radegastt comments

@vinnyfav

I agree that my solution is very simple and sounds naive. But it is very logical and it is solution. Sorry but I don't see any logic in your post and you don't offer any solution only rejecting mine. So you think it is better to do nothing??? Answers to your post: First of all: I didn't mention that the fishermen stop selling dolphins to original buyers. They would continue but instead of killing additional animals they would sell them to activists groups. Secondly: Original buyers would be happy. Nothing changes for them. Thirdly: The point of this solution is that selling the dolphins would be done instead of killing. How many would be saved depends on how much money activists have. Fourthly: The image of Japan would improve. I don't think the protesters at japanese embassies would start to protest like this: "Stop selling dolphins!!! "Start killing them again!" Lastly: Japan is heavily criticized about Taiji problem and they have already sent the message. They are not killing as many dolphins as they used to and they freed young ones......they are pressured! I don't see what unhappiness you are talking about!!! Can you explain me who would be unhappy and why???

And finaly: Don't put your words into somebody's mouth....... I did not say my solution is: "absolutely best and only way to do things" ................. I just offered a solution(there might be many and better ones), while you are just bashing it and whining. .......... instead of offering your solution or helping me to make my solution better.

radegastt, I fail to follow the logic in your statement. How did the hunters, who do it for a living, shoot themselves in the foot by refusing to sell their catch to a dubious group, who despises them? Are they even licensed to sell their catch to just anyone?

Pride aside. If they keep selling the dolphins to Sea Shepherd, everybody is happy: fishermen make their living easily because there are plenty of dolphins (assumed activists free them) and Sea Sheperd is happy because no dolphins are killed. The public is happy, the image of Japan improves and Earth is happy as well.

Can't see what you don't understand here! .......???

"West said Sea Shepherd offered to buy the captured dolphins from Taiji fishermen, raising money through global donations, but that was rejected."

One of the arguments was that Taiji fishermen do it for living.................however, it is a lie if they don't want to sell the captured dolphins. They shot themselves into the foot: they could make money. Now the activists have more money to finance their actions...

""larguero at 04:03 PM JST - 3rd September If dolphins were as smart as some claim them to be, they wouldn't return every year to the same spot, just to be killed.""

How the killed dolphin can return to the same spot every year is beyond me! Looking forward to your explanation! lol

I have searched the net for "swim with dolphins accidents" : Most probably, there has never been a report of a wild dolphin injuring a human swimmer. However, there supposedly has been some minor injuries from swimming with dolphins in tanks (in captivity) mainly by accidents not by violent behavior of the dolphin.

Gurukun-""I don't know about you, as much as I love dolphins, I would be weary about getting into the water with a 'wild' one. They have been known to kill people as well."" I have never heard about that (by accident perhaps).......where and when, can you give some examples? I have swum with wild dolphins four times and it is a wonderful and outstanding experience!!!

The people of Taiji are not very clever...... If they switch to "watching whales/dolphins" and "swimming with dolphins" tours and use all this publicity they would earn many times more than from killing dolphins/fishing. ......i.e. "If you come to swim with dolphins we would stop killing them" ......if this slogan attracts only 10% of all protesters, the fishermen would be rich overnight. Usual charge for "swimming with dolphins tour" is around 7000 yen/person, multiply it by 6 people in the boat and you get 42,000yen per 3~4 hours. Plus the town earns from providing accommodation, food etc. to visitors. You can't earn this through fishing...

TAMAGAWABOAT- They have no time to learn since they got slaughetred. ;-)

I have seen whale meet only 3 times (sushi bar & supermarket) in my 7 years here and I go to supermarkets/restaurants often. It is clearly not a part of japanese diet. (except some coastal towns like Taiji, maybe...)

We are just killing the goose!!!

It's not just about extinction of one specie - tuna is a part of the ecosystem, if we take it out the chain reaction will start - the other populations will disappear or overgrown......... it's hard to predict what will happen. We might end up with ocean full of jellyfish...?? Species extinct and new evolve but in a span of thousands of years not overnight!!

Go Slovakia! It is going to be a great game against Canada! Hope they will show at least semis&finals in our lame japanese tv ! In my opinion, ice hockey is the most popular sport in winter olympics so they should show us at least bit of it.

Slovakia likes 4:3 score: just have beaten Sweden 4:3!!! If we beat Canada in semifinals, we will win the games!

@johnyreb: The right pronunciation is "shatan", his name has nothing to do with "the evil guy" except in english... BTW, he was number one in scored goals in Lillehammer Olympic Games (he was 19 back then)

Go Slovakia!!! Already beat the World Cup champions, Slovakia has the potential to go far!

I can't believe that most of you guys are bashing him. He hasn't even started yet but already got few hundred readers in JAPAN TODAY and 17 deeper involved (us posters). And how many others around the world?! The MADDER the act the more attention he gets from world media, the more people learn about this environmental problem, the bigger the chance something will be done about it. BRILLIANT marketing move! And doesn't matter if he, along the way, satisfies his personal adventurous(suicidal) desires. He is doing a great job for all of us (might pay with life for it) so APPLAUSE PLEASE!!!