Sigh, here we go again. The Japanese are about to set off on another one of their "research" whale hunts. It drives me crazy when they try to pull this BS. It's the ultimate double speak as far as I am concerned.
I realize that they make the arguement about what makes some animals lunch and other animals protected, my answer is "it's just different with Whales and Dolphins" They are very intelligent, they are in the wild (not being raised on a farm for consumption) and they are in danger of extinction.
I wish someone would fire a harpoon right through these guys.
Here's the article......
Tokyo — In a cramped laboratory, a biologist with the Institute of Cetacean Research prepares plugs taken from whales' ears for age analysis. Scientists study their reproductive habits, food sources, and the mercury levels in their tissue.
And then, of course, there's the guy who studies the best way to kill them.
For nearly two decades, as commercial whaling has largely vanished under a global ban, a half-dozen Japanese vessels have sailed off to the waters of Antarctica and the northwestern Pacific each year to hunt, kill and bring home samples of whales for an ongoing research program — along with tonnes of meat for sale.
snip
and the link....
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/...enceandHealth/