Pericles,

'This is just our own version of the fluffy baby seal syndrome'

Yesssss. I have a T-Shirt on . It has a can of 'Dolphin Chunks' on it, but they're 'Tuna Friendly'.

Also, notice there isn't half the outcry about saving the manatee?

http://www.savethemanatee.org/

Serious Question;

I have been looking to buy whale meat somewhere in Sydney. Does anyone know where I can get some?

Before I get flamed, I eat Kangaroo also, and there are 500,000 minke whales and the Japanese only killed 1000 of them last year. Also the Blue whale is endangered, and the minke whale is a competitor for the same foods as the Blue whale.

I think it's funny we are upset at the Japs because they say they're killing whales for scientific research, yet the Norwegians just refused to sign the treaty 'cause they said they just want to eat whales.

I think Australians rather someone tell us to piss off up front, rather than pretend to agree and just do what they want anyway. Or maybe it's just pure racism.

Idiot ideas do get lots of press, don't they?

Just because a journalist finds it profitable to play up the opposition of animal rights extremists and fluffy-bunny soft-hearted suburban airheads, doesn't mean these people are either right - or rational.

They are extremists. Anything they oppose is likely to be a better idea than the no doubt unpleasant alternatives.

I was one of those fluffy bunnies who shut my eyes and moaned (and not in a sexy way) when I saw the roos on the news. So thanks to those have posted here, I do see the arguments in favour of culling now.

As for Gibo and his "I look to that day they get their Judgment with a smile", it really says it all, doesn't it?

"I have been looking to buy whale meat somewhere in Sydney. Does anyone know where I can get some?" (Usual Suspect)

Usual Suspect

While your post is about 99.9% off topic, I did attempt to find a retailer in Sydney where you could buy your whale meat. Alas, to no avail.

However, a dead whale carcass offers no guarantee of a food fit for human consumption. Mother Nature's defenceless species have developed a very innovative strategy for teaching humans a lesson.

Therefore, could you enlighten me as to why you want to eat whale meat, considering the dangerous levels of mercury and dioxin found by Japanese scientists (and others) in over 150 samples of eight species of whales eaten in Japan?

Eating whale meat is actually quite dangerous for your health. Just ask the Japanese Health Department who are flogging off dolphin and porpoise as whale meat. These critters contain even more mercury than whales.

"I think it's funny we are upset at the Japs because they say they're killing whales for scientific research, yet the Norwegians just refused to sign the treaty 'cause they said they just want to eat whales."

Of course they do, Usual Suspect. Their government is not disimilar to our own when it comes to suppression of vital health information. However, in fairness to the Scandanavian governments, I advise they have, for many years, warned pregnant and breastfeeding women not to consume whale meat for the same reasons above.

So it seems it's OK for adults to be contaminated by heavy metals and dioxins as long as the babies aren't.

Sorry about the bad news but cheer up Usual Suspect.

Why don't you consider purchasing a nice wallet made from a roo's scrotum?

Dickie, it's probably because most of the time, those scrotum wallets are flogged off to tourists at ridiculous prices.

A fine example of the roo-defenders in action:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23735048-12377,00.html"

-Protesters 'save' wrong roos again

"There was a similar incident yesterday when two protesters got into the property and in a bid to disrupt the cull mistakenly agitated sedated kangaroos recovering from a fertility trial.

The animals that escaped overnight were also part of the trial and were not going to be culled, defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said.

"The action was dangerous because the animals were partly sedated and following release, could have drowned in the dam," Brig. Nikolic said."

The ACT Government has backed the cull of more than 400 kangaroos, saying it needs to be done to protect lowland native grasslands and threatened species.

As for your earlier points:

1) Countries such as Britain are boycotting Australia over the roo issue.

- Yes, and it's hurting producers. This is occurring, mainly because of the sentimental emotive campaigns that would lead to the roo starvation I mentioned earlier.

A basic consideration of the vast, vast numbers of roos being culled, combined with the fact that their numbers are remaining stable, should be enough to silence these critics, but somehow idiocy reigns.

- You object to 1080 bait.

I see. Tell me, do you have a better method of controlling wild dogs? 1080 bait is made from ingredients from native Australian flora. Thus, native species have a built up resistance, and it doesn't harm native wildlife, as opposed to introduced dog species. I grant you, it often gets domestic dogs, but not native animals.

The alternative, again, doesn't exist. The alternative, is letting wild dog numbers get out of control to wreak havoc on native species and livestock.

But oh no. Can't risk hurting the poor things?

This is what's known as the 'lesser of two evils.' Those who are afraid to admit that, are the ones who often to more damage to the environment through stupidity.

dickie,

'Therefore, could you enlighten me as to why you want to eat whale meat'

I hold an event called 'Meat Club' once a month where we fire up the BBQ and serve a menu of exotic meats, with no other food categories allowed. I'm running out of ideas for new meats.

I did once try whale meat while in Point Barrow at an inuit wedding, and I also understand the health repurcussions, but it's only for a special occasion and more for novelty value.