Management by Totemization: Whale Symbolism and the Anti-Whaling Campaign

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The anti-whaling campaign continues unabated, albeit with somewhat new arguments.

“Nevertheless, the anti-whaling campaign continues unabated, albeit with somewhat new arguments.”

May combine two claims.

Most anti-whalers, unlike mainstream animal rights proponents, have few misgivings about lethal consumption of domesticated animals; to them whales are unique.

“But unlike the mainstream animal rights proponents, most of the anti-whalers have few misgivings as to lethal consumption of domesticated animals, such as calves, pigs, lambs, turkeys, and chickens.To them whales are unique.”

May combine two claims.

When the moratorium was imposed in 1987, the typical whaling vessel of 60-70 feet was owner operated and carried a crew of 4-7 persons, many of whom were close relatives of the owner-skipper.

“Whaling was a household enterprise, and when the moratorium was imposed in 1987, the typical whaling vessel of 60-70 feet was owner operated and carried a crew of 4-7 persons, many of whom were close relatives of the owner-skipper.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Fishermen are not only competitors in a zero-sum game; they also cooperate, share information, and support each other in various other ways.

“Fishermen are not only competitors in a zero-sum game, but they also cooperate, share information, and support each other in various other ways.”

May combine two claims.

Several whalers have lost their boats to creditors, and some are in danger of losing their houses.

“Several whalers have lost their boats to creditors and some are in danger of losing their houses.”

May combine two claims.

Whale-watching tourism has grown into a multi-million-dollar industry and opens whale rituals to a larger audience than spectacular actions at sea or IWC meetings.

“There is also whale-watching tourism, which has grown into a multi-milliondollar industry and which opens the whale rituals to a larger audience than spectacular actions at sea or IWC meetings can do.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Environmentalism is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

“Environmentalism is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and as long as the issues are whales and sealsand perhaps dogs and catsthey secure official backing from the Anglo-Saxon world.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Organizations typically urge sympathizers to donate more money before the annual IWC meetings, when they give the impression that the present moratorium is in danger of being lifted.

“The organizations typically urge sympathizers to donate more money before the annual IWC meetings, when they give the impression that the present moratorium is in danger of being lifted.”

May combine two claims.

Most whalers have been unable to form viable units with the resources left to them and have lately hardly covered maintenance expenses on their boats.

“Consequently, most whalers have been unable to form viable units with the resources left to them and have lately hardly covered maintenance expenses on their boats (Mldnnesland et al., 199052).”

• cites Mldnnesland et al., 199052Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

In Moskenes, migration reduced the population from about 2000 to 1500 during the last 20 years, and an estimated 24-26% were de facto unemployed during the summer months.

“In the municipality of Moskenes, located in the Lofoten archipelago, for example, migration has reduced the population from about 2000 to 1500 during the last 20 years, and an estimated 24-26% is de facto unemployed during the summer months, which was the season when the seven whaling boats registered in the municipality used to go whaling (ISG, 199259).”

• cites ISG, 199259Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Whales have come to hold a special place in the animal kingdom.

“Whales have come to hold a special place in the animal kingdom.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Whales live in salt water, which symbolizes the ultimate purity.

“they live in salt water, which symbolizes the ultimate purity”

• Also stated in: § The Symbolic Power of Whales and Salt Water · plain

  “The ocean becomes the ultimate symbol of purity, of untouched nature, and thus stands in sharp contrast to the polluted soil on which we land mammals tread.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Whales have qualities that we would like to see in our fellow human beings.

“they have qualities that we would l i e to see in our fellow human beings.”

• Also stated in: § Lost Paradise · plain

  “Whales are endowed with all the qualities we would like to see in our fellow menkind, caring, playful.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

A pessimistic mood is noticeable in many communities, and more people might be inclined to give up and move to the cities in the future.

