(JP) Dispute on whaling like a clash of civilizations

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Dispute on whaling like a clash of civilizations

 

The Asahi Shimbun

 

Disputes over whaling often resemble something like a

``clash of civilizations.'' One may deny it, but that

is usually how they turn out to be. The reason, I

believe, is that whaling can be an emotional issue.

 

Some people argue that hunting and eating whales is

part and parcel of Japanese culture. True, the

Japanese people have been familiar with whales from

ancient times. The ``Manyoshu'' collection of poems,

the earliest ascriptions of which date back to the

fourth century, mentions isana-tori-the old Japanese

expression for ``whaling.'' During the Edo period

(1603-1868), haiku poet Yosano Buson wrote, ``A field

of rape flowers/ There are no whales/ While dusk

descends on the sea.''

 

Commercial whaling after World War II was a big

industry. Mammoth fleets hunted in the Antarctic Ocean

to supply a valuable source of protein to the poor and

hungry population. That era is now long over.

 

But the anti-whaling camp is not always rational

either. Japan critics tend to exaggerate the Japanese

custom of eating whale, as if to condemn it as a

``barbarous custom.'' Such an accusation makes me want

to rebut that our culture just happens to be different

from theirs. Whaling is obviously an issue that can

easily invite mutual misunderstanding.

 

The Basque people in Spain are said to have been the

first to engage in systematic whaling. The history of

whaling is not unrelated to international rivalries

over control of the seas, and Britain and the United

States were major whaling nations in the past. In some

aspects, one is reminded of the history of

colonialism. This is why some people insist Britain

should be the first to apologize for overhunting in

its whaling heyday.

 

But it is pointless to play such a game of blame.

While species in danger of extinction obviously need

protection, it is about time experts tried to agree on

their list of priorities. Unfortunately, however, the

International Whaling Commission plenary meeting that

began Monday seems to be mostly about politics.

 

How to prevent any ``clash of civilizations'' is a

major issue for the international community. IWC

participants must bear this in mind.

 

The Asahi Shimbun, May 21(IHT/Asahi: May 22,2002)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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