Others saw this as a form of state oppression. Under the present Norwegian system of military conscription, one can apply for alternative service if one is a pacifist. However some refuse the state even this non-military service, and are sent to jail. Most are Jehovahs Witnesses, and a few are anarchists. The international campaign against whaling has never been popular among Norwegian environmentalists.
Popular feeling is strongly pro-whaling.
When the Norwegian government decided to restart small scale whaling, hunting of the fairly abundant minke whale, Norwegian environmentalists overwhelmingly were in support, but the Green Party was split. One side claimed whaling is no different from hunting other animals, and the minke whales eat too much fish. The other side said stock estimates are unreliable, and that Norwegian minke whaling, would endanger other , more threatened whales. When the Green Party office opposed the government decision to allow whaling, several local party groups attacked the party line in public. The program still opposes Norwegian whaling until the IWC sets a quota.