Greenpeace recommends Whale Watching !

GREENPEACE HAS A SOLUTION (http://www.greenpeace.no/english)

'There is more money in whale watching than in whale hunting. Whale tourism is on the increase. Income from whale watching around the world was a staggering 4 billion kronor ($500 million) last year.(2001) Over the past five years this figure has grown by 16% every year. However, the greatest benefits are bypassing Norway because of the continued whale hunt. Most tourists feel that whale watching and whale hunting are incompatible.(from the letter sent to me) Therefore Norway is missing out on a valuable source of income. At Greenpeace they have the names of thousands of supporters who have specifically said that they would consider coming to Norway both to see the wonderful nature and to watch whales. But they do not want to come while the hunt continues.

Tourism has another huge advantage. Its benefits are spread out over a larger portion of the local population. It is not just the (by now) ex-whalers who would benefit from charging for the actual boat safari. Other locals running shops, hotels, and restaurants would also benefit. This in areas where employment opportunities are desperately needed.'

THE GLOBAL WHALE WATCHING INDUSTRY (www.greenpeace.org.uk)

Whale watching is a $1 billion USD industry,practised in more than 87 different countries and territories world wide, attracting over 9 million boat (no pollution ?) and land based participants per year. Total Whale Watching tourism expenditures have grown from an estimated US$ 504 million in 1994 to an estimated US$1,049 million in 1998 and are continuing to grow. ( ..yes and what about the whales, are they increasing ?) Scientist:'Whale watching is being promoted as an alternativ to whaling in Japan and Norway. In other countries we have the luxery of worrying about other effects.' Robin Baird

Who is Greenpeace ? 'I belived that they were PROTECTING whales, but this advertising for the Whale Watching Industry proof the opposite' anca*

Actually, this is proof of your inablility to understand the issue fully.

Richard Hayduke Lives! 'If history has taught us anything, it's that an action which is considered extreme by one generation is considered progressive and enlightened by the next. Ecotage is such an action, for the life of the sea is in imminent peril.' Paul Watson

so they go aganst your pro whaler opinion anca, you are either a simpleton or a troll Perhaps you should wake up and smell the roses anca. Your comment, is there more whales, is valid. Populations of whales are slowly recovering. My observations locally would indicate that the population of bigger baleen whales has fallen slightly over the last three years. Humpback sightings in the Bay of Plenty have fallen to only one sighting last year, similarly southern right whales, only one last year. The sightings of other baleen species increased over the last three years. There was an increased number of orca sightings during that time. A new pod of bottlenose dolphins has arrived here and there are lots of common dolphins.

Part of my daily routine is noting the health of the dolphins from observation, lesions, scars, deformities etc. The animals seem healthy enough, well fed, very energetic, considerable number of births. One thing I have noticed is the number of calves that are predated in the first month or so of their lives. I keep most of my observations secret because I don't believe that any good will come to the dolphins by my releasing my notebooks.

Why is it that Greenpeace is SO obsessed with MONEY MONEY MONEY?

Why can't they understand that for some people MONEY MONEY MONEY MORE MONEY MONEY MONEY isn't the goal?

Most tourists probably need a little more education.

What about the Japanese people who boycott New Zealand tourism because of our irrational stance on whaling?

Indeed.

Or rather in Japan at least it the activities are promoted as being compatible, which since both are supposed to be sustainable activities, is a clear possibility.

'http://www.greenpiece.org' anybody?

The same can be said about you whenever you trumpet on Graeme - in fact it can be said about anyone reading these posts.

Perhaps we (that means you too) should all just refrain from sillyness?

Despite all the whaling???

Despite all the whaling????

How is whale watching helping the recover of larger whale stocks?

There is no doubt that they are harassed less by the whalers than they are by the whale watchers.

Does more money make it better?

And how long can this go on before the wales just go away?

Lucky Norway. And can you imagine that anyone would choose a non polluting (or at least very low) antivity to over the worlds most polluting industry (tourism), the most 'unnessesary' one? (remember the debate wether whaling is nessessary?)

Good riddance to them - go fly a kite instead.

Sorry, what was the first 'advantage'?

Every raping of the nature gives you some short time economic boom. Sustainable whaling is for ever however.

To Gr$$piece it does, it seems doesn't it. Or at least they have even brainwashed themselves into believing that that's all the whalers care about too

Good point. I'll have to remember that one.

Absolutely. What kind of arrogance is it of a tourist to expect a country to ditch it's traditions if it wants the tourist dollars? Once again it comes down to MONEY MONEY MONEY.

No no dead whales and an activity that doesn't attract killers, adrenaline junkies addicted to the rush they get when they kill large animals.

Besides watching living whales is much more spectator friendly than seeing some arsehole getting his rocks off harpooning them

better

Yes, the whales will eventually colonise one of our close planets in order to get away from 6 billion people in 5 metre haines hunters circling them and disturbing all the fish.

And where did you get the impression that whalers are like that? Right, from a TV-program sponsored by Greenpeace or similar organisation. You never told us what the name of the program was nor who was the producer did you? Was there even any TV-program or did you just invent the whoe thing yourself? Lets get the facts here if you can provide them (of course you cant).

Guess you have a very valid point there Butler.

The sad thing is that you actually believe this.

'There is more money in whale watching than in whale hunting. Whale tourism is on the increase.' (MONEY,MONEY, MONEY, who cares about the whales ? ) 'Therefore Norway is missing out on a valuable source of income. ' (Greenpeace is not telling us the 'dark side' about whale watching. Scientist:'Whale watching is being promoted as an alternativ to whaling in Japan and Norway. In other countries we have the luxery of worrying about other effects.' Robin Baird) At Greenpeace they have the names of thousands of supporters who have specifically said that they would consider coming to Norway both to see the wonderful nature and to watch whales. But they do not want to come while the hunt continues. (Because of all your propaganda, we're the evil country. Exampleoes compassion ever prevail against evil. When did hunting bacame evil ? )

THE GLOBAL WHALE WATCHING INDUSTRY (Is indeed Greenpeace and may be a turist agency, look for yourself at www.greenpeace.org.uk ) Who is Greenpeace ? (I have still got NO answer)

or a troll.

observation, lesions, scars,

anca*