Category: Environment

Tragedy of the Commons: Developing Nations Reject Global Warming as Number One Priority

Before the start of the international conference on global warming, various countries including China made clear that they will continue to put economic development ahead of the environmental, even if global warming threatens a worldwide ecological disaster. Continue reading “Tragedy of the Commons: Developing Nations Reject Global Warming as Number One Priority”

Whale Shot with Machine Gun

There has always been an uneasy compromise between environmentalists and native groups over whaling. Various groups with cultural histories of whaling and a need for the food have been allowed to kill a small number of whales each year. Now, authorities have discovered that one tribe shot a harpooned whale with a 50-caliber machine — hardly a traditional whaling technique. Criminal charges are possible. For the story, click here

Duffy’s Duties: Dog Neutering and the Right to “Productive” Years

In Sundbury, Pa, a court has ruled that a former owner can continue to demand that a show dog not be neutered and continued to be made available for breeding. At issue is a a 5-year-old French bulldog named Duffy. The breeder gave the dog to a third party with the understanding that Duffy would continue to supply services — valued at $73,000 over the last three years. The case has raised issues of animal health and continuing limitations on ownership. For the full story, click here

Japanese Version of Whale Watching: Whalers Kill a Whale in Front of Eco-Tourists

Tourists in Japan were able to get more than they bargained for when they went looking for whales in the wild: a front seat view of the Japanese pro-whaling policies in action. While watching a large whale surface off the coast of Japan, a Japanese fishing boat approached an hauled the harpooned whale in for processing. Continue reading “Japanese Version of Whale Watching: Whalers Kill a Whale in Front of Eco-Tourists”