When minks eat whales…

Several weeks ago, Japanese ships returned from Antarctica with 333 minke whales, many of which were pregnant females. This past weekend, a Japanese whaling fleet made its way toward the North Pacific for an annual hunt aimed at capturing 51 minke whales. While these killings are conducted in the name of"science," the agency that sets the quotas includes whale meat recipes on its website. Yet ironically, the meat is so toxic that Japan is barred from importing it to other countries.

On the otherside of the Eurasian landmass in Norway, whale meat is hardly eaten, so instead it is used to feed foxes and minks on fur farms. Rogaland Pelsdyrfôrlaget, the largest fur industry food manufacturer in Norway, used over 113 tons of minke whale meat, approximately 75 individual whales, to feed its captive animals

Are these hunters even aware that they are killing conscious sentient beings? The minke whale is the smallest member of the rorqual whale family, just three times larger than a human. These animals move alone and in small groups, sometimes joining larger communities if krill is abundant in a certain area. They are very fast swimmers and curious creatures: they have been known to unabashedly approach ships or ports and jump acrobatically in the air like dolphins. While we know little about their dialects or social habits, their song is quite remarkable and unique.

These very same beings, who have been frequently known to socialize with human divers, are murdered to supply grocery stores and fur factories with tainted meat. There is something wildly disturbing about the concept of capturing this rare species from the wild and skinning them alive, only to feed them to animals living hellish existences of their own, in tiny cages on fur farms—they too will face the same destiny of being skinned for profit.

The French government must et an example by being more vigilant in condemning whaling, both domestically and abroad. Like Australia, our government must denounce Japan's activities, along with those of Iceland and Norway. Given that these countries have violated the code of conduct delineated by the International Whaling Commission, Europe is obligated to respond with sanctions.