We are hypocrites to criticize the Japanese people for there hunting of dolphins.

Thank you for your timely post of your arguments. Dolphins are corralled into a small cove and trapped overnight by nets. At sunrise, they are stabbed by harpoons, fish hooks, and knives.[1] "Taking issue with the Japanese hunting of dolphins is essentially giving more moral weight to the lives of 13,000 dolphins than the lives of the almost 160,000,000 farm animals killed for food by the US alone..." I do agree with your statistics and the amount of slaughtered in the United States. However, there is a prominent difference between the hunting and killing of dolphins and the slaughtering of cows, pigs, or other farm raised animals. The release of the documentary, The Cove, showed in graphic detail how hundreds of dolphins are herded into a cove near the village of Taiji, and killed with knives and spears. In the film the cove waters turned crimson with blood. "Our analysis shows that this method does not fulfill the internationally recognized requirement for immediacy," says Andrew Butterworth of the University of Bristol Veterinary School. "It would not be tolerated or permitted in any regulated slaughterhouse process in the developed world." [2] The ways of killing of dolphins and raised animals in the United States are not at all comparable, as the killing of dolphins is extremely inhumane, as explained by Butterworth, and is not tolerated by any slaughterhouse in the world. Western culture is not at all hypocritical between the slaughtering of farm raised animals or dolphins, as the method for killing is incomparable. Secondly, it is important to discuss the differences of the slaughtering of animals compared to dolphins, as there are guidelines to making slaughtering humane and as pain free as possible. For example, sheep and cow are a few animals who are in proper restraints to prevent the animal from turning around or unable to stun. Stunning methods are used to make the animal unconscious before it is slaughtered in order to eliminate pain, discomfort and stress from the procedure. [3] Dolphins slaughtered by Japan, however, have no guidelines or regulations to insure a humane death. Thirdly, there are certain dolphin species that are endangered, one type has not been seen in years, and probably the first type of dolphin to most likely to be extinct.[4] Dolphins are being inhumanely killed and there has been a decrease in the amount of dolphins. They are deceived because of the way the hunters stress them out with vibrations under the water, making them come to the surface and be stabbed, taking from 5 to 300 seconds to die. It is not humane, as their echolocation is being used against them. Unlike slaughtered animals in the United States, dolphin hunting does not have any regulations to make sure it is humane and pain free as possible. [5] "We wouldn't tolerate people of other cultures telling us that we shouldn't kill the millions of animals we do. Lets say a hindu decided to start a campaign, campaigning for the rights of cows; they would be dismissed as xenophobic and racist. Why are we allowed to attack other cultures when the cannot attack us?" We are definitely not attacking other cultures, as it is not apart of the Japanese cultures. Dolphin sold in Japan is usually mislabeled or sold for counterfeit whale meat. Samples of dolphin meat has been tested, and has shown to exceed even Japans heath recommendations. It has over 5000 times more mercury than the advised amount, since the toxic waters the animals are in. [6] It is not only inhumane, but also unsafe. As it is not sold as a regular Japanese food, it is not a part of the culture, nor is it healthy. In addition, a Hindu could campaign for the rights of cows, and would not be viewed as racist, as it is their culture and beliefs. However, since the separation of church and state is present, the government cannot deny others from eating beef. The hunting of dolphins can be analyzed, however, because of the cruelty of it. I am looking forward to seeing your arguments. [1] http://advocacy.britannica.com... [2] http://www.newscientist.com... [3] http://www.fao.org... [4] http://www.underwatertimes.com... [5] http://www.defenders.org...