“A pessimistic mood is noticeable in many communities, whose members feel left to the mercy of outsiders, and more people might be inclined to give up and move to the cities in the future.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Totemism is a taxonomy where nature is used to classify people and thus implies opposition between groups of people.

“Totemism is a taxonomy where nature is used to classify people and thus implies opposition between groups of people.”

• cites Levi-Strauss, 1966:115Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Specialization reduces fishermen's ability to adjust to ecological changes and ecosystem fluctuations in the future.

“But specialization reduces the fishermen's ability to adjust to ecological changes and ecosystem fluctuations in the future.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

A totemic system requires at least two opposing groups, each with a totem.

“A totemic system requires at least two opposing groups, each with a totem.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Such a development is hardly in the interest of the environment.

“Such a development is hardly in the interest of the environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The long history of whales seems to give them some unique rights to the oceans.

“The long history of whales also seems to give them some unique rights to the oceans.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The whale, or super-whale, has taken on other characteristics of the totem as well.

“But the whale, or rather the super-whale, has taken on other characteristics of the totem as well.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Nobody depends more on a healthy environment than fishermen and hunters, and they are the first to see the need for protecting natural resources against depletion.

“Nobody depends more on a healthy environment than fishermen and hunters, and they are the first to see the need for protecting natural resources against depletion.”

May combine two claims.

The rituals invent news that tells the world that activists are concerned about the environment, that the issue is urgent, and that they fight against great odds.

“What these rituals do is invent news (Hunter, 1979: 178) that tells the world that the activists are concerned about the environment, that the issue is urgent and cannot wait, and that they fight against great odds.”

• cites Hunter, 1979: 178Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The strategy of totemizing whales has proved effective in protecting whale stocks from exploitation.

“The strategy of totemizing the whales has proved effective in protecting whale stocks from exploitation.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The depiction of activists as underdogs raises enormous sympathy for their cause.

“The activists are depicted as underdogs; it is the small zodiac against the big catching boat, or swimming Greenpeacers in front of a Japanese factory ship.It raises enormous sympathy for their cause.”

May combine two claims.

People are moving out for many reasons, but the moratorium is one contributing factor, both because of immediate loss of income and because of uncertainties fishermen feel for the future.

“People are moving out for many reasons, but the moratorium is one contributing factor, both because of the immediate loss of income to the whalers and their families and because of the uncertainties the fishermen feel for the future.”

May combine two claims.

It is common for fishermen to tend to ignore or evade regulations they do not understand, and regional management and fishermen's co-management have been seen as a possible remedy.

“It is common for fishermen to tend to ignore, or evade, regulations they do not understand, and regional management and fishermen's co-management have been seen as a possible remedy (Pinkerton, 1989).”

• cites Pinkerton, 1989Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Environmentalists and animal rights activists have learned that whales and seals open people's purses, and they skillfully play up to this tendency.

“Of course, environmentalists as well as animal rights activists have learned that whales and seals open people's purses, and they skillfully play up to this tendency”

May combine two claims.

Whales are used for didactic purposes, just as 'good' birds have been used to give children bourgeois values.

“We have something to learn, and whales are therefore used for didactic purposes, just as ''good'' birds have been used to give children bourgeois values (Liifgren, 1985).”

• cites Löfgren, 1985 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Human beings may harbour a feeling of envy toward whales, as there is a feeling of envy toward birds for being able to move freely in the skies.

“Human beings may harbour a feeling of envy toward whales, as there is a feeling of envy toward birds for being able to move freely in the skies.”

May combine two claims.

The ritual eating of whale meat in Svolvær on 4 July 1991 and a slowly growing demand for seal meat can be understood as symbolic attacks on the protectionists.

“Both the ritual eating of whale meat in Lofoten's main township Svolvier on 4 July 1991 and a slowly growing demand for seal meat can be understood as symbolic attacks on the protectionists.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Coastal minke whaling in Iceland, Japan, and Norway has very little in common with old pelagic whaling and shares many characteristics with aboriginal subsistence whaling.

