Who should have the right to control or allow whale hunting?
This opinion response survey will be due next Thursday (Oct 8) by classtime.
The "whale hunting" opinion was technically due by classtime Thursday Oct 3, and all responses received by 1:30 pm on Oct 3 are posted here.
Please read through the directions first before starting to read the opinions (if you haven't already in past assignments).
Instead of reading all the responses, which I think might be overwhelming, I will divide it up as follows:
· If your name begins with the letters A to D, please read responses 1 to 18
· If your name begins with the letters E to K, please read responses 19 to 36
- If your name begins with the letters L to N, please read responses 37 to 53
· If your name begins with the letters O to Z, please read responses 54-66
The order of the opinions is according to the order in which they were received. Chances being what they are, the 4 sets will probably differ somewhat. You are welcome, of course, to read responses outside your own set if you have time and interest.
If you do not see your response below, do not panic, but please do let me know.
1. Who should have the right to control or allow whale hunting? I believe that whale hunting is wrong because they are nearly extinct as specie as a whole because of the extensive hunting of all people in general. No one is attempting to replenish their population in a great effect. So many animals get slaughtered and all of their body parts aren’t used so it's useless to kill the animal at all. Our country is so technologically advanced and other countries that aren’t as advanced can always import the necessary materials to perform the same tasks. I don't think it's in the ecosystems best interest to keep slaughtering these poor helpless animals time after time. I am not going to intertwine how ethics and morals tie into this because no one really cares about hearing about the value side of things. So morals could be an issue but who has the same set of morals? No one. Animals of this importance and magnitude shouldn't be touched.
2. Currently a 39-member panel of countries
called the International Whaling Commission (IWC) regulates the whaling
industry. Due to environmental group pressure, the panel adopted a
moratorium, or pause, in commercial whaling in 1986. Since that time,
whale populations have risen drastically. In certain instances, whale
populations have recovered and are now overpopulated, harming the ecosystem in
which they live. Due to the near extinction of some species, like the
Okhotsk Sea Bowhead, and the recovery of other whale species, the IWC must
regulated whaling based on the individual species. However, they are
unlikely to remove the moratorium on whaling due to the influence on
environmental groups and the voters they represent. (Frequently
cited as a new insight.)
3. The whole idea of the "right" to
something on this planet is beyond me. It’s unbelievable that we as
humans think that we own anything in earth, and to say that one person or group
of people has the right or ownership of something. We as humans are just
as much a part of natural law and order as whales, deer, grass, air and sun
are. Should any of these things have the right to us? Should they
be able to buy, sell and own us? Nope. I have to admit that my
opinion on whale hunting is a narrow minded one. I have always had a
passion for marine biology and whales. It is amazing, out of all the
creatures that have been lost to extinction as a result of humans, that there
are still whales hanging on. We don't need to use them. We should
leave them alone. We should have the courtesy to let some species last. (Frequently
cited as an especially well expressed opinion.)
4. Although whale hunting should generally be outlawed across the world in order to protect a rapidly disappearing group of creatures, in some cases and cultures, the harvesting of whale is required. Whale meat and blubber can provide enough sustenance for many people, and from an economical standpoint, is beneficial to hunt and kill whale. However, there do need to be regulations, as unbridled fishing could lead to mass extinction. In a case like this, where there is no clear law other than technical ownership of waters, the killing of whales should be dictated by those who control a body of water, while hunting in international waters be outlawed.
5. Why must we even have to choose who has the right to control or allow whale hunting? It’s sad that we even have to try to figure it out. If humans have all this technology why is it necessary to still hunt whales? I mean if we are talking about native peoples whose livelihood is hunting these whales I don’t see why cant we just let them, but if we are talking about technologically advanced people than they should be civilized enough to realize that it is no longer necessary and let go of it.
6. In my opinion, whale hunting should not be allowed period. Therefore there is no need for any control over it because it would not be happening. To enforce this law, the government could employ people to keep guard of the seas and ports to make sure that nobody is breaking it. There is no reason for whales to be hunted; they have their rights as living, breathing mammals, as do the ones on land. Researchers already know what there is to know about these animals, and should not kill them for that reason. Hunters should not hunt for whales because of ethical reasons.
