AniaR
08-27-2012, 06:40 PM
So I guess I take it for granted. We in the mer-community basically all know about "The Cove". We share those images around this time of year. We try to create awareness. But I saw something today that totally shocked me. I've removed names, but these are actual FB comments...
"I'm sharing this because as much as I want to save lives, I don't think we should interfere with culture. The Japanese have survived on the ocean's resources for thousands of years. If we're to tell them to stop hunting dolphins because they're intelligent animals, than we should all stop eating pork and beef over here because both Pigs and Cows are intelligent and emotional animals. Before you decide to share this image, look at yourself before criticizing another country's survival and culture."
"I don't think they kill the dolphins out of necessity. I think it's more that they have a crazy fish market and it's easier to catch everything than it is to catch everything except dolphins. So it's laziness? If I am correct, I think a good portion of the fish caught off of Japan actually are exported elsewhere...."
"Well said name removed, everyone is always so quick to be offended and criticize other cultures. Thanks for taking the time to think for yourself and be informed, for a lot of people that doesn't happen very often on FB these days:)"
"Dolphin has been a food in Japanese culture dating back to 1300AD. It was originally eaten by nobles and higher figure heads. It is still a delicacy today. They do export it but not to countries that don't allow the meat.
But honestly, I'm more upset over the fact that people are going beserk over the Dolphin issue and not looking at themselves. We eat Turkey, Pork, exotic meat. We don't need to, we just kill because it tastes good. We're at a point in science where we don't need meat to survive and if no one ate it, we would be rid of a huge part of fossil fuel emission. So honestly, I think people who are going on about Dolphins are hypocrites.
Thanks name removed, I study Japanese and other Asian cultures so as a foreigner I feel I should defend what I know. It's really sad when people are so one sided."
"people need to re-evaluate their lives, it's always one big thing after another. 2012, kony, etc etc. if people honestly think liking or sharing something on facebook is going to solve anything besides your self righteous additude you're an idiot. Alexandria is right, to bitch about killing a dolphin but not a cow is hypocritical. tldr stop bitching, find something better to do."
"For a country that is supposed to be culturally diverse, we sure can be narrow-minded. Every culture indulges in something different, it doesn't make it 'immoral'. It's idiosyncratic to them and should be met with at least the most primitive form of respect. Should we be criticized by Hinduism for eating beef? It's 2012, time to let those old stubborn ideals go."
A couple unrelated comments get stuck in there,,, then we have my reply!
actually. The Japanese killing dolphins is a lot different than say our Inuit killing seals etc. The dolphin meat is so fill of mercury that people are getting mercury poisoning at record numbers. The meat is sold to schools and children are getting record level poisonings as well, and this is all to the point that we're seeing mercury passed down in breast milk and showing up generations down. The Japanese industry of killing dolphins is based on 2 things: 1; the myth that dolphins are destroying fish numbers, and 2: the captive dolphin industry- where a single dolphin caught goes for thousands of dollars each alive. I dont think the culture argument flies at all personally, after the research I've put into culture hunting through several workshops and university courses.
For instance, in Nunavut, a huge majority of the population is starving. By the time food gets shipped there, it's quadrupled in price and is rotting (not to mention the carbon footprint getting said food there creates). This is a generation of people that only came off the land as short a time ago as the 60s! Hunting (though it's too expensive for some to do because of tools and gas) is still a food and clothing majority there, and a MASSIVE part of their culture to the point that correlations are drawn to their huge suicide statistics relating to cultural identity. This is honestly something that is not in play in Japan- rather the excuse of "culture" is a carefully chosen argument the same as how whaling is done for "science" (when no record of any scientific data is collected).
With certain numbers of dolphin species on the verge of extinction, the dolphin cull is every bit as damaging to the already damaged ocean food web balance as shark finning. Dolphins that are caught have a high mortality rate, and all around the world dolphin and whale captivity is coming under fire and scrutiny (you can see that in recent cases against both sea world and marine land). We shouldn't be supporting either dolphin captivity, or a useless cull, and we certainly shouldn't be supporting people actively being poisoned by mercury.
I think, if people are going to argue with Japan (though many Japanese are ignorant to this happening, and many still against it)- they should at least watch The Cove documentary. I don't always agree with propaganda, and I want to make it clear I dont support all the causes those people do- but the science provided in that documentary has been put under a microscope and verified several times over. The footage is quite shocking- the lead scientist they had representing the Japanese side actually pulls out due to mercury poisoning.
