Posted on 02/02/2009 7:47:04 AM PST by SmithL
SYDNEY, (AP) --
Japanese whalers blasted water from a cannon at conservationists who hurled bottles of rancid butter and paint during a clash Monday in frigid Antarctic waters, officials said.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society also accused the whalers of throwing hunks of metal and golf balls at its members, lightly injuring two activists in the fracas. Japanese officials said only a water cannon was used.
The group — which routinely harasses the Japanese whaling fleet during its annual hunt in the Antarctic Ocean — sent a helicopter and two inflatable boats toward a Japanese harpoon ship early Monday in heavy seas about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) southeast of the Australian state of Tasmania, said Paul Watson, the group's leader.
Japan, which has described the Sea Shepherd protesters as terrorists, plans to harvest up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales this season. Under International Whaling Commission rules, the mammals may be killed for research but not for commercial purposes. Opponents say the Japanese research expeditions are simply a cover for commercial whaling, which was banned in 1986.
The whalers opened up on conservationists on one raft with a water cannon, knocking one man off his feet and leaving him with cuts and bruises, Watson told The Associated Press by satellite phone.
Another protester was hit in the face with a large chunk of metal lobbed from a harpoon boat. He was wearing a shield on his helmet, but still suffered bruises, Watson said.
The Japanese also aimed a "military grade" noise weapon that can cause deafness and vomiting at the Sea Shepherd crew, Watson said. Some felt its vibrations but were too far away to be otherwise affected, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It’s enough to make you sign up for a Japanese whaling ship. Go whalers!
Attacking a harpoon ship with an inflatable boat is just downright stupid.
...even better: a grappling hook on a line tied off to the vessel, fired into the helo’s skids.
That helicopter would’ve been in the water in about 15 seconds.
The Japaneese need to re-introduce the spar torpedo!
mmmmm dolphin.....
Sounds like the LRAD. Since these are being used against pirates off Somalia, their use against the pirates in the Southern Ocean is entirely appropriate.
If you've ever worn very expensive perfume, you've probably smeared some whale vomit on yourself...Ambergris
Because giant squids' beaks have been found embedded within lumps of ambergris, scientists have theorized that the whale's intestine produces the substance as a means of easing the passage of hard, sharp objects that the whale might have inadvertently eaten.
That sounds more like whale poop than whale puke.
Personally, I loved the part where the entire crew (except the three senior “officers”) got rip-roaring drunk as they were sailing into the teeth of a monster storm.
A few more details on the "manufacture" can be found here
Puke it is ...
Ignorant old ladies and stupid hipsters that don't get it that they support terrorists.
they have their own reality show.
I watched an episode and found myself cheering for the whalers.
Now if only we could put the golf balls IN the water stream fired from the whaling ship...
I would cheer for an anti-sea shepard.
Just as legal as they are.
(probably a lot more fun too)
When one of their ship’s engines died they got $150,000 from some musical group, can’t remember the name. No doubt Irwin’s widow gives a chunk of coin to keep the ship afloat.
One organization which backs the Sea Shepherd Society is IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They are soliciting donations from dog lovers all over the US through a very simple and sweet infomercial called “Dog Tales”. Good show for dog lovers, just don’t make the mistake of giving money to IFAW.
Expensive perfume, ME? No wai.
We had a cat that ate socks, with all sorts of bizarre digestive results. This dog just eats crayons and corks.
:o) animals are fun..
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