7. Whale hunting is a very controversial
issue and has two sides to it. I think that native tribes that have a
tradition of hunting whales should be allowed to even though animal rights
activists don’t agree. The hunting of whales for strictly commercial
reasons shouldn’t be allowed because it would kill an overwhelming number and
would put certain kinds of whales like the gray whale, which Makah tribes hunt
into extinction. In conclusion, laws should be set up in order to
regulate or end totally commercial whale hunting, native tribes shouldn’t be
affected by the laws and will continue to hunt according to tradition. (Frequently
cited as a new insight.)
8. I don't think whales should be hunted at all. Whales are almost going extinct anyway and what do we need them for? We already have the resources to make heat and everything and we certainly wouldn't need the food. I don't see what the big deal with the whale hunting is anyway, with so many other animals that can be hunted. Why should these animals go extinct because we need to hunt them?
9. I believe that whale hunting should not be allowed. I understand that it used to be a way of life for certain northern cultures and tribes, but there is no need to hunt them anymore. There should be a United Nations policy to stop whale hunting, because if we continue to hunt them, they may go extinct. There should also be a closer watch on poachers to make sure whales aren't being killed illegally.
10. No one should have the right to control the
death of others; no matter what species they happen to be. Whales are
beautiful, and nowadays rare, creatures. Giving someone the right to regulate
their death is allowing the person to play God. We don’t allow people to play
God when it is the question of another human life, why should this be any
different in the case of whales? Whale hunting has been a part of certain
cultures for centuries. But in these cultures every piece of the whale
body is used for a purpose of survival. It may be through fuel for fire, meat
with which to feed a family, or materials to create a secure lodging against
the elements. These people respect the animals they are killing, and
understand how important they are to the survival of their own tribes.
When whale hunting became commercialized as a means to make fast money in the
fuel business, it sort of demoralized these cultures. There are now
merely hundreds of whales in the oceans when there used to be thousands. This
is primarily because of the extent to which whale hunting has become publicized
and the practice has become abused. Asking the question ‘Who should have
the right to control or allow whale hunting?’ is like referring back to the
previous question about extinction. What is really being asked is ‘Who has the
right to control the extinction of these whales’? (Frequently cited
as an especially well expressed opinion.)
11. I believe that whale hunting is something that needs to be stopped and prevented to ensure the safety of the remaining whales in the ocean. In order to do this, we need to have all of the governments form an agreement to stop whale hunting by enforcing a law against it. This is the only way that we can stop the extinction of whales and help them survive. But it is only possible if there is a joint effort between all nations.
12. I believe that the International Whaling Commission, which regulates whaling, should have the right to control or allow whale hunting. I believe that the scientists that make up the Commission should be the only people allowed to give special permits and permission to people who want to hunt. They should have a justifiable reason as to why they want to kill a whale. They must present it to the Commission and then it should be only them that grant the permission. The Commission should regulate the ocean and do numerous studies to watch how the populations of the different species of the ocean are growing. I do not think that people who hunted whales as a part of their heritage should continue hunting them. They should seek permission and then only be allowed to hunt a certain number of whales per year.
13. It is a difficult decision to decide what is to happen when Whales are hunted extensively. For some cultures in the northern regions of the world rely on hunting whales as a primary source for most of the needs they have. Currently there are some restrictions that the government has set forth, but as it stands the people who the restrictions hurt the most, are the people who rely on whales the most. Some limitations do need to be set, so that an entire species is eliminated, but something needs to be done to also ensure that an entire race of people is not eliminated.
14. Whale hunting has become very well known. Many whales have gone extinct due to this new trend in hunting. Many organizations have begun to do what they can to save all the whales from dying by making programs such as the "adopt a whale" foundation. In response to the question of who should have to right to control or allow whale hunting, i beleive that only organizations who know verywell what situation the whales are in and how endangered they are should take control over the situation. And to do this, they should do as much as they can in their power to resrict hunters from killing so many whales before they are completely eradicated from the earth.
