...this REALLY pisses me off!!!! :grrr:

from Yahoo News:
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Activists Claim Japan Dolphin Hunts Cruel
Wed Oct 29, 9:37 PM ET

By MILES EDELSTEN, Associated Press Writer

TAIJI, Japan - An environmental group claimed Wednesday that Japanese fishermen use unnecessarily brutal methods to hunt dolphins, releasing a videotape that shows the mammals being forced into a cove to be killed, with the water turning red from the blood.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20031029/capt.tok10310291145.japan_dolphin_kill_tok103.jpg

The killing of dolphins is not banned by international law, but the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which seeks to ban the practice, denounced the method used in the western Japanese town of Taiji.

"It's a wholesale slaughter, which results in immense suffering for these animals," said Nik Hensey, an activist with the California-based group. "It's a sight that one just can't imagine."

Town officials declined comment, but an official with the local fishermen's union, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the hunts are conducted as humanely as possible, and noted that dolphin hunts have been part of local culture for 400 years.

In the videotape, fishermen pound on the water, causing waves that confuse the animals' sense of direction, then corral the dolphins into small coves, where they can be easily killed. Sea Shepherd made the videotape and provided a copy to Associated Press Television News.

Shuichi Sato, an official at the whaling section of Japan's Fisheries Agency, said there is another village in Japan where the local fishermen catch dolphins in the same manner as in Taiji, while others use harpoons farther from shore. He said the hunting of dolphins is no worse than the slaughter of cows, sheep or other animals consumed by humans.

"What's wrong with eating dolphins? There are Hindus, Muslims around the world who don't eat beef or pork, but do they tell Europeans not to eat this meat," Sato said. "To impose one's culture on others is to deny the culture of other countries." (Well...last I saw, cows weren't in danger from dwindling numbers. We don't hunt cows in the wild either.)

Though subject to government-set quotas, the hunts are not banned under Japanese law and are not subject to international regulations because they are done near the shore.

Fishermen in Taiji hunt dolphins from October to April. They've caught more than 60 striped dolphins so far this year under the government quota system. The meat is usually canned and sold in supermarkets.

I saw this article--it's just focking sick. I know it's a part of what they have always done,etc.,etc. But when you look at that water, how can you think that that was a humane kill? It's just horrible how people kill them--it's slow and bloody.

I am not telling people "Don't eat meat", that isn't my place. I AM saying, "Don't kill endangered species" and "If you do eat meat, be responsible and research what you are eating--if it's cruel, stop buying it"

I've always had a fondness in my heart for the beauty and intelligence of dolphins and seeing that picture broke my heart... :(

I knew I should not have looked at the picture. :cry:

Wow...I thought that the pic was doctored, but there's no way it could have been....yuck... :barf: Sorry, but that is just wrong.

That's so wrong. But they don't seem to care and if it's legal there, unfortunatley there's nothing we can do about it. :(

Japan is one of those strange circumstances where the country is renown for its technological advances and its rapid industrial growth, but also for its cruel and unusual ways of circumventing the norm. This is a place where white slavery is still going strong; it is known to be one of the few industrial nations that still has capital punishment, and where racism is rampant and legal; it is also a place where paedophilia is common. And now to read this doesn't surprise me one bit...

Barbarous.

Hence why I am no fan of the Japanese.

- Nothing personal, but that's just the way it is.

Ok, this isn't something I'd do, nor would I condone it. But I think this is purposely being used as preservationist propaganda by animal rights groups. There are several misconceptions here:

1. No, we don't hunt cows in the wild, but a slaghterhouse is no less of an inhumane place than one of those coves. I have been to several.: the floors run red with blood as the frightened animals are killed and butchered. I still like steak. So hate me. :p

2. Cows are not endangered, due mainly to being domesticated and raised in large numbers intentionally. However, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/TESSSpeciesReport) there are only two species of dolphin (neither of which normally occur in Japanese waters) that are on the Endangered Species List. While majestic, the dolphins being killed in this story are not endangered.

3. The Japanese reasons for this tradition are two fold (not condoning, just explaining). First, they eat the dolphins. It may not seem as tidy as driving through at Burger King, but at least the animals aren't going to waste (And either way, a helpless animal is killed for food). Secondly, the Japanese claim that the dolphin population, if allowed to grow too large, will hurt their fishing by consuming too many of the fish. This would hurt a great many poor Japanese who are only trying to make a living.

