Comments on: The Cove http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/ Mon, 07 May 2012 20:05:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6494 Matt Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:57:58 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6494 I just saw this movie as well. It reminded me of the movie "Stealing A Nation". My comments on the movie can be found here: http://exitcavehere.com/2009/12/the-closing-of-an-island-and-nation/ I just saw this movie as well. It reminded me of the movie “Stealing A Nation”.

My comments on the movie can be found here: http://exitcavehere.com/2009/12/the-closing-of-an-island-and-nation/

]]> By: Kobekid http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6493 Kobekid Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:37:03 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6493 although the figures you quote for Taiji in this thread are accurate, the figures for all small cetaceans killed off the coasts of Japan are closer to your quote in the story, about 20,000 a year. Whether or not it is sustainable has not yet been established. As far as this not being a secret, most Japanese are astonished to hear of it let alone that dolphin is eaten by other Japanese. I've been to Taiji several times and have never seen a tour that included a dolphin hunt. As for comparing dolphins with pigs or any other domesticated livestock, I always ask what the mercury content is for pigs? Dolphin meat is unsafe for human consumption, end of comparison/story. although the figures you quote for Taiji in this thread are accurate, the figures for all small cetaceans killed off the coasts of Japan are closer to your quote in the story, about 20,000 a year. Whether or not it is sustainable has not yet been established. As far as this not being a secret, most Japanese are astonished to hear of it let alone that dolphin is eaten by other Japanese. I’ve been to Taiji several times and have never seen a tour that included a dolphin hunt. As for comparing dolphins with pigs or any other domesticated livestock, I always ask what the mercury content is for pigs? Dolphin meat is unsafe for human consumption, end of comparison/story.

]]> By: Andrew Clayton http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6490 Andrew Clayton Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:30:24 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6490 "It’s nothing like looking at a fish." Hmm, maybe that's because it's a mammal! ;) “It’s nothing like looking at a fish.”

Hmm, maybe that’s because it’s a mammal! ;)

]]> By: unjap http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6486 unjap Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:43:53 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6486 Pigs are smart and social too. In the huge pig farms in the US and elsewhere, they rear pigs in the most gruesome way. For example, a female pig (sow), as soon as she gets impregnated, she is locked in a cage that fits her body and does not allow her to move at all. The piglets are born and she is still stuck there. Imagine a creature during pregnancy, not being able to move around. See the documentary Pig Business, http://www.pigbusiness.co.uk/ Pigs are smart and social too.

In the huge pig farms in the US and elsewhere, they rear pigs in the most gruesome way. For example, a female pig (sow), as soon as she gets impregnated, she is locked in a cage that fits her body and does not allow her to move at all. The piglets are born and she is still stuck there. Imagine a creature during pregnancy, not being able to move around.

See the documentary Pig Business, http://www.pigbusiness.co.uk/

]]> By: TheBlackCat http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6485 TheBlackCat Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:33:25 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6485 You do realize that most the world's fisheries are on the verge of collapse, right? Just because people have been doing things for a long time does not mean they can continue doing them forever. You do realize that most the world’s fisheries are on the verge of collapse, right? Just because people have been doing things for a long time does not mean they can continue doing them forever.

]]> By: Ben Maurer http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6484 Ben Maurer Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:57:44 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6484 Thought experiment: could you make a CAPTJHA -- Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Jerks and Humans Apart. An example of a CAPTJHA might be a form that would present the user with an Eliza style bot. The bot would be programmed to express opinions on various topics. The number "impolite words" in the users response would be measured. Thought experiment: could you make a CAPTJHA — Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Jerks and Humans Apart.

An example of a CAPTJHA might be a form that would present the user with an Eliza style bot. The bot would be programmed to express opinions on various topics. The number “impolite words” in the users response would be measured.

]]> By: a japanese reader http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6483 a japanese reader Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:29:56 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6483 @alberto I don't know why are you calling the act continuing over the century 'unsustatinable'. The dolphin hunt in Taiji is just a cull that fishermen protecting their fish farm with strong regulations. The film regarded them as something like animla abusing mafia... It is completely unfair. Sorry for my poor english. @alberto
I don’t know why are you calling the act continuing over the century ‘unsustatinable’. The dolphin hunt in Taiji is just a cull that fishermen protecting their fish farm with strong regulations. The film regarded them as something like animla abusing mafia… It is completely unfair.

