| For thousands of years Grey Whales have made an | | | | commonly found on the menu in Japanese restaurants. |
| annual pilgrimage from the nutrient rich waters in the | | | | Norway is the only country that comes straight out |
| Northern Pacific to the tranquil bays of Baja California. | | | | and says they kill whales for a food source. They |
| The Grey Whale population was bordering on | | | | have never stopped their whaling campaign and do not |
| extinction in the 1850's to the early 1900's. Mainly due to | | | | intend to do so. |
| over hunting by floating factories and whalers that | | | | As populations increase so does the demand for |
| found the calving grounds in Baja, Mexico. The Eastern | | | | whale based products. We can not breed whales in |
| Pacific Grey Whales have made an incredible come | | | | captivity or farm them like cattle for human |
| back with numbers currently in the range of 20, 000 | | | | consumption. Every year the nations of the world |
| individuals. The two other Grey whale populations | | | | meet and discuss whaling, from the native Makah in |
| where not as fortunate and are still threatened and on | | | | the Pacific Northwest to Japanese harvests. There is |
| the brink of extinction. The fact that the eastern Pacific | | | | a need to conserve these gentle giants. The Grey |
| population rebounded after hunting ceased is not a | | | | Whales may have made a great comeback but other |
| coincidence. | | | | species are still threatened. As a community we need |
| As a population the human species has the ability to | | | | to realize that once an animal is extinct it is too late to |
| overtake a natural species in a very short time. In the | | | | bring it back. Why wait until the problem in imminent |
| early 1900's the technology was nowhere near as | | | | before taking precautions. It is our job as citizens of the |
| sophisticated as it is today. Although the Grey whales | | | | world to educate ourselves about issues like whaling |
| of the Pacific Ocean rebounded back to a healthy | | | | and other environmental issues that will eventually |
| status other whale populations are not as fortunate. | | | | change the face of the planet we all call home. Can |
| Whaling is still alive and well in the present day. Japan | | | | you imagine a world without whales, I don't want to. |
| currently leads the initiative to legalize whale harvests, | | | | Letting one species disappear is too many. I want |
| claiming that whaling is a large part of Japanese | | | | generations to come to enjoy the sighting of these |
| culture. Iceland is right behind them along with the | | | | magnificent creatures. The web of life is in the balance |
| Russian Federation, and many other countries in the | | | | and in our hands. Please do the responsibly thing and |
| West Indies. It is believed that Japan funds a lot of the | | | | educate yourselves about issues that will effect us all |
| whaling going on in other countries under the ruse of | | | | for generations to come. Together we can make a |
| scientific research. That being said whale meat is | | | | difference. |