| Something Very Rotten in Denmark |
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| Friday, 13 June 2008 10:15 | |
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson "What a piece of work is a man, how ignoble in reason, how
finite in faculties, in form and moving how crude and contemptible, in action how like a destroying demon, in apprehension how like a cruel god! the scourge of the world, he most monstrous of all animals— and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Mankinds foul butchery delights not me, nor the living things of the Earth, or woman neither, though by their cynical smiling,he Danes seem to say so."
- Shakespeare revised for modern times. Dolphin & Whale Massacre in Faroe Islands (Denmark) This video may not be suitable for minorsSIGN THE ONLINE PETITION
My mother was Danish and her father Otto Larsen was a famous Danish painter. His sister was the first woman judge in Denmark and our family on my mother's side, were proud of their Danish heritage. I however cannot be proud of Denmark. It is a nation that supports and encourages gross cruelty to whales and seals and it is a nation that is contributing greatly towards the extinction of many species of animals. Denmark is "courageously" defending cartoons from fundamentalist Muslims but seems to be unconcerned about the wholesale slaughter of marine wildlife species. The horrific annual slaughter of thousands of defenseless pilot whales every year in the Danish Faeroe Islands is just as cruel as the dolphin slaughter by the Japanese in Taiji. The children of the Faeroe Islands have a higher level of mercury in their bodies than even the children of Taiji, Japan. I have fought Faeroese whalers and the Faeroese authorities for years. We have had dramatic confrontations in Faeroese waters in 1985 and 1986 and again in 2000 trying to stop the pilot whale drive where entire pods are driven into shore, knifed, speared, stoned and clubbed in a barbarous orgy of cruelty and waste.
The massive Danish industrialized fishing industry is scouring the North Sea clean of sand eels, the tiny fish that are the staple for the comical puffins. The sand eels are ground into cheap fish meal to feed factory farmed chickens in Denmark. If the puffin goes extinct then Denmark will bear the greatest burden of the blame for the tragedy of trading the beautiful and lively puffin for a few chicken McNuggets. Denmark supports the killing of whales and seals in Greenland including endangered Fins and Bowheads. And now Denmark is openly attacking the European Union for defending the great whales from illegal Japanese, Icelandic and Norwegian whaling activities. Last week (June 5th ) the European Union agreed on a common position to support the continuation of the global moratorium on commercial whaling. The European Union will present a united front at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in two weeks. Denmark however has decided to be the sole European Union member to exclude itself from this united front. "With this decision the European Union can now take a strong role at the International Whaling Commission and use all its political, moral and economic weight to ensure a more effective protection of whales worldwide," said environment commissioner Stavros Dimas. Denmark responded to this statement with hostility calling the move "cultural imperialism". Denmark does not openly support commercial whaling, although it supports whaling in the Faroe Islands and Greenland - which, while part of the Danish Kingdom are not part of the European Union. "For 20 years, Denmark has held the same position in support of these other parts of the kingdom," said Ole Samsing, a Danish diplomat to the European Union who is also the country's IWC commissioner. "It is cultural imperialism trying to decide on behalf of these people who are not in the European Community," he said. When did concern for the environment and the protection of species become "cultural imperialism"? This is a ridiculous accusation from a country whose only claim to fame lately has been to publish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban. Such is the cultural ignorance of the cartoonists that they did not know that Arabs do not wear turbans. Yet Denmark has defended the cartoons and Danes have expressed their belief that Denmark is defending Christian values in the face of Muslim extremism. This smacks more of cultural imperialism than the legitimate concern of European nations to stop the illegal killing of whales. Defending the rights of cartoonists as champions of Christian values while endorsing the illegal slaughter of whales and dolphins displays a warped sense of moral values. Last month, the European Commission asked EU environment ministers to speak up for the whales in response to the resumption of illegal Icelandic whaling. At the time, the commission called on Iceland, which remains outside the EU, to prove that it is not engaged in commercial whaling. Since 2006, when Iceland resumed its illegal whaling activities, it has claimed the killing is only for scientific purposes. The European Commission is dismisses this as a legitimate