Activists and Japanese Dolphin Hunters Clash

Life seems to go on as usual in the town of Taiji in western Japan -- a town made famous by this year's Academy Award winning documentary "The Cove".

Despite the quiet of the small cove where the documentary showed Japanese fishermen herding and killing the dolphins, the townspeople have not stopped their hunting since the beginning of the dolphin hunt season in September.

What has changed however is the regular visit from anti-dolphin activists, who monitor and record their activities.

The most famous of them is Sea Shepherd, a conservancy organization known in Japan for their aggressive anti-whaling tactics against Japanese whalers.

[Scott West, Sea Shepherd Member]:
"I've seen a little over 100 dolphins murdered here, and that's a significant number that have been murdered. It's no way near the total that will likely happen this year of anywhere from 1,700 to 2,000 that we expect will be killed this year, but 100 have already been killed. And it's terrifying to watch, and it's completely unnecessary and has no place in the 21st century."

West was part of an unusual meeting on Tuesday in the town community center that pitted anti-dolphin activists against local fishermen unions. Activists are skeptical anything will change in the town that prides itself on its whaling and dolphin hunting traditions.

[Scott West, Sea Shepherd Member]:
"I don't expect to see the people of Taiji to make any changes. I don't expect the dolphin hunters to change what they're doing. What I expect to see though is that whether the government is going to ask questions about is this really worth it -- what is going on in Taiji. Why is the world so upset at Japan? What is happening to the ocean? What is the danger to all of us on this planet from the destruction of the oceans and the killings of dolphins and whales as a part of that?"

Japan has long maintained that killing dolphins is not banned under any international treaty, and the creatures are not endangered. They say dolphins need to be culled to protect their fishing grounds.

Some activists, including those behind the documentary, are seeking to ban dolphin hunts for health reasons, claiming dolphin meat that ends up in the kitchens of the townspeople is contaminated by excessive mercury levels. But that argument has not convinced the people of Taiji.

[Kazutaka Sangen, Mayor of Taiji]:
"We've asked a government institution to inspect the health concern on the dolphin meats and we were reassured that the meat is safe. So, all the residents are feeling secure now."

Taiji captures around 2,000 dolphins a year, slaughtering the majority for its meat which is sold to the locals. Some dolphins are spared and sold off to aquariums in Japan and around the world

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• sea
• shepherd
• taiji
• japan
• scott
• west
• daughter
• father
• dolphin
• slaughter
• cove
• gaurdians

[jukio02]

white people seriously need to stay the fuck out of other peoples business, where ever they go they always fuck things up. they always have to start shit with others too. always starting wars, killing people, fighting, etc. the world would be better off without white people. they think they are the superior race on this planet, and they always think their right all the time, they have to put their stupid ideas into others as if they know what the fuck they are talking about. please die whites!

[sorryimsogreat2]

@jukio02

Wow

that's in the running for one of the most racist comments I've had on my videos.

[Zeruju]

@sorryimsogreat2 "Are there human right laws because humans have a threat of being endangered or extinct? No. The same though applies to dolphins."

-> So you finally admit dolphins aren't endangered as well as they aren't human?

[123naruhina]

@nicoridoo Every culture has it's faults. WHITE culture has it's faults so do the Asians right down to the Jewish people. We're people and fucked up. Everyone is fucked up. The world isn't perfect. Not all white people are wrong. Not all Black people are on welfare. Not all Asians are smart. Not all Spanish people are maids. They are stereotypes. They aren't true. You shouldn't think all white people are wrong. Was Abraham Lincoln wrong freeing the slaves?

[123naruhina]

@jukio02 You don't eat Pig or cow for moral reasons, and this shouldn't happen for moral reasons. We shall ever give you and people like you respect because you say it. Your just spewing out racist shit. EVERYONE has their own damn life, you can't say what's wrong and what's right. Your defiling your own RELIGION when doing that. The reason why Muslims are hated are because of people like YOU destroying it.LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE AND STOP HATING OTHER CULTURES BECAUSE YOUR DIFFERENT.

[workhaterbloke]

@jukio02 Muslims need to stay in their own countries and not interfere with the rest of the world. Why should the world change for Muslims???? They flood UK and expect us to bow down to their wishes and demands, they are ruining the UK. We're not even allowed to mention Christmas as a Christian event, it might offend other religions (mainly Muslims) - WE ARE CHRISTIANS for God's sake, it is OUR country and we should be allowed to behave as we have always done. So, SOD OFF MUSLIMS.

[neveradullmoment6]

Where is the humanity?

[nicoridoo]

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage, to move in the opposite direction".

Sea Shephard rules!!

[nicoridoo]

but anyways out there we can find people trying to make a huge change in this worlds because they still trust in humand kind. they still trust you, even tho you think that about white people. so please get out of your house, turn off your computer and do something for your world, if white people is bad is because we are all bad, and if you want to change that then start now...

[nicoridoo]

@jukio02

I think exactly the same. White people is always wrong, and they think they are right all the time, but i also think that about asian people also jewish and muslims too, and what about black people they also make mistakes, and also european people, and northafrican people and how can i forget arabics, and also american people, not just native american a mean also latinamerican people in general, they fucked up, and you know why, because this world is fucked up and we are all the same.

[sorryimsogreat2]

@jukio02

How are they hypocrites? If I were to eat some seared human with a side of soy sauce I'm sure you'd be more than disturbed by that. This is not about religion, it's about moral decency. The same reason why eating humans is wrong is why eating dolphins is wrong.

[jukio02]

@cherry6224 yup, their hyprocrites. muslims an hindus dont eat cows or pork, so other nations need to stop eat pigs and cows, because the muslims and hindus says we cant. stupid western countries have all their ideas all fucked up and out of order. respect the muslims and hindus first, then maybe the japanese will listeo to them, HYPROCRITES!