Quote:
Originally posted by Antagony
I never said it was justified, but no one has the right to police other cultures and tell them what is okay and what isn't. It's self-righteous and pretentious.
They aren't killing or oppressing our people, and they aren't destroying our economy. What they do in their own waters is up to them.
Additionally, it appears you may have failed to read your own link. The news article says that it's Minke and Bryde whales, neither of which are listed as endangered in your above post. And even if they were, 300 whales a year is rather inconsequential.
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OK, a googling we will go.
http://whales.greenpeace.org/news/25sept2002.html
Some of the greatest hits:
the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS) agreed by consensus to list seven whales species as endangered or needing conservation.
The CMS, which conserves migratory species over the whole of their range, brings conservation benefits for whales making it easier to develop a coordinated approach to the conservation of these highly migratory species wherever they go and provide a framework for the development of future regional agreements.
Fin, Sei and Sperm whales received an Appendix 1 listing, recognising them as endangered. They join the Blue, Humpback, Bowhead, Southern Right and Northern Right whales which are already on the list. Minke, Bryde’s, Pygmy Right and Orca whales received Appendix 2 listings, recognising that their conservation status would significantly benefit from international cooperation.
Are Minke and Bryde whales on the ragged edge of extinction? No. Does that mean that we should start hunting them again and risk the proverbial slippery slope? Of course not.
As far as the cultural relativism argument you are attempting to use, please tell me that you aren't trying to justify the hunting of a species that is still recovering from centuries of over fishing? I respect other cultures, but cultural relativism implies the near absence of right and wrong because of cultural norms and traditions - a cowardly approach to morality which can be perverted to absolve anyone of nearly any atrocity.
Finially, what the Japanese do in their own waters shouldn't be up to them. The ocean doesn't respect national boundries and what happens in one part of the ocean can and does affect the rest of the world.
Good day.
