Posts Tagged ‘Japan’
Japan’s government agrees to more funding for whale hunts
Japan’s Diet (parliament) has passed a law to help support commercial whaling through increased funding despite the falling demand for meat in the country. The government has said that it will promote the consumption of whale meat in schools as well as financially help the country’s whaling industry in securing hunting ships and crew. This…
Read MoreThe world is watching Japan this Rugby World Cup so let’s Stop Whaling
Today is the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. As a Welshman, I am of course looking forward to the rugby, but as a lifelong campaigner for whales and dolphins I’m also acutely conscious that the games are being held in a country whose government actively subsidises one of the world’s last…
Read MoreWill Japan’s new emperor bring new hope for whales?
This week, Japan’s Emperor Akihito offered his formal abdication to the Japanese people and delivered his last public address as emperor. He is the first Japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years and came to the decision to abdicate after concluding that he was unable to serve the people of Japan in…
Read MoreChilling new research shows why dolphins should not be hunted
Whales and dolphins are ‘sentient’ – this means that they are conscious beings, capable of feeling pain and suffering physically and psychologically. This adds a whole new level to our thinking about the welfare and conservation issues associated with the hunting and killing of these mammals. What long-term emotional impact might there be for a…
Read MoreTaiji – another season of slaughter as marine park links grow stronger
Life as a small whale or dolphin can be precarious at the best of times, but off the coast of Japan they face a sinister threat – the fishermen of Taiji. If they’re caught up in the maelstrom of one of the infamous ‘drive hunts’ the outcome is unlikely to be a good one. They’ll…
Read MoreWDC joins NGOs to lobby Japanese PM as drive hunt season opens today
Today marks the beginning of yet another slaughter season in Japan for hundreds of dolphins. In Taiji, dolphins are herded into the notorious Cove, where some are hand-picked for a miserable lifetime in captivity, while the rest of their family pod is slaughtered – for a meat market that barely exists. In December, Japan will…
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