whalehunt1 Lyrics

Whaling controversy heats up
This picture released yesterday shows a mother whale and her calf being dragged on board a j__anese ship after being harpooned in Antarctic waters. The pictures, which featured heavily in Australian media, were taken from an Australian customs vessel tracking the whalers to gather evidence for possible legal action to stop the annual slaughter. AFP

This widely-distributed photo is certain to stir up emotions against the j__anese whaling programme in the southern oceans. Australia, the country taking the lead in trying to stop theannual slaughter of whales, is particularly vocal and you'll read some angry statements from the new environment minister in the story below.

1. j__an's objective is to resume commercial whaling for abundant species on a sustainable basis under international control. At the same time we are committed to conservation and the protection of endangered species.

2. Decisions in the International Whaling Commission should be based on scientific findings, international law and respect for cultural diversity.

3. Emotionally based anti-whaling positions calling for an end to all commercial and research whaling irrespective of the abundance of whale stocks are unhelpful in resolving difficult international negotiations

4. As a result of j__an's research program, we now know more about the status of whale stocks and whale biology than at any time in history and this knowledge continues to increase each year.

The j__anese clearly believe that there is now an adequate supply of whales so that they can be safely hunted without endangering the species. Arguments against whaling are cultural, not scientific, they claim. You might compare this with how people in some countries condemn the eating of dogs while others find dogmeat an enjoyable meal.

controversy - a disagreement that a lot of people have strong feelings about
harpoon - to use a weapon consisting of a blade on a pole fixed to a rope (a harpoon) to hunt whales or big fish ล่าด้วยฉมวก
customs - the government department that checks goods coming in or going out of a country to determine if they are legal and whether taxes need to be paid กรมศุลกากร
annual - yearly; happening each year ประจำปี
slaughter - the killing of animals, usually for their meat การฆ่าสัตว์ (เพื่อนำมาเป็นอาหาร)
stir up - to make someone feel upset or angry ยั่วยุ ปลุกปั่น
vocal - expressing opinions often and strongly แสดงความเห็น
objective - aim; purpose วัตถุประสงค์
resume - to begin something again after stopping for a time เริ่มใหม่อีกครั้ง
abundant - existing or available in large quantities, i.e., more than enough ที่อุดมสมบูรณ์
species - an animal or plant group whose members all have similar general features and are able to produce young animals or plants together พันธุ์สัตว์
sustainable - using methods that do not harm the environment ให้ยั่งยืน ให้คงอยู่ต่อไป
conservation - the management of land, water and plant and animal life in ways that prevent it from being damaged or destroyed การอนุรักษ์
diversity - the fact that very different people or things exist within a group or place ความหลากหลาย
irrespective - despite; not considering ไม่คำนึุงถึง
stocks - the total amounts of something จำนวนรวม
status - the condition at a particular time สภาพ
condemn - to strongly criticise ประนาม

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

j__anese 'kill whale and calf'
Australian minister is shocked by evidence

Sydney, Australia (AFP) - Australia has "shocking" photographic evidence to back an international legal bid to stop j__anese whaling in Antarctic waters, the government said Thursday.

One picture reportedly showing a mother whale and her calf being dragged aboard a j__anese whaler after being harpooned was described as sickening by Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

"When I saw the photos I just felt a bit of a sick feeling, as well as a sense of sadness," said Garrett, a former rock star with protest group Midnight Oil.

"It's distressing when you think that it can take up to 15 minutes after a harpoon actually hits a whale for the whale to die. It's even sadder when you consider there's a calf involved."

A gaping wound visible on the minke whale calf's side as it is hauled up a blood-soaked slipway into the boat was reportedly caused by an explosive-packed harpoon.

The picture was one of many taken from an Australian customs vessel tracking the whalers to build up evidence against the kill, and Customs Minister Bob Debus said the pile of "shocking images" would support legal action to stop the annual slaughter.

"They will help us to back up the Australian government's argument in an international court case, the details of which are still to be worked out, to suggest that whaling should be stopped," Debus told reporters.

Australia has taken a leading role in opposing j__an's use of a loophole in an international moratorium on whaling to hunt the mammals in the name of research. The meat is then sold in supermarkets and restaurants.

"To claim that this is in any way scientific is to continue the charade that surrounded this issue from day one," said Garrett.

"It is explicitly clear from these images that this is the indiscriminate killing of whales, where you have a whale and its calf killed in this way," he said. j__an has denied the whales were mother and calf.

"The government of Australia's photographs and the media reports have created dangerous emotional propaganda that could cause serious damage to the relationship between our two countries," said Minoru Morimoto, director general of the government-supported Institute of Cetacean Research.

"It is important the Australian public is not misled into believing false information," he said.

evidence - facts or physical signs that help to prove something หลักฐาน
bid - an attempt; trying to do something ความพยายาม
distressing - making your feel unhappy or extremely upset น่าหดหู่ น่าเศร้า
gaping - very large กว้าง ขนาดใหญ่
visible - able to be seen มองเห็นได้
slipway - a slope used for moving things in and out of the water (see photo above) แท่นลื่นไหล (ใช้พาดจากเรือลงพื้นดิน)
tracking - the act of following or looking for someone or something ตามรอย
role - function; the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation บทบาท
loophole - something that has been left out of a law or legal document that people can use to avoid obeying it ช่องโหว่ของกฎหมาย
moratorium - an official agreement to stop an activity temporarily ข้อตกลงยุติ / ห้าม ทำกิจกรรมบางชนิดชั่วคราว
charade - an attempt to pretend that a situation is good or satisfactory, when in fact it is not การกลบเกลื่อนว่าสิ่งต่างๆ สถานการณ์ต่าง ดำเนินไปด้วยดี
issue - a subject that people discuss or argue about ประเด็น
explicitly - very clearly อย่างแจ่มแจ้ง อย่างทะลุปรุโปร่ง
indiscriminate - done without choosing or judging carefully อย่างไม่แยกแยะ (ระหว่างสิ่งดีสิ่งชั่ว)
propaganda - information, especially false information that a government or organisation spreads in order to influence people's opinions and beliefs โฆษณาชวนเชื่อ
mislead (past form: misled) - to make someone believe something that is not true ชักนำ ชี้นำในทางที่ผิด

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------