It seems eating whale meat in Norway may no longer be as cool as it used to be. It is being reported that Norwegian taste for the mammal has declined. “It shows that it is no longer cool to eat whale,” says Truls Guwolsen from the Norwegian branch of Greenpeace. “The market is disappearing.”

Since the whaling season started on April 1, fishermen have caught about half the number of animals allowed by the Norwegian government – around 500 minke whales out of 1,052, the highest quota ever allowed. Norway is the only country in the world to conduct commercial whaling. Link

That wealthy and sophisticated whale eating nation Norway (who BTW hasn’t been saying that much since their poor showing at Winter Olympics) has turned its attention to Moose.

A small Norwegian town was quickly running out of moose Thursday after offering to name each animal after its sponsor in a research project.

“We leave the moose in peace,” said Sines. “We do not take people to visit the moose. We don’t want to do anything to stress them.” Link

I have a suggestion Norway, let’s not stress the whales either — let’s have a whale naming contest so when you guys start harpooning them we’ll be able to tick-off the name of the latest kill. There goes little Johnny — tick!

Eirik Solheim has been taking pictures from his living room window at random intervals and has posted a video compilation that spans all of 2005 in about one and a half minutes.

I found the story and the quote below on Boing Boing and immediately thought that since my better-half is from that great whale-eating nation that I’d better post a happy Norway story so she’d stop thinking I was totally anti Norwegian.

“Norway is a country with huge differences between the seasons. It’s kind of cool to start the new year with this little run through of 2005.”

eirekso | Link

Now, here is a country that sells itself as socially progressive and culturally rich. Yet it is an elitist and some might say selfish society that scorns the opinions of the world in order to maintain a rather tacky tradition — the seasonal killing of whales.

Norwegian whalers will be allowed to kill a total of 1,052 minke whales in 2006, an increase of 30%.

The quota was raised from 797 – already a record – after a unanimous vote in parliament, the government said.

BBC | Link

Some things I just don’t understand…

Norway may be a great place to live, but it seem like one hell of an arrogant nation, especially where whales and whaling are concerned. I mean come on guys, tell me why is it so important to hunt and kill minke whales with big harpoon guns and powerful ships? Why not join the Canadian seal hunt — then you can really have some fun clubbing a few hundred-thousdand baby harp seals to death each year, as well.

Norway is not bound by the 20-year-old commercial moratorium administered by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) because it objected to the ban’s introduction.

In total, nearly 800 whales are to be caught by the Norwegians between now and the end of the season; and there are plans here to increase the total whale catch to 1,800 every year.

David Shukman | BBC | Link

This will make my wife happy — she’s Norwegian. Well half Norwegian and half Danish to be exact — but it’s the Norwegian flag that is nearest to her heart. Even though she disagrees with them killing hundreds of whales each year.

Norway tops a 2005 UN ranking as the best country to live in for the fifth year in a row.

Rich from North Sea oil and with a generous welfare state, Norway has led the world ranking since it topped Canada in 2001. Last year, Norway was followed by Sweden, Australia and Canada at the top, while Sierra Leone was the last of 177 countries listed.

Japan has failed in its attempt to lift commercial whaling ban ?

Japan, which lost two significant procedural votes on the opening day of the plenary session on Monday, was also criticised for its plans to expand so-called scientific whale hunts.

The International Whaling Commission went on to rejected by 29 votes to 23 Japan’s call to restart limited culls, insisting that the ban had to remain to protect the mammals. The decision dismayed Japanese officials, who failed to muster a simple majority in favour of lifting the ban.

Norway continues holds the world’s only commercial whaling season in defiance of the ban.