Japan uses reconstruction donation funds to support whaling.

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/12/08/use-of-recovery-funds-stokes-japan-whaling-row/

I dunno how many people here donated via the purchasing of TF2 charity items (or even otherwise), i know plenty of TF2 players have, which makes this a little more relavent, but i think this is pretty offensive. Donation funds issued in order to help reconstruction in the disaster areas from the March 11th earthquakes are being used to equip whaling vessel with anti-harrasment equipment and pay for a security fleet to accompany the whaling vessels.

I'm pretty sure you're well aware of the "Sea Shephard" series that follows the activists that disrupt this whaling hunt? Technically the whaling is illegal but Japan is exploiting a loophole which allows them to farm whales for "scientific research" purposes.
 

Trotim

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Jul 14, 2009
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it's actually rare that charity funds only go to where they're supposed to and where they're needed so this hardly surprises me, sadly enough
 

gamemaster1996

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Sep 30, 2009
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As a vegetarian who made a donation I find this quite horrific
 

grazr

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I don't know too much about the Japanese Whaling industry, but if it is a big part of its economy, then I'm not upset about this.

Yes, I am disappointed though that it didn't go elsewhere, but if this is what helps them rebuild, then fine.

To clarify, whaling is outlawed by the UN (and has been since 1982) as a result of their endangerment to extinction. If Japan want to ignore UN sanction then they have no right to be a part of the UN. The sanction states that whaling is illegal if the whales are to be sold for their meat and natural oils, ie they're not allowed to boost their economy off of it.

Whaling used to be a large part of their economy, but now it's actually creating a national deficit for them. With only 2-3 thousand whales left a quota of 900 whales a year would see them extinct in less than 5 years, so it's also rather selfish. China are protecting panda's and African countries are trying their best to protect endangered species of rhino's, tigers and elephants from poachers, even though it used to be a large part of their economies and tradition too.

I'm surprised you think hunting an already endangered animal into extinction for the sake of improving a countries economy is acceptable. Let alone the fact that they are taking charity money for the sake of rebuilding individual homes and lives in order to do that.

I don't really wanna make a rant about whaling, but the fact that i donated money to people/families in need and that that money could be used to hunt whales into extinction makes me rather sick. Since Valve was actively involved in donation procedures with their TF2 promotion items i thought people might have been interested about where some of their donations are going.
 
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Ida

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Jan 6, 2008
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This is pretty goddamn disgraceful. An attempt at helping people in dire conditions turned into funding for hunting and killing endangered animals... It's so backwards and upside down I hardly have words. And the worst part is that it feels as if my tiny little $10 is now partly responsible for this horrendous act of crime against nature.
 

Fruity Snacks

Creator of blackholes & memes. Destroyer of forums
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This is pretty goddamn disgraceful. An attempt at helping people in dire conditions turned into funding for hunting and killing endangered animals... It's so backwards and upside down I hardly have words. And the worst part is that it feels as if my tiny little $10 is now partly responsible for this horrendous act of crime against nature.

Hey, I'm one of the few people with a Monarch... I should feel 10 times worse...

I don't feel THAT bad... but am concerned that whaleing still occurs.
 

Vincent

&#128296 Grandmaster Lizard Wizard Jedi &#128296
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Sep 5, 2009
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I kinda see where Frozen is coming from when saying he doesn't feel THAT bad. It's just become really hard to actually feel sad for things like this.

Maybe it's just the internet desensitized me at an early age but I'm forcing myself to feel bad. Morally I think this is wrong, Japan is full of greedy whaling bastards, but emotionally I don't really feel anything.

Kinda the same thing when Japan was hit with that huge tsunami and those three(ish?) nuclear power plants went critical. I saw some images of people crying and a lot of destruction, it looked terrible and I kinda felt bad, but other than donating a few bucks I couldn't really do anything about it so I got over it in minutes.
 

Terwonick

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 25, 2010
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This is pretty goddamn disgraceful. An attempt at helping people in dire conditions turned into funding for hunting and killing endangered animals... It's so backwards and upside down I hardly have words. And the worst part is that it feels as if my tiny little $10 is now partly responsible for this horrendous act of crime against nature.

This is why I don't donate... On a more somber note, Japan knows that whaling will go on anyway (see: rhino poaching), so why not let their economy capitalize on it? I agree, it's bad, and I don't donate because I see taxes I and others pay as a donation of itself. I'm giving my money to the army and others who are less fortunate than I. Plus America as a whole is the most donating nation on Earth, and at every corner we hear about somebody who needs us to donate to them (at least I do).
 

Sel

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Feb 18, 2009
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so why not let their economy capitalize on it?

Oh I don't know, the potential collapse of our global ecosystem as we drive another important species into extinction doesn't seem like a big enough problem to me, as long as someone makes a tonne of money :]
 
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grazr

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Plus America as a whole is the most donating nation on Earth, and at every corner we hear about somebody who needs us to donate to them (at least I do).

It depends how you interpret "most giving", America has given the most money as a whole, sure, but in relative terms of national income it barely makes the top 20. Plus i'm dubious over the fact that America seem to pretty much print more money when they run out, it's in debt with itself in the region of 15+ trillion USD.

I know it's just me being finnickity, as usual, but i kinda respect the Europian countries for donating more since they actually own that money and donate a greater portion of their national wealth. It doesn't amount to much because they are smaller countries but they're clearly more generous.
 

Fruity Snacks

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American economy is doing poorly because American science is doing poorly (/me points to nasa and fermi lab) ... When I went to a speech by Michio Kaku, he made the point that economies EVERYWHERE spurr when there is a scientific revolution or "golden era"... The current is kiiiinda trying to spur it, but they are putting it upstart private sector space companies, which in the long run will /probably/ help, but atm, its not helping that much.


Though, from what I've red in USA Today and such, America is "Bouncing back"