15. Whale hunting should be controlled nationally. Native tribes who use the whole whale as part of their culture should be given special permits to hunt whales. Besides them, no one should hunt the whales. I honestly don’t think anyone should have the right to control or allow whale hunting. I think it should be banned all together. There isn’t anything we need so desperately from them that we need to kill them. A number a whale species are already endangered because there are poachers who are aimlessly killing them for no reasons at all. And if there is a reason it certainty doesn’t make up for the killing of the animal. There is just no reason why these animals should be hunted in the first place. So if anyone did have the right to decide the fate of the whales, then I think that whoever it is should forbid any such practices and enforce strict laws prohibiting it.
16. I believe that whales should not be hunted at all. Worldwide organizations such as the UN should take measures to decrease commercial whale hunting. The hunters may claim that there are enough whales to go around, but just look at the example of the rare North Atlantic Right Whale. These magnificent creatures were slaughtered almost to extinction before they were protected by law in 1937. In addition, we decimated their numbers so much that their gene pool was severely damaged, further hindering population growth. We must stop other countries from hunting other species of whales, so that we all may enjoy their majestic beauty for many more generations to come.
17. Whales are known as one of nature’s most spectacular creatures. Certainly in the past it was quite ethical to hunt and use the whale for survivals sake. Since we no longer live in a primitive society, I do not feel that hunting whales for any reason should be acceptable. While some cultures may utilize the whale in traditional practices, I do not feel that they have the right to do so. This is because the whale inhabits the ocean, which is far too vast to be claimed as the property of any one person. Therefore I feel that it is every person’s job to insist that the whales are protected.
18. Someone needs to send a clear signal to the world community that whale conservation needs to be urgently addressed. I believe anyone who has authority to control whale hunting should do so, if they have any chance of survival. The Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), in addition to the International Whaling Commission and the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species are already some organizations that have taken a stand to help conserve the world's whales and recognize the full range of threats that these animals face beyond the threat of whaling. Some of these threats include climate change, chemical and noise pollution, increasing volume of debris, entanglement in fishing gear and collision with ships. I think the to control and allow whale hunting should lie in hands of environmental groups and scientists that know about the extinction of the whales. Groups that know which whales are close to extinction and which ones are doing ok. These groups would be best fit to make the decision because they now what is going on and what will hurt the population more and what will not.
19. Although whale hunting is a major boon to the fishing industry, the nearsighted greed that spurred whale hunting throughout the 20th century has left a marked impact on whale populations. Due to their great size, whales have a tremendous impact on their environment. Likewise, the disappearance of such the species would leave a gaping hole in the oceans ecosystems. Long gestation periods, few young, and excessive predations, both natural and human, all contribute to the dwindling numbers of these majestic mammals. Since we can control our own predations, i.e. hunting for fishing and sport, we should focus our efforts on this area.
20. I do not think that anyone should have the right to whale hunt. I can understand how it was important hundreds of years ago, but the bottom line is that there are not a large amount of whales on this planet and poaching these mammals should be illegal. This should be something controlled by the Fish and Wildlife Reserve. There are many species of whales that are endangered. We need to do everything we can to protect them. However, it is inevitable that some will lose their lives, due to fishing accidents and other mistakes at sea. With that in mind, we must be aware of our mammal counterparts in the Ocean, and do everything we can to stop whale hunting entirely
21. The world's population of whales is decreasing everyday. Over time, every species of whale will be extinct. A main cause of the endangerment of the whales is humans. In the past, whale hunting has been a very large grossing industry, especially for coastal towns. Today, however, whales need to be protected. Organizations like the EPA (environmental protection agency), WWF (world wildlife foundation) and the national governments from around the world should combine together to protect and preserve the world's whale population.
22. I believe we should go to great links to prevent whale hunting. At this modern day and age, we really have no need for whales. We don’t need blubber to make oil or the ivory of their teeth, and there is no whale overpopulation problem either. There was a time when whale hunting was not only condonable but also necessary for many New England towns. But today with no good reason to hunt whales, we should not and should punish those who do.
23. Whale hunting should be regulated by an international commission headed by marine biologists, economists, and government officials. Since almost none of all marine surface area is owned or controlled by any government, it would only make sense to form an international agency dedicated to monitoring, regulating, and reporting on hunting regarding whales or any other marine life for that matter. Biologists on the commission would be there to look out for the best interest of marine animals and the economists and government representatives would see that the commission followed proper government protocols and was making wise decisions for everyone. Nations could join the commission and then send representatives, this system ensures that the wisest possible decisions would be made and fairly carried out.
