Hey Ram, yes it's surely double standard. There is no meaning for the sympathy shown by these non veggies. According to these non veggies eating fish is OK, but not eating whale. Funny, isn't it?

Viswanadh, Chennai, India

Ram, India: I've yet to see anything that says the cow is an endangered species. There are degrees. I wouldn't knowingly eat an endangered animal unless you put a gun to my head or I was literally starving to death. No one seems to be interested in the happy medium any more, unless it's the ever-silent majority.

Tiffany, St. Louis, USA

I wonder how many of the people who are "expressing anguish" or crying foul on this so-called scientific study are vegetarians. If you are not, isn't it typical double-standards?

Ram, India,

It's time to boycott Japanese products: their cars, televisions, computers, et cetera, until they bring an end to whaling. There is no good reason for whaling in the 21st century.

Steven, San Francisco, California

In response to Jamil, London -

Firstly both are utterly seperate issues.
If you think about it objectively and from a non humancentric perspective; The human race is already hugely overpopulated, our mindless wars are an obvious result of the pressure of limited resources being fought over because there are simply TOO MANY OF US.

That does not give us the right to create havoc for the other species on this planet.

And also WHAT exactly do you think gives us as a species the right to push almost every wild animal to the very brink?
Because we can?
Because we are more intelligent (yes... Intelligence really dictates that we should continue to remove all the diversity and wonder of our world by raping the natural environment so that we can continue to breed (already) way beyond a sensible amount of human being on our planet!)

Personaly I'd rather our world and it's creatures be protected for future generations, and someone has to stand up for that!

Mark, London,

These poor creatures are being discriminated and destroyed. What do they do to them? Its so sad that even a calf is getting killed like the mother. I am crying over this situation on the conmputer on yahoo. Yea, this is a horrible story to read so give your heart out! Hayden Panetierre is on a youtube video trying to save the dolphins with a group over the japenese. Its heartbreaking.

Maggie, Honolulu, Hawaii

Show your support for whaling, keep buying Japanese goods!!!!

sw, london, uk

I love how the Japanese say that this is all in the name of research. Instead I see whale on offer in shops, sushi restaurants and in canned foods.
Very scientific.

meinjapan, japan,

The Japanese should be ashamed of their actions. Every person who writes in making flippant remarks about the victims being 'just a whale/just a cow/just a human' lack complete and utter compassion. The human race long ago lost the ability to emphasize with nature and the majority of the overpopulated humand race is so out of touch with the natural world that actions like this are still being allowed to be committed. (By governments).
Japan is not the only nation committing such marine acts of atrocity - however the Aussies don't put up with crap happening in their backyard - and rightly they protest on behalf of the underdog. Keep it up Australia - you are doing a beaut job!!
Long live the whales, long live liberty.

Annie T, Edinburgh, Scotland,

My wife is Japanese, I lived there for 4 years and plan on moving back as soon as possible. It's unfortunate that the Japanese are still so stubborn about this and the WWII war crimes. Japan is a beautiful country full of great and honorable people, but just as in every country there are plenty of loons.

As someone who has lived in Japan and traveled extensively throughout Japan, whale is considered a delicacy. I have been offered whale a few times and refused it. The best way I was able to explain it to them was it would be like eating your dog or cat to this westerner. That usually works and we move on to the other ocean critters like uni.

The only reason I can see that they are putting up such a fuss over this is because there is big $$ behind these hunts.

Could it be the reason they are hunting them near the south pole is because they over fished them out of existence closer to home?

Phey, Cali,

To adam west, tokyo, jap

Adam, whales are not a big fish.... they are in fact a mammal.

Surely after all these years of slaughtering whales for research - this simple fact would have been determined.

Vanessa, Sydney , Australia

I find it ridiculous that people are actually complaining over a country trying to make a difference for the betterment of a species. Now, I may not be certain what actions Australia made on behalf of the deaths in the middle east, but that has nothing to do with whaling. If Australia wants to do something about whaling, why would you give it a second thought? Yes, minke whales have a high population. So do people, and we would never make that argument about our own species. The fact is, population growth isn't the issue--the suffering of the whale is. They are a highly social, highly sensitive species, and we should be ashamed for the cruelty we place upon them.

And as far as the argument of "looking in your own country first" for a problem, Australia IS looking at their own country. These whales are in their whale sanctuary, and a sanctuary is supposed to be a safe place.

Wow people, get your priorities straight.

