Dealer held in Argentina over bid to smuggle beetles to Japan

Citation: "The Asahi Shimbun" 3/24/08 http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200803240070.html

Summary: A Japanese man got arrested for smuggling 100 rare beetles into Japan. They sell for high prices and exports are strictly controlled. People say that they man might be a part of a smuggling ring based in Japan. A man who worked at an insect shop, admitted that he gave him money to pay for his trip. The dealer was arrested for violating Argentina's ecosystem law and for forging official papers. Imports of all insects used to be banned but then the Japanese government decided to only ban insects that damage crops. In south American countries, restrict exports of living creatures to maintain the ecosystems; making these insects more expensive in Japan.

1. This article relates to the theme interaction between humans and the environment because humans are starting to mess up the ecosystems by importing mysterious bugs not native to their country. Humans are starting to change the natural environment, but not for the better.

2. These beetles have been a problem in Japan for a long time, and now will probably continue to be as more and more people smuggle them into the country. This problem did not occur up until 1999, when the Japanese government eased the banding of insects that do not harm crops.

3. This article was written by Hiroshi Ishida and Satoru Eguchi, who are both Japanese.

4. Even though they are Japanese, they do not show much bias in this article. They cannot really show a lot of bias unless it be toward the Japanese man who smuggled the beetles.

5. The point of view that is missing from the article is from that of someone who works for the Japanese government. I would like to hear if they thought that the decision they made in 1999 to not ban the import of all insects was a good idea. If they did not make that decision, the problem could have been avoided but is there a bigger reason for that decision?

6. I think that this new trend of smuggling living creatures into Japan is not good for the environment. I think that it would be better if it was again illegal to import insects to Japan so that this whole issue could be avoided and Japan's environment can be protected.