Great News, For Now

31 Mar 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

Minke Whales - Safe For NowThe ruling today, from the International Court of Justice, that Japan must cease its whaling in the Antarctic is great news for the whales. The fly in the ointment, isn’t there always one, is that the ban is temporary.

The ban will be seen as a victory for the Sea Shepherd organisation, who have been a constant thorn in the side of the Japanese whaling fleet. Only earlier this month, there was a collision between Sea Shepherd’s Bob Barker and the Yushin Maru No. 3. There were no injuries, but both ships sustained damage.

Though the ruling is cause for celebration, only time will tell whether the Japanese will comply with the decision of the court long term. It is also only a very small step towards the observation of the right of all living things to be allowed to live free and peaceful lives. The wholesale slaughter of cows, pigs, chickens and a multitude of other innocent animals continues unchecked.

Tradition Or Tragedy?

28 Dec 2013 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

Tradition Or Tragedy?Having had a few days off, over the festive period, I’ve had the chance to watch the entire series of Whale Wars: Viking Shores about an operation to stop the slaughter of Pilot Whales in the Faroe Islands.

The annual Grind, the driving of pods of Pilot Whales inshore followed by their wholesale slaughter, adults and calves alike, has been going on for centuries. The islanders say that is a tradition, and it is their right to continue it.

It is a fact that, at present, Pilot Whales are not an endangered species, and that the whales killed each year for food, generally in the low hundreds, may not cause that to change. But is that any reason to continue such a barbaric practice?

In the face of opposition, from people like Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd organisation amongst many others, the islanders have adopted more humane practices, but the hauling of beached animals out of the water by inserting a hook into their blowhole, followed by the cutting of their spinal chord in front of their family members can never be called humane.

Traditions are something we all hold dear, in many ways they make us who we are as a nation, but surely there are some that must be allowed to fall by the wayside. In the time of the Roman empire, Christians were fed to lions for entertainment, I’m not sure that would be allowed nowadays.

The bloody scenes on the beaches of the Faroe Islands are just the public face of animal slaughter the world over. Images from slaughter houses and meat processing plants show just how barbaric eating other creatures really is.

Whilst I have given up eating all meat and dairy products, for a combination of health reasons and humane principles, and would like others to follow that path, I hope that any who get the opportunity to watch the series via Sky On Demand will lend their support to the Sea Shepherd and help put a stop to any form of whaling, wherever it may be happening, under any excuse.

Stop Killing Whales!!!

01 Mar 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , ,

Stop Killing Whales!!!Who amongst us, having watched footage of the Japanese whaling fleet hunting and slaughtering whales in the Southern Ocean, would not, in an instant, trade places with Sea Shepherd‘s captain, Paul Watson, or one of his crew?

In 1946, the International Whaling Convention (IWC) was established to oversee the management of the whaling industry worldwide. It was established in response to the rapid decline in the population of whales from whaling. In 1986, the IWC instituted an indefinite ban on commercial whaling. This ban is still in effect, with certain exceptions. To their shame, countries such as Japan and Norway are not honouring the ban.

Japanese Whalling Vessel Yushin Maru

The Japanese whaling fleet’s aim was to kill up to 950 whales this year ‘for scientific purposes’ and they now appear to have gained legal backing from a US court who have branded Watson and his volunteer crew as pirates.

The Sea Shepherd appears to have been able to limit the number of whales taken this year to less than 100, the lowest figure in a decade, and are claiming a victory, but for how long? Whilst the tactics employed by both sides often appear dangerous and potentially life-threatening, the Japanese legal backing by the US could spell further problems for the conservationists.

The good news is that the Australian government is a pending case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which considers  the Japanese whaling to be illegal. In its written submission to the court, the government argues that “the whaling carried out by Japan is commercial, not scientific, and does not fall within the exception”.

Now this is not the first time I have written about this topic. Last time it raised all manner of controversy around the killing of sentient creatures and Buddhist beliefs. I’m sure it will do the same this time around, but if it gets the message out there, I for one, am happy about it. The killing of all whales, for whatever purpose, must stop.