Sea Shepherd is going to get someone killed

Moira says:

09:27am | 07/01/10

Maybe if the Rudd Government followed through on another of it’s broken promises (regarding whaling) the sea shepherd wouldn’t have to take these risks.

The Badger says:

09:33am | 07/01/10

No doubt that Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd are vigilante type operatives. Whilst I too am pro whale, directly exposing themselves to potentially fatal collisions does not make them heroes, or martyrs to this cause. It diminishes their lustre and lessens their support.

Bob H says:

09:36am | 07/01/10

The stealth boat, I thought, was a high speed and highly agile craft in the right hands.  It is bad judgment to hang about in front of arrogant Japanese whalers and not have an exit plan.  The craft costs over $1m and in one instant more of the earths resources will be plundered to pay for this stupidity.  i wonder if GreenPeace have lost their way and having to much fun with generous donations to be an effective environmental watchdog.

Allen says:

09:36am | 07/01/10

Peter Garrett stated the obvious, “urged both sides to back off? hardly profound stuff Tory, from a Government Minister. You reckon that should do the job eh?

Tiffeney says:

09:49am | 07/01/10

Didn’t Rudd leading up to the last fed election say he would take legal action against Japan over whaling in our waters??????? And he recieved a huge round of applause for this approach on this issue. And now he’s in office NOTHING, once again. How many promises can this man break before Australia wakes up. He can not bring himself to make a decision on anything. Goes to show this Government will say anything to buy votes. More action as promised by the Government might have stopped all this happening in the first place.

Anthony says:

09:50am | 07/01/10

“roaming the highways of Australia in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking logging trucks and putting his young acolytes in harm’s way he’d be welcomed on to the national broadcaster to tout his particular brand of vigilantism?”

A slightly re-worked sentence might provoke a different result…

papachango says:

09:50am | 07/01/10

Read some of the views Paul Watson has expressed about humans some time. He wishes he could be reborn as a virus and kill off 80% of the worlds population. He cruises all over tha Antarctic in diesel powered ships but wants everyone else to be froced to use sail and solar-powred blimps. The man is a nutjob.

I’m not a fan of hunting whales and think the Japanese are hypocritical claiming it’s for ‘science’, but is catching minke whales any worse than fishing for southern bluefun tuna, who are far more endangered than minkes? We catch them then ship them in bulk to Japan.

iansand says:

09:56am | 07/01/10

If someone dies on the Sea Shepherd side will they receive the same level of hero worship as a suicide bomber?  Because that is the level of danger at which they are playing.  I too am against whaling, but playing chicken in the Southern Ocean is madness on all sides.

And I reckon I can see prop wash astern of the Ady Gill immediately prior to the collision, not that that has much to do with things other than casting doubt on the veracity of Mr Watson’s claims.

Ben says:

09:59am | 07/01/10

Tory - how much attnetion do you think this issue would get if it wasnt for Sea Shepard?  Seems to me that they are the only ones holding anyone to account - the Japanese Whalers and the Australian Government….

Greg Atkinson says:

09:59am | 07/01/10

Here we go again, the Australian Government is now taking the high moral ground in regards to whaling while people die unnecessarily in our hospitals because Kev07 is yet to fix the system as he promised to do.

I wonder how many people slept on the streets last night? All that money wasted on a “stealth vessel” could have been put to better use.

Anyway we have been here before haven’t we? Much Ado about whaling

Iko says:

10:00am | 07/01/10

Do I like what is going on in the Southern Ocean? NO! But lets be honest. Years of diplomatic to and froing has achieved nothing for the whales. Regardless of who is in power nothing will change. Think about this, if the Japanese were in Africa shooting elephants there would be worlwide outrage to stop it. So why not whales? I believe all goverments are scared of Japan and for that reason will not do anything about it. The Sea Shepherd does have a case to answer for the sinking but being labeled a terroist is way over the top.

AdamC says:

10:02am | 07/01/10

Hear, hear, Tory, this is what every sane person should be saying about Sea Shepherd’s Southern Ocean shenanigans. Would someone please tell me what this whole campaign/publicity stunt is supposed to accomplish? How will it influence the Japanese to do anything except continue to ‘scientifically’ whale in angry defiance of the Antipodean critics?