I really hate that this sort of thing happens in our modern world, but far more deplorable to me is that this same story is trotted out each and every year by the radical animal rights groups and the sympathetic media to raise donations for preservationist causes.

A perfect example of a culture with some serious flaws!! :mad:

Scary!

Originally posted by nolanbuc

I really hate that this sort of thing happens in our modern world, but far more deplorable to me is that this same story is trotted out each and every year by the radical animal rights groups and the sympathetic media to raise donations for preservationist causes.

Your points are all valid Nolan.....

I just love Dolphins. :(

Originally posted by Pagan


I just love Dolphins. :(

As do I. I understand completely. The whole thing is a crying shame all the way around. :(

Is there a 'humane' way to butcher something? I can't think of one. And I eat meat. I'm with Buc on this one. It's not like they're killing these animals to hang a head on the wall and waste the rest, this is a source of food for them.

My biggest issue with killing Dophins for food as opposed to other animals , is the intelligence of Dolphins compared to cattle or chickens, fish.

These are incredibly intelligent animals, like apes

Originally posted by Caligula

These are incredibly intelligent animals, like apes

But dolphin tastes way better! :lol:

Makes me feel real sad.

@nolanbuc: >> But dolphin tastes way better! <<
There are always different views, but I don't get it... how can you make fun over such a serious matter like slaughtering intelligent beings?

Originally posted by guido
Makes me feel real sad.

@nolanbuc: >> But dolphin tastes way better! <<
There are always different views, but I don't get it... how can you make fun over such a serious matter like slaughtering intelligent beings?


I can't speak for Nolan, but I've probably read many of his 3000 + posts and I'm sure he meant no harm, he was just adding a little levity to the situation,

personally I don't like looking at the picture, but then I wouldn't like visiting a weiner factory , but to me a was a small harmless joke :)

@Caligula: >> but to me a was a small harmless joke <<

OK, I can understand that. Maybe I'm over-reacting, to me the joke would be harmless if the subject wasn't that serious.

Originally posted by guido
Makes me feel real sad.

@nolanbuc: >> But dolphin tastes way better! <<
There are always different views, but I don't get it... how can you make fun over such a serious matter like slaughtering intelligent beings?

Please read all of my posts in this thread before you come down on me about a joke between me and a friend of mine. Perhaps then you would have known my position on this subject.

Are you a Vegan? If not, spare me the drama over the loss of these "intelligent beings". I'm sure I have some exceptionally bright cattle in my freezer at this very moment. If the dolphins were all that gifted they wouldn't fall for the same stupid trick every year. I'm sorry, but intelligent or not, until an animal develops literature or architecture, it's on the menu.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but you took me out of context without reading my entire point. Be cool, man, this ain't the United Nations. This is just some friends discussing stuff. ;)

Originally posted by nolanbuc

If the dolphins were all that gifted they wouldn't fall for the same stupid trick every year.

Um....Nolan....the ones that fall for it every year are...um....dead? :lol:

Kinda hard to learn from mistakes when you only get one shot at it. ;) :lol:

Originally posted by Pagan


Um....Nolan....the ones that fall for it every year are...um....dead? :lol:

Kinda hard to learn from mistakes when you only get one shot at it. ;) :lol:

Good point, but you'd think one would escape eventually and get the word out. :lol: (Stop joking! This is serious, people!) :p

I don't know about the dolphins, but I had a Japanese kid in my junior high class that was so smart he could have tricked me into swimming inot the inlet to get harpooned

Originally posted by Caligula
I don't know about the dolphins, but I had a Japanese kid in my junior high class that was so smart he could have tricked me into swimming inot the inlet to get harpooned

HAHAHAHA! :lol: Not too offend anyone, but this is the funniest damn thing I have read all morning! :D LOL

There are similiar arguments here in the Northwest over the past couple of years. One of the Indian tribes in Washington has legal permission to hunt whales. They're allowed one a year. I don't see a problem with it, since they use all parts of the whale that they can. It's not just food for them. While I hate to see dolphins or whales hunted, it's part of their culture and way of life.

