I read with interest Dan Goodman's Nov. 2 letter, "Bogus arguments about whaling." The Institute of Cetacean Research, with which Goodman is affiliated, is a "unique organization in Japan specializing in the biological and social sciences related to whales . . . whose legal status is authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries," according to the corresponding Web site. Therefore, it is deduced that Goodman's pro-whaling argument is self-serving and written with an eye to his employer.
I find his argument in support of whaling subsidies profoundly hypocritical. It bespeaks the policy of Japan toward free trade in terms of agricultural products as explored under the Doha Round for the abolition of subsidies and tariffs on commodities. Goodman's argument is that it is in Japan's self-interest to support an unnecessary and ailing industry.
Goodman argues that Japan has every right to explore every excuse to protect its own political interest groups to the detriment of everyone else: "Despite years of multilateral negotiations to eliminate agricultural and fisheries subsidies, food production systems worldwide remain subsidized. Why should whaling for food be differently conditioned?"
This is a myopic view. Goodman does his best to rubbish the reputation of Japan as a member of the international community and as a cooperative player on equal footing with the rest of the world. The Japanese government should not be surprised if its reputation does not improve with regard to the pursuit of whaling, particularly in the Antarctic, when arguments like Goodman's vaunt the pro-whaling case.
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