“That coastal minke whaling in Iceland, Japan, and Norway has very little in common with the old pelagic whaling but, on the contrary, shares many of the characteristics found in aboriginal subsistence whaling (ISGSTW, 1992) does not seem to affect their rhetoric the least.”

• cites ISGSTW, 1992Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Hunting of not-endangered harp seals makes a better case, and the harp seal a better totem, than slow extermination of the highly endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

“For the same reasons hunting of not-endangered harp seals during a short season off northeastern Canada makes a better case, and the harp seal a better totem, than slow extermination of the highly endangered Mediterranean monk seal due to pollution, tourism, and military activities (Johnson, 1988).”

• cites Johnson, 1988Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

There are few whaling nations, making these nations ideal scapegoats.

“That there are few whaling nations makes these nations ideal scapegoats.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Norwegian fishermen have been pushed further toward single-species niches and thus have become more vulnerable to ecological fluctuations.

“Norwegian fishermen have been pushed further toward single-species niches and thus have become more vulnerable to ecological fluctuations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Due to lack of alternatives, Norwegian fishermen may be forced to harvest the few resources still available to them beyond the level of sustainability or leave fishing for a life in the cities.

“Due to lack of alternatives, they may be forced to harvest the few resources still available to them beyond the level of sustainability or leave fishing for a life in the cities.”

May combine two claims.

The minke whale is not endangered and might be more abundant in the Antarctic than ever.

“That the minke whalewhich Greenland, Iceland, Japan, and Norway want to harvestis not endangered and might be more abundant in the Antarctic than ever (Gulland, 1988:44) is not mentioned.”

• cites Gulland, 1988:44Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The moratorium as well as the environmental and animal rights movements have come to symbolize the whalers' loss of influence and pride.

“The moratorium as well as the environmental and animal rights movements have come to symbolize their loss of influence and pride.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Whales are endowed with all the qualities we would like to see in our fellow men-kind, caring, playful.

“Whales are endowed with all the qualities we would like to see in our fellow menkind, caring, playful.”

May combine two claims.

Actions against whalers and sealers are usually carefully staged, and the mass media play a crucial role in transmitting a theatrical performance worldwide.

“They are usually carefully staged and the mass media play a crucial role in transmitting a rather theatrical performance across the world.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The ocean becomes the ultimate symbol of purity, of untouched nature, and stands in sharp contrast to the polluted soil on which land mammals tread.

“The ocean becomes the ultimate symbol of purity, of untouched nature, and thus stands in sharp contrast to the polluted soil on which we land mammals tread.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Being ridiculed as barbaric and feeling that they have lost the little influence they had on management of natural resources further encourages Norwegian fishermen to move.

“Being ridiculed as barbaric and feeling that they have lost the little influence they hitherto had on the management of the natural resources on which their livelihood depends further encourage them to move.”

May combine two claims.

Placing a taboo on catching sea mammals will remove these species from the fishermen's niche and might reduce or eliminate other marine resources.

“To place a taboo on catching sea mammals will thus not only remove these species from the fishermen's niche, but might have the added effect of reducing, and in some extreme cases eliminating, other marine resources as well.”

May combine two claims.

The Norwegian whalers are bewildered and have turned against the environmental movements in general, making it difficult for more moderate local groups to be taken seriously.

“The Norwegian whalers are bewildered and have turned against the environmental movements in general, making it difficult for the more moderate local groups to be taken seriously.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Both salt and water are important purifying agents and are used in religious rites throughout the world.

“Moreover, both salt and water are important purifying agents and are used in religious rites throughout the world.”

May combine two claims.

If certain types of whales become too numerous, their food supplies would dwindle and they could starve unless a moratorium is also imposed on fishing.

“If certain types of whales were to become too numerous, their food supplies would dwindle and they could literally starve to death (Terhune, 1985;Aron, 1988), unless a moratorium is also imposed on fishing.”

