David @ Tokyo

Hi David,

It's a good thing that the DPJ included its position on whaling in its manifesto. Strangely, Greenpeace and more recently, Australian minister for Environment Peter Garrett seem to have been placing hopes on that a shift of political power would help them convince Japan to change its position on whaling. They'll probably disappointed when they realize nothing will change on this issue here.

However, when you consider that the DPJ's manifesto refers to article 8 special permits as a right, you may wonder if they have any intention to leave the IWC in case the "IWC's future" process was to fail. I believe that we'll have to wait until the next IWC plenary to know how serious Japan is about it.
 

So the position remains the same, while we know that the IWC is not mandated to deal/manage small cetaceans I wonder what effect the movie "The Cove " will have on public opinion.

Martin
 

BTW
The link for "The Cove"

http://thecovemovie.com/home.htm
 

Generally, business as usual for all sides. Projects like that are usually more "masturbatory" for those who already support the anti movement, and makes virtually no difference to the rest. Public opinion so far has not solved anything, precisely because it has degenerated into a battle of propaganda, which most see through (whichever direction one chooses).
 

Hi isanatori, given DPJ's high profile claims to want to take more responsibility for policy decision making away from bureaucrats (a good thing), it will be interesting to watch their moves. Whaling is a small issue though so I'm not certain they will be putting a huge focus and effort into it... I don't expect anything unfortunately.

Hi Martin, long time no see. I don't expect The Cove to have a significant impact here in Japan. Given the fact that the people complaining about it come from places where farmed animals are slaughtered on mass, it just comes across as Japan-bashing to most people, I imagine. For that reason I don't expect to see many, if any, theatres seeing any profits to made from trying to find an audience to watch it here.

Hi Baldridge, I pretty much agree with your comment. And indeed I suspect most people in all places really don't care about these issues, as they aren't effected by them in the first place.
 

Research whaling is right up there with Comfort Women as an idiotic term.

Wether you believe in killing whales and dolphins at least be honest about it.

Whale meat and dolphin meat us contaminated with mercury and other elements not fit for human consumption nor is the "food" required. The Japanese government should neither be subsidizing it or protecting it.
 

Anonymous: by nature, a presumption of dishonesty is bidirectional. A common irony.