The Sea Shepherd group shouldn't worry too much, all eyes in Japan are now cast on North Korea.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 6^th, 2013 at 10:02am:


he's done what the labor party could never do and at virtually  zero cost to the tax payer

this is just another nail in labors coffin and Tony Bourke can f.ckoff with his empty rhetoric on fighting it out in the international court bullshit !!

Sir lastnail wrote on Apr 6^th, 2013 at 10:13am:


I agree. There is not much point taking them to court, given that they are not breaking any real laws. Sea Shepherd obviously believes that when the law is not on your side, your only option is to play pirates and try to interrupt a refueling operation in the middle of a pristine wilderness area.

(Then come home crying when your gay boat gets sunk.)

Australia blamed for helping whale protest

Date
    April 9, 2013


Japan has rounded on Australia and promised to step up a legal attack on hardline conservationists as it rallies behind its whalers.    

The whalers' managing government agency, the Institute of Cetacean Research, says the federal government shows a willingness to tolerate sabotage by providing a safe haven to Sea Shepherd activists.    

In pursuit of the group, the institute says it will mount a case for contempt in the US, claiming ''vicious, inhumane and extremely dangerous'' abuse of a court order not to interfere with the whaling fleet in the Antarctic.

The whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and two of its harpoon vessels returned to port in Shimonoseki on Sunday to a brass band fanfare, speeches, and whale food giveaways.


Bowls of whale soup were handed around, and canned whale meat was on sale by the dock as the crews gathered in a large tent for official speeches.

The hull of Nisshin Maru had dents after clashes with Sea Shepherd vessels in a February refuelling blockade near Australia's Davis station, off the Antarctic coast.    

Under pressure in a shortened season the whalers took 103 minkes, their lowest tally ever, in what Sea Shepherd said was a financial disaster.    

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the tally was ''103 whales too many. That's why we are taking Japan to the International Court of Justice to stop this practice forever.''

Japan's Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told the whalers in Shimonoseki that Sea Shepherd's activities ''amounted to piracy''. He claimed that the International Whaling Commission recognised the legitimacy of Japan's whaling research.

Statements posted on the Japanese language website of the Institute of Cetacean Research detailed the sabotage claims. It blamed Australia and the Netherlands, as flag states for the Sea Shepherd ships, for not halting the violence.

''The Australian government … has come up with a willingness to tolerate the act, such as providing harbour (for) Sea Shepherd,'' the institute said.    

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-blamed-for-helping-whale-protest-20130408-2hh70.html#ixzz2Pv4GmqIl

the Institute of Cetacean Research,

I love the fact that they allow there cretans to research, probably cuts the cost of the pretence.

The last 4 Posts were moved here from General Board by freediver.

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2013 at 8:32pm:


It doesn't. I think it's a matter of funding. If Paul Watson and his fellow activists can't get funding for their cause, they can't continue their activities against the Japanese whalers.