I just checked this thread out, and that picture is just awful! :eek:
:(

I am a vegetarian and i don't eat any animal...

BUT

I am one of the very few people who think that eating one animal is just like eating another, If people can eat deer, cows, pigs, kangaroos etc etc why not a dolphin??
Some people like Pigs (like myself) more than dolphins but i am not going to get up in a fuss because someone killed them.

I saw the photos in a newspaper here in Australia and it made me sad and i thought how could people do that, but they do there is nothing i can do about it - it is their culture just like here in Australia people eat snakes, Kangaroos and Emu's.

@nolanbuc:

>> Please read all of my posts in this thread before you come down on me about a joke between me and a friend of mine. Perhaps then you would have known my position on this subject. <<

Stay with the topic, I didn't judge your position on this subject. I just don't get it why someone has to make fun on such a lugubrious matter, that's all.

Sorry if you feel offended. But if you make a bad joke, you should stand the criticism... and hey, don't give me the 'vegan-morality' speech, hehe ;-)

>> I'm sorry, but intelligent or not, until an animal develops literature or architecture, it's on the menu. <<

Just wond'ring, would you also eat *real* shark fin soup? (if you could afford it)

Originally posted by guido
@nolanbuc:

[quote][b]
Stay with the topic, I didn't judge your position on this subject. I just don't get it why someone has to make fun on such a lugubrious matter, that's all.

Sorry if you feel offended. But if you make a bad joke, you should stand the criticism...

Ok, that's fine. You don't like my sense of humor. That doesn't offend me at all. Don't worry, I'm not going to try stand-up comedy as a career any time soon. You're not the first person not to find me funny, won't be the last. I'll deal. If you don't want to be troubled by my jokes, use the "ignore" button on me. I'll get over that too.

and hey, don't give me the 'vegan-morality' speech, hehe ;-)

Again, you miss my point.:rolleyes:

Just wond'ring, would you also eat *real* shark fin soup?

If the sharks are endangered, then that question is not pertinent to the subject. That would make it against the law, which would indeed stop me from eating it. That or the risk of mercury poisoning that those who eat "real" shark fin soup may run. But I digress...

(if you could afford it)

Ok, that sounds a little personal. You don't know anything about me. If you want to get that personal, use the "personal message" button below to keep this off the boards.

@nolanbuc:

>> If you don't want to be troubled by my jokes, use the "ignore" button on me. I'll get over that too. <<

O boy, I really stepped on your toes, didn't I? Anyways let *me* decide when I ignore or react, ok?

>> Again, you miss my point. <<

I'm listening, what was the point of your joke then?.....

>> (if you could afford it) Ok, that sounds a little personal. <<

Sorry, thought you knew. Well it takes just a few hundreds of bucks to eat shark fin soup. Wasn't meant too personal. They cut the fins from the sharks and throw the living sharks (that can't swim anymore) back into sea, not a pretty way to die. Hope you like your (legal!) meal.

Originally posted by Caligula
I don't know about the dolphins, but I had a Japanese kid in my junior high class that was so smart he could have tricked me into swimming inot the inlet to get harpooned

BWAHAhahAHahHAHhaAh. Omg! Too funny :D

It would be awesome if you did stand-up for The Improv here. PoisonGirl and me would love to see your other material :)

Sorry to say this here but both nolan and guido are acting childish. There was no need for nolan to add.."(Stop joking! This is serious, people!) Guido, you have to lighten up some...a lot maybe. ;) I think you both are taking words out of context. Just drop it. PLEASE!! :)

TopCat is right. No more jokes for me. Sorry, guido.

Did I mention I like seafood?? Especially Sushi....mmmmmm.....Sushi :lol:. I like all kinds of meat, I just don't want to see pictures of the animals getting killed.

@nolanbuc:

>> TopCat is right. No more jokes for me. Sorry, guido. <<

Oops... did you notice I have little Italian blood in my veins? ;-)

It's ok nolan, I already forgot about it.

It's just sad and patheic :(

Originally posted by Tydestra
It's just sad and patheic :(

Yes, it is. I'll be good though and keep my lips :sealed:

Totally F**king sick, man. It's amazing how messed up some ppl in this world are.

I dont like looking at the picture, its sick looking, but then so is an abbatoir. Personally I'm really glad my species is at the top of the food chain.