Iceland went back to the reprehensible practice of whaling this week, cutting up a large, intelligent mammal for no good reason and in violation of international norms against commercial hunting of whales and the concerns for survival of some whale species. The Guardian reports:

“Iceland broke the global moratorium on whaling yesterday when it killed an endangered fin whale for the first time since the 1980s. It attracted international condemnation for the resumption of its commercial whaling operations.

Icelandic television footage showed the whale being towed into harbour. The 20-metre (65ft) long mammal was harpooned in the north Atlantic, about 200 miles west of the country.

The government announced it plans to issue licences to kill nine fin whales and 30 minke whales by next August. Conservation groups denounced the move. Joth Singh of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said the hunt was “cruel and unnecessary”, while the European commission urged the country to reconsider its decision.”

[photo–Iceland —Oct. 22, 2006: AP via Yahoo]