24. Overall, I don't believe whale hunting should be permitted. It is not as though we need the blubber or oil today as we have needed it in the past, and we have already significantly depleted majority of the whale populations on earth. However, there are those communities who still depend on whale byproducts as a prominent source of income. In these cases, I believe compromises can be reached to ensure the economical survival of the people of that community as well as the physical survival of the whale species. Perhaps a quota on the number of whales killed can be put into effect and strictly enforced so the number of whales being killed does not overwhelm the number of whales able to reproduce. Additionally, the age of the whale should be considered. If whalers bring in mostly young species, it is probable that they have not yet been able to reproduce and thus the species will be jeopardized. The government and the people of the whaling communities should determine a logical compromise.
25a. Whale hunting regulation and control should be the government’s responsibility. However, since whales reside in the world’s oceans, they do not clearly fall under the jurisdiction of any one country. The collaboration of many countries is needed to effectively monitor whale hunting as well as heeding the advice and opinions of whale activists and native tribes who claim whale hunting as a part of tribal tradition and culture. Hopefully by working together, these groups of people can find a happy medium between hunting and preservation.
25b. Whales are rare creatures of the deep, blue ocean that have been around for thousands of years. They provide a lot of insight into the prehistoric world and are one of dinosaurs last remaining relatives. Unfortunately, many whales are endangered and are becoming extinct. Just like every other animal on the Earth, we have an obligation to protect them and make sure that the human race is not contributing to their death. I think that each country needs to set guidelines to protect and preserve the whale population. In the United States, organizations like the EPA and other conservation and animal rights programs should be in charge of limiting whale hunting. There should also be stiff penalties attached to committing the crime of unlawfully killing a whale. I believe that if this issue is brought more to the public’s attention, the future of the whale will be a lot more promising and stable.
26. I feel that no one should have the right to control or allow whale hunting. It should never be a problem. There really is no reason for anyone to hunt whales today. They do not bare anything that we as humans need to survive. Also if hunting were to continue the chances of whales becoming extinct would be greater than it already is. There are only so many left today in the world. Whales do not pose any threats to us, why should we pose any to them? There is plenty of room for the both of us to exist in this world.
27. I feel that the government should assign a government funded organization that deals with these sorts of questions. This organization should monitor the activity of whale hunting (and every other animal being hunted) and regulate it. I don't think that this organization should totally outlaw the hunting of whales, however restrictions should be put on the number of whales allowed to be killed that would vary by species (i.e. if a species is on the verge of extinction the killing of that particular species should be outlawed).
28. I think that whales should not be hunted at all but if some cultures still insist upon it then I think the best solution would be an international committee that countries sign into that makes the decisions about whale hunting. (Maybe the UN could function like this) It would be up to the panel of representatives to propose and decide upon international laws regulating whale hunting.
29. I believe that the government should control the hunting of whales. It's the only institution that has the power and resources to prevent whale hunting. Many environmental organizations just don't have the manpower to patrol the coasts and investigate whale-hunting cases. It would be nice for these organizations to control these things because they do truly care about these animals. The government would slowly and surely forget about these animals and work for corporations that are interested in whales. Honestly I think for the whales’ sake the environmental organizations would be better but the government has the power and the influence.
30. Whales are not only beautiful creatures, but they are also very fragile. If we don't protect them from being hunted then we will be doing ourselves a disservice. We should set a good example and make a stand to protect whales from being hunted. We should be especially protective of those whales that are endangered. If we set an example we may be able to get other countries to follow our lead in protecting whales.
31. Whale hunting should be controlled by no one. If something in the ocean is being hunted who is to say what country or town or state the whales being hunted belong to. They do not belong to anybody and no one has the right to claim that these animals do belong to them. It is not right to hunt whales and if someone sees someone else doing so they should contact the police or a law enforcement agency but they should not think they are in charge and continually look for whale hunters.
