting an endangered species is a bad idea is scientifically sound.
I think we both know that "science" is not what motivates these people.
Helig wrote:
http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/01/06/Antiwhaling_groups_stealthlike_boat_hit_by_Japanese_ship/
Wish granted good sir!
Ha Ha! Good stuff.
Also: Fuck you, Bob Barker. The price
is wrong, bitch.
Your Pal,
Jubber