Moralising risky environments : the ethical and political nature of environmental education research

This chapter identifies ethical and political risks that can arise in undertaking research into the whaling debate. These risks illustrate the uncertainties both in moralising about the environment (in this case, whales) and in science. These uncertainties, as well as strategies deployed to overcome them, are also identified in this chapter. The chapter interrogates three major theories of moral responsibility to the natural environment in order to highlight these risks and uncertainties. These theories are environmental anthropocentrism, animal rights and eco-centrism. The whaling debate centred around Japan is the focus of analysis in this chapter, with some comparative attention given to Norway. The author argues that conclusions reached about the whaling debate are tentative and modest and depend on the cultural contexts of the stakeholders. They depend also on the current science surrounding species populations and the various pressures that those populations face now and in the future.