Whalers blast activists with water cannons in Antarctic Ocean

Tuesday 03rd February, 05:40 AM JST

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OssanAmerica at 01:08 AM JST - 4th February

The saying it takes one to know one rings quite true.
cleo at 01:46 AM JST - 4th February

Ossan, you're on the wrong thread.

:-)

http://www.japantoday.com/category/poll/view/which-side-is-more-insulting-to-the-other-pro-whalers-or-anti-whalers#comments
dontpanic at 04:57 PM JST - 4th February

Ossan - "The JCG, is not military. It is law enforcement" Military, paramilitary, law enforcement, self defense force, mislabel it all you want, it doesnt change my point though? Without Australia's agreement Japan wont be sending it's forces to fend off Sea Shepherd.

"You don't know and I don't know. Irrevelant speculation either way" Speculation certainly, but not irrelevent. Bearing in mind Japans immediate rebuttal of very recent proposals we know Japans position on limiting itself to coastal whaling. QED.
OssanAmerica at 07:48 AM JST - 5th February

Without Australia's agreement Japan wont be sending it's forces to fend >off Sea Shepherd.

Why? Australia has no jurisdiction over Japanese flag ships that are not in Australian waters.

Bearing in mind Japans immediate rebuttal of very recent proposals we >know Japans position on limiting itself to coastal whaling.

So what? If Japan did choose to hunt their local waters you would complain?
dontpanic at 07:02 PM JST - 5th February

"Why? Australia has no jurisdiction over Japanese flag ships that are not in Australian waters"

Because the Japanese authorities are not idiots and would not operate that kind of mission without international agreement.

"So what? If Japan did choose to hunt their local waters you would complain?"

Actually I would. You see Im against whaling.
OssanAmerica at 01:35 AM JST - 6th February

Because the Japanese authorities are not idiots and would not operate >that kind of mission without international agreement.

Wrong. Japanese Coast Guard could arrest anyone in those antarctic waters wjo has attacking a Japanese flag ship. Austraia could do the very same if someone attached an Australian flag ship. Nobody needs to get any kind of "International Agreement" to implement law enforcement action under these circumstances.

So what? If Japan did choose to hunt their local waters you would >complain?" Actually I would. You see Im against whaling.

In other words you have no interest in resolving this issue from a political or diplomatic point of view. Your interest is simply to stop "whaling" in the absolute sense. Do you spend as much time on Norwegian and Icelandic internet sites making a big doo about whaling? How about the Native American or Inuit Sites? Be honest-
dontpanic at 03:01 AM JST - 6th February

I would very much welcome a political decision to stop whaling. But its obvious one is not coming soon. Hence my support for the robust action that is making many sit up and take notice.

I should have been clearer, Im against commercial whaling in its current form. One for the obvious ecological reasons and the arguments youve made are a long way from convincing me that Japan is able, or even willing to maintain a sustainable whaling policy. Japans reputation for sucking up the worlds marine life is second to none.

Secondly the current methods of killing whales are simply barbaric. Food needs much more respect than a grenade in the back and a slow agonising, terrified death. That stands for all the whaling nations, yes I oppose their whaling too. Does that spoil your feeble attempt to make this a racial issue?

Thirdly Im against Japans 'scientific' whaling as it is simply an lie.
YuriOtani at 03:17 AM JST - 6th February

Japan is wrong with the whaling. If they want to they could send in the Japan Self Defense Force and see how the anti whaling forces respond. It would force Australia to do something or renounce its claim to these waters.
OssanAmerica at 05:02 AM JST - 6th February

Thank you for your honest answer. Permit me to respond likewise. I couldn't give a flying duck about whales one way or the other. Whether whales are hunted for scientific research or the dinner table doesn't matter to me. I do know that whales were brought to the brink of exinction by the "western" powers for their oil and their meat was thrown away so I can't help sensing hypocrisy when anyone from a former whaling nation starts yacking about save the whales. Whatever. I also believe that any human who puts the value of any animal above other humans is in serious need of mental therapy. True, whaling is barbaric, but check out slaughthouses on youtube. They are no less barbaric, and unlike the whales don't have ANY CHANCE at all of escape. But be it whales, cows, chickens, pigs, well that's the way it is. It's gruesome so if you don't wanna eat it, then don't. But don't be pushing your own beliefs onto others with some delusional sense of self rightiousness. Free societies and law doesn't support it. There are plenty of cultures that I could really harp on (hint: I like dogs) but I know my POV is differerent from theirs. Likewise, I believe that anyone who openly cheers on criminal conduct is no better than the criminals themselves. Well actually less because at least the criminals are putting their lives on the line for their inane cause. So good luck with your efforts to stop ALL WHALING on the planet. I will likewise continue to speak out against violent criminal behavior.
dontpanic at 01:52 AM JST - 7th February

Ossan - Thanks also for your honesty. At least it seems that I have an opinion and am prepared to voice it without resort to personal insult and futile name calling.

