There is one thing about travel blogging that really annoys me – and that is that by sharing your thoughts and tips on the Internet you apparently give permission to people to judge you and tell you what they think of you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all up for constructive criticism, that’s not what I mean. But I never gave anybody the permission to judge me regardless of the context – whether you agree with my views or not, does not matter. Nothing justifies being a pain on the Internet.
Why I’m saying all this will become clear in a few moments. I’m heading to the Faroe Islands today and if you follow us on Facebook you might have noticed a few posts containing travel and packing tips for this place. The islands have become incredibly popular lately and while many people are positive about my upcoming journey, the negative voices are shouting louder.
Even if you don’t know much about the islands you will probably have heard two things about them: their sheer natural beauty and the gruesome tradition of whale hunting. The latter is of course what causes many people to speak up – How can you travel to a place that mistreats animals? or Boycott the whale slaughterers! Yet, I will get on board that flight tonight and visit the Faroe Islands – because I want to make up my mind for myself. Here is why I chose not to boycott the Faroe Islands.
photo by Hans Juul Hansen via flickr
Where do we stop?
It’s funny (or not) that the criticism only rises when it’s about the Faroe Islands, but not when we post about other countries where animals are being mistreated or disrespected on a regular basis. Nobody ever says anything about Japan, France, the Balkans, the United States, Austria or Thailand – maybe unless there is an unreflected reference about elephant riding somewhere in the text or photo. I could continue that list by the way, because animals are being mistreated in basically every country I can think of. But will it help them if we stop traveling all together?
Don’t get me wrong. With this commentary I am not trying to make excuses for Faroese whaling, and I’m not implying that ‘it’s actually not that bad in relation to other countries’. I’m just trying to say that I find it hypocritical to care more about whales than the masses of chickens, cows, dogs, tuna fish, dolphins, sea turtles, geese and all the other animals that are being hunted and killed around the world. Some are endangered species that regularly land on our plates (not mine anymore); some are kept in restrictive spaces in order to make their meat more tender; others are rounded up in extremely stressful situations just to be killed for food or fun; others are killed for nothing other than spectacle.
None of this is right but the point is we still travel to these places. Why hold the Faroe Islands to a different standard than any where else?
And why stop with animals?
There are so many countries where people are being mistreated as well, slaving away in the textile industry, or living lives in oppression and fear because of their gender or religion. Is a general boycott going to help these people? No, looking away and not educating the uninformed masses has never helped anybody. I’m a travel writer – I travel to write inspirational and informative articles, to show people the realities in different parts of the world. And yet, if everybody would only believe what the media tells them, without ever enquiring about things themselves, misinformation or propaganda are not far-fetched. I want to see places with my own eyes and ask questions myself.
photo by Stig Nygaard via flickr
Grounded knowledge
I hate the idea of animals being slaughtered; whether it happens for food, tradition or out of cruelty does not really matter. And yet, I think that a bunch of outsiders telling an entire people that what they are doing is wrong according to their own standards, won’t achieve anything. It doesn’t work with religion, racism or politics. Why would it work here? In order to change people’s minds you need to take their culture, traditions and their fears seriously. And for this you need to understand them.
The best way to understand a local tradition is to witness it yourself – not that I’m actually intending to do anything like attending the Gridadrap as a spectator, but I’ll try to do the next best thing and speak to locals about it. Without prejudices or judgement in my voice – Louis Theroux-style. (If you don’t know Louix Theroux, watch his documentaries – many of them are on Netflix!)
When someone comments on our re-post of a packing list for the Faroese Islands not to ‘forget a dagger to slaughter whales’, they haven’t actually taken the time to research the Faroese legislation around how whales may be killed and with which weapons. While obviously killing an animal can never actually be a humane act – but these critics aren’t in for a constructive dialogue, only for ranting judgement.
When someone tells a young woman she is a terrible person for wanting to travel to the Faroe Islands because her boyfriend is from there and she wants to visit his family – I can’t even. This happened in our FB group and I was shocked.
Blind judgement won’t kindle a fruitful conversation about this topic learning and understanding however, grounding your criticism in a deeper understanding of the facts and myths will.
photo by Davide Grola via flickr
Personal Bliss
Yes, you read correctly – I intend to find personal bliss on the Faroe Islands. I love nature, I love the ocean (from the shore), I love watching wildlife, I love the cold wind of the North. Spending a week on a rugged island group in the middle of the North Atlantic sounds to me like tanning on a tropical beach with a coconut cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other might sound to you.
