[big_dav_2001 (Davin)]

The problem is hunting them in any numbers is not sustainable. Most whale species only calve every 3-4 years and that's with a baby that usually gestates for 18 months. So, in actual fact, they have babies only once every 5-6 years on average. It takes them many years to mature to reproductive age (about the same as humans, some even longer) and an orphaned calf is as good as dead. Most of the whales, including Minke Whales, are now at the point where those taken are sub adults or smaller than what they used to be. Japan's so called "scientific" whaling is supposed to be restricted to Minke Whales, yet they know they've been hunting other species because they've done genetic tests on some of the meat that ends up in markets and restaurants. They've found Humpback, Fin, Right and others...even Blue Whale meat. All those other species are protected species. What's been done about it....nothing. The politicians of the other nations are gutless and/or don't really care at all. All they do is dance around the issues, make noise and hope the problem just blows over.

As i said, i'm a butcher, not a scientist. I have no idea of the gestation period/ reproduction rate of whales, i simply said that if a sustainable way of killing them can be found, regardless of the purpose, whats the harm?? As you've pointed out, sustainability may be close to impossible, so perhaps the practice should be extremely limited (although that may also prove to be impossible).

It sufficient to say that if an old belief or cultural practice makes no sense anymore and is an anachronism and/or is possibly causing problems etc, then it needs to change. Humans have the capacity to change their ways and work towards a common good for everyone and everything. It's about time they start using that capacity.

Makes sense to whom??. What gives me or anyone else the right to change try and change another cultures practices and beliefs just because i don't understand them? The practices make sense to them that's the important part. When cultures start questioning the importance of their own values/beliefs/practices, then it should be up to them to change them, the change should not be forced upon them by an outside culture because simply because the outside culture doesn't understand.