Make change happen.
This is in response to the killing of 1400 dolphins in the Faroe Islands on the weekend of September 12th. First and foremost, I do not condone over consumption or needless hunting of animals. Additionally, I am not a Faroese citizen and nothing I say reflects the Faroe Islands' government or ministry of tourism’s opinion. I started this page to bring to light the beautiful nature of the Faroe Islands, help other people share their perspectives, and highlight the wonderful people and culture of the Faroe Islands. I am going to pause from posting these photos and guides so that adequate attention can be paid to this issue and a very real conversation can be had regarding the hunt.
The tradition of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands is called Grindadráp, and it dates back to the first settlers over 1000 years ago. This was the sustenance and means of survival in the cruel environment of the North Atlantic.
Obviously, things have changed in the last 1000 years. Technology is better, food availability is adequate, and there is no longer a reliance on these animals as a means to survive. Faroese law has regulated the hunting of pilot whales, and the hunting must be done by only licensed foreman. The products of the hunt are not allowed to be distributed commercially, and are distributed to villages; the only people that benefit are the citizens of the Faroe Islands and hunting takes place in a way that minimizes the suffering of the animals.
With all this said, the hunting of 1400 animals is excessive. It highlights the need to reevaluate the current regulations and look at the adjacent effects. These are negative effects of a tradition that, although it has been seemingly mitigated, will continue to haunt the perception and legacy of this beautiful and pristine place, and tarnish the reputation of the truly magnificent people of the Faroe Islands. I believe there is a way to honor tradition and not over consume.
Morals are defined as a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. These differ from country to country and person to person, but are slowly becoming universal. My point is, instead of calling people murderers, barbarians, or evil, consider how to open the discussion to make a change and come from a place of empathy.
I’ve created this page so that you can share your thoughts, opinions, and constructive ways that change can be made. Post anything from a vow of unity asking to change regulations or a show of your country’s support of change.