[ZULU]

Perhaps you are right. But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present. These whalers are a pointless brutal anachronism.

[TN4Liberty]

Is there any valid reason for hunting anything in your opinion? There is a market for whale isn’t there? Why would they buy something if it had no value?

I’m not being argumentative. I just want to understand how you came to that conclusion.

[Louis Foxwell]

Whale meat is a high priced delicacy in Japan. Would be here too if the wackos were not in control of our food supply.

[Carry_Okie]

Perhaps you are right. But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present. These whalers are a pointless brutal anachronism.

Ever seen a biological pyramid? The ocean is a food resource. Whales eat massive amounts of food. On the other hand, whales are renewable, capable of processing valuable chemical resources. They are also a source of entertainment (which is apparently your thing, upon which you expect a "world police" to enforce your preferences). Those competing attributes means that people have reason to manage them in perpetuity.

Further, whales are capable of multiplying until they deplete their food resources. Needless to say, that is cause for the multiplication of whale predators. Which do you think is more humane, death by explosive harpoon or death by orca?

In other words, your argument is just as dumb as PETA screaming that we should all be vegans and seeking global government to enforce their human population control preferences. The planet can benefit as a whole from intelligent management, supporting both more people and more wildlife. Humans are the only species capable of prospective intervention, but the one thing in our way is this idiotic idea that Nature is self-optimizing, as if the system was capable of prospective volition. It doesn't work that way. Grow up.

[Balding_Eagle]

But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present

Where did you come up with that nonsense? Of course there is a valid reason for whaling. People want to eat whale meat.

[Lurker]

But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present.

Yes there is, for food. Unless of course you're arrogant enough to believe that you can dictate the dietary choices of Japanese consumers.

[Osage Orange]

But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present.

Do you think these whaler's just do it for the hell of it?

If you would....state some valid reasons..from your POV.

[RedMonqey]

But there is NO valid reason for hunting whales at present. These whalers are a pointless brutal anachronism.

I read your statement with some interest. Certainly there is "no valid reason" for alot of what humans do. Nowadays people eat what they eat because it gives them pleasure

Today there is no reason why humans eat meat of any kind. Or certain plants for that matter. If it's a matter of nutrition, a mixture of daily requirements is served to patients by nasal gastric tubes who other couldn't eat regular food. This nutritious gruel, however unpleasant, nullifies the "need" for restaurants, home kitchens and cooking in general. Freeing up wasted time cooking, fossil fuels and saving thousands if not millions of acres that could be rendered back to wilderness.br />
If you looked hard enough I imagine one could get the government to ban a whole list of items that are "pointless","brutal", or "anachronistic" But would you want to live like that? Would you want to be FORCED to live like that?

But if you insist forcing your values upon someone else's, then why should they be able to force their ways upon you?

And because there's always someone who would be offended by your dietary habits and ways of preparation and why consider it wasteful or "barbaric"(eating pork, cows shellfish, wildlife, eggs, cow milk,palm oil, processed foods, fatty foods, salty foods fried foods, etc, etc.) we all will be according to governmental degrees, mandated to eat the less objectionable food and it most likely will be a tasteless but inoffensive gruel.

Or maybe it's best to let the people to decide what they prefer to eat as long as it doesn't drive an species into extinction. I know I don't want some government hack or UN bureaucrat knocking on my door and take my fried chicken away from my table.... BTW: Whale were not hunted to near ectinxtion because people ate them, they were hunted to render them into lamp oil. And until we run out of electricity by coal, natural gas etc, the whales will be safe...