As for the facebook networking- the people behind "The Cove" run several online groups aimed at collecting funds and raising awareness on the topic. It was due directly to social networking that they were able to bring "The Cove" to theatres, and then to have it nominated and awarded several awards. It's directly due to funding that they're able to continue covering the expenses of running studies, protesting and raising awareness IN Japan, and running their campaign. They have had several follow up TV documentaries about the cove every year showing the differences each and every year in the dolphin numbers, in how Japan is responding, on the effect "The cove" project has actually had, and documenting literally how they spend their money. Will sharing it on FB stop it? No, will it start something? It already has. As someone active in ocean ecological issues Every year I see people staging protests at their local Japanese embassy as a result from their knowledge gained. I see facebook events, I see debate like what's going on right here! So I dont think it's useless. Especially with the economy these days. Some people cant donate money. That doesn't mean they can't donate time, energy, or pass it on.
I have the pleasure of knowing a woman who physically protested peacefully and was featured in the Cove documentary. Fishermen were so desperate to keep the story under wraps they actually attacked her and several others with their motor propellers.
Our ocean is in one of the dangerous places it has ever been. With acidification and sea levels on the rise, constant plastic pollution to the point we now have TWO plastic islands, animals going extinct faster than we can actually even study them thanks to over fishing, by catch, pollution, and unsustainable practices... this is something EVERYONE should be taking seriously. This is a resource that so many are ignorant to just how much they depend on.
what Japan does in their waters, effects us back home. But people choose to ignore that. Even when the tsunami debris is rolling in. Even where we're suddenly getting huge readioactive materials present in our own fish and waters. If you think the cull doesn't effect us here- you'd be wrong.
the reply I got:
"I'm glad you came and posted this because I know that you know your oceans. I'm not saying I agree with the killing of any animal. But I don't agree with going against one culture when we ourselves do wrong. It's very hypocritical. That's my main argument through all of this. Why say one thing is wrong, when we do similar things."
------------------------------------------------------
So I guess this one just really threw me for a loop. I was just really shocked. Clearly, nobody actually knew what went on in Taiji which is evident by some of the comments (dolphins are lazy? lol) I think it goes to show that just sharing shocking images isn't enough. People just don't get it. I really was stuck in my own bubble thinking people knew what was going on there... but it showed me I guess I could be doing more to show what actually happens.
"I'm sharing this because as much as I want to save lives, I don't think we should interfere with culture. The Japanese have survived on the ocean's resources for thousands of years. If we're to tell them to stop hunting dolphins because they're intelligent animals, than we should all stop eating pork and beef over here because both Pigs and Cows are intelligent and emotional animals. Before you decide to share this image, look at yourself before criticizing another country's survival and culture."
"I don't think they kill the dolphins out of necessity. I think it's more that they have a crazy fish market and it's easier to catch everything than it is to catch everything except dolphins. So it's laziness? If I am correct, I think a good portion of the fish caught off of Japan actually are exported elsewhere...."
"Well said name removed, everyone is always so quick to be offended and criticize other cultures. Thanks for taking the time to think for yourself and be informed, for a lot of people that doesn't happen very often on FB these days:)"
"Dolphin has been a food in Japanese culture dating back to 1300AD. It was originally eaten by nobles and higher figure heads. It is still a delicacy today. They do export it but not to countries that don't allow the meat.
But honestly, I'm more upset over the fact that people are going beserk over the Dolphin issue and not looking at themselves. We eat Turkey, Pork, exotic meat. We don't need to, we just kill because it tastes good. We're at a point in science where we don't need meat to survive and if no one ate it, we would be rid of a huge part of fossil fuel emission. So honestly, I think people who are going on about Dolphins are hypocrites.
Thanks name removed, I study Japanese and other Asian cultures so as a foreigner I feel I should defend what I know. It's really sad when people are so one sided."
"people need to re-evaluate their lives, it's always one big thing after another. 2012, kony, etc etc. if people honestly think liking or sharing something on facebook is going to solve anything besides your self righteous additude you're an idiot. Alexandria is right, to bitch about killing a dolphin but not a cow is hypocritical. tldr stop bitching, find something better to do."
"For a country that is supposed to be culturally diverse, we sure can be narrow-minded. Every culture indulges in something different, it doesn't make it 'immoral'. It's idiosyncratic to them and should be met with at least the most primitive form of respect. Should we be criticized by Hinduism for eating beef? It's 2012, time to let those old stubborn ideals go."
