Japan's whaling fleet sets out for Antarctic

Lets call this what it is. This is not science, it is commercial whaling.

This despicable practice sickens me. It is time that all world citizens wake up to the fact that if this practice continues all whales and other marine life will be lost.

Just as climate change affects everything in our ecosystem eradicating species does the same.

I want to harpoon the whaling fleet!

To hide behind the term research is completely lame. because the wealth Japanese businessmen are sitting in Tokyo saying "research never tasted so good".

"grenade-tipped harpoons" this is a disgusting. Those poor whales.
Truthfully, the US might as well be whaling too. Our policies with the Navy's use of sonar is also killing them so really, we're no better.

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sonar.asp

I think it is time for the IWC to get serious about the whaling moratorium and remove the loophole for scientific research. That issue is taking up so much of the IWC agenda that it cannot focus on other issues like impacts from sonar, ship traffic, pollution, etc. Its time for the IWC to get serious about conservation and protection. Whales are endangered and are being killed from a lot of our actions and they need our help.

Kill, kill, kill until there is a true lack of diversity on this planet the large marine mammals and amphibians first plants and trees gone coral reef wiped out, polar beard see ya, then lets start on the poor people put em out their misery!! The elite and roaches will be left.. hummm.

Japan and other pro-whaling nations belonging to the IWC have threatened to leave the body, if the scientific research loophole is removed. What then? Pro-whaling nations would form their own commission and full-scale commercial whaling would begin. Nothing short of military action would stop these stubborn countries from defending their whaling "tradition" no matter what the international consensus.

It is truly sickening what the Japanese are doing to the whales. I believe that as a human race we can study marine life without killing it.

A 20 year moratorium needs to be put in place (I know all the reasons this appears unlikely to happen) banning hunting of any marine life that is endangered. If we could work towards a temporary ban in order to work on cleaning up the oceans, protecting habitat, and addressing climate change and the rising temperatures of ocean, then one day there might be a way for an "agreed" amount of hunting. At this rate it will just become species extinction.

My position is that NO whales, polar bears, seal slaughters etc should ever happen. It will take years and years of protecting habitat and other measures to know whether we will even have healthy oceans again.

The sea needs these mammals as much as the mammals need the sea.

Why do so many humans even have to kill animals for food? There are so many other ways to survive... The world has already lost so many species thanks to humans... How many more are they going to kill until we stand up against them? People are mainly interested in money and it's sad... very, very sad indeed...
<(>.<)>

Keep it up Greenpeace and Sea Shepherds! If I were out there, I'd be right with you!

I have been watching Whale Wars on Animal Planet, and these Japanese fishermen are ridiculous. They lie and say they are doing it for reseach when whale is a major food source for the Japanese. They need to focus on importing food and not making species go extinct just to eat what they are used to.

It seems that so many people have a thirst for blood, animals or humans. It is something we are reaping for our passive past. We dont protect life on any level. Oh there are shelters doing their best, and people spear heading action committees. But then the stone cold hearts of men laugh at cruelty in all forms. It sickens me.

This needs to stop. Whales are an important to the balance of the Ocean's Eco System. I doubt the Japanese whalers care what we think about their carelessness...but they would if...the whale fired a harpoon at them! This is just plain disgusting!

http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm
check out thier response stating ecoterorism...

and even better thier "updated" whale population figures
http://www.icrwhale.org/eng/estimates.pdf

I HATE THOSE JAPANESSE WHALING SHIPS AND ALL THE CREW ON BOARD, AND ANYONE WHO IS FOR THIS. I HOPE THEY GO AND DIE!!! IF I WERE THEM I WOULD SINK THE SHIP. I LOVE THE NEW SERIES "WHALE WARS" AND ANYONE WHO IS AGAINST WHALING SHOULD WATCH IT, ON ANIMAL PLANET EVERY FRIDAY @ 9:00.

Is the area that Japan is whaling in its own waters?

I think we should just start hunting people who hunt endangered animals. It's either that or train the animals to use weapons in return. It's just not a fair fight otherwise.

Japan's can't possibly think the balance of the ecosystem won't shift tremendously once these creatures have been hunted to extinction! Why isn't this story topping every news site?

True scientists do not need to kill to do research. This is a facade for them to hide behind. They are whaling for profit. Whar exactly do they do with the whales they catch? Is it a food fish for them or is it used for other unnecessay uses? This sickens me and I hope all the anti whaling groups are in full force. No violence but strong determent.

i thought japan would be first to create something smart and futuristic to save the enviroment and live in harmony. but no.. there money bloodlust knows no bounds.

some excellent targets for the pirates!