Last week the news was full of the clash between the Sea Shepherd and a Japanese Whaling/Research ship. The correct English term for what the Japanese call "research" is "commercial whaling". Talk about Lost in Translation.

I love Europe's World because its dedicated contributors try to resolve the world's problem article after article. We talk about fairness and equality and I feel safe here.

This is also why I was so upset about the Sea Shepherd story in the FT. Japan has been lying to all other nations (since 1987) yet they think we should trust them enough to be economic partners. The Japanese invented the concept of 'scientific' whaling as a way round the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Their research is not really research. It is an excuse for supplying whale meat to those who show a total disregard for what most other nations in the world have voted against. And they aren't even slightly embarrassed about this. Their Security ships ensure that the whalers do not have to deal with much interference from protesters. And we now know how much brute force they are happy to employ (see FT article).

I know that I should be more concerned about Iraq and Sudan and the "Tea Parties" in the US (and I am), but I can't help finding the Japanese whaling habits unbelievably disturbing. Maybe it's because I expect more of them.