The issue with whaling in Australia is so complex, because a) the amount of profit western countries currently yield from eastern countries (and vice versa), and b) to take it to the point where a nation is prosecuted (as has nearly, and really *should* have happened in Australia, can destroy national relations to a very bad degree. And probably a great deal more of letter points, but those two come to mind right now.
What Australian politicians are asking themselves is - is it worth destroying Australia's relationship with Japan and then therefore other Eastern nations which are affiliated with Japan or need Japan's aid; on which our wealth is so significantly entangled with (we survived the recession very well, because of these relations) over whales? The answer, so far, is 'no.'
Of course, most everyone else's answer; the people, the citizens and so on, they are all 'yes! Of course!'
I like Obama, I don't think he's an idiot. I think all politicians make decisions we do and don't appreciate, no matter who we voted for (unless of course they're total despots, but that's another story).
As for the IWC, it's never straightforward. Both pro and anti-whalers have used underhanded tactics in the past, and there's no point in pointing fingers at things like bribery, when it really does happen on both sides.
The situation sucks, and is complex, and is not as straightforward as 'if we just don't hunt whales, everyone will be happy and politics will keep on going as it always has.' In a world where there is currently a war-that-pretends-it-isn't-a-war happening, and where Eastern relations with Australia are frequently balanced on a fine edge, and entwined with each other...
Well, it's not easy. I know what I'm in favour of, but I also know that it's not that straightforward for governments.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 02:26 am (UTC)What Australian politicians are asking themselves is - is it worth destroying Australia's relationship with Japan and then therefore other Eastern nations which are affiliated with Japan or need Japan's aid; on which our wealth is so significantly entangled with (we survived the recession very well, because of these relations) over whales? The answer, so far, is 'no.'
Of course, most everyone else's answer; the people, the citizens and so on, they are all 'yes! Of course!'
I like Obama, I don't think he's an idiot. I think all politicians make decisions we do and don't appreciate, no matter who we voted for (unless of course they're total despots, but that's another story).
As for the IWC, it's never straightforward. Both pro and anti-whalers have used underhanded tactics in the past, and there's no point in pointing fingers at things like bribery, when it really does happen on both sides.
The situation sucks, and is complex, and is not as straightforward as 'if we just don't hunt whales, everyone will be happy and politics will keep on going as it always has.' In a world where there is currently a war-that-pretends-it-isn't-a-war happening, and where Eastern relations with Australia are frequently balanced on a fine edge, and entwined with each other...
Well, it's not easy. I know what I'm in favour of, but I also know that it's not that straightforward for governments.