Reading questions on environmental law article - Essay Example

1. What prompted the creation of the International Whaling Commission? Whaling is one of the most controversial issues in the world today. Humans have hunted whales from time immemorial, but as our opinions and feelings towards our environment have changed so to have many people’s attitudes towards hunting these ocean-dwelling beasts. Much of these change is superficial and aesthetic. Hunting whales provides a great livelihood for many and there are many important products we can take from whales.

Managed properly the whale hunt can be a good source of income and useful products. The IWC was created to govern and regulate the whale hunt. People thought the animal would be made extinct unless the hunt was regulated.2. Why are there disagreements amongst the participating nations over the IWCsresolutions? Many proponents of the idea of banning the whale hunt point out that the when the hunt was unregulated, several species of whales were made extinct by over-hunting. They say that we have forever lost a number of animals that were unique in their biodiversity.

They point out the same thing would happen if the hunt was made legal in certain areas again. However, the damage done to whale stocks occurred almost entirely before the advent of the International Whaling Commission. That is to say, that whale stocks were depleted in the days before there was any real regulation whatsoever and that the current system is quite sustainable. Also very few of the species that animal-rights activists claim are endangered actually are. The numbers are very unclear.

Few people no the real dimensions of the whale population today. There is no clear-cut evidence that a regulated return to the whale hunt by countries that currently ban it would have a devastating impact on whale stocks. And without this evidence it is hard to suggest that continuing the whale hunt would be a negative thing. Many of the other arguments made by whaling conservationists are similarly flimsy. While few would argue that the methods for hunting are especially humane—for example the use of the exploding harpoon is a bit cruel—these things can easily be improved and suffering can be reduced.

Just as in Canada, Canadian sealers must use more humane methods, so can whalers stop exploding whales and instead start killing them more humanely. No one is arguing for a completely unregulated hunt—that is a red herring. The animal rights activists have created a false dichotomy. It is part of rhetoric trick on their part when they argue that to hunt whales means to have no rules whatsoever. A properly regulated hunt can reduce the suffering of whales and bring rogue, illegal hunters (who are inclined to use cruel weapons) into the fold and get them to use better methods.

Rogue hunters are unacceptable and should definitely be punished to the full extent of the law. No real whale hunter wants to cause unnecessary suffering to the beautiful creatures known as whales. 3. What power does the IWC have? What power does it not have? The IWC has a lot of power. It can kick members out, invite members in. It can also call for a moratorium if it feels this is necessary. It does not have the power to simply ignore its members desires and wishes.4. Can the IWC be a significant player in shaping the future of whaling?

If so, how? The truth is that the IWC cannot be a significant player in the future of whaling. There is a reason why people have hunted whales for millennia: whales have many useful products and hunting them provides a good living. It is possible to use nearly every part of a whale in an efficient and effective way. With the rise of animal right organizations this way of living is under threat. Critics try to pretend that whales are in some way different than other animals, like cows or horses, for example, and that they are special in some way.

There isn’t any evidence for this, just as there is no evidence that baby seals are cuter than other baby animals. However, these critics have been very effective in making their case. A large portion of the population believes them. This should change, because the facts are not on the side of these people. The truth is that whales can be hunted in a sustainable way that brings benefits to a large number of people. The whale hunt should continue, and hunters should be proud of their jobs.