Whether Whaling Should Be Allowed In Countries Like Japan

The question of whether whaling should be allowed in countries like Japan and Norway is a complex mix of cultural, economic, and political facets. To me, however, it is not a difficult question to answer. Simply put, while I would not disagree with the hunting of whales by the two countries if they did so sustainably and humanely, I think the practice has gone beyond a cultural activity, and therefore should not be considered for exemption under cultural reasons.

A cultural activity is an activity that contributes to, and celebrates the traditions within a particular society. It is a spiritual activity, which deepens the connections between the people of the culture. These could be cultural festivals, learning cultural dances, making foods that are unique to the people, or even the enactment of simple social norms, such as welcoming the new couple next door to the neighbourhood. A cultural activity is not necessarily a positive thing, however, as some harmful activities, such as female genital mutilation, are considered cultural as well. In Japan, whales were traditionally hunted for the great many resources they could provide to the people. The early whaling villages that made a living off these animals built shrines to them (Facts About Japan, c2016), indicating a deep respect and spiritual connection
Instead of applying a blanket ban on whaling - a prohibitive measure, which can be seen as a threat and met with resistance - it should implement a ban on unsustainable and inhumane whaling. This way, it satisfies the need perceived by many to protect whale species, and does not threaten the sovereignty or culture of the countries that participate in whale hunting. Both Japan and Norway only want to hunt non-endangered species (The Levin Institute, n.d.), so I imagine they would be quite willing to cooperate with such a