Reviving a Taste for Whale

[shockra]

Japan Introduces Meat to Children as It Fights Moratorium

Posted in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1563538

Some opinion polls show that younger generations of Japanese are more interested in conservation than culinary delights. The price for whale meat in Japan has decreased in recent years -- falling to $12 a pound in 2004 compared with $15 a pound in 1999. Demand for whale meat has been anemic. Last year, the industry put 20 percent of its 4,000-ton haul into frozen surplus.

So the government and pro-whaling groups have pumped cash into the promotion of eating whale meat. The government is spending about $5 million a year on such campaigns, while groups of housewives and other organizations are sponsoring whale cooking classes and related seminars to stimulate the market, according to officials and industry sources.

[shockra]

1. Ouch.

Ten posts and three tombstones.

[flvegan]

2. Whales: 1, Japan: 0

From today's New Zealand Herald (link wouldn't work):

Japan loses bid for secret whale votes

21.06.05

By Angela Gregory

Japan suffered a major setback on the first day of the International Whaling Commission meeting in South Korea after losing a vote to allow secret ballots.

New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter said from the meeting last night that member countries had narrowly voted against the proposal, 30-27, despite Japan’s confidence it would succeed.

"Japan must be furious."

Japan wanted a secret ballot to take pressure off countries making unpopular decisions.

Mr Carter said Nauru, understood to be pro-whaling, had not turned up to the meeting of the 66-member body, while Denmark and Finland voted against secret ballots despite their general support for Japan.

Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands had, as predicted, aligned themselves with Japan, which Mr Carter put down to "promises of aid".

He said Japan was acting "super-aggressive" but members had realised the IWC’s integrity would have been at stake if secret ballots were allowed.

The next important vote in the week-long meeting is scheduled for today with Australia’s remit, seconded by New Zealand, to condemn Japan’s scientific whaling.

Mr Carter said Japan was using a loophole to harvest whales and now wanted to more than double its minke whale kill in the Antarctic to 935, and take up to 50 endangered fin whales and 50 humpbacks.

[shockra]

3. Yay!

:woohoo: