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At last, action that might actually stop Japan’s whaling

Paul Colgan

by Paul Colgan

28 May 12:43pm

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Filed under: Environment, Peter Bethune, Politics, Sea Shepherd, Whaling

88 comments

Apparently, anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune is pretty chipper for a guy who could be spending the next 15 years in a Japanese prison. Perhaps he’ll feel especially vindicated by today’s news that the federal government is taking legal action to try and put an end to Japanese whaling.

High seas, high risk: Ady Gil skipper Peter Bethune / File

But in contrast to the mindless and increasingly dangerous anarchism of the Sea Shepherd protesters, legal action by Australia in the International Court of Justice has the potential to save an actual whale.

The high-seas harassment of whalers has become increasingly dangerous and, well,  bit embarrassing. Bethune, you may remember, was the skipper of stealth boat the Ady Gil, who picked a fight with an Japanese industrial whaling ship and lost. The Adi Gil sank and in a surreal denouement Bethune later boarded the Shonan Maru 2, with a knife, trying to put the captain under citizen’s arrest.

But instead of arresting the captain he was taken back to Japan and charged.

The passion of these second-generation hippies does deserve respect in an age where much of what passes for political activism involves changing your Twitter avatar or joining a Facebook group. At least the Sea Shepherd guys get out a bit.

But other than making headlines and endangering lives, what were they achieving through their recklessness?

Very little, I’d argue.

It’s not as if Australian public opinion was likely to shift to being pro-whaling any time soon.

Bethune will be sentenced in two weeks. It’s a bit of a tragic irony that he is confronted now with the reality that the rule of law will prevail, over both his own fate and that of the whales he was seeking to protect.

Most commented

88 comments

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    • Tim says:

      01:10pm | 28/05/10

      Labor taking Japan to court over this issue now,  is an absolute joke.
      What’s that distinct smell I can detect in the sea spray?
      Aye laddy, election time is near.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      02:09pm | 28/05/10

      I have no idea how long the international court of justice will take to hear this matter but we can be certain there will be an election ahead of any decision.

      More cynical politics from the ALP designed to distract from the damage they are proposing to do to our economy with the new mining tax.

    • jacqueline says:

      02:58pm | 28/05/10

      There you go and i thought the world is close to a deal to allow commercial whaling with lowered quotas next month in morocco and guess what the USA is for it!

    • fromthetrenches says:

      06:34pm | 28/05/10

      Is this diversion enough to offset the mining tax debacle? I smell blood in the water and it aint sushi!

    • labor will win,because over 50% of voters are illi says:

      07:51pm | 28/05/10

      Election Pending,Spin,Spin,Spin

    • Byro says:

      10:29am | 29/05/10

      Paul Colgan, you obviously don’t understand the publicity game do you? Even in the castle of spin - News Limited - are you a cadet or something?
      The fact is sales of local whale sushi spiked during the Adi Gil incident and will grow with the publicity of a court case. It is awesome FREE marketing. Support our local business and jobs -  http://www.whaloking.com/

      Before writing, please do your research next time Paul. But keep up with the marketing effort.

    • Cindo says:

      08:39pm | 29/05/10

      Byro -you are definitely warped and out of line with Labor’s velvet glove and wussy approach. we Japanese laught at him, you Australians don’t get us Japanese
      that site
      http://www.whaloking.com/
      is ridiculous and not typically Japanese.

    • Hermione says:

      09:13pm | 30/05/10

      I agree, support local business - eat the whales here and not in Japan. Byron Bay is leading Australia in the whale steaks and showing the rest of the world what it’s made of. Three cheers for Whalo-king & if Rudd stops the Japanese, that just means more for us - good on ya Ruddy mate.

    • Hermione says:

      08:37am | 31/05/10

      ...and Cindo, typically parochial…it’s not even a Japanese company. It’s a multi-national group and if you’re an Australian, which I suspect you are, then it’s most likely your super fund has a chunk of Whalo-king earning you some big retirement bucks. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

    • Ben81 says:

      01:11pm | 28/05/10

      Just to be a cynical bastard, i’ll say that going by Rudd’s record Australia will be harpooning whales and exporting the meat to Japan by 2012.

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      02:05pm | 28/05/10

      Perhaps we could tax the whaling?  Japanese are foreigners aren’t they?

    • Hamish says:

      02:23pm | 28/05/10

      And they are ‘our’ whales…

    • Ryan says:

      04:38pm | 28/05/10

      and we Australians should be getting ‘our share’ of the profits.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:11pm | 28/05/10

      Ben81 says:01:11pm; gee that has to be about the most intelligent thing I’ve ever seen you post. Not that I agree with it.

    • Ben81 says:

      03:11am | 29/05/10

      Hey, a backhanded compliment from Rudd cheersquad wannabe Rob ‘spellcheck’ Charteris, this must be my lucky day.  And you’re even just about forming comprehensible sentences and only called one person stupid today, well done!  *pats on head*

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      04:13pm | 29/05/10

      Ben81 says: 03:11am; oh poor didums needs cheap shots to get by. Care factor about comments from you on my spelling,,,, zero ; ) water off a ducks back. But since you like to keep mentioning it, it does point to the calibre of your make up if that is the only argument you can put forth tweedle dum

    • John A Neve says:

      01:13pm | 28/05/10

      There is a simple solution to the whale problem. We kill all the whales in Australian waters. Freeze them and sell them to the Japaness for $100 per gram.

      Face it, once again we are only paying lip service to the problem, most of us don’t give a s**t.

      Reply

    • Martin G says:

      02:23pm | 28/05/10

      I’m absolutely fine with this, though we can’t charge too much.

    • Super D says:

      04:06pm | 28/05/10

      “most of us don’t give a s**t”

      Spot on.

      Well maybe a bit but certainly not enough to stop buying Japanese products.

      Nintendo should release “Scientific Whaling” for the Wii

    • James says:

      01:22pm | 28/05/10

      Who really beieves the government is taking legal action? So they might issue a writ in an election year?

      Honestly, they promised it leading up to the last election. Shelved the promise only to resurrect it leading up to a new election. This bloke (Rudd) has long gone beyond the point of being trusted on these sorts of commitments. Whales aren’t exactly a vote swinger for me but surely the electorate will look at this in an election year and call bullshit?

      Reply

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      02:41pm | 28/05/10

      James says:01:22pm; ummm Kev the man never shelve taking the japanese to the international court, I think you got the wrong policy there boy. Infact he’s is doing it sooner that he stated eralier this year.

    • JR says:

      02:55pm | 28/05/10

      Gee what could have brought on the decision to bring it forward? Is this a Newspoll weekend? Hang on, didn’t they just announce breaking an election promise about government ads today? I bet the original timing for this was after August th 28th. Am I right?

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:38am | 29/05/10

      JR says:02:55pm; Geee well it is obviously damed if you do and damed if you dont with you eh’ I almost feel sorry for you, go and run to Abbott office he has some tissues for you. It’s a bit rich for Abbott to howl that the government is ethically challanged.

    • DG says:

      01:24pm | 28/05/10

      Paul

      as you are the font of all knowledge- why do you denounce the work of the Sea Shephard activists as “mindless” where in fact its highly developed to generate media coverage and ellevate the issue to a world stage that cannot be ignored

      you say that they ‘acheive very little’ ..when in fact if it wasnt for their anarchistic behavior- no one would have a clue what the Japs are doing in the Southern Ocean

      loss of 1 boat versus saving many whales- small price to pay

      Reply

    • Tim says:

      02:24pm | 28/05/10

      loss of one boat versus trying to save whales that aren’t even endangered - idiotic.

    • Elphaba says:

      02:34pm | 28/05/10

      So eco-terrorism is fine, so long as they ‘bring awareness’?  They’ll get someone killed.  I have no problem with people protesting, writing their government, but what these guys do, endanger human lives. 

      The problem lies with the IWC and the farce regarding scientific whaling.  The Sea Shephard numnuts should be protesting to them.  Not endangering the lives of whalers.

    • Kordez says:

      03:16pm | 28/05/10

      @Elphaba, SS and GP have not killed anyone in over a decade of protesting. Although whaling vessels have come close to intentionally killing members of the SS a few times now. Including the ramming of their vessel while 5 members were still on board and it’s alleged that the SS captain was shot by whalers.
      @Tim, is it reasonable to lose one vessel to defend waters claimed by the Australian Government?

    • Elphaba says:

      03:35pm | 28/05/10

      @Kordez

      Yet.  They haven’t killed anyone yet.

      So the whalers have intentionally tried to kill people and have failed.  The SS has ‘protested’ and put people in very real danger, but it’s not intentional.

      Look, I don’t agree with whaling.  I don’t think they should do it.  But neither party can claim the moral highground here.  The SS aggravates the situation and it will eventually end in tears.

      This guerilla tactics crap is ridiculous.  The IWC is responsible for turning a blind eye to the Japanese whaling.  They are ultimately responsible.  Since the Japanese are not keen on halting whaling in the near future, a new solution needs to be brought to the table.  A compromise.  Sustainable whaling, perhaps?

      In a perfect world, they’d stop all together.  It’s not a perfect world.  Both sides need to stop trying to kill each other and compromise.

    • Tim says:

      04:02pm | 28/05/10

      Kordez,
      your being very loose with the truth there.
      Those waters are not “ours”.
      How many other countries recognise our claim and what does the Antarctic treaty say about it?
      And what flags do the Sea Shepherd fly when trying to protect these waters?

      The Sea Shepherd group are terrorists and should be treated as such.

    • Dan says:

      05:09pm | 28/05/10

      Fine, but if they pick a fight with the Japanese, and things don’t go their way, then they shouldn’t spout nonsence like ‘attempted murder.’

    • Kordez says:

      01:26pm | 28/05/10

      Paul, I normally enjoy your rants but this one grinds my gears. It was and continues to be societies like GP and SS which have instilled the anti whaling opinion of Australia and New Zealand. We wouldn’t have a government willing to take action against Japan, without the learning’s from SS and GP. GP has a policy to only witness slaughter and SS uses non lethal force to deter illegal whaling activities out of our claimed waters at no cost to our government, I think it’s unreasonable to suggest the Sea Shepherd Society have achieved very little.
      Japan continues to ignore our claims to the protected Antarctic zone and our anti whaling stance, despite our strong relationship. Yearly they float their research branded vessels into our claimed waters, get harassed by GP and SS and yet they continue to come back every year, the arrogance of them amazes me. So even if you believe SS achieve very little they should at least be congratulated on educating us on the illegal and inhumane way whaling is carried out, their level of passion and willingness to die or be imprisoned for our cause.

      Reply

    • Accountability says:

      03:11pm | 28/05/10

      Well said Kordez. I believe SS and GP have achieved a lot regarding creating public awareness of the morally repugnant and cruel practice of the needless slaughter of whales.

      As for the government finally fulfilling a core 2007 election promise it is better late than never. However, as many have said the court action should have been launched long before now.

    • Graham Readfearn says:

      01:32pm | 28/05/10

      “But other than making headlines and endangering lives, what were they achieving through their recklessness? Very little, I’d argue.”

      Paul - you obviously didn’t read the reports of the number of whales Japan caught this season.

      http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/13/japan-whaling-catch-sea-shepherd

      “Japanese whalers blame Sea Shepherd for smallest catch in years…
      Fleet of ships returns home with 507 whales, short of 935 target, and says conservation group sabotaged hunt”

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      01:36pm | 28/05/10

      What legal breakthrough has the ALP now found suddenly, after several years of talking about it?

      I believe that under the ICJ, both parties have to agree to the case being heard - so why on earth would Japan agree?

      Reply

    • Peter Paul and Mary says:

      04:15pm | 28/05/10

      international courts are like a 90 old man’s bollocks. useless
      this will not achieve one single enforceable outcome

    • Mark says:

      01:36pm | 28/05/10

      Oh please, with an election coming up Rudd heads a headliner to turn his fortunes around. Another serf serving move from Krudd.

      Reply

    • Adam says:

      01:41pm | 28/05/10

      Paul,

      One thing they are achieving is keeping this issue, for better or worse, in the public eye. Sadly in todays sound bite world it may be that only reckless actions are able to do that

      Reply

    • nosthow says:

      01:45pm | 28/05/10

      Well done the Rudd government for taking this official stand on what is a very sensitive and emotional issue. Yes I am sure we all wnat to save the whales as they are truly majestic creatures. Its just down to how we go about it and by the government of Australia taking official action it should make Japan sit up and take notice. This is not to take anything away from the courageous actions of the “Save the Whale” community already making valiant attempts , often putting their own lives at risk. Bravo the Rudd government on this issue !

      Reply

    • TC says:

      09:57pm | 28/05/10

      I especially liked the way they shelved it and “bought it forward”

    • Chewy says:

      02:02pm | 28/05/10

      Its a dumb move by a dumb government. The DPJ has only been in power for a year (after 50 years of conservative rule) and would of eventually cut the program citing budget cuts, now they are against a wall.
      The yen carry trade is required for your mortgage. Japan is our second largest export market by a smidge.
      In Japan business and government intertwined. Remember when Mitsubishi pull out of SA acouple of months after Rudd firing up about Japanese whaling? Perhaps they were going to do it anyway but previously Howard would fly to Tokyo and save the day but Rudd was in no position to do this.  Food for thought.
      I would of liked to of seen fluffy breakfast television campaigns and protests outside of Norways embassy in December when Norway announced a 45% increase in whale quota to confirm that this issue isnt about the Japanese. But alas the issue of Japanese whaling is more about the Japanese than it is about whaling.
      If Rudd cared about animal welfare he would do something about Australias barbaric live export trade.
      Oh and minke whale populations are thriving.

      Reply

    • Kordez says:

      02:28pm | 28/05/10

      @Chewy, Norway doesn’t Whale in the Australian Antarctic zone, also widely known as a Whale Sanctuary. You will also find that SS spends quite a bit of time disputing the whaling of Norway as well.

    • Chewy says:

      03:17pm | 28/05/10

      Oh we are talking about the Australian Antarctic zone that is only recognized by Australia and very few other nations that also have Antarctic claims. 
      My issue is not so much with the eco nuts on SS (their Norway crusade isnt newsworthy or so emotionally charged for some reason) but the politicians and the media who try to milk and persue this issue but fail to apply any consistency test or consider possible ramifications.
      Its laughable that the largest per capita emitters see themselves as vanguards of the enviroment on this issue.
      It will be interesting how international opinion will fall on this no doubt many in Asia will see this as little more cultural bigotry on Australias part.
      http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/opinion/24iht-edbowring.html?ref=global

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      03:37pm | 28/05/10

      Chewy says:03:17pm; “cultural bigotry” what are you actually trying to say…. Australia is being racist to Asia for taking Japan to court over this matter, come on you really are that stupid are you???? perhaps you are.

    • Kordez says:

      03:45pm | 28/05/10

      @Chewy, Exactly. Our healthy relationship with Japan should influence the recognition of our claim to the protected waters. We don’t go drill oil in Japan or trawl in their waters, because they are our mates.
      Your suggestion that anti-whaling is really anti-Japan is just another way to deflect from the real issue by making Australia look racist rather then defensive of Japans behaviour . I agree with some of your article, but most of it is just assumptions.

    • Chewy says:

      06:59pm | 28/05/10

      @Rob r Charteris I am sorry you feel I am stupid.
      If a hindu nation was to take issue with Australia because we eat beef could you imagine the outrage and anger here?
      The fact is Australians have a fuzzy feeling towards whales, well er at least since we stopped whaling 30 years ago and now we expect another culture to yield to our beliefs? So whos belief is more important ours or the Japanese? If we are saying our beliefs about what animals are ok to hunt (ignoring our animal welfare track record ofcourse) are more important than the Japanese (who should just do as we say)well yes thats cultural bigotry.

    • TC says:

      10:08pm | 28/05/10

      Dead right Chewy and well put

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      08:38pm | 29/05/10

      Chewy says:06:59pm; Yeah and I wonder how really traditional it is for Japan to be hunting whales deep in the southern ocean. I mean if they have been doing that since day dot I probably wouldn’t have too much of a problem with it. But then again I might. And on another note we dont go half way around the world chasing beef to eat. So you analogy is a bit weak son, try another.

    • David C says:

      02:14pm | 28/05/10

      cows and sheep must feel really hardly done by

      Reply

    • Rob r Chaerteris says:

      03:01pm | 28/05/10

      David C; female whales are actually called cows, so while they may feel hard done by. At least this government is doing something about it. Sheep on the other hand… well ummm errrrr I like my lamb chops with mint sauce of course.

    • TC says:

      10:11pm | 28/05/10

      Isnt that the point Rob?

    • shane says:

      02:15pm | 28/05/10

      I wondering if he’d heard about that Japanese legal system, and Japanese prision before he decided to clammer aboard. 99%+ conviction rate, and jails where you can’t speak, eat, or crap at the wrong time (most of the time). I’ve heard from both Japanese, and foriegners about life in Japanese prisions, and by all accounts its truely horrible. I wondering if his righteous anger will help 3 or 4 years in when the world, media, and the sea sheppard organisation have moved on.

      Also, not wanting to sound cynical, but all indications are that the oceans will be devoid of just about all fish life by the middle to second half of this century at the rate we’re fishing and polluting. I don’t like to see animals killed in such a savage and cruel mannger, but isn’t it a bit like complaining you’ve run out of milk when the fridge is broken?

      Is the purpose to save the whales in order for them to die in the lifeless garbage slurry that our oceans are becoming?

      Reply

    • Andy says:

      02:17pm | 28/05/10

      Interesting to note that Whaling season won’t begin again until after the election. Kevin Rudd can say whatever he likes to get votes and then, as Peter Garrett so eloquently put it, change everything after they win ....just like they did last time.

      Reply

    • Norsca says:

      02:17pm | 28/05/10

      Rudd needs to do something to try and improve his broken promises record to date, after all there’s an election around the corner.

      Reply

    • Martin G says:

      02:19pm | 28/05/10

      I do not understand why people overlook Australia’s blatant hypocrisy on this issue - we shoot wild kangaroos (a national emblem!) for food and that’s okay, but killing whales is not. Minke Whales, which Japan have been hunting for food (or scientific research, whichever spin you prefer) are not endangered.

      Reply

    • Dave says:

      03:26pm | 28/05/10

      @Martin G.
      Hmmm…. ‘Martin’ eh ?  If you say so !

      The ‘Kangaroo issue’ is the favourite line for whaling apologists. Usually Japanese Consulate Officials.  Where do you work ‘Martin’ ?

      Aussies are smart enough to know that there is no comparison between two issues. Roo’s are stupid. Whales are certainly not.

      Professional roo shooters have to kill with one shot the head. Whales get harpooned and spend hours drowning in their own blood.

      I think Sea Shepherd should be doing all it can outside of Australian waters. Inside Australian waters we should be using the Collins Class subs to sort the problem out.

    • Go Sea Shepherd says:

      06:05pm | 28/05/10

      There is no way to kill a whale humanely, simple as that.

    • BT says:

      06:37pm | 28/05/10

      I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m a vegetarian for that very reason. I also refuse to wear any leather, furs etc. Many animal activists are the same - so please don’t brand us all hypocrites.

    • Andy says:

      10:52pm | 29/05/10

      So Dave, we are allowed to kill animals if they are stupid? Are you for real? Did you even think that comment through before you wrote it down? I mean seriously, that is probably the single dumbest comment on the whaling/anti-whaling argument I have ever heard. That is even more moronic than the brain dead flower children who say you shouldn’t kill whales because they are beautiful creatures.

    • Dave says:

      01:59pm | 31/05/10

      Andy. 
      Not really sure what your argument is ?
      Are you saying we should all be vegetarian and not kill any animals for food?

      Or are you saying that the Roo vs Whaling equivalency continuously proffered by the Japanese govt is valid?
      If so, you’re saying that you don’t care how intelligent our food sources are, and you don’t care how inhumanely we kill them. You’re saying that we can kill and eat anything we want, however we want, as long as we can get away with it.  Where do you stand on harpooning Japanese Tourists on Australian beaches ? Personally, I’m strongly against it, but there’s 128m Japanese, so we’re not likely to impact breeding stocks.

      If you’re not making either of the above cases, what ARE you on about ?

    • Greg says:

      03:03pm | 28/05/10

      This was promised by the Rudd Government before the last election, it’s only taken 3 years.

      Reply

    • Shelley says:

      09:30pm | 28/05/10

      Whaling’s been a yes. no. yes. no. flip flop policy from day one. There is no money set aside in the budget for whaling. That’s how well planned this policy is. So where are they stealing the cash from this time to fund it?  Housing funds have been stolen for the BER budget blowout so it wont be there.
      I recon they needed some positive spin for the weekend after stealing $40 odd million of taxpayer funds to run government adverts close to an election. And that’s after changing the laws at Easter to allow them to rip this money off us.
      Robbing Rudd and Tricky Swan will be asking does my portfolio look good in this in a couple of months and if the answer is no it’ll be dropped again.

    • Aikon says:

      03:04pm | 28/05/10

      It will never happen, it’s Rudd and Labor remember.  Another announcement that will fade away as soon as another of thier bungled programs is discovered.  Desperate and cynical politics Mr Rudd.

      Reply

    • Lucy says:

      03:33pm | 28/05/10

      Sorry Colgo - this so-called action by the Australian Government will not save any whales - at least not any time soon.

      In the past six years, the International Court of Justice has given final judgements on 12 cases. That is two cases per year.

      There are also a total of 13 cases currently before the International Court of Justice. This would suggest we are at least six and a half years away from getting a judgement on the case Australia is about to lodge.

      What a surprise. Yet again, this is the Rudd Government taking a “decision” that we won’t see the result of until after another three elections.

      Congratulations Colgo – you win the gullible journalist of the day award.
       

      Completed Cases since 2007:

      Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
      Application: 4 May 2006
      Judgment: 20 April 2010
      3 years and 9 months

      Dispute regarding Navigational and Related Rights (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua)
      Application: 29 September 2005  
      Judgment: of 13 July 2009
      3 years and 10 months

      Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea (Romania v. Ukraine)
      Application: 16 September 2004
      Judgment: 3 February 2009
      4 years and 5 months

      Certain Questions of Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Djibouti v. France)
      Application: 9 August 2006
      Judgment: 4 June 2008
      1 years and 10 months

      Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore)
      Application: 24 July 2003
      Judgment: 23 May 2008
      4 years and 10 months

      Territorial and Maritime Dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Honduras)
      Application: 8 December 1999
      Judgment: 8 October 2007
      7 years and 11 months

      Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro)
      Application: 20 March 1993
      Judgment: 26 February 2007
      13 years and 11 months

      Reply

    • Tails says:

      03:34pm | 28/05/10

      Maybe they can do an advertising campaign about it. What a f^%$ing liberty.

      Reply

    • TC says:

      10:14pm | 28/05/10

      Be reasonable mate. Its a national emergency when the government cant explain temselves

    • Jeremy says:

      03:35pm | 28/05/10

      If they go to court and Australia lose then they’ll be able to kill as many whales as they like. That is why NZ PM has said he won’t be following Australia down that path.

      Reply

    • Peter Simmons says:

      03:47pm | 28/05/10

      No matter how Rob r Chaerteris tries to spin it - this a blatant piece of hypocritical rubbish.
      Rob r wouldn’t be one of Rudd’s spin doctors would he?

      Like other pseudonyms on this forum, he seems quite adept at quoting the mantra of the Labor Party room.

      Reply

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      06:33pm | 30/05/10

      Peter Simmons says:03:47pm; If I am son, they’re certainly not paying me for it. I’ll let you into a lil secret the only thing fake about me is my middle initial lol and that is noly because there is two of us in Australia and the other doesn’t hold my views, ask News Limited. So there you go fella, all bedda now? I have no reason to hide, but I do wonder about you since it seems to be an issue for you.

    • Luke says:

      03:51pm | 28/05/10

      They are only whaleing for SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH!
      GIVE THEM A BREAK!

      Reply

    • AB in JP says:

      04:00pm | 28/05/10

      The only real effect that the Sea Shepherd’s attacks have had is to push the Japanese sentiment further towards pro-whaling…..no-one appreciates being terrorized! But for the Sea Shepherd it makes good TV…..they have a reality show on US cable don’t they???

      Reply

    • AB in JP says:

      04:01pm | 28/05/10

      The only real effect that the Sea Shepherd’s attacks have had is to push the Japanese sentiment further towards pro-whaling…..no-one appreciates being terrorized! But for the Sea Shepherd it makes good TV…..they have a reality show on US cable don’t they???

      Reply

    • Pied Piper says:

      04:11pm | 28/05/10

      quickly get one old election promise done before calling the next one. add that with the apology and its been a pretty busy/successful term for KRudd.

      i know people love whales, but what is the difference between harpooning a few and pulling tonnes of tuna out of the sea (which we all eat with gay abandon)? they are just big fish (and delicious!)

      Reply

    • B S Goh says:

      04:21pm | 28/05/10

      Australia proposed legal action on Jap. Firstly the Japanese are catching the overpopulated Minke whales in the Southern Ocean.  According to the International Whaling Commission website data the Minke whales is more than 500,000 in the Southern Oceans. The Minke competes directly with the Blue whales for krill which has decreased more than 50% due to global warming and this has been documented by British scientists. The only way we humans can do to help save the extremely endangered Blue whales which is only about 3000 is to cull the Minke whales. We must stop playing politics on this whaling issue. The only endangered whale being harvested is the Bowhead whales at about 10,000 by natives of USA and Russia. We have NO chance of success in the proposed legal actions as many other nations like NZ, USA and others will support the harvest of the Minke whales in the Southern Ocean in the forthcoming meetings of IWC. The worst thing that can now happen is that the International Court will Australia has no right to its claims to sections of the Southern Ocean.

      Reply

    • Cat says:

      04:22pm | 28/05/10

      Sorry whales but the whole thing is just an election ploy.

      Reply

    • Ben says:

      04:32pm | 28/05/10

      Any Labour supporter who believes this to be a genuine (re)promise the Government will fulfill is deluded. This is disgusting distraction from the core issues at the heart of this election, and should be frowned upon. They will achieve nothing, waste more money, and then get angry about it on the 7:30 report.

      Reply

    • Ryan says:

      04:41pm | 28/05/10

      I wonder if the TAB is taking odds on the RTTB (Rudd time to back flip)?

      Reply

    • Just Sayin' says:

      05:04pm | 28/05/10

      Call me cynical if you like, but something stinks about the timing here.  They’ve had years to live up to their promises on whaling and now our government makes a lovely feel-good announcement about whales at exactly the same time as they are executing one of the most disgusting abuses of power in Australian political history.

      Reply

    • EJ says:

      05:06pm | 28/05/10

      There must be an election coming up soon!!

      Reply

    • Go Sea Shepherd says:

      06:11pm | 28/05/10

      Paul, you are so off the mark here. The Sea Shepherd is the only reason why so many whales have been saved this far. What exactly have you been doing to save whales?? Not much, so dont criticise those who are unless you are willing to get off your ass and take a stand like they have.

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen , rural SA says:

      11:42pm | 28/05/10

      Saving whales or feeding egos ? ? ? I think it is the later

    • Louisa says:

      06:33pm | 28/05/10

      Donate to Sea Shepherd as we do.

      Reply

    • BT says:

      06:34pm | 28/05/10

      What a disappointing article! Human beings are animals too in case you had forgotten - wouldn’t you be outraged if someone went around harpooning people in your neighbourhood?

      Reply

    • Muzz says:

      07:51pm | 28/05/10

      This announcement is nothing more than a cover up for the “$38 million tax payer funded advertising campaign” against the mining company’s that Rudd sneakerly let out of the bag on a Friday afternoon. You would have to be a fool to believe it had anything to do with whaling. It’s called a smoke screen kids.

      Reply

    • Shelley says:

      09:15pm | 28/05/10

      The public get notified on a Friday $40 odd million in taxpayer stolen funds are to be used to put ALP election adverts to air (starting tomorrow) and the ALP needed something huge to hide behind.

      This is it.

      I’d rather fund low income earners power bills over winter or build a shelter or two to accommodate some of the over 100000 Australian homeless PM Rudd!

      How about you?

      Reply

    • John A Neve says:

      05:27am | 29/05/10

      Shelley,

      Waht election are you talking about?  I was not aware an election had ben called!!
      Or are you in fact talking about the government explaining their position and reasons for the proposed SPT on minerals?
      As based on your post Shelley they don’t start until “tomorrow”, how do you know they are “election adverts”?
      Try telling us the truth Shelley, it will be a new experience for you.

    • Robert Smissen , rural SA says:

      11:45pm | 28/05/10

      Your comment:This election ploy will be as successful as his carbon trading farce

      Reply

    • Lezza says:

      12:02am | 29/05/10

      Silly piece, and the election ploy theorists who’ve rushed to the ramparts, are even sillier. Quite frankly, I don’t give a hoot about the strategems or the timings. As I see it, something constructive is finally being done.

      Reply

    • FosterJune says:

      12:21pm | 16/07/11

      If you’re in the corner and have got no money to move out from that, you will have to receive the loan. Just because it should help you definitely. I get small business loan every year and feel fine because of that.

      Reply
 
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