Comments on: Care about the Environment? Vote Now.

By: Rick Beikoff

Rick Beikoff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:30:24 +0000

I forgot to mention, Jennifer, but have you been keeping track of Roy Spencer’s recent postings on his new blog site? Looks like this will be the year for the ‘train wreck’, as he puts it. Can’t wait!

By: Rick Beikoff

Rick Beikoff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:10:20 +0000

I’ve just done my bit, Jennifer. Lucky I got home from hols in time!

By: James Mayeau

James Mayeau — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:28:54 +0000

The prohibitive leader on the Community blog category, the Strobist ( http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist ) , isn’t really a blog so much as it is a community billboard for people to post their snapshots.
The thing is Strobist is nominated and leading by a wide margin in the photoblog category as well as the community category.
There might be a ruling regarding whether a nominee can win in two categories, in which case the community category will go to the second place finisher.

Keep up the hope Jen. And post a hotlink to the voting on your sidebar.

By: sod

sod — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:33:40 +0000

I’m not entirely convinced of this. It comes down to value – are Indigenous Australians in far northern Queensland primitive tribesman? What is the value of cruel killing through traditional hunting methods?

no, i don t think that there are any primitive tribesman, using traditional hunting methods in Australia. sorry if i wasn t 100% clear in that point.

i was talking about a pure, theoretical case. (i don t know, whether such a thing does still exist somewhere in south america?)

the value is only in letting them live in their traditional way. and my main point was the comparison with modern techniques, that are quite cruel as well:

i have serious doubts, that all tribesmen of the world combined, can cause the same cruelty to animals, that normal industrial meat production does. (mostly through transportation, btw.)

By: Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:02:29 +0000

Sod,

I hate to play the devil’s advocate, but if you are going to add two more to the list (which I agree with):

most people would agree, that a (some how) cruel way of killing is acceptable if it is done by primitive tribesman, practising traditional hunting methods.

I’m not entirely convinced of this. It comes down to value – are Indigenous Australians in far northern Queensland primitive tribesman? What is the value of cruel killing through traditional hunting methods?

Thomas

By: sod

sod — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:56:06 +0000

There are two criteria which should be applied to the harvest of an animal species: 1. Are the numbers taken sustainable, and 2. Is the method of killing humane.

i have some more. (funny, eh?)

for a start:

how much damage does the “harvest” do to the rest of the environment? (huge problem in fishing, for example. woods that are good to “harvest” aren t very nice either..)

does the use justify the killing? (”harvesting” tigers for potency pills? killing fish, just to get the caviar? crocodile leather for handbags? cosmetic testing?)

most people would agree, that a (some how) cruel way of killing is acceptable if it is done by primitive tribesman, practising traditional hunting methods. it is not ok, when done in industrial butcheries to safe a few cent per killed animal.

By: bazza

bazza — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:52:10 +0000

Sod says OK as a community service for allowing contradictory views. I would hope so. But the essence of going for a cross marketing community award in my book would be the extent to which a blog develops a well informed inclusive community debate in contrast to how divisive it is.
The best evidence of the farcical environment mask on this blog is the grand total of about half a dozen who have bothered to comment on the award. How does that compare with the typical AGW red herring? Evidence pls.

By: Louis Hissink

Louis Hissink — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:55:19 +0000

Jen,

“2. Is the method of killing humane.”

Que?

Does this mean there are humane methods of killing, and thereby by definition, other methods which, logically, are not humane?

I regurally kill life, from my inadvertent treading on ants, bugs, bacteria, as do other large marsuipals. I kill life by proxy from eating animals, whether they be beef, sheep, goats, or others; I kill life by fishing, whether fish or lobsters. Am I inhumane?

No, I am human, a carbon based lifeform that is in a symbiotic relation with other carbon based life forms.

Think on it.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:05:27 +0000

Sod,

There are two criteria which should be applied to the harvest of an animal species: 1. Are the numbers taken sustainable, and 2. Is the method of killing humane.

http://jennifermarohasy.com/blog/2008/01/ignoring-the-slaughter-of-dugongs-in-northern-australia/

Dennis,

Thanks. And progress is at last being made in the Macquarie Marshes.

By: Green Meanie

Green Meanie — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:48:03 +0000

Well, Michael Jackson isn’t doing very well at the Weblog Awards! I poked on the voting machine for you, Jennifer. Many thanks for continuing your efforts in everything that you do. Your life and your work are productively dedicated to proactive rational science-based thought and reason. Your blog is always encouraging (a regular read for me). Whenever I get discouraged about the babbling voices of irrational extremism, I find your posts to be a breath of fresh air, grounded in physical reality.

Keep up the good work, and best wishes in the Weblog Awards!