Whaling

A1) There is still much to be learned about the complexity of whale and dolphin brains. Whales are notoriously difficult to study and it may be years or even decades before we know the truth about their intelligence. But the fact that humpback whales do in fact posses spindle cells (and three times as many as we do) should at least grant humpback whales protection from whaling due to their obvious intelligence, considering nearly all scientists agree that spindle cells are in fact for intelligence and emotional purposes. I am also not saying that rights should be given soley to animals with spindle cells, just that animals that have them should have at least the same rights as dogs and cats and such. I apologize for my ignorance to the humanity of whaling. It is not the best we could do and I was foolish to think so. However, Japan has long claimed that it's hunt is "as humane as possible" [1], and yet they continue to commit such atrocities all over the world. They are clearly not interested in being humane and I sincerely doubt that any laws will change that due to the laws already being broken. "Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10, catch limits for the killing for commercial purposes of whales from all stocks for the 1986 coastal and the 1985/86 pelagic seasons and thereafter shall be zero. This provision will be kept under review, based upon the best scientific advice, and by 1990 at the latest the Commission will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effects of this decision on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits." -- International Whaling Commission schedule, paragraph 10 e, 1982. All commercial whaling is illegal. Whaling has been illegal since 1986 and has remained so to the present day. You see, all whaling conducted today is done under 'scientific permits' issued to Japan, Iceland, and Norway at the request of each nation. They conduct 'research' whaling for the betterment of whale 'research' and thereby add 'research' to the scientific community. However, they also sell the meat unused in 'research' to fund their 'research' so they can continue to conduct 'research.' It's all a charade. Iceland and Norway have gone as far as flat-out admitting that they whale for commercial purposes [3]. Japan still maintains that it's whaling is for research purposes only but that claim is almost universally considered a lie. Most of Japan's whaling takes place in the Southern Ocean within Australian and New Zealand Territorial waters (and also in a whale sanctuary), Australia is so certain that this 'research' is an abomination that they are taking Japan to court in The Hague to try and stop their crimes [4]. The Institute of Cetacean Research, the company that conducts Japan's whaling has stated that they are "...conducting vital research into whale populations, social structures and diet." I do not need to tell you that none of those research criteria would require them to kill over 1000 whales per year. They are killing whales for profit, the research ploy is nothing but a gross loop-hole to continue something that is illegal. [1] http://www.theage.com.au... [2] http://iwcoffice.org... [3] http://news.discovery.com... [4] http://www.theaustralian.com.au...