32. I think that the government should have the
control and right of whale hunting. It really should not be allowed, because
whales are not used for food, and some types of whales may becoming extinct and
are an endangered species. There should be laws disallowing whale hunting and
it shouldn't be just in certain states, it should be in all of them. I think it
is too big a concern to have just the local government choosing whether or not
whale hunting should be allowed. (Frequently cited as an especially
well expressed opinion.)
33. The people that really worry about whale hunting are animal protection rights groups. Now I know that they do not have the money or man power to perform such duties so I believe that these responsibilities should be recommended to the coast guards in all the countries of the world. It must be very difficult though to patrol all of the seas considering they cover about seventy-five percent of the earth so the duties must be split up evenly based on the manpower available in each section of the world. I believe that whale hunting should be allowed but only on those with plentiful species left in the ocean. Any whale that is endangered of extinction should be exempt from these hunting policies. Whales can be used for many resources beneficial to humans and therefore if there are whales in the sea, hunt away.
34. Personally, I believe whale hunting should be restricted completely. There should be some kind of pact or group formed to create rules and regulations for whale hunting. Some might say that this goes back to saving animals from extinction, but this is nothing like that. Whale hunting is straight up hunting and killing of a species. Though it might not be intended to kill off an entire species, it is happening. This "group" or "pact" should call for limited hunting, if any at all and require harsh punishment for those who violate these laws. Yes, whales contain great amounts of oil and other useful products, but there are other means of attaining these things without having to murder several species of whales.
35. The United States Coast Guard should have the responsibility of controlling whale hunting. In my opinion, killing a whale, especially an endangered one, is a much larger crime than smuggling a shipload of reefer across the thankful US border. Whales are beautiful marine mammals that are essential to the earth's ecosystem. Much effort should be placed into saving the whales. It is the responsibility of the most powerful government in the world to do everything in its power to preserve this wonderful part of earth's history.
36. Nobody should control and regulate whale hunting, because there should not be any type of killing of whales. Whales have already been hunted to near-extinction, so there should be no reason why hunting them should still exist. Instead of regulating whaling laws, people should spend more time on trying to save whales. The resources that come from whales are useful, but they can be found in other places. Why risk losing these beautiful creatures when the resources can be easily found somewhere else? No one should be able to allow whaling to happen, and if there is one person who can allow it, it should be someone who has a full understanding of the permanent harm whaling would have.
37. I think that the right to control or allow whale hunting should be given to environmental associations. Humans have killed many species of whales almost to extinction. I am sure that the government will not do much to stop this atrocity so it should be given into the hands of people who actually care for the environment and who wish to see that animals such as whales stay alive. In the past the blubber of whales was used as a fuel but now why should people hunt these animals. The killing of whales is senseless and practically no one uses blubber for fuel anymore. Times have changed since a person needed to hunt whales for warmth, to kill these animals is a crime that should not be overlooked. If the environmental agencies were allowed the right to control whale hunting I think that these animals might have a chance to live.
38. Whales are on the verge of extinction because of whale hunters from Norway and Japan. Even though there is a ban on hunting whales these countries continue to hunt. Japan has a lame excuse saying they hunt whales to study them, but then they sell the meat for a profit. To control this problem there has to be repercussions for those who break the law. I would say that any group with political power, except Japan or Norway, could pass laws that strictly prohibits whale hunting. You don’t have to be a genius to know that hunting an animal to extinction isn’t the right thing to do. When all the whales are gone then no one will have the opportunity to study or profit from whales.
39. I think that whales have been hunted enough, and that we should outlaw all hunting and killing of them. They are protected under the endangered species act, how can there be any legal hunting of them anyway? I don't think we should capture whales or any animal and force them to try and breed, but we should leave them and their natural environment alone and let nature run its course.
40. In my opinion, whale hunting should not be done at all. This is of course not likely to happen or necessarily in our best interest. In the event that this does occur and there needs to a monitor, I propose local counties to make their own decisions on whale hunting in their locations. I don’t' think that this should be dealt with at a national level rather as a small government decision where the results will effect our society as a whole but more specifically the local public
41. As most whaling takes place in the open ocean, in international waters, some form of international coalition should be formed to place restrictions on whale hunting. It is agreed almost unanimously worldwide that whale hunting does far greater harm than good — the mere fact that most whale species are endangered is the greatest reason for placing an entire prohibition on whale hunting. An international coalition could research alternate sources for many of the products that some economies may traditionally have gotten from whale carcasses, thereby bypassing most objections that countries may have to a ban on whale hunting.