Erica, New York, US

it is only a big fish.... what's the big deal?

adam west, tokyo, jap

Minke whales have been hunted since the middle ages. Their worldwide population is estimated in the hundreds of thousands, not sure that 1,000 per year will make a difference in the existence of this species. Hunting with explosives presumably kills the whale faster than without, i.e. less cruelty. I don't understand why the hysteria, don't you protesters have better things to do with your time? Look at your own country first, don't judge less you be judged.

Cheers

Steven, London Town,

Sorry, but I didn't hear Australia complaining when hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were being killed by American bombs and still are. Oh, I forgot, they were party to it and still are...

Again, the Wests misplaced priorities... there is no hope for this world.

Jamil, London,

What a terrible act, I wonder if those people who seem not to care about how the whales are killed would like a huge hook put into their skin and be pulled up by it. I am sure they would not support the act then. These mammals do feel and I am sure they 'scream' in their own way. I am in full support of Australia and I think other countries should help to stop this act too.

SM, BC,

Sandy of Houston, whilst your comments rasie a question about cultural differences thet glaringly overlook the fact that whales are endangered & cows aren't?

Kevin , London ,

Whales are endangered and are not raised for food. Cows are not endangered and are raised for food. Equating the killing of the two is just plain daft. The Japanese do not kill whales for scientific reasons, but for food. Whale is on the menu in Japanese restaurants (having lived there for 3-years) and is considered a delicacy.

Write to the Japanese embassy in your country to lodge your protest.

Dalton, Toronto, Canada

After all; this is part of world where I saw a tail wagging German shepherd seek compassion from a man who then
skinned it alive at the open market. Where animals are openly brutalized to avail potions to assist in penis enlargment or other irrational pusuits. But what the hell, kill the bear for his gall bladder etc. Yes,cruelty is everywhere; just that some
of the most horrific examples of it are found in good old
scientific Asia.
Print that ! Emotional language indeed.

bob millington, guelph, canada

Like every business, they will defend this practice with every excuse under the sun. 'But they gobble up children', 'they don't have the brain capacity that we do', 'they don't suffer', 'it's for their own good'. All of which are complete trollop. All animal cruelty should be punishable by an equal amount of pain as inflicted upon the animal victim.

Steve Hunt, Oxford,

Righteous indignation is not enough. Let us resolve to not buy Japanese TVs, hi-hi, cars... a few million Japanese workers made redundant would give them a frsh perpective on western "insensitivity". But, as the west is truly insensitive, I'll just go and watch my Panasonic flat screen TV, followed perhaps by a game on my Sony PS3. I may even take some pictures on my Canon EOS DSLR....

Tony, Bracknell, UK

Presumably all those against whale hunting are against any animal killing - they must be vegetarians? And don't give me that rubbish about 'animal husbandry' etc etc - try being the animal.

Peter Bench, London,

What are these 'scientific reasons' for killing whales every year? I have never heard anything about their research. Is it supposed to help protect the whales and increase their numbers?
I am disappointed that the wider world community lets the cull of so many whale continue just to pacify the Japanese politicians. What does the UK government get from the Japanese thats worth 100 whales a year?

Louise, London,

i wont be buying nippon products

Rod Havers, kettering,

I do not understand the outrage here.

It is hypocritical in the extreme for meat eating westerners to lecture others about what they should or should not eat.

I guess, the Japanese can try to ensure that they are killing the whales more humanely or quickly but otherwise, how would you guys react if a non-beef eating culture like India were to start presurring you to stop killing and eating cows and show pictures of cows being slaughtered mercilessly so that you can have your steaks.

If the Japanese like to eat whale-meat good for them.

Sandy, Houston, USA

Most domestic animals killed for food do not "die a quick and instant death", unless you only count the actual kill. They spend days in cramped transports, are herded through the meat processing plants under serious agony and stress. Not to mention most of them hardly have what most would consider a life to begin with.

If a quick kill is the only criteria, then all game including all seafood should be taken off our menus asap along with ritually butchered domestic animals, ie Halal and Kosher.

Bjorn, New York, USA

"Part of their culture" ??? Ha! Lousy excuse for killing defenceless animals. It should be stopped for good.

Monika O., Warsaw, Poland

I have spent time in Japan and understand that there are cultural differences, but you can't use 'culture' to defend things forever. Fox hunting was part of our countryside culture, but a ban has been imposed nevertheless.

Also, I wish that the Japanese Government would be more honest and admit that their real reason for hunting whales is for the table, not to advance science.

Joanne Ledbetter, Sheffield, UK

How can such a technologically advanced country like japan resort to this barbarity,these are mammals they are hunting(not fish) and every civilized country shuold be putting pressuer on japan either economically or diplomatically until this stops forever

trev, bristol, uk

This is seriously appalling. Somebody stop them for crying out loud.

