The Lingering Shame Of Mankind ..................Continued

The whaling industry is another example of mankind’s brutality to creatures we share this planet with. Japan’s yearly whale hunt slaughters many species including the endangered humbacks, not only for their blubber used in cleansing and other commercial products, but also their flesh for human consumption, considered a delicacy by many middle and far eastern societies. The killing method of choice for the very large mammals is by firing harpoon laden explosive charges that detonate within the whales body, usually killing them instantly, but at times causing a slow agonizing death to these gentle giants. For many of the smaller whales, non explosive carrying harpoons are fired into their bodies, often two or more times as they struggle to stay alive. After being hauled aboard the whaling vessels, sometimes still slightly conscious, they are skinned and dissected for the processing plants while being towed to port. It is pointed out that Japan, though the most prominent offender, is not the only country engaged in the barbaric slaying of these gentle ocean going beings.