42. Whale hunting should not be legal, it should not even exist, and therefore no one should have the rights to control it. I am completely against the whole idea of it, especially since the whales are becoming extinct. Why hunt them? I don’t see any suitable answer to this question. Everything that they were once hunted for now have substitutes; such as oil. Why not just let what is left of these beautiful animals live in peace and not kill them?
43. When it comes to hunting whales there is great debate over if it should be permitted, how much, and so on. As far as who should have the control over these issues, I believe that the people that do marine life research should make the decisions. These workers spend all of their time working with the ocean animals; therefore, they would have a great amount of knowledge whales. They may know how many or few there are, and therefore how many their species can afford to lose. If we leave the decision up to someone that does not have a great amount of intelligence, then he or she could make the wrong decisions that could potentially hurt the population of whales.
44. I think that the issue of control of whale hunting is complicated. I think that a worldwide agreement on whale hunting would be most effective at protecting the animals. If each country were allowed their own regulations, you would be more likely to see lax policies that would favor the economy of a country rather than protecting the whales. Fishermen could also conceivably cross borders, hunting whales within multiple territories, thus more rapidly destroying the animals. On the other hand, if worldwide regulations were in effect, there would be more conflict surrounding enforcement. Who would enforce the laws, and who would financially support the efforts to enforce them?
45. Greenpeace should have total control over whale hunting policy. This organization actually has the sense to realize the travesty of killing one of the Earth’s greatest creatures Additionally, this group has established a plan to compensate for the decrease of money if whales are no longer killed for meat and other materials. By arranging more whale watching activities, Greenpeace can boost the economy, create educational opportunities, and promote tourism. Their plan is much better than hunting a species that is doomed to extinction if the killing continues.
46. Tough question because whales are definitely declining in population, so we should all be aware of the risk there is in hunting them, but at the same point hunting them is the life of many fishermen. To me, I believe that the governments and Coast Guard should have the right do what they want with the whale hunting issue. I feel that that is the only logical way, yet many of the seas that they are hunted in are not controlled and open to the public, this is why I don't believe that this issue will ever go away or ever be resolved for that matter.
47. I am a believer that there should be only a small amount of whales allowed to be killed each year. The EPA should be allowed to strictly monitor whale hunting and be allowed to request fines for illegal whale hunting. It is obviously an issue that is too big for just the EPA to tackle, so government support would be crucial. I know that the whaling industry has the potential of economic support for a nation, but this concept can often be exploited.
48. It has been said that during our lifetime, we may see the extinction of whales. Now this relates back to the last question about endangered species, and in this particular situation, I feel that the whales should be protected. The government should allow no one to hunt whales. Whales do not provide us with any necessary product that we cannot do with out. Whale hunting is an unnecessary, pointless, and damaging action that should end immediately. To continue to hunt whales would nearly guarantee a premature extinction.
49. I don't think that controlling the whale population should be a major concern. I am not sure of the use for whales in today’s market, but I’m sure it's not a very large one. I do not think that capitalism should in any way shape or form have anything to do with environmental control. Money shouldn't dictate what lives and dies. I don't think we as people have the right to dictate why these animals should live or die. We were given the faculties of reason and thought; we should apply our natural tools to the problems and find alternative manners that don’t affect nature as much.
50. We must keep a close watch over whale hunting. Although people might say that there is no rule over the sea, it is obvious that we need to protect these gentle giants. They are quite intelligent, but not fast. However, we should allow some hunting if it was a tradition of a native people. For example, some natives of Alaska hunt for whales. The catch is that they use spears. The whales have a change, n comparison to being instantly blown away by a high-powered rifle in combination with a harpoon gun.
51. Whale hunting is something that shouldn't even be questioned. Whales are a huge, and beautiful animal that has been around longer than humans have. But, after years of being hunted for many years, their numbers are dwindling. Maybe I could understand just letting whales become extinct if it was happening naturally, but this is not a natural occurrence. It is blatantly obvious that humans are the number one cause of their endangered species status. Therefore, the government should do everything in its power to control and prevent the hunting of whales. If this doesn't happen, we will lose these fascinating creatures forever.
