The Pros And Cons Of International Whaling

Whales are one of the most conserved mammals in the world due to their decline in number over the years as a result of constant whaling. Norway and Japan are notably the world’s biggest whalers. The
International Whaling Commission have imposed a ban on whaling as a means to protect these special animals from extinction, but the ban only succeeded in causing an uproar among traditional whalers in both Japan and Norway. Both countries claim that whaling has been an age long tradition for their people, with Japanese ancestors learning from the Norwegians
Norway being the world’s leader in commercial whaling, were among the first people to hunt whales as early as 4000 years ago. (National Geography, 2011). Many other natives, including Japan have also been whaling
A cultural activity is a practice within a certain society which is uniquely tied to their tradition and have been passed down through generations as a means of cultural identification and significance. Whaling as a cultural activity for Norway and Japan serve as one the unique identifications of this two countries and provide a sense of cultural wealth for their people. Also, the local fishermen who engage in whaling as a means of financial stability might find it difficult to continue in economic activities if the ban holds on them.
The ban on whaling, despite the international applause, is a thorn on the preservation of some cultures and may make the people feel undervalued. Globalization, evidently causes a rift between nations of opposing values and contradicting practices
The most effective approach to combating such conflicts is to establish a neutrally accommodating policy that will both encourage the practice of cultural activities while preserving the widelife. This can be made possible by limiting the number of whales to be killed annually instead of completely shutting down the practice and hampering both economic and cultural activities in the participating