The find proves that juicy sensations can survive for years even in the driest and dustiest of archives. Jordan is quite topical these days as chairman of an International Standardisation Organisation working group taking part in the process of developing standards for the performance of traps. The Harpoon reckons that he could not have achieved this position without the active support of the British government.
Well, enough by way of introduction. Lets run the tape:
“I’m totally opposed (to whaling) on the cruelty grounds,” said Jordan. “Think of the stress and suffering of these animals.” “But what about the UK’s own lack of legislation for wildlife,” asked Blichfeldt, “Like the fox, for example? “Well, I think our Norwegian friend here doesn’t really understand British law,” Jordan responded haughtily. “In 1911 the Protection of the Animal Act was enacted which protects wildlife from cruelty. I’m not going to argue about fox hunting because that’s...” “It’s not protecting the fox, is it?” interjected the mediator. “Oh no, it protects the fox from suffering,” Jordan retorted hesitantly. “What the fox hunters say is that the animal is killed quickly. It’s not like driving a harpoon into it and dragging it around for 10 or 15 minutes until it dies, which is what happens with whaling.”
Why a prominent vet should misrepresent his country’s animal welfare legislation, (the McFall Bill was not around at the time) and in the next breath say that fox hunting - where the killing is left to the dogs - is humane because the fox hunters say so, is Jordan’s secret. Would he say that Norwegian animal welfare legislation protects the whale from suffering because the whalers say that the animal is killed quickly? No. Might this possibly have something to do with his nationality?