I have the opportunity to visit some of the remotest inhabited islands in Europe, without a visa and with only 1.5h of flight time, and I very much appreciate this. I can’t wait to hike through the eery landscape of rocks just peeking out of the wild sea; to meet puffins and sheep along the way; to sit and stare at the horizon from a remote lighthouse.
I feel like the happiest version of myself when I’m alone surrounded by nature, and I’m convinced that I will find this bliss on the islands.
photo by Hans Juul Hansen via flickr
I don’t approve of killing whales or any other animal, but I decided for myself that I will travel to the Faroe Islands nevertheless and write about the journey for Travelettes. By this I do not promote animal cruelty (just like a post about Thailand doesn’t promote elephant riding, or a post about France doesn’t promote foie gras), but I hope to inspire some wanderlust for the rugged Northern islands, because those are the places I love most.
As I said, you might agree with me, or strongly disagree – and that’s fine. Conversations would be boring if we all had the exact same opinions. If you have constructive criticism to add to this topic, by all means share (and help start or engage in a meaningful conversation about these issues), but if you’re here to just rant about how irresponsible I or Travelettes are for writing about a country where people kill whales, please keep your comments to yourself.
*This post reflects the opinions of the author.
This is a post by Kathi Kamleitner.
Kathi Kamleitner was a regular contributor at Travelettes from 2013 to 2019. Originally from Vienna, Austria, she packed her backpack to travel the world and lived in Denmark, Iceland and Berlin, before settling in Glasgow, Scotland. Kathi is always preparing her next trip – documenting her every step with her camera, pen and phone.
In 2016, Kathi founded Scotland travel blog WatchMeSee.com to share her love for her new home, hiking in the Scottish Highlands, island hopping and vegan food. Follow her adventures on Instagram @watchmesee!
Great post! It would be nice if some people kept their negative thoughts to themselves, especially as you're not going whaling in the Faroe Islands. Enjoy your trip :)
Thanks for your nice words - it's so easy to only hear the negative comments and take them too personally... I can't wait to get on that plane tonight!! :)
I think so many of your points are correct and well articulated in this piece. I have a slightly different stance on the use of animals as food in that I believe traditional hunting and fishing practices have many benefits and should be promoted, but I think we both can agree that outsiders should shout their uninformed opinions before having seen a culture firsthand. I recently learned about the Faroese whale hunt and was interested to learn that they a) still use traditional techniques to hunt and b) hunt a population of whale that isn't considered endangered (obviously that classification warrants a whole other conversation...). I don't think it is remotely appropriate to judge a people's traditional way of living especially when our modern food practices are cruel and environmentally unsound. It is certainly is a complex and interesting issue and I hope you write about what you learn while visiting to keep the conversation going. I'd recommend checking out this podcast about food on the Faroese Islands before you visit. It's very interesting! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07gcvx2
Oooooh I need to listen to this! Leaving for the airport in an hour :D Thanks for your comment - really encouraging!
I have visited the Faroe Islands and only learned about the practice of whale hunting during our visit because there were protests going on while we were there. It turned out to be a learning opportunity for me. Your post makes rational, excellent points. It's easy to make brash judgements about other countries and to regard their populations as homogeneous when it comes to cultural practices and beliefs. One thing you learn as a frequent traveller is that there is a whole lot of complex grey out there. Enjoy your trip. The Faroes are beautiful and will take your breath away.
Kathi - I think this post is dead on and so necessary in a world of online ranting where people hide behind their computer keys in order to attack something, anything. Travel is about making informative decisions on your own, and I am more than excited to follow you on your journey to a place that I am so interested in learning more about.
Thanks Phoebe <3
Excellent post! I am heading to the Faroe Islands in September and after a little research discovered that almost all the press around this place is about the whale slaughter. I think talking to the locals and hearing the history and cultural aspects of this practice will be a very interesting experience. I look forward to reading your posts about the islands, it looks like such a beautiful place.
Kathi: I completely agree with you. Boycotting a place isn't teaching a lesson to the locals who must continue tradition now with fewer resources, if tourism was the main draw in the first place. I never intend to boycott Iceland, even though smoked wild puffin are on the menu there. In fact, I feel that visiting a place is opportunity to say something about whatever it is you object to--engage in dialogue with a local and understand their justification for consuming a wild animal which you would choose not to consume.
I'm an avid birder, and advocate for birds where ever I am, in a friendly way that encourages people to look around and listen. I even once engaged a security guard at a city event about the killdeer nesting in the vacant lot nearby. He had asked me what I was looking at (he was doing his job!). He was thrilled to be shown something right there which he hadnt ever thought to look or listen for.