S, Malta,

This is awful, sickening.

Maria, Singapore,

If the Australian customs cutter had been using a Japanese GPS they would have known that they were lost!
The computer on which you are reading this comes from where? The car in your driveway?
Get real or take veal, chicken, pork, crocodile, wallaby etc from your diet.
John,Curacao

John Schofield, Willemstad, Curacao

Most animals that are killed for food, die a quick and instant death, for a creature to be in pain for upto 15 minutes is I think cruel and barbaric,

David C., Exeter, United Kingdom

Just a few thoughts to ponder..
- I am not aware of any other scientific 'research' which involves consumption of the subject being studied.
- Should we really be surprised given Japans traditional reluctance to give up 'scientific' whaling and their attempts to bring other countries into the IWC (International Whaling Commission) whom they have made financial donations to, in order to sway the vote on re-starting commercial whaling
- Maybe not all aspects of a history's culture should be preserved. There are many things we use to do which we now generally consider to be no longer acceptable...
- How much research is needed to persuade the world that whales are worth more alive than dead
- And finally, these majestic, sentient creatures certainly deserve more if they are to be killed than a slow agonising death

Jennifer Fyfe, Aberdeen,

What happens to the whales that they kill does any one know

L Webb, Sheffield, England

Minkes are, as far as I know, not under any serious threat of extinction. Why is hunting them for food considered so despicable?

Bjorn, New York, USA

Firstly we must remove all sentiment from this argument. The use of the words "mother" and "calf" are very emotive so try re-reading the article referring to "two whales" instead.

Also ignore the para starting "Leading whale biologists told The Times....". This is irrelevant to the argument.

Then consider whether this is an endangered species. The estimated world population is 186,000 (source Wikipedia) so it is not in danger of extinction.

Then consider Japan's arguments for the continuation of whaling - scientific and cultural. The scientific argument is either true or it isn't. We should not presume to interfere with other nation's culture. Imagine if the US told the UK it didn't like its "pub" culture!

Then let's assume it was another animal being hunted, for example, a wild dog.

All of a suden the emotional outpourings of the other comments are irrelevant.

I oppose violence of any sort against any living thing. Now if we used THAT as an argument......

Colin, Wokingham, UK

Does anybody know what "research" is done on these whales?

Jo, London,

'Part of its culture'? I suppose whales join the vast list of other animals they butcher, or incite to butcher for bits, in the name of their medicines and potions! That area of the world appears to be frozen in the stone age, except where there is money to be made. They'll only listen when the world decides enough is enough and hurts them economically!

jeff, Durham, England

Make no mistake the whalers are trying to resurrect their industry. There are now Asian cosmetics containing whale-oil ingredients for sale in Europe, and the EU is itself complicit by championing a global tariff on jojoba, the alternative to whale oil, at the WCO (this is absolutely true) thus handing commercial whaling a de-facto subsidy. Where are our MEPs?

steve, essex,

So will the 'fluffies' start criticising the inhumane slaughter of land mammals by halal? What do you think?

Jip, London,

Appalling.

Richard Madge, Bexhil on Sea, East Sussex

Cease all trade with Japan,until such times that,it,ceases "whale hunting"
Yeh,thats, going to happen, soon?

jennifer jamieson, Edinburgh,

Propaganda hurting relations? Listen to the modern world speak, Nippon!

Andy.m, Newcastle,

This is such a barbaric practice by a nation that purports to be so civilised. Let the whales live so that future generations can survive. Surely such an inhumane practice cannot be "part of their culture"? I support the Austrialian government wholeheartedly on this.

Elsebe Vetten, Johannesburg, South Africa

Words are useless for these people. Action is the only way.

Sharon Guilford, Perth, Australia

Just appaling. I can´t believe the international community just stands by and allows these pirates to do whatever they want. Surely there must be laws to stop this?

Andy, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Why the Japanese are allowed to do this is beyond me. One hopes that they will feel some shame but I doubt it.

colin, colchester, essex

Words fail me.... just the word "despicable" comes to mind.
Only humans can inflict such unnecessary slaughter. I just feel sadness and frustration that we are unable to make our voices heard. I just signed a petition against whaling which had nearly 1,000,000 names on it, from all over the world, but what difference will it make? We should be taking better care of our planet and it's inhabitants.
JG, Sussex

Jacqui Gunn, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Why don't we boycott Japanese products for scientific purposes?

Will, London, Londonshire