Originally posted by trawets113What is the purpose of hunting the whales? Is it for food? Their skin? If so, then I have no objection. If the inuits are secretly mass producing cosmetics from their spoils, then I would probably object.
Hunting of whales is illegal worldwide but is not illegal to inuits as they claim that it is there tradition and that they kill very few whales per year, and so it has no effect on overall populations.
What do you think.
Originally posted by trawets113I think there is a case for small populations which have traditionally hunted whales to continue doing so - as long as the species is not endangered. Although the hunting can be non-traditional (so outboards and rifles are fine) I think the consumption must be traditional - so commercial sales is out.
Hunting of whales is illegal worldwide but is not illegal to inuits as they claim that it is there tradition and that they kill very few whales per year, and so it has no effect on overall populations.
What do you think.
Originally posted by steerpikeIn case of the inuits commercial sales is traditional, what then?
I think there is a case for small populations which have traditionally hunted whales to continue doing so - as long as the species is not endangered. Although the hunting can be non-traditional (so outboards and rifles are fine) I think the consumption must be traditional - so commercial sales is out.
Anyway, I'm for it. Hunting is a essential part of the inuit society, and we shouldn't interfere with our moral values which doesn't comply to their society.
You ever see a whale up close (I mean really close). I'm sure just as many, if not more, Inuits die in the hunting of the whales than they kill whales. Besides, using traditional techniques it wouls be virtually impossible to substanitally deplete the whale numbers. I'm sure the Navy kills more whales per year simply by utilixing their sonar scanners and messing up the whales' natural navigation instincts than the Alaskans kill with thier spears.
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Originally posted by WulebgrYou've just edited that post so as to make it have a different meaning then gone on to saya exactly what is said after the original comment.
Wrong.
Subsistence whaling, and hunting whales for scientific purposes have never been against the policies and regulations of the International Whaling Commission.
How quaint.
Original text
'Hunting of whales is illegal worldwide but is not illegal to inuits as they claim that it is there tradition and that they kill very few whales per year, and so it has no effect on overall populations.
What do you think.'
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Originally posted by jimslyp69I think Inuits, and other subsistence hunters cannot be prevented from the whale hunt within reason. Hunting whales not only remains a principal means of livlihood for many, but it is an integral aspect of their culture.
Original text
'Hunting of whales is illegal worldwide but is not illegal to inuits as they claim that it is there [sic] tradition and that they kill very few whales per year, and so it has no effect on overall populations.
The IWC has long recognized this, and never has extended its commercial whaling ban to encompass the activities of subsistence hunters. It has attempted to regulate such activities, however, through a quota system. But Arctic whalers generally do not manage to kill their full quota.
Inuits are not the only subsistence whalers who are permitted to hunt.
Organizations such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that take it upon themselves to enforce various international regulations and agreements that forbid commercial whaling are terrorists who break more laws than they enforce.
Your original statement, edited or not, is erroneous. Commercial whaling has been banned, but not by anyone with full international authority. The IWC, the closest thing to an acceptable regulatory body, forbids commercial whaling, but not subsistence whaling, nor whaling conducted for scientific research.
Originally posted by trawets113Certainly. As long as they use the "carcus" and don't waste it. And as long as they don't use the level of technology that caused them to "stop" whaling. High power rifles seem a bit of a stretch if the aim is to "recapture" their 'civilization' and heritage.
Hunting of whales is illegal worldwide but is not illegal to inuits as they claim that it is there tradition and that they kill very few whales per year, and so it has no effect on overall populations.
What do you think.
Go out in skin lined kayaks .. not "Merc Powered" speed boats. Go out with a spear and rope made of vines. Go out and have a ball. Just like the "heritage" that is so important.
Leave the Rifles and power boats at home. Then thank God that you have the right to be silly.
On a more "redneck" level... If you have to ask permission to go kill a beast... you are probably not ready or able to do it anyway, so just pull up a chair around the gas log and watch a bit of tv. It's easier than hunting the great whale.