How sad. Bowhead whales can live to around 200 years so this guy was in his prime. Kinda like surviving cancer in your 20s only to be killed by a drunk driver in your 30s.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, though they use language to communicate, rather than to eliminate rivals.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, though they do not broodily guard their patch with bristling security.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, without trading innocence for the pretension of possessions.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, though they acknowledge minds other than their own.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, without allowing their population to reach plague proportions.
In the water, the whale is the dominant species; an extra-terrestrial who has already landed... A marine intelligentsia, with a knowledge of the deep.
From space, the planet is blue.
From space, the planet is the territory
Not of humans, but of the whale.
from Whale Nation (1988) - Heathcote Williams
Posted by Vandit Kalia on June 14, 2007 at 5:39 AM
The good news is that recently, 3 of the 4 largest Japanese producers of seafood product have announced that they are exiting the whale meat business. This, in effect, puts a serious dent in the Japanese whaling industry.
http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=394&source=
Bear in mind this whale was killed for subsistance living by aboriginal peoples. There was a similar hunt in the Northwest Terittories early this winter when a pod of whales became trapped in the Mackenzie Delta by ice. The meat was shared out among the community.
For want of a better term have many people have become 'Disneyized.' Since moving to the North I've been exposed to more game than when living in the south. I think nothing of eating beef or pork, but going to a dinner in which game is served a romantic image of a caribou or musk ox springs to mind.
Haven't had the opportunity to sample muktuk, the blubber of a whale, not high on my list of dining experiences. In this part of the world we do have access to Arctic char, caribou, musk ox and the like. The aboriginal peoples are allowed to sell a limited amount of catch for cash.
There is a difference to my mind of nations such as Japan and Norway who have no real need of a hunt, and those whose lives depend on the land.
Dave, I'll take the aboriginal argument to a point. Other aboriginal societies practiced (or still practice) human sacrifice, cannibalism, killing of women who "shame" their families, and a lot of other things we consider reprehensible today. Just because something is traditional doesn't exempt it from moral scrutiny. As we evolve, learn, and understand more, we should adapt our practices accordingly.
While appreciating your point of view, let us not confuse necessity and morality, though the two are often joined.
My wife just returned from one of the remote communities. A large bag of potato chips is $12.00, a large jar of cheese whiz is $18. A can of baby formula runs about $15 and that is subsidized.
I visited one of the remote communities several weeks ago taking my hosts some fresh fruit. There was none to be had in the communities for a couple of weeks. I've met Inuit my age whose parents, grandparents or both starved to death.
What is happening in the North, the transition of aboriginal life to mainstream society, is a debate in itself. If we wish to have aboriginal peoples stop hunting whales and other wildlife then the south needs to subsidize their food. To do so may destroy their lifestyle; hunting, guiding, trapping etc. is not simply economics but existence.
The points that you mention are well thought out Dave. I agree with you and I like that the article pointed out that there are a limited number of whales to be harvested over the next several years by the people in that area. To me, this does not seem like just senseless killing.
Nathan
Posted by Kent Staubus on June 15, 2007 at 7:45 PM
I myself am an avid hunter, grew up raising livestock, and am an exuberant omnivore. However, I don't see the point in the commercial fishing for whales. It seems to me to be on the same plane as cutting down a 2,000 year old tree to make patio furniture. In this case, hunting by natives does make the whole thing more defensible since the argument could be made that they are a traditional part of the general "food chain." I was happy to read above that apparently industrialized whale hunting has been reduced recently though.
Discussion
12 repliesGuy
Seriously though, I agree that it's a shame to kill an animal like that.
Pete D.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, though they do not broodily guard their patch with bristling security.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, without trading innocence for the pretension of possessions.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, though they acknowledge minds other than their own.
In the water, whales have become the dominant species, without allowing their population to reach plague proportions.
In the water, the whale is the dominant species; an extra-terrestrial who has already landed... A marine intelligentsia, with a knowledge of the deep.
From space, the planet is blue.
From space, the planet is the territory
Not of humans, but of the whale.
from Whale Nation (1988) - Heathcote Williams
http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=394&source=
Now for the Norwegians.
For want of a better term have many people have become 'Disneyized.' Since moving to the North I've been exposed to more game than when living in the south. I think nothing of eating beef or pork, but going to a dinner in which game is served a romantic image of a caribou or musk ox springs to mind.
Haven't had the opportunity to sample muktuk, the blubber of a whale, not high on my list of dining experiences. In this part of the world we do have access to Arctic char, caribou, musk ox and the like. The aboriginal peoples are allowed to sell a limited amount of catch for cash.
There is a difference to my mind of nations such as Japan and Norway who have no real need of a hunt, and those whose lives depend on the land.
Dave
Guy
While appreciating your point of view, let us not confuse necessity and morality, though the two are often joined.
My wife just returned from one of the remote communities. A large bag of potato chips is $12.00, a large jar of cheese whiz is $18. A can of baby formula runs about $15 and that is subsidized.
I visited one of the remote communities several weeks ago taking my hosts some fresh fruit. There was none to be had in the communities for a couple of weeks. I've met Inuit my age whose parents, grandparents or both starved to death.
What is happening in the North, the transition of aboriginal life to mainstream society, is a debate in itself. If we wish to have aboriginal peoples stop hunting whales and other wildlife then the south needs to subsidize their food. To do so may destroy their lifestyle; hunting, guiding, trapping etc. is not simply economics but existence.
Dave
Guy
Nathan
Kent in SD