whaling activity with only Denmark supporting the Icelandic position. Copenhagen announced in mid-May that it would invoke a rarely used measure, 'Declaration 25', an annex to the Maastricht Treaty. The declaration refers to member states who have territories outside the EU - as is the case with the Faroe Islands and Greenland - and will allow Denmark not to be bound by the common position. Mr. Samsing pointed out that the common position actually masks what is more of a mosaic of positions amongst EU member states. Viewing the animals, as with great apes, elephants and dolphins, to be more intelligent and socially complex than other mammals, "there are those member states that do not want any whales to be killed ever - no matter what," said the Danish diplomat. "But then there are other member states who want to protect whale species from extinction, but once they are not endangered, the would have no problem with a resumption of the whale hunt," he added, "so long as it was done under strict conditions." As a result, he said, the common position is agreed only for the purposes of this one IWC meeting, and no further. "But of course, the commission will come up with something similar next year, and then we have to go through the whole rigmarole again." What Mr. Samsing is saying here is that Denmark does not support the protection of the whales for any reason including if they are endangered. For its part, the commission dismissed suggestions of imposing its will on anyone: "The common position was made by the highest body [in the EU], and was supported by most member states," said the commission's environment spokesperson, Barbara Heflfferich. Denmark is a major contributor to the destructive exploitation of the world's oceans. Danish fishing fleets are amongst the most rapacious in the world and their plundering of the seas has not been dampened by the realization that there are serious ecological concerns about the ability of the oceans to survive this ceaseless plundering. Flaunting their moral superiority with their defense of silly cartoons does not remove the stench of ecological moral decay that is emanating from Copenhagen. The rot in Denmark from the corpses of fish, factory farms and starving puffins, whales screaming in agony, and now their opposition to the defense of the great whales from illegal whaling is a foul odor indeed and one that bodes ill for our oceans and our future. Commentary by Captain Paul Watson (Images from Wikimedia Commons)
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Comments (36)Show/hide comments ...
La verdad la maldad del hombre no tiene fin...
este fragmento va a la madre de todos: Te agradezco… aunque me voy avergonzado por ser parte de la especie, que hoy te viola en un patético festín Y así, no te libraste de nosotros. Es una lástima porque siguiendo la politica que actualmente y que durante siglos, "reina" en este mundo, las cosas no van a cambiar...
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August 28, 2008
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No entiendo tal crueldad... y me da asco ver lo q hace...
Sin remordimiendo ni culpa... matan y matan.... familias enteras presenciando la masacre.... niños y niñas observando.... y pronto seran quienes lo hagan! Horrible!
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August 28, 2008
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No tengo palabras, me da vergüenza ser integrante de esta raza de asesinos. Nuestra barbarie llega a límites increíbles.
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August 29, 2008
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It is horrible how insensitive one can become just because one is part of a tradition. It is unbelievable that such events are sponsored by a government!
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September 04, 2008
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es una masacre desmedida...las imagenes te destrozan... querria saber si es cierto que lo hacen como fuente de alimento como comentan ciertos articulos. igual, es necesario el espectaculo de la muerte? definitivamente No
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September 07, 2008
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this has to stop they are insane to do this|!!!
how will the feel if we did this to them to cut and torture them until they are dead! and then they can tell me if they are men enough to leaf the animals alone!!
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February 07, 2009
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This is horrible! This is a disgrace for Europe! They think they are god! These are not people ... but creeps. Stop this barbaric slaughter. They are beautiful and intiligente mammals!
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February 11, 2009
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Ass Holes!!!! seriously these dumb asses!! i mean how stupid can 1 get??? sometimes i feel ppl like this dont deserve 2 live! if i had a choice id slaughter them exactly how they slaughter those poor whales, in that exact same place! DEATH to Denmark!
