The slaughtering of whales stared in the year 3000 BC, and first developed in northen Europe. The Nordics discovered it in the 19th century that they could make money off of whale body parts. This started when six men were in rowing boats armed with weapons. The whales bones were sold to make knife handles, corsets, brushes, and unbrella ribs. The main money maker from whales was their blubber. It was melted down in brick ovens to become oil. The oil was then used for lighting and lubrication. When steam powered boats were introduced in the year 1870, whaling became even more popular. Many people quickly frowned upon whaling, because whales were, and still are on the endangered species list. Whaling became banned in 1986, although Japan and Iceland still continue to catch whales for research and other things. Unfortunately, not much is being done to stoop the slaughtering of whales.
When flicking through the channels on TV, Whale Wars was one of the shows that popped up. This show is about how we are trying to stop foreign conuntries from killing the whales, and while doing so we get ourselves tied up in a little war. I understand why people would want to kill whales, because it does make a lot of money, especially from the oil. What I do not understand is why people continue to kill the whales, when they are on the endangered species list. It would be a very sad thing if whales were to become extinct, and ocean life would not be the same without them. I feel that whaling should be looked at more closely, and more laws made to stop the slaughtering of whales.
Do you think whaling should be banned? Why?
What other things do you think we could do to stop people from killing whales?
What other species of animals have a similar problem, such that humans kill them for moneys sake?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/club/your_reports/newsid_1656000/1656108.stm
Whaling is very similar to poaching. People thinking that it's okay to kill animals and use their parts to make money. There are so many more ways to make knife handles, corsets, brushes, and unbrella ribs other than slaughtering whales. I didn't even know that the parts of a whale could make this kind of stuff. Even though this issue happened a long time ago, it is still something important to notice because whales have been on the endangered species list for quite some time. People enjoy whales and what they do for us and I think that if they went extinct people would be very upset. I consider the fact that whaling is wrong and should be banned. Yes I agree that it being used to make oil is useful for us, but I believe that there are others ways to make oil without the killing of whales.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't get is why people are still whaling. I can see in the 19 to 20 century that people would do it because there wasn't plastic or alot of oil back then. But with todays technology what is the point. With today technology we have made better and cheaper lubrication and better parts than whale bones. Whale are an endanger species and if they went extinct I could have a huge impact on the ecosystem. I agree that whaling should be banned because the species could go extinct.
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking that even after whaling was banned people still do it. I can see why people did whaling. All they wanted was the money from the bones and the process of making it into oil. I think people should really stop whaling because soon the whales will go extinct and the people that still do the whaling will be out of buisness. If whales went extinct that would also cause a big part of an ecosystem to possibly collapse. I think whaling should be banned because it could cause the whales to go extinct since there already an endangered species and it could cause other species in the whales food web to become extinct or overly populated.
ReplyDeleteI think that, while this act may have great benefits, whales have such a large impact in the oceans' ecosystem that if we ran them down to extinction then it could have a very bad global impact. What is also crucial to mention is the cruel way that these animals are killed and I feel like it is awful the way it is done. Shows like Whale Wars really emphasize the extent of these types of fishing and I think it's great that they are showing. - Quinn O'Donnell
ReplyDeleteI knew that whaling was a problem but not to this extreme. If whales are endangered and are still being hunted this much, then greater action needs to be taken internationally. One way whale hunting can be stopped is to make harsher punishments for anyone caught in the act. Also, some sort of an organization could be established to patrol areas where whaling is known to take place. If something like this was created it would not only be of help to the whales, but many other endangered aquatic species too. I found an article that shows how many other sea creatures who are being over-hunted also need help.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/fish_species_being_hunted_to_extinction_1_2598985