• cites Terhune, 1985Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Aron, 1988 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

IWC meetings make it possible to bring the whaling issue to news headlines once a year.

“Moreover, the IWC meetings make it possible to bring the whaling issue to the news headlines once a year.”

May combine two claims.

Most marine mammal stocks are abundant and only a few of the more than 75 species of cetaceans are endangered.

“But that most marine mammal stocks are abundant and only a few of the more than 75 species of cetaceans are endangered (Aron, 1988) is concealed by whale protectionists.”

• cites Aron, 1988 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

The anti-whaling campaign attracts organizations for the same reasons as the anti-sealing campaign: potential supporters are relatively isolated from the negative effects of the campaign and the goal of the campaign appears to be relatively inexpensive.

“To summarize, the anti-whaling campaign attracts organizations for the same reasons as the anti-sealing campaign, i.e., the potential supporters are relatively isolated from the negative effects of the campaign and the goal of the campaign appears to be relatively inexpensive (Allen, 1979:424).”

• cites Allen, 1979:424 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Whale meat has to become taboo, and eating it becomes a barbarous act close to cannibalism.

“Whale meat has to become taboo, and eating it becomes a barbarous act close to cannibalism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The humpback whale bridges the realms of sea and air, making it doubly fascinating.

“The humpback whales, and to a certain extent some of the dolphins, bridge the realms of sea and air, thus making them doubly fascinating.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

In much of the argument about the peculiarities of whales we are presented precisely with the qualities that urban men and women seem to have lost.

“In much of the argument about the peculiarities of whales we are presented precisely with the qualities that urban men and women seem to have lost.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

We are in these respects inferior to whales.

“Whether we have lost our social skills through rapid social change, or whether we have never been very clever at handlin social relations, as implied by Watson (1985:48), the message is the same: we are in these respects inferior to whales.”

• cites Watson, 1985:48Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Turning whales and seals into symbols of the animal rights advocates will in the long run not be in the interest of the ecosystem.

“But turning whales and seals into symbols of the animal rights advocates will in the long run not be in the interest of the ecosystem.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Dolphin brains are in structure more similar to those of hedgehogs and bats than those of primates.

“Thus dolphin brains are in structure more similar to those of hedgehogs and bats than those of primates.”

• cites Klinowska, 1988:46Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Echo-location is a device cetaceans use to navigate under water and is part of their genetic heritage, as it is among bats.

“The echo-location is obviously a device cetaceans use to navigate under water and is a part of their genetic heritage, as it is among bats.”

May combine two claims.

Moving to urban centres or taking employment on industrial fishing vessels are the most likely options for many whalers.

“Moving to urban centres or taking employment on industrial fishing vessels are the most likely options for many.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

With minke whales being removed from the niche, the Norwegian fishing industry is further capitalized and specialized.

“With minke whales being removed from the niche, the Norwegian fishing industry is further capitalized and specialized.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The moratorium has had serious implications economically, ecologically, socially, and culturally.

“The moratorium has had serious implications economically, ecologically, socially, and culturally.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Fishermen in Norway often feel that many restrictions imposed on their activities are ill founded and more an outcome of political than ecologic considerations.

“However, more often than not, fishermen in Norway also feel that many of the restrictions imposed on their activities are ill founded and more an outcome of political than ecologic considerations.”

May combine two claims.

Most whalers do not have the financial means to invest in new gear, and it takes time to learn the skills required to handle new, sophisticated fishing equipment.

“Moreover, most of the whalers do not have the financial means to invest in new gearwhich incidentally will only add to the problem of over-capitalizationand it takes time to learn the skills required to handle new, sophisticated fishing equipment.”

May combine two claims.

The perceived cultural and political uniqueness of whales is an effect of human activities and thus a cultural product, created mainly by urban people in the Western world under certain economic and political conditions.

“In other words, the perceived cultural and political uniqueness of whales is an effect of human activities and thus a cultural product, created mainly by urban people in the Western world under certain economic and political conditions.”