Whaling...

[Timsan]

The Inupiaq eskimo's of Alaska and the Inuits of Canada have been subsisting off of the whale for THOUSANDS of years. The meat was consumed, the bones used for constructing houses, simply every aspect of the whale was put to use and none of it was/is wasted as Eskimo whale hunting traditions continue into the 21st century. Restrictions on this right of subsistence should never ever be implemented, Eskimo cultures should not have to suffer because greedy white and Japanese whalers who have no cultural affiliation to whaling are slaughtering these animals left and right for pointless purposes. Not all whaling is bad.

[Foxtrot Uniform]

I definitly agree. The development of cultures is very important, and since whaling is a major part of the Inupiaq eskimo's culture, they should allow them to hunt whales. It's kinda like the "Prime Directive" in Star Trek.

[Uncle Frank]

if the whale cares who killed him or why? How do the Whale's orphaned children feel? What about the poor left-behind spouse whale, seeing the blood and hearing the cries of pain? OH the horror of it all!!

Paid for by Whale Watchers Association-Look, Don't Touch!!

:blush: :okashii:

[bossel]

I wonder, too.
What about those tribes in New Guinea who have been head hunters for centuries or longer? Should they be allowed to still go on with this, just because it's a tradition?

As long as the Eskimos are still dependent on whaling, OK (not highly endangered whale species, though). But the more integrated into modern society they are, the less they need to go on.

[earthangel]

I read that part of the Eskimos quota is actually given to Japan who have "bought them off" as they have with many nations (Tuvalu, Kiribati, Mali, suriname, Cote d'Ivore).