While I don't personally love the practice of hunting whales, I think Norway and Japan should have the right to hunt non-endangered whales provided they do so in an ethical and sustainable manner. Whaling has been a part of Norwegian culture since the 9th century and part of Japanese culture since the 12th century (Japan Whaling Association, 2002). I think an important part of achieving a global community is understanding and working with the cultures involved. Perhaps future generations in Japan and Norway will adopt views on whaling that are more in-line with international views. If that happens, whaling may decline or end.
I think another thing to take into consideration is that those who harvest wild animals are not necessarily cruel to the animals. I grew up in an area where the local culture hunted for deer every fall; this is pretty common in most areas I've lived in. In my experience, the people who hunt animals like deer strive to kill the animal in a manner that is as instant and painless as possible. They also have a great respect for the animal and the resources it provides. While there are hunters who hunt for the sake of putting a stuffed head on their mantle, almost all people I …show more content…
I think that cultural exemptions should look at whether the normally prohibited practice violates the rights of the nation's citizens or causes a negative ecological effect that will impact other nations, such as hunting an animal into extinction.
I think that a panel to examine issues such as whaling is ultimately a good idea. However, I would imagine that there could be some resistance from the local culture if the panel is made up of people who don't share their cultural values. I think that a council on whaling should look at the ecological effects of whaling ultimately. They should also weigh in how a ban would effect local economies that rely on whaling and the history of whaling in these
I think another thing to take into consideration is that those who harvest wild animals are not necessarily cruel to the animals. I grew up in an area where the local culture hunted for deer every fall; this is pretty common in most areas I've lived in. In my experience, the people who hunt animals like deer strive to kill the animal in a manner that is as instant and painless as possible. They also have a great respect for the animal and the resources it provides. While there are hunters who hunt for the sake of putting a stuffed head on their mantle, almost all people I …show more content…
I think that cultural exemptions should look at whether the normally prohibited practice violates the rights of the nation's citizens or causes a negative ecological effect that will impact other nations, such as hunting an animal into extinction.
I think that a panel to examine issues such as whaling is ultimately a good idea. However, I would imagine that there could be some resistance from the local culture if the panel is made up of people who don't share their cultural values. I think that a council on whaling should look at the ecological effects of whaling ultimately. They should also weigh in how a ban would effect local economies that rely on whaling and the history of whaling in these