52. Are humans truly capable of taking control of life on earth and eliminating different species specifically whales? Since when did we inherit the role of playing God? It is believed by most people that we are put on this earth for a reason, so why is it that when we are going about our lives whatever ways we decide to (i.e. whale hunting), we are no longer under the control of a greater power and that we are whale hunting out of pure evil. Perhaps we one of our purposes was to aid in the extinction of certain species...whales may be inhibiting other forms of life that are supposed to come about and we are hunting them to help the new life forms grow. It is no ones right to decide who gets to hunt whales and who does not. Whales are free animals, as are we. We should be able to hunt them or not, without credit to our social or work status. There is no more reason for a scientist to hunt a whale than there is for a hunter to kill a whale. Who says that the scientist will find what it is that they are looking for just because it is assumed that they are doing it for the good of the people? Sometimes people just have to take a chance and see where life takes them, without so much worry about whether or not what goes on in every day life is normal or good. It just is.
53. This summer, my parents attended a grad. class in Bar Harbor Maine. They both got to dissect a beached whale. After the experience, my mother called me and described the different things they saw in the whale. She also mentioned that she had to throw out her clothes because they smelled so badly. Every year, whales beach themselves and die, or whales show up on shore because of natural causes. There are also a few unfortunate boating accidents that kill whales, which will eventually beach on shore. Whales are used for many products that we use without even knowing it. Whales are still hunted and killed for the products that they can make. I feel that whales shouldn't be hunted. There are many alternatives that we can use other than whale by-products. Whales are amazing creatures, and shouldn't be hunted. It would be very difficult, though, to regulate the hunting of whales. The ocean, for the most part, is no mans land. If whales are caught by fisherman from countries outside of the US, there is no stopping them. As far as the US, there should be regulation about hunting them. It should be banned. But as far as other countries, there's not stopping it.
54. Whale hunting should be controlled by an international organization, which sets limits and standards on this practice. However, this is a very unlikely solution, as all nations would need to join. As an alternative I think that each country should control whale hunting in their nation's waters, and that whale hunting should be strictly forbidden in international waters. This would then have to be enforced by a local group or coast guard patrol.
55. I do not believe there is any reason why the Western World should hunt whales. I do not see any reason why this practice continues in today’s modern world. I hunt whitetail deer, and in doing so I know that I am reducing the natural population of an over abundant species. Whales are endangered and deserve to be protected. However, I also know that some arctic tribes hunt whales, and I have no problem with this small scale hunting practice
56. I think that the people who know most about whales should be the ones to make the laws about whale hunting. The environmentalists, who know the most about these creatures, will know the proper ways to protect them. Whales are over hunted, and are curtail to our environment, so everyone needs to contribute to their survival.
57. I can assure you that in a world where
cows or pigs were few in number there WOULD be an international ban on killing
them. The reality is that whales ARE few in number - I don't consider
populations of ten thousand to be a large population and some species have
considerably less numbers than that. I understand that in Japanese culture
it is ok to eat whale meat and I know that different cultures accept different
things, but often people are ignorant of the cruelty involved. I don't
think it is wrong to eat meat, or use animals as a source of food, but it is
wrong to hunt a species using cruel methods until they are too few in
number. No country has the right to endanger a species and it is the duty
of the international community to prevent this. (Frequently cited as a new insight.)
58. Whales are very majestic and regal creatures and hunting them in very wrong. Nobody needs their oil or meat that badly that they need to be hunted and killed. We can get our resources from other places, without having to kill animals to do it. Hunting something as beautiful as a whale should not be legal for anyone, no matter what they think they need it for.
59. Certainly the hunting of whales is a
controversial subject. At what point are we as humans abusing Mother
Nature instead of using it for necessities. Certainly, there are in fact
various benefits to be reaped from whales just as there are from many other
animals on earth, such as cows and pigs. A type of council should be
established where whale hunting is strictly regulated. The hunting should
control by various factors such as the whale population and the demand for
whale products, with the determining factor being the population of whales.
