'Whale-huggers' restart a crusade they thought they'd won (Protest Obama pro-Whaler treaty)

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 24, 2010 | John Hoeffel

[tlb]

"We've been doing this too long, and now we're going to do it all over again. It's very tiresome," said John Perry, a sculptor who in the 1970s campaigned for a whaling ban with a 110-foot-long humpback whale balloon. Advertisement

Perry was among about 120 people at the protest, one of 16 along the California coast targeting a proposal to lift the 1986 commercial whaling moratorium and set legal quotas for Japan, Norway and Iceland, the three nations that still hunt whales. The proposal aims to reduce the number of whales killed over 10 years, but opponents say it would reward rogue actions and legitimize hunting endangered species.

"It is a rationale that makes no sense," said Joel R. Reynolds, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Can we stop gang violence by allowing some gang warfare? The answer is no."

Reynolds and other speakers expressed incredulity that the Obama administration helped draft the proposal. As a candidate, Obama promised to strengthen the moratorium.

Environmentalists consider the ban, which has reduced the number of whales killed from 38,000 a year to fewer than than 2,000, a seminal achievement, and they do not want it weakened.

Mati Waiya drew the most rapt attention. Adorned with feathers, a coyote pelt and whale-fluke paintings, the Chumash ceremonial elder burned sage, blew a conch and chanted blessings.

"If they die, we die," he said. "Be the warriors that lie within your spirit. Be the voice of these creatures that are suffering."

[tlb]

So perhaps this means Obama will task the US Navy to protect whaling ships from Bob Barker.

[texson66]

By all means shave the whales.....

Personally, I am sick of the “Sea Shepard” Ship “ Steve Irwin” on discovery or the critter channel. The crew got indigent when the Japanese started to fight back using the group’s own tactics!

I root for the Japanese every time that show comes on.

[oneamericanvoice]

I can’t root for any whale hunters. There is no reason for whaling. So call me a whale-hugger. Fine by me. Greenpeace, etc. go about it all wrong. The Japanese have been fraudulently taking whales for years by claiming it was scientific research. What research? How many ways can you serve whale? These aren’t fish we’re talking about. They aren’t the same as a tuna.

Stop whaling.

[Steve Van Doorn]

and used to call the last democrat Clintoon

I couldn't have made this up if it was written for a comic book.