Sorry for my poor english.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6482 Nat Friedman Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:38:00 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6482 worksforme :-) worksforme :-)

]]> By: Steve http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6481 Steve Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:03:04 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6481 Being a vegetarian is awesome, right? Being a vegetarian is awesome, right?

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6480 Nat Friedman Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:26:46 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6480 "You may start to have a moral leg to stand on" ? I think I'm going to add a little notice to the top like "Before writing a comment, imagine you are in my living room and we're sitting face to face, drinking tea together." People can be really uncivil when they're just looking at a screen. “You may start to have a moral leg to stand on” ?

I think I’m going to add a little notice to the top like “Before writing a comment, imagine you are in my living room and we’re sitting face to face, drinking tea together.”

People can be really uncivil when they’re just looking at a screen.

]]> By: Alberto http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6479 Alberto Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:57:31 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6479 @Janne: I think you missed the point. The problem is not what you can or cannot eat according to some moral belief or religious rule humans decided to follow. Following them is a respectable choice, but it has nothing rational in it. On the other hand, the point here is not moral, it's rational. Dolphins risk the same fate of whales if their hunt is not going to stop, and this alters a natural equilibrium. In other words, their hunt is not sustainable. We are not going to lose pigs or cows. @Janne: I think you missed the point. The problem is not what you can or cannot eat according to some moral belief or religious rule humans decided to follow. Following them is a respectable choice, but it has nothing rational in it.

On the other hand, the point here is not moral, it’s rational. Dolphins risk the same fate of whales if their hunt is not going to stop, and this alters a natural equilibrium. In other words, their hunt is not sustainable. We are not going to lose pigs or cows.

]]> By: Matt Barringer http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6478 Matt Barringer Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:03:26 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6478 Another 500-1000 are killed every year in the Soloman Islands. It's surprising they don't hold a species-wide grudge against us yet. Another 500-1000 are killed every year in the Soloman Islands. It’s surprising they don’t hold a species-wide grudge against us yet.

]]> By: Janne http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6477 Janne Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:55:44 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6477 The hunt is not secret; they even had tours. And it's nothing new, as the local community apparently has had dolphin as part of their staple diet for many centuries. Also, pigs are smarter and more sociable than dolphins, and eating them offends a substantial part of humanity. Once you advocate the banning of pork you may start to have a moral leg to stand on. The hunt is not secret; they even had tours. And it’s nothing new, as the local community apparently has had dolphin as part of their staple diet for many centuries.

Also, pigs are smarter and more sociable than dolphins, and eating them offends a substantial part of humanity. Once you advocate the banning of pork you may start to have a moral leg to stand on.

]]> By: Nat Friedman http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6476 Nat Friedman Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:49:23 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6476 The official figures from the Japanese government are something like 1,500-2,500 dolphins killed per year in Taiji, but the killing is done in secret and many people believe the actual number to be much higher. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090825a2.html I haven't been lucky enough to encounter an octopus while diving yet. The official figures from the Japanese government are something like 1,500-2,500 dolphins killed per year in Taiji, but the killing is done in secret and many people believe the actual number to be much higher. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090825a2.html

I haven’t been lucky enough to encounter an octopus while diving yet.

]]> By: Sergrey Panov http://nat.org/blog/2010/03/the-cove/comment-page-1/#comment-6474 Sergrey Panov Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:53:44 +0000 http://nat.org/blog/?p=1560#comment-6474 While killing of even a single dolphin would make me sad, I doubt one can kill "tens of thousands of dolphins every year" just in the vicinity of one town. And dolphins are not the only "person-like" see creatures. We all know that octopuses are smart, but I felt like I am being observed when a group of calamari appeared in front of me while I was snorkeling. While killing of even a single dolphin would make me sad, I doubt one can kill “tens of thousands of dolphins every year” just in the vicinity of one town.
And dolphins are not the only “person-like” see creatures. We all know that octopuses are smart, but I felt like I am being observed when a group of calamari appeared in front of me while I was snorkeling.

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