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February 14, 2009
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How the hell can these M****** fu***rs do this .... lets go over there and do the same to those fucked up losers who think that if they dont slaugther a dolpin that they wont be a man ..... well lett me tell those losers this ... you were men before you did that .... goddamnit FU**ED UP WEIRDOS
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February 23, 2009
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If there any possible way to Stop this please take an immediately affect. I really hope this assholes who are doing this will get what they deserve, Its just heart breaking when these people like us kill innocents dolphins, the whole country is fucking retarded!!!!! for sure.... I hope govt doing everything to stop it!!!
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March 21, 2009
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We need more information on ways to stop this. Desperately.
The ocean is in enough trouble as is.
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July 14, 2009
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This is sickening--I thought as humans we could get past these idiotic "traditions" as we cause more and more damage. What's worse are the bureaucracies that allow these things to occur because of all the formalities and politics involved.
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July 15, 2009
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There is no difference between these killers and people murderers. They should be outlawed and the world should cease any relation with these nations that support whaling and mammalian killers.
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July 28, 2009
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The human race deserves every bit of the suffering it endures. I will NEVER support Denmark, or any of it's products ever again. Some test of "manhood"...chase a defenseless animal with a power boat until it's exhausted, and then cut it to pieces...amazing. That's right up there with Quail hunting in a fenced in field. WTF is wrong with you Denmark!?! Gutless, ignorant, idiots!
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July 31, 2009
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No puedo entender por que sólo por la tan estúpida "cultura" humana se permita este acto de falta de respeto a estos seres y a todos los seres vivos de este planeta!!!
Lo único que me consuela es saber que algún día esta horrible "des-humanidad" a la que pertenecemos sucumbirá como especie y que nuestra madre tierra retomará su camino sin nosotros.... Es vergonzoso toda esta idiotéz humana!!!!
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August 04, 2009
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Would they have their island surrounded, their friends, family and children herded to the waters and butchered? Only humans take pleasure from the slaughter and revel in the pain and terror of their kill-- human or not. They wish to preserve their culture but they are headed for oblivion. The people who failed to embrace change. They will be remembered for the horrors they perpetrated. Do they not see that there is no future in living and killing this way?
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August 04, 2009
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PETA.ORG.UK has a petition circulating. you should post this link to the petition or post your own OCEANSENTRY petition.
ALL FELLOW PLANETARY GUARDIANS SHOULD JOIN THIS LEGAL BATTLE TO SAVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THE DOLPHINS !!! http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=1911 WE SHOULD SEND PETITIONS TO WSPA, THE UNITED NATIONS, CITIES... EVERY ORG WHICH LOVES MOTHER EARTH !!! TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE !!! WE HAVE TO STOP THIS HORROR !
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October 05, 2009
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Is there anything else we can do to pressure the denmark goverment? It´s unbeliveble in a civilized country to see such a shameful and barbarian ritual being supported by the authorities and all the community! It´s too shocking and devastating!
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November 01, 2009
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How sad and terrible. We must stop this insanity and treat these sentient creatures with respect. I am so surprised that Denmark would support such barbaric behavior.
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November 13, 2009
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Let this world come to an end, it needs to start over with a new civilisation, hopefuly better than us. This makes me sick to unimaginable heights, I cannot believel I was born as a human species..
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November 14, 2009
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:( feel lyk cryng - how can u kill a animal when its crying for its life?
,
November 14, 2009
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HORRIBLE!!!! THESE STUPID HARDHEADED PEOPLE MUST BE STOPPED. THESE ARE INTELLIGENT, DOCILE MAMMALS, FRIENDLY TO HUMANS, AND DO NOT DESERVE THIS ANNUAL BRUTAL MASS MURDER. I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS, THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME THING DONE TO THEM. WHY DON'T YOU DANISH PEOPLE DO US ALL A FAVOR, AND KILL YOUR FIRST BORN EVERY YEAR INSTEAD. THAN THERE WILL BE LESS DANES THE NEXT YEAR TO KILL THESE POOR CREATURES. THIS COUNTRY IS A DISGRACE TO THE REST OF EUROPE AND THE WORLD. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED, AND THE EXTINCTION OF THIS SPECIES WILL IMPACT THE ENTIRE WORLD, NOT JUST SOME STUPID DANISH ISLE... THESE PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE
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November 14, 2009
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for gods sake the danish govt has to accept there ignorance n stop killing these innocent animals... these ppl shud be ashamed of themselves.. the question of civilised ppl do not arise at all coz they arent human beings at all...
