Whaling

A Tradition of Torment

Whales – the largest living marine mammals – have a language that is foreign to humans, but which nevertheless wins them understanding and wonder. Many species live in social groups, and all take care of their young for long periods. Whales’ method of communicating with each other over great distances has long fascinated people, and contributed to the respect these animals enjoy.

Unfortunately, there are still countries where this is not the case – and Norway is one of them. Through a mass of pro-whaling propaganda, the Norwegian Government creates the impression that whales are nothing but great mountains of meat and floating ecological catastrophes. But whales have nothing to do with ecological imbalance in the ocean. The whale and the ocean have coexisted since long before we humans began industrialised fishing and whaling.

Norway’s traditions of whaling are directly responsible for pushing more species towards extinction. And why? To make money, and to add a few more tonnes to the world’s meat-mountain.

Harpooning has been criticised by veterinarians and biologists the world over – the pain these animals experience when the grenade harpoon explodes in their muscles, and their desperate fight for their lives which can last minutes or hours, have aroused opposition the world over. Norway stands almost alone in denying the torment of whaling.