A couple unrelated comments get stuck in there,,, then we have my reply!
actually. The Japanese killing dolphins is a lot different than say our Inuit killing seals etc. The dolphin meat is so fill of mercury that people are getting mercury poisoning at record numbers. The meat is sold to schools and children are getting record level poisonings as well, and this is all to the point that we're seeing mercury passed down in breast milk and showing up generations down. The Japanese industry of killing dolphins is based on 2 things: 1; the myth that dolphins are destroying fish numbers, and 2: the captive dolphin industry- where a single dolphin caught goes for thousands of dollars each alive. I dont think the culture argument flies at all personally, after the research I've put into culture hunting through several workshops and university courses.
For instance, in Nunavut, a huge majority of the population is starving. By the time food gets shipped there, it's quadrupled in price and is rotting (not to mention the carbon footprint getting said food there creates). This is a generation of people that only came off the land as short a time ago as the 60s! Hunting (though it's too expensive for some to do because of tools and gas) is still a food and clothing majority there, and a MASSIVE part of their culture to the point that correlations are drawn to their huge suicide statistics relating to cultural identity. This is honestly something that is not in play in Japan- rather the excuse of "culture" is a carefully chosen argument the same as how whaling is done for "science" (when no record of any scientific data is collected).
With certain numbers of dolphin species on the verge of extinction, the dolphin cull is every bit as damaging to the already damaged ocean food web balance as shark finning. Dolphins that are caught have a high mortality rate, and all around the world dolphin and whale captivity is coming under fire and scrutiny (you can see that in recent cases against both sea world and marine land). We shouldn't be supporting either dolphin captivity, or a useless cull, and we certainly shouldn't be supporting people actively being poisoned by mercury.
I think, if people are going to argue with Japan (though many Japanese are ignorant to this happening, and many still against it)- they should at least watch The Cove documentary. I don't always agree with propaganda, and I want to make it clear I dont support all the causes those people do- but the science provided in that documentary has been put under a microscope and verified several times over. The footage is quite shocking- the lead scientist they had representing the Japanese side actually pulls out due to mercury poisoning.
As for the facebook networking- the people behind "The Cove" run several online groups aimed at collecting funds and raising awareness on the topic. It was due directly to social networking that they were able to bring "The Cove" to theatres, and then to have it nominated and awarded several awards. It's directly due to funding that they're able to continue covering the expenses of running studies, protesting and raising awareness IN Japan, and running their campaign. They have had several follow up TV documentaries about the cove every year showing the differences each and every year in the dolphin numbers, in how Japan is responding, on the effect "The cove" project has actually had, and documenting literally how they spend their money. Will sharing it on FB stop it? No, will it start something? It already has. As someone active in ocean ecological issues Every year I see people staging protests at their local Japanese embassy as a result from their knowledge gained. I see facebook events, I see debate like what's going on right here! So I dont think it's useless. Especially with the economy these days. Some people cant donate money. That doesn't mean they can't donate time, energy, or pass it on.
I have the pleasure of knowing a woman who physically protested peacefully and was featured in the Cove documentary. Fishermen were so desperate to keep the story under wraps they actually attacked her and several others with their motor propellers.
Our ocean is in one of the dangerous places it has ever been. With acidification and sea levels on the rise, constant plastic pollution to the point we now have TWO plastic islands, animals going extinct faster than we can actually even study them thanks to over fishing, by catch, pollution, and unsustainable practices... this is something EVERYONE should be taking seriously. This is a resource that so many are ignorant to just how much they depend on.
what Japan does in their waters, effects us back home. But people choose to ignore that. Even when the tsunami debris is rolling in. Even where we're suddenly getting huge readioactive materials present in our own fish and waters. If you think the cull doesn't effect us here- you'd be wrong.
the reply I got:
"I'm glad you came and posted this because I know that you know your oceans. I'm not saying I agree with the killing of any animal. But I don't agree with going against one culture when we ourselves do wrong. It's very hypocritical. That's my main argument through all of this. Why say one thing is wrong, when we do similar things."
------------------------------------------------------
So I guess this one just really threw me for a loop. I was just really shocked. Clearly, nobody actually knew what went on in Taiji which is evident by some of the comments (dolphins are lazy? lol) I think it goes to show that just sharing shocking images isn't enough. People just don't get it. I really was stuck in my own bubble thinking people knew what was going on there... but it showed me I guess I could be doing more to show what actually happens.