Unveiling the Whale - Discourses on Whales and Whaling (Hardcover)

Whaling has become one of the most controversial environmental issues. It is not that all whale species are at the brink of extinction, but that whales have become important symbols to both pro- and anti-whaling factions and can easily be appropriated as the common heritage of humankind. This book, the first of its kind, is therefore not about whales and whaling per se but about how people communicate about whales and whaling. It contributes to a better understanding and discussion of controversial environmental issues: Why and how are issues selected? How is knowledge on these issues produced and distributed by organizations and activists? And why do affluent countries like Japan and Norway still support whaling, which is of insignificant economic importance? Basing his analysis on fieldwork in Japan and Norway and at the International Whaling Commission, the author argues how an image of a "superwhale" has been constructed and how this image has replaced meat and oil as the important whale commodity. He concludes that the whaling issue provides an arena where NGOs and authorities on each side can unite, swapping political legitimacy and building personal relations that can be useful on issues where relations are less harmonious.

General

Imprint:	Berghahn Books
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Environmental Anthropology and Ethnobiology
Release date:	October 2009
First published:	June 2009
Authors:	Arne Kalland
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 23mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	254
ISBN-13:	978-1-84545-581-1
Categories:	Books > Business & Economics > Industry & industrial studies > Primary industries > Fisheries & related industries Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Conservation of the environment > Conservation of wildlife & habitats > General Promotions
LSN:	1-84545-581-9
Barcode:	9781845455811

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!