The point is my effort is to remain positive, thoughtful and sensitive to the time and place, when making others aware of environmental impact. Boycotting a place will never allow that dialogue to happen.
This is such a great post! I wish more people could be as rational as you, I don't know what it is about the internet that makes people cross the line and start aggressively ranting at people in way I am pretty sure they wouldn't if they were having a conversation face to face.
I hope you enjoy the Faroe Islands and I can't wait to read all about your trip and what you learn from it.
Love the post and the Faroes. Interesting points about cruelty in other parts of the world in a range of ways yet we still travel there. While I don't think animals should be harmed either the Faroese have been doing it for many many years and when there was no trade to get other supplies it enabled them to survive the winters. They use all the animal parts as far as I'm aware so it's not as senseless as some killings. Enjoy the Faroes for all the things you stated you love about holiday destinations and I'll dream from Australia that I will get back there one day. I got engaged there so reckon I might!
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Great post! I've been receiving quite a bit of criticism in relation to my upcoming trip to the Faroe Islands. People have said things like: "Oh so you support their killing of the poor whales then?" Well no of course not. Just because I visit a country, it doesn't automatically mean I support anything they do there, whether it's good or bad. The whole point in travelling is to find out for yourself and as someone pointed out above, you'll probably find that many people are against it in the country just as people are for it. It works like that in any political, religious or cultural debate really. There are always alternative views and opinions. Enjoy your trip!
What a well balanced and thought out post. I plan on visiting the Faroe Islands in the near future regardless of others opinions, positive or negative, and will draw my own conclusions. I sometimes think we care more about animal rights than we do human rights. Or the consequences of imposing our cultural views on a culture that is not our own. I have seen first-hand the human and social cost in Greenland of an imposition of a ban on what was a way of life for the Inuit.
I hope you enjoy your visit and I loo forward to reading your posts
Hi Kathi,
Welcome to our beautiful and peaceful islands.
The Faroes are (of course) so MUCh more than the occacional whale hunting some few months a year, when the pilot whales travel through our islands or our waters (close to land). Living so close to nature every day we of course respect and love nature and animals, so you can be sure there are strict laws about treatment of animals, including birds and whales :-)
Keep your eyes and mind open and you will enjoy your stay here and most probably make friends.
Very well said. It's a shame that so few can ruin so many things for so many on so many levels.
Well said, Kathi. It's a difficult topic this one. I mean, would you travel to a country where people commit genocide to their fellow countrymen? Surely you wouldn't... on the other hand: Is it okay to boycott a country just because of what some of its inhabitants are doing or supporting? Most countries are so much more than racism, hunting or whatever. I've never been in this situation before. I don't know what I would do... probably fly to the Faroes as well :)
Hope you get to feel the real Faroese people warm welcome. There are several stories about people becomming friends for life, after travelling to my islands of the north - a place incomparable.
Welcome to the Faroe Islands, you are in for a treat. Contact us www.heimdaltours.com if you want to go hiking or ponytrekking or anywhere Look forward to your post-visit blog! Have a great stay.
- As a faroese, I thank you for beeing openminded.
- As a faroese, I've received a lot of treats, Murderess treats. Treats to kill my hole familie, just for being faroese.
- As a faroese, I'm sorry, that i'm not sorry for loving the Faroe Islands and all of our traditions.
- As a faroese, I'm proud.
- As a faroese, I'm looking forward for you to come visiting the islands, and experience that the whaling is a very small part of us.
- As a faroese, I thank you for being open minded.
- As a faroese, I've received a lot of treats, Murderess treats. Treats to kill my whole familie, just for being faroese.
- As a faroese, I'm sorry, that i'm not sorry for loving the Faroe Islands and all of our traditions.
- As a faroese, I'm proud.
- As a faroese, I'm looking forward for you to come visiting the islands, and experience that the whaling is a very small part of us.
Thanks for visiting us, even though i am just a colombian living in the Faroes for the past year I can assure you this place is magical, there is much to say about whale hunting and post like this in my opinion open the door to an informed exchange of information which would have a different outcome than just shutting the islands out from the rent of the world, have fun out here and don't forget to visit "Saksun" one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.
Hans Juul Hansen's photo (the first photo in this post) is magnificent. We love the north of Europe and we'll definetly go there some day. We were close this year as we went to Reykjavik ...
Welcome to the islands when you arrive :)
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I really look forward to your opinion, about the Whale hunt. If a hunt takes place, while you are there, you should most definitely watch it. It is the surest way, of finding out how it really makes you feel about it. The more I watched the videos and read from the Faroese perspective, the more I supported it.
You put yourself out there, people will criticise, as you have freedom to publish, so do they. Get used to it.