Uncertainty Buffets Japan’s Whaling Fleet

17 May

A small harbor on Japan’s northern coast, where whaling boats sit docked with harpoon guns proudly displayed, and shops sell carvings made from the ivorylike teeth of sperm whales, might seem to be an unlikely place to find opponents of the nation’s contested Antarctic whaling. Yet, local residents are breaking long-held taboos to speak out against the government-run Antarctic hunts, which they say invite international criticism that threatens the much more limited coastal hunts by people in this traditional whaling town. The Japanese government is facing renewed pressures at home and abroad to drastically scale back its so-called research whaling. Yet, Tokyo seems paralyzed by the same combination of nationalist passions and entrenched bureaucratic interests that have previously blocked any action to limit the three-decade-old whaling program.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/world/asia/16whaling.html?scp=2&sq=Japan&st=cse

3 Responses to “Uncertainty Buffets Japan’s Whaling Fleet”

  1. jeffreyp11 May 19, 2010 at 12:59 AM #

    That is interesting that Antarctica is an opponent because it seems like a secluded area. but next time can you try to be more clear.

  2. Malloяy May 20, 2010 at 6:54 PM #

    Interesting article Adrianna but it was quite similar to Jazmin’s and I understood how the harbor was about to stop the whaling. Nice job..

  3. amyhe1 June 2, 2010 at 7:01 PM #

    Good article, and i hope that they will stop[ whailing in antartica to. :)

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