Thursday, November 10, 2005

WHALE HUNTING and MUSHROOM CLOUDS

I knew Eskimos were still allowed to hunt Whales. But what I didn't know was they were using explosives to do it! Now, they are using a more humane method instead of 19th Century black powder
- even better bombs!!

Now Native whaling captains are using a harpoon-launched grenade loaded with penthrite, a World War I-era explosive used in demolition. "It's four times the strength of black powder. With black powder, the meat has a gas taste."

This new method is actually indeed more humane, as the length it takes for the whale to die is now 1/4 the time it once was. "We have a position that no whaling is humane," said Patricia Forkhan, president of Humane Society International. "But Alaska Natives have worked a long time toward a more humane and efficient hunt, and we've been supportive. If penthrite is working, that's good."

Pictured below: The new Eskimo Whale Hunting Vessel

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Back in the 70's A freind of mine hated the save the bay stuff so much because it came from folks that we were sure still drove cars every day etc. He printed out Pave the Bay shirts and Nuke the Gay Baby Whales shirts as well! He was a very talented artist and a very good technical rock climber... He moved to Fla.