Last month, everyone was up in arms as Japan launched its fleet off Antarctica in the first major hunt of humpbacks since the 1960s. The move wasn't great for public relations, and would you know it... turns out all the hullabaloo has made a difference:
'Giving in to U.S. pressure and worldwide criticism, Japan's government on Friday announced a whaling fleet now in the Southern Ocean for its annual hunt will not kill the threatened species as originally planned. The fleet will, however, kill some 935 minke whales, a smaller, more plentiful species, and 50 fin whales.'
Good news for a threatened species. Of course, for minke whales (pictured), 'scientific whaling' still means troubled waters. Read more over at Correlations.
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There's something about the report in the New York Times that bothers me. It says:
Giving in to U.S. pressure and worldwide criticism, Japan's government on Friday announced a whaling fleet now in the Southern Ocean for its annual hunt will not kill the threatened species as originally planned.
When I read the newspaper yesterday in good old Europe, the headline was, Japan gave in to Australian pressure and worldwide criticism.
The story cited the actions of the new Australian governement as the main reason for Japans caving.
Now I wonder of course, who's right? Which side did put up more pressure? Is it just a difference in "America-centric" vs. "Europe-centric" reporting?
Or is one side decorating themselves with false feathers? Anyone knows more?
For student_b
There was some discussion of this on ABC (Australian) radio this morning. the gist of which was:
The US has been applying some (smallish/careful) diplomatic pressure to Japan over recent months (I forget the details mentioned, I was out the door on my way to work)
Australia govt. had said last week they were going to keep an eye on the Japanese fleets and collect evidence to use against them.
So a bit of each probably.
However...
The most interesting thing stated was that, supposedly, some japanese journalist (similarly vague recollections!) calculated the whaling fleet did not have the freezer capacity for the extra 2000T(?) of humpback meat expected. So... maybe it was all an ambit claim by the Japanese anyway.
Stephenk
Thanks for the info stephenk.
The cynic in me diggs your freezer explenation quite well. ;)