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November 21, 2009
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for gods sake the danish govt has to accept there ignorance n stop killing these innocent animals... these ppl shud be ashamed of themselves.. the question of civilised ppl do not arise at all coz they arent human beings at all...
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November 21, 2009
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I used to go out of my way to purchase Danish products in order to support them in their stand against radical muslims . I will not do so any longer because of their practice in allowing the senseless and needless slaughter of the dolphins.
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November 29, 2009
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THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!!!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!!! I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HUMAN BEINGS CAN BE SO CRUEL!!!! IT MAKES ME SICK AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON INVOLVED SHOULD BE TOURTERED AND KILLED!!!
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November 30, 2009
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I was horrified by hearing about this. Something has to be done. Why don't the danes fight each other and kill each other to prove their manhood that might show their stupidity levels rather than fight a defenseless whale. You Danes are sick, if ther are any of you who are sane it's about time you stand up to the losers and fight for humanity and no cruelty to animals.
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December 06, 2009
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This of course must be stopped. But something which also must be stopped is the need in young men to prove their masculinity. If you are a young man in North America and you have guns, a cowboy hat and boots, a huge pickup,who treats women with disrespect, are prone to violence and ape such bad role models as Clint Eastwood (A man's godda' do what a man's godda' do) then you are probably not dissimilar from the young men up to their waists in dolphin blood. I'm heartily sick of machismo. When it isn't dangerous it is tedious. North America produces strong women and weak men, and the further south you go the stronger the women and the weaker the men. Hence the need to compensate and the greater level of violence among Southern men. If the women of America are not prepared to give their men their balls back the least the men can do is learn to accept themselves and not be so hung up on their image. This is the result of 40 years observing North American men.
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December 10, 2009
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Just signed the petition. EU should really make a move to stop this slaughter. Following a cruel "tradition" is just so ridiculous.
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December 16, 2009
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that is denmerk where the wikings comes from so genetic stays there is no civilisized human being we are all same as our ancesstors
and i know there is no way to stop them becouse its in their genetics shame on human race
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December 23, 2009
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I cannot believe what I have just seen, the barbaric slaughtering of defensless dolphins and whales. All to show a young boy he is a man. What will he do when he grows up, then become violent against women. And the people who stand on the surrounding shoreline to watch this are just as bad as the ones doing the killing. You should all be put in that sea of blood and drowned. I thought Denmark was a civilized country but how wrong I was. I would never visit your country. You people are inhumane and your asshole government and the idiot people who run it should also be slaughtered. There aren't words enough to describle how I feel against the Danish people. You're all sick and demented to support this 'right of manhood.'
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February 22, 2010
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This person has no knowledge concerning this event. This event occurred within the Faroe Islands. The government of the Faroe Islands recognize themselves as a separate nation compared to Denmark. They have their own separate flag, and separate sports teams. There for I believe that we should not involve Denmark within this issue, because they are a separate nation. The Faroe islands should be recognized as a different nation, and their for should not be blamed for this incident. This event would be similar to recognizing Great Britain as being an individual nation, compared to separate.
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March 10, 2010
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Disturbing to think the minds of people are capable of such horrific acts of violence against innocent beautiful intelligent dolphins/whales.
This is also happening in Taiji Japan for $$ of importation of Dolphins for the "swim with the dophins" programs at resorts. YOU can DO something to help stop this.....spread the word ! It's a sad selfish time we're living in. See the documentary "The Cove". DO SOMETHING PLEASE!!!
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March 10, 2010
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I have seen the bays of the Faeroe Islands stained red with blood and I've heard the screams of mortally wounded whales pleading for their lives as insensitive brutes drunk on slaughter are showered in the hot blood of the whales, laughing and swearing as their vicious blades rape the whales repeatedly. It is a monstrous spectacle and it is an obscenity fully embraced by the Danish government and many of the Danish people.
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