We all accept the western powers with the eager participation of other sea faring nations did bring the whale population to the brink of extinction. But accident of birth does not mean I cannot support a change for the better. As yours doesn't mean you have to continue to spout the same frustrated circular billious rant when your argumant fails.

Thanks for wishing me luck it means a lot. I look forward to your posts decrying the violent criminal behaviour of the whalers.
bushlover at 08:21 PM JST - 7th February

Great comment Ossan. I'll second that one. The hypocrites will hate you for it. Somehow they think the whales deserve special treatment over the other animals.
Marja at 11:27 PM JST - 7th February

Japanese whalers are using military weapons not permitted for civilian use. LRAD was beamed to Sea Shepherd by three harpoon boats and the Nisshin Maru factory ship. Not only was their ship beamed but also their helicopter. The pilot and photography crew both began to feel dizzy and nauseated. Had they not escaped they would have crashed into the ocean and died.

Zodiac boats used to intercept the whalers and whales were also beamed by LRAD as they approached to stop a minke whale being loaded (along with water cannons and steel balls).

This kind of tactic is totally illegally. Last year Captain Paul Watson was shot by an illegal bullet, according to the Geneva Convention, and flash grenades were thrown at the crew, yet wimpy Australian investigation showed no cause to prosecute in spite off the fact that there was video footage, a mangled badge which covered his heart, and the bullet lodged in his vest to prove it.

Japan is killing endangered whales in a whale sanctuary, in Australian waters in contravention to the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling, CITES, an Australian Federal High Court Order, the Antarctic Treaty, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Sea Shepherd is the only one with the courage to enforce the laws Japan is breaking.

Let’s be clear who the violent ones are. Sea Shepherd have never used military-grade ammunition like the whalers are using. Throwing bottles of butyric acid on the whalers' ships (which is less acidic than orange juice and has never harmed a single person) is only a deterrant and not a weapon. No paint was hurled. Japan Today is the only one making this accusation. The ramming happened as a result of the Steve Irwin being chased into the Nisshin Maru and was not intentional.

Sea Shepherd's tactics are an attempt to interfere in the profits of the illegal whaling ships owned by the Japanese government and they are highly successful since Japan has been unable to meet their quota for years.

For those who don’t care about whales being killed, all I can say is not only are you without compassion but also ignorant of the incredibly important role whales play in the marine ecosystem. And for those who justify Japan’s violence and threat to human life you are traitors not only to your own species but to the whole planet, which needs whales a heck of a lot more than it needs people.
Kwaabish at 10:19 AM JST - 8th February

Marja,

Water cannons and LRADS, along with, in some instances tasers and rubber bullets are often used in crowd control and riot control and are used in many parts of the world, including the US, as effective NON_LETHAL means of defence.

"The ramming happened as a result of the Steve Irwin being chased into the Nisshin Maru and was not intentional."

Then it was grossly negligent and ultimately very stupid to not follow the international standards of sea faring. One should always maintain a safe distance between craft and provoking it with the larger ships and zodiacs are resulting in placing both the SS ships and the whalers in harms way.

Simply put, if the SS stays away from the Nisshin Maru, it would not collide with it.
Mystie at 12:22 PM JST - 8th February

To 'bushlover'. All animals deserve respect, the same as we human animals believe that we do. Why should any species arrogantly think they can lord it over others? We have to share this planet, not plunder it.
OssanAmerica at 01:10 AM JST - 9th February

Let’s be clear who the violent ones are.

Yes, let's be clear. Sea Sheperd are criminals. Sea Sheperd are stalking a whaling fleet that is legally engaged in whaling whether abnyone likes it or not. Sea Sheperd are deliberately ramming ships, and they have a long history of doing so. Sea Sheperd are classified as Eco-Terrorists by the FBI.

"Since 1977, when disaffected members of the ecological preservation group Greenpeace formed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and attacked commercial fishing operations by cutting drift nets, acts of "eco-terrorism" have occurred around the globe. The FBI defines eco-terrorism as the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature."

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress02/jarboe021202.htm

Sea Sheperd are in violaton of the U.N. - Convention for the Supression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (1988)

http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-146576

Sea Sheperd are undeniably eco-terrorists who resort to violent criminal actions to further their cause.