Posted on 07/13/2011 4:32:03 AM PDT by tlb
Japan has confirmed its ships will be back in the Southern Ocean this year to continue its whaling program.
After an early withdrawal from last summer's so-called scientific whale hunt in the region, Japan told the International Whaling Commission meeting in the Channel Islands that it will return this year.
Australia has rejected Japan's request for greater protection against activists.
The anti-whaling activist group Sea Shepherd has confirmed that it too will continue its pursuit and return to the Southern Ocean.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...
Now - if whales start gaining in number to the point they make pests of themselves, I say chow down - but while there are just a few down in icy waters, I believe that the Japanese should eat something less exotic/conversational.
hell, I seem to remember that the Japanese even ate US at one point on Chichi Jima!
I think you’re not alone in your beliefs. I’m not sure the Japanese eat whale just becuase it’s exotic. On the other hand maybe they do. Trendy diets are not exclusive to Japan.
If we take the position, however, that because we believe in something we can act without regard to law well then all bets are off and the ship with the biggest cannon wins. In this case, I’m thinking it’s going to be the whalers with the biggest cannon and the crusading anti-whalers having a Rachel Corrie moment.
The Sea Shepherds have stuck to nonviolet, non-injurious techniques for the most part but the Japanese have gone crazy with propaganda, muscling the international organizations, and have even taken to deliberately ramming vessels. So far they've been lucky to have only hippies opposing them...Imagine what a manly outfit would do to them if they made them mad enough.
Below 70 degrees So. pray to Shackleton?!
YOur excellent post points out the falacy of “international law”. There’s always an unless... in your case it was the 2nd amendment. I guess in Japan’s case it’s “feeding their faces”.
If I were a Japanese company engaged in whaling, I’d “man up” now. Then Obama can go to war to protect the whales... right after he finishes protecting the Libyans. ;-)
The Aussies really do not want to go there. The Japanese Navy is about three times the size of the Austrailian Navy with much more firepower.
Now, if the Sea Shepherds were using metal projectiles or deliberately ramming and sinking vessels - as the Japanese have - that would be deliberate violence and potentially chargeable as an offence.
But for some reason (more than likely money to the right people) nobody is objecting to the Japanese offenses. It is illegal to kill whales for food, yet they are doing it in plain sight - only chunky Paul Watson and his gang of twits are doing a dang thing.
If you are supporting the Japanese, why?..
But the Aussies have kicked their tail in previous history quite well (Kokoda, Buna, Milne Bay, etc.). If I were the Japanese, I'd avoid ticking off the OZ.
I am not supporting the Japanese. I am supporting the rule of law as practiced on the high seas for centuries.
The Japanese did not intentionally ram the Sea Hippies. The Sea hippies violated EVERY rule of ship operation and did not yield to the larger ship (in fact they intentionally drove in front of a moving vessel) That puts them at fault.
The collision between the Japanese ship and the Irwin was also the Sea Hippies fault. They had an obligation to yield (once again) to the larger ship.
The Sea Hippies boarded the Japanese ship (another violation of law)without permission and that Bethune idiot broke down in court and cried like a little girl.
Do you pull out in traffic in front of trucks with your vehicle?
I’d rather someone torpedo the whaling ships. It’s a pathetic and stupid practice.
The arrogance of the Japanese whalers is astounding and I find it strange that anyone would support their activities.
Just out of curiosity, what was the Sea Shepherd doing at the time? No way the Sea Shepherd was out to do the Japanese whalers harm. No way.
Good. Now the Japanese can put some Bofors cannons on their decks and blow these idiots out of the water.
They are not breaking any law, because there is no law. You would be better off doing some research instead of spouting off the Sea Hippies line.
The IWC has a moratorium in place on Whaling for countries that agree to cooperate, but not all Whaling countries agreed to it. Norway still hunts whales. Why aren’t the Sea Hippies up there after them?
Norway does not have the same money.
It has already happened. Last season the fiberglass Bob Barker tried some crazy manuver with the whalers and got run over. A day or two later it sunk.
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