Whaling in Japan has been a controversial issue for some time. Although it has been argued that whaling is part of Japan’s traditional culture, there has been strong opposition to the practice from international pressure groups.
Now, the International Court of Justice has ruled that Japan’s “research whaling” in the Antarctic was not for research purposes, and has ordered that the practice stop.
From MSN Sankei:
International Court Of Justice Rules Japan’s Research Whaling In Contravention Of Treaty
In the court case where Australia, an anti-whaling nation, requested that Japan’s research whaling being carried out in the Antarctic be stopped because it was in violation of the International Convention on Regulation of Whaling, on March 31, Judge Tomka of the International Court of Justice (The Hague, Holland) stated that Japan’s research whaling “was not for research purposes”, and found that it was a violation of the treaty. Judge Tomka ordered that research whaling was no longer to be implemented by Japan.
The International Court of Justice does not accept appeals, and it is thought Japan will accept the ruling. It is expected that the research whaling, which has been carried out in the Antarctic since 1987, will be forced to cease.
Comments from Twitter:
水軍:
We don’t usually eat that much whale, so apart from the aspect of protecting Japanese culture I’m not really too bothered, but this is a pretty radical ruling ～
ʌd8bʌ:
Hmmm.
福澤真実諭吉:
How the hell can this be in contravention of the treaty because they captured too many minke whales?! w
I guess that humans were originally vegetarians, but now we live by taking the lives of other creatures, so the fact that it’s only whaling that is a problem doesn’t make sense!
なんだろ俺:
And on the other hand, in Korea, there is the mystery of whales being caught “by coincidence” that are more than double the amount of Japan’s research whaling ★
片腹痛い:
The purpose of research whaling wasn’t actually research. Well, if you’re told that, there’s nothing you can do. Because the judgement says that they didn’t think of a way not to kill the whales. It’s a pity, wonder if there was anything else they could have done.
かつお:
It’s better for fish stock to be devoured by the whales…I suppose that if that happens, then they’ll just start butchering them so they can kill them…
Zany:
Wish this was an April Fool orz
ミラン田カー蔵:
Shit
日本国が大好きなのぞみです。:
Environmental terrorist Sea Shepherd will get cocky over this.
渡邉なおき:
I don’t actually eat whale, so this doesn’t bother me, but I don’t like the fact that we can be ordered around by another country. This is just resistance because we won’t by AustraKorea’s Ozzie beef.
犬鈴:
Great, well let’s just abolish the treaty then. The path of science is being obstructed by egos.
スフィア#:
I’m not convinced by this. I guess this is a denial of Japan’s whale eating culture, right?
東方不敗:
So cows, pigs, and kangaroos are fine, but whales are bad. The claim is fitting for Australia, the king of the racist nations.
Geuk:
I reckon the problem here is that they didn’t get enough information across. The Ministry for Foreign affairs is impotent.
颯・小凡人:
This is just a laughable decision, banning whaling will only result in the progression of global warming. Seems reasonable that Australia will be falling into the burning fires of hell, huh.
せと(´・ω・`)ｼｮﾝﾎﾞﾘｯｸ:
At long last the day draws near when I will no longer be able to eat my favorite food of whale and bacon…(´；ω；｀)
モアイ店長 バトオペ大佐０１:
Japan’s research whaling is of global significance…Even if they are whales, they reproduce easily and there are lots of different types, and they’re starting to have an effect on other types of fish.
かんとり:
So we can’t whale any more. Big win for you, white masters. Wonder what Sea Shepherd will do?