Certainly, this would be difficult to regulate but at least it's a start.
As humans we must learn to use various products only when we need them.
For if we don’t we will soon find ourselves lacking even the most basic of
necessities. (Frequently cited as an especially well expressed
opinion AND as a new insight.)
60. Whale hunting should be regulated by an organization such as the World Wildlife Federation. Any organization like this one that puts in so much time and effort to learn about the circumstances of the living things we share the world with should have the most accurate idea of whether or not a mammal like whales should be hunted on such a level. They would be able to accurately rationalize the value of such actions.
61. With whales being on the verge of extinction, I think that it is somewhat foolish and unnecessary for anyone to hunt them at all. However, I understand that for many people there is a cultural and spiritual connection to the hunting of whales, as it is a ritual, which has been practiced since the time of their ancestors. However, I believe that if whales must be hunted, than someone must have the authority to ensure that whales are not hunted to extinction. It is hard to say who should hold that responsibility. Perhaps the individual governments, which the hunters fall under, should be responsible for upholding a law, which would prevent the over-hunting of whales. But the only problem lies in governments, which would either, not take this responsibility seriously, or decide that the whale population does not need to be saved from extinction, and therefore throw out the said law. But, I would sincerely hope that several countries would be able to agree on a policy, which would protect these majestic creatures from extinction, and follow through with that policy.
62a. Personally, I do not think that there should be wale hunting in the first place. I thought that perhaps we had moved on from this stage, but unfortunately as a society we have not. I can not understand why we continue to brutalize whales knowing that sooner or later they will know longer exist. I think that a serious control plan needs to be put into activation by the government. I think that various animal rights organizations can help to protect the whales with the help of certain laws to protect this species from extinction. I think that whale hunting needs to end. Its violence is unnecessary in this day of age. We need to find a way to protect these creatures.
62b.The question of who should have control of whale hunting is a tough one because everyone has a different opinion. Right now whale hunting is regulated by the International Whaling Commission. They have good ideas for regulating whale hunting and they do care somewhat about the welfare of the whale population. However, they're more concerned about the industry of whaling then the survival of a species. They think hunting a specific whale should end when it isn't economically feasible to hunt that particular whale, which would be to almost total extinction. So I think popular opinion should control whale hunting. If the majority of the people say hey we depend on whale products to live, then it should continue. If the majority doesn’t, then it should end.
63. The question of who should have the right to control whale hunting is very tough. It is tough to decide who has rights to the whales. Who owns the oceans? I think the question must be settled between the people most directly involved. The whale hunters, and those opposed to whale hunting should come together and make a compromise. This will clearly be difficult but it seems the only logical way. Why not allow the people most involved to work it out themselves.
64. There are many things that can be done to control whale hunting. I believe that whale hunting is a serious problem and there should be a much stricter policy on whale hunting. As years go on, whales become closer and closer to becoming extinct. Just recently many whales were beached and eventually they died because NATO was performing naval exercises in waters where many whales are apparent. The problem in this, is the too much activity in the waters, creates very high decibel sounds, which creates problems for whales and their ability to use their sense of sound. Whales use their sense of sound to navigate the waters they live in, communicate with other whales, and especially it helps them find food in the ocean. I believe that the government should control and monitor the whales in our waters. If action is not taken there will be more beached whales and animal activists will not stand! To see whales killed because of naval exercises as well as whale hunters, who want whales to sell in markets.
65. I think the coastguard should have the rights to the whales since they watch the seacoast constantly. But if they are not willing then the National Wildlife Foundation should be obligated to protect them. Although these groups should protect these animals it is up to the poacher of whales to stop and realize that this species may become extinct in the years from now. I'm not sure if as much hunting goes on today as in the past, but it should be easier to regulate now that we realize it harms the whale and they are dying down in numbers and various specie types.
66. Whale hunting just like all types of hunting is something that needs to be restricted. There are organizations that control hunting in the forests. Game wardens are there to make sure all the animals aren’t killed. If you don't do that, all of the animals will get killed at once, and not have a chance to reproduce, and then we won't have the food to eat. Even the hunters would have to understand; if they kill all the whales this season there won’t be any to hunt next season.