I think international pressure is fine. I do not advocate ramming them, though. I don't advocate any action that has the potential to harm a sailor. A long time ago, I used to contribute to Greenpeace. I abruptly stopped when they turned into eco-terrorists.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

So what is more important to you, a tourists desire to see a whale or a hungry person being able to eat?

Or do you think there can be a reasonable balance in policy that protects both the food and tourism industries?

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... ..................
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

This is not about a hungry person being able to eat, considering that the whale meat in questions retails for over $1000 per kilo in Japan, and is considered one of their most expensive delicacies.

In your opinion, why is the price relevant?

After all, the hungry person that eats the whale must eat regardless of the price of whale meat. Just because someone has enough money to buy high priced whale meat, it does not mean that they don't get hungry.

Money is not food.

Would it make a difference to you if whale meat retailed for a penny per kilo and poor people were eating it?

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... ..................
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

There seems to be a misguided American belief in the 'right' to kill anything anywhere one chooses.

International waters belong to everybody. Having one or two arsehole States bloodying them to everybody else's loss is immoral. It ranks with atmospheric nuke testing. I'm alright, Jack.

Duplicate.

Watson's threat to ram carries a great deal of psychological advantage. Just the appearance of the Steve Irwin will be enough to send the nasty little harpooneers back to saki and wanking below-decks.

It's curious that you make this statement. The only participants in this thread who are advocating the death of anyone are you (citizenship applied for in Portugal) and a Canadian.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

I shan't even comment on that silly statement. I'll just leave it hanging there to attract the ridicule it deserves.

Just so I can follow your line of argumentation, we are perfectly clear on the fact that Iran is a sovereign nation as well, right? If Iran wants to develop, test and arm themselves with nuclear weapons then so be it. It is their right and nothing can stop them either way. Right?

Haw haw haw

I don't know that this is relevant. Really.

If we compare the slaughtering of domestic cattle for human consumption it is very humane compared to what whales experience when they are harpooned by Japanese whalers. Having a harpoon explode inside you and taking hours to die is extremely cruel.

And thats apart from the fact that these species are under threat - and are increasingly more vulnerable due to warming oceans (we have seen differences in breeding cycles), and due to their sonar sensitivity which is implicated in the increased number of pods beaching.

And for what?

For the very very very rich among the Japanese to be able to eat whale sushi?

How would people feel if I said I wanted to have roast Koala for dinner next Sunday?

And to ensure that the meat was tender the Koala had to be stretched to twice its body length for 12 - 24 hours while still alive ...

would you think I should be able to

(a) eat Koala, and
(b) Koalas should be 'tenderized' while still alive?

What do you think the Japanese were going to do to the whales?

Ask them out on a date?

So daisy, how do you feel about the OP's call for ramming the whaling ships and potentially killing the crew?

Matt

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

I didn't read the article, but previously these interactions haven't resulted in any deaths.

Effectively, the Japanese usually withdraw without being rammed, and it gives the whales a chance to get away.

Of course there is a risk, but from what I've seen in the past, both sides want to avoid casualties.

The protest is highly effective - and it is probably more important with an increase in the no of whales.

For us its important - whale watching is a big industry here - and Japanese tourists love going out on the boats and seeing the whales as much as anyone else.

To be perfectly honest I think Oz's interest is more about economics - although I do know there are some - even politicians - who genuinely are horrified at the cruelty of whaling.

Whales do appear to be highly intelligent. They are very curious about human beings and like to look at faces.

I don't see how people can be comfortable with such a species being killed in the way they are in the whaling industry.

So, it's hard to tell, do you advocate the deliberate ramming of these vessels?

I'm wondering why you make this statement, unless you think persons who participated in this thread have any comfort with respect to killing whales.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition