Hi Irene,

I hope everyone on board is well and enjoying the voyage.

Regarding Toyota, actually the original article didn't suggest that Toyota opposes whaling anyway. It only says that Toyota doesn't condone whaling. And that's obvious, Toyota is in the vehicle manufacturing business, not the food business.

Incidently, speaking of other Japanese companies and whaling, a Greenpeace Japan press release the other day suggested that a large restaurant chain in Japan, Watami, "would not deal in whale meat". I doubt there is enough supply available for a massive operator like Watami to be able to use whale meat on a regular basis anyway, but on closer inspection of the press release, all Greenpeace Japan seemed to have had found was that Watami "has no plans to deal in whale meat" (i.e., at the present time).

Greenpeace ought to take care when drawing inferences, as with embarassing incidents involving "alarmist and armageddonist factoids" in the recent past, this behaviour might be mistaken as intentional rather than simply plain carelessness.

All the best for the new year!

Hi Iréne,

What's the point of asking Toyota if they are for or against whaling? They're not selling whale meat, are they?
I don't see any reason for them to make a statement on this issue, then.

Are you so short on topics that you have to come up with every piece of news you find on the internet? Even if that's not much relevant.

I think your whaling campaign is getting out of proportions. With this post, you're more or less motivating your supporters to boycott Japanese products even though many Japanese companies aren't related to whaling.

Boycotting Japanese products, regardless of whether they are involved in whale meat consumption or not, is a positive step. It has worked with other issues and is a practical way to put pressure on the government when it comes from other big businesses. More of it.

Must be slow news over at david's blog for them both to be here!

Actually i feel its very relevant whether Toyota support or dont support whaling. I feel its relevant to know exactly on which side of the fence ALL large Japanese companies are on, whether they are related to whaling or not. Pressure on the Japanese Government is needed in order to get whaling stopped. If we boycott Japanese products, this would obviously affect the finances of those companies. If those companies' finances are hit, as a direct result of a public stance against whaling, then they may in turn also put pressure on the Japanese Government to stop whaling. Whether its right or wrong, views on Japan and the Japanese people are being tarnished by the very fact that Japan is a whaling nation. Eventually the Japanese people will realise this and you can bet they wont like it, they will want good relations back. The way to get it back will be to stop whaling. The way to stop the whaling is therefore through the Japanese people. Boycoting the large companies (those who either agree with whaling or who refuse to say where they stand)would be a good start.

Isanatori & David&tokyo - do we come around knocking on your door telling what's bloggable and what's not? I don't think so.

We thought it was an interesting story, and Irene decided to blog it - so I'm sorry, you'll just have to live with that.

The original question came from the Dominion Post newspaper in Wellington New Zealand, where a concerned New Zealand citizen (not Greenpeace) contacted Toyota. I guess it's understandable that for some people outside Japan, the products they purchase are one of the ways they interact with Japan. It must be of concern to Toyota NZ that the NZ public has unfortunately started to identify Japanese products with whaling.

Greenpeace, however, doesn't support boycotts.

We are pro-whale, not anti-Japanese. Greenpeace doesn't believe that a general boycott on Japanese goods will be effective at putting economic pressure on the Japanese Fisheries Agency. A boycott big enough to inflict real economic damage is more likely to harm the Japanese people, the majority of whom do not support whaling.

It's not our campaign that's getting out of proportion, it's Japan's whaling agenda - there's still 50 endangered fin whales on the menu - 50 of the second largest living mammal on earth, at around 25m long and up to 70 metric tonnes. That's 1.25km of fin whales.

Now, that, I think, is out proportion.

Oh Insane-atori, I think you betray a sensitive spot. You must be aware that japanese whaling is bringing down the image of Japan and its business. Whaling is backed by the Japanese government, is subsidized by the govt, and do not japanese companies such as Toyota pay taxes to the govt? It should not surprise you that perhaps Toyota & Honda, which paint themselves as 'green' friendly, might have to bolster that position when it comes to the topic of its govt exploding bombs inside those gentle ocean-dwelling mammals and take a position against whaling. The car-company executives could put a stop to whaling if they feared this cruel, destructive enterprise was undermining their business.

Hello Irene,

I am confused as to why there appears to be a reason to ask Toyota whether they support whaling or not. I think it would be more wise to ask individual people about their beliefs on the issue, seeing as it is their money that goes towards this national "reseach" industry. Asking Toyota is akin to asking General Motors whether or not they support the current war in Iraq. Maybe it gives more weight to an entity to say, "Hey, this big such and such company supports my cause" but really seems to serve little purpose.
On another note...Za Watami...Where is this afore mentioned article about them and whale meat?? I go there fairly often and have never seen whale on the menu, and hope to never see it!
And in respone to David's doubt about whether Watami would be able to acquire enough of it to serve regularly. While most people focus only on Japan's JARPA 2 hunts in the Southern Ocean Sancuatry, it is also well known that Japan hunts whales in the North Pacific year round, thereby providing a year round supply of their illegal product.
Good luck on the trek south!
Aaron

So, what is GreenPeace's position on a Total Boycott of Japanese (and Icelandic and Norwegian) goods, products, and services -- including cars, tourism, electronics, restaurants, etc etc etc --as a tactic in the effort to stop, once and for all, Japanese (Icelandic and Norwegian...wouldn't want this to be misconstrued as some sort of racialist thing now, would we?) pirate, er scientific, whaling?

Has GP ever considered this as a tactic? If so, when, and what was the outcome of the deliberations?

JG Moebus
S/V WayFinder
Montara, CA

Hi Dave,

"Isanatori & David&tokyo - do we come around knocking on your door telling what's bloggable and what's not? I don't think so."

Well, feel free to post any comment to what I write on my blog. I'm sure David@Tokyo would also enjoy debate with you on his blog.

The fact is that if you really don't support boycotting Japanese products, I guess it would have been clearer if Irene had mentioned that in her post in the first place. Don't you think so?

You know that many of your supporters have come to your blog saying they want to boycott Japanese products in protest to Japanese whaling. So you ought to know that raising the issue of boycott as Irene did in her post without saying clearly that GP doesn't support such behaviour might just be interpreted in the other way.

David and I have blogs on the whaling issue, but we don't have as many readers/supporters as you, and we don't raise funds either.
You should recognize that what you say or may suggest on your blog may have nefast consequences. Boycotting Toyota in NZ would certainly hit Toyota and people not related to whaling in Japan, but it would first hit jobs in NZ.

50 fin whales equal "1.25km of fin whales"!? Again, what's your point here, Dave?

I'll tell you what has grown out of proportion is the moratorium (which by definition is a temporary measure) and opposition to whaling...or should I say opposition to Japanese whaling. You may believe that whaling is an anachronism in the 21th century, but your view is not shared by everybody.

Besides Norway has been whaling commercially and sustainably for 14 years now. So GP's assumption that whaling cannot be sustainable is wrong.

I wish all the best for the new year.

Dave on the Esperanza-----You are so right!!!! Take care and be safe. Tell Irene thanks --and speaking for myself appreciate all the information I can get.

JG Greenpeace as already stated they are not asking for a boycott. Ultimately I "feel" the stance should come from their people as well. Yes, we could boycott and to some extent it may work, but for how long? Alot of people are finding it hard to boycott in America Chinese products. Has the Seashepherd even called for a boycott? I haven't read anywhere they have unless I have missed it. I personally do not buy Japan products ( so the labels read). The reason I know about GP decison not to boycott is because this is what I asked in the very beginning.

Thank you all for commenting

We do not call for a boycott of Japanese products, for the reasons stated in Dave's reply earlier, and perhaps I should have added that to my post. But in our society the attitude of big companies matters: whether we like it or not they do have an influence on political decisions.

According to Isanatori anti-whaling has gone "out of proportion". Hunting for 50 fin whales - an endangered species on the IUCN red list - is "out of proportion". That was the point Dave emphasized - it's not that difficult really.

Hi, personally I have no problem with people wanting to boycott etc., people are free to 'protest' however they like. What I wanted to point out was that misinterpreting what these big companies are saying isn't going to help solving this long-standing controversy in a fair and rational manner, which is what we should all be aiming for. Also such behaviour can have a negative impact on the image, but that's a matter for those in charge at GPHQ to contemplate.

On that note, when we refer to the IUCN's fin whale classification, we should be clear that it was from an assessment in 1996 (IIRC) and the IUCN says the classification is 'out of date'.

Anyway, I'd like to hear what GP thinks about the upcoming March IWC meeting and possible options for an amicable resolution that respects both people who want to watch whales and people who want to eat them.

Hi.

It seems a shame to turn Irene's thought provoking blog into a heated 'out of proportion' discussion ? As this only detracts from the main issue of whaling....

to effect positive environmental change is surely to understand and influence where possible, economics....

I drive a Toyota car. I am ringing their HQ tomorrow to ask their position on whaling myself. If they cannot give me a satisfactory answer I will inform them of my decision to sell my car and buy one from a company whose more welcome anti-whaling position is clearer.

I avoid giving consumer money to those which hold policies I don't agree with. I also like cheap clothes but I dont buy from companies that employ child labour! So why do I need a car from one which will not openly oppose whaling ?

If you share my ethics to live in a better world free from all forms of pain and suffering then I shall buy from you. If you won't be the bigger man (company) and stand up for MY ethics then I have the choice of giving my consumer pound/dollar to the one which will.

Why not stop asking Greenpeace for their position on boycotts or whether its right or wrong to even blog this topic in the first place ? Anyone with half a brain can and will make their own choice to buy Japanese goods or not.

There is no evil in providing information for you to make your own decision. And I for one am thankful this info has worked my brain a little harder today. I do understand that Toyota may not wish to lose my custom so if I can help them be the bigger company and gain more publicity to end whaling then I will gladly do it!

who needs a Japanese car if I can have an ocean of whales instead ? (hopefully I can even have both!)

Thank you for the information Greenpeace and thank you negative comments people for reminding me I am but a small wave but I can still choose to be individually selective about whom I shop with.

thus here starts the 'phone your local Toyota dealer campaign.'

If you wish to join me then please do. My aim is to create a consumer Tsunami against the whaling industry...I wonder what other Japanese companies may or may not help me shop with an ethical conscience....

Hello David

The 'out of date' automatically appears when the data is more than ten years old. A new assessment will be made, but until then this classification stands.

Cheers

Tahiti Nui is fed up(fiu!) with Toyota, for many reasons.
I'll never drive one of those stincky machine.
Best wishes for Irène, David, Gustavo, Leandra, and all the braveharts on the ocean.
Iaorana Ite Matahiti Api.
Tahiti Nui Team

George

You are right- and for a long time I have not been driving a Toyota and nor am I buying products from there or China(China has nothing to do with Whaling just the recalls of toys and such). It is our decision where we buy or products from. Ever since all the news regarding Global Warming and the many other issues plagueing our world I and friends of mine have been making a conscience choice of products we are buying. I am now wondering why our government does not do the same? Why is the government buying from places that are jeopardizing the very thing they are trying to protect? I mean this in the general sense not just about Whaling. I hope everyone is having a great day and staying as warm as possible on the Espy. Take care.

I just like to remain people about the nuclear bombs the france exsploded in the pacific and the way the Green peace stop this to with the boycot off all Frence products in Australia and other country's till they stop exsploding the nuclear bombs under the seabed what they did. Thank You "Green Peace" Frank In Australia