While I find the idea of (effectively) torturing whales to death distasteful, the Sea Shepherd campaigners are clearly fanatics. If they were fanatical about something else, something less cuddly than saving whales, no one would doubt how dangerous and unbalanced they are.

As well as banning Japanese whalers from Australian ports, the government should also ban the vessels of this dangerous organisation. The way this seaborne circus keeps escalating each year, it is a matter of time before someone is killed.

Eric says:

10:03am | 07/01/10

A speedboat can’t get out of the way of a lumbering whaling ship? Unpossible.

This collision was entirely the responsibility of the silly Sea Shepherd group. I hate whaling, but I don’t like those vigilante idiots either.

BAZ says:

10:04am | 07/01/10

Anyone that can support the actions of the Sea Shepard in this altercation needs to think about the consequences of these rambo type actions they are carring out. This type of behavior does not enhance there cause with rational thinking people.

mid says:

10:04am | 07/01/10

To extend your analogy, so Watson in his armoured car roaming the streets of Melbourne places said car in between the dealers vehicles and the vehicles of those wanting to purchase drugs?
Vigilante (from dictionary.com): any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.
Can you just point out to me which part of that is taking the law into his own hands?

Roger Brown says:

10:15am | 07/01/10

Why dont the media use the better clearer footage from the Sea Shepards other boat ????? Go watch it on y-tube. It clearly shows the Cat floating and then the Japanese Whale poachers boat steer hard right and then turn again right.  Rudd has the media working hard for the Japanese whalers. Kev07 another NON-core promise broken.

Peter says:

10:15am | 07/01/10

If it’s not a good idea to challenge the Japanese with legal action then why did Kevin Rudd say he would during his election campaign?

Albie says:

10:19am | 07/01/10

@Tifferney and others:

One key point in criticising the govt for not taking legal action against Japan for whaling in the southern ocean: THOSE ARE NOT AUSTRALIAN WATERS.

They are the waters adjacent to the land on Antarctica to which Australia has laid claim. This is entirely different.

The waters are NOT Australian jurisdiction, they are NOT our whales.

I am pro-whale and wish the Japanese would stop. But the reason that the Australian Govenrment hasn’t really done anything is more that they CAN’T, not that they won’t

ChrisG says:

10:20am | 07/01/10

If I thought this was a first order international or humanitarian issue, I think there would be 2 alternatives to the dangerous tactics of the sea shepherd - but both involve different levels of courage, prudence and fortitude: Spend all the resources being used on mounting these campaigns on changing public opinion in Japan - there’s a free press there - and mount non-violent protests in Japan that involve high profile and on-going court cases.

Andrew says:

10:20am | 07/01/10

In my opinion it is up to the owners of the boats and the people on the boat to judge whether they should put themselves in harms way.  Criticism of the sea shepherd needs to be followed by an alternative solution for it to have any credibility.  “Political pressure” does not seemed to have worked yet.

Also, the ABC is as entitled to interview Watson as a current affair is to interview single mums struggling in the burbs or dodgy used car salesmen.  While the blame has yet to be ascertained it was a newsworthy event.

Roger Brown says:

10:21am | 07/01/10

What if i wanted to start research on Panda Bears. Can i go to Japan and kill slowly Panda bears with a harpoon and cut them up alive and eat them??????? for research only every year 1,000 ‘s if you let these poachers killing whales like tuna fish ????? we wont have any whale watching industry. Where is Kevin 07 missing in action, another NON-CORE Promise broken

Albie says:

10:22am | 07/01/10

@Jack Thomas - go look at the treaty mate - they’re NOT “Australian Waters”

Joe Stephens says:

10:25am | 07/01/10

Is the Sea Shepard the one with the reality TV show or the one trying to get a reality TV show?

Either way, some people like whale some people don’t.. some people like fish some people don’t. Shouldn’t we all just “Live at let live” (term does not apply to food)

No.. these morons don’t realise how dangerous a grenade tipped spear is… NOT ONLY IS IT A SPEAR BUT IT’S GOT A FREAKEN GRENADE ON IT!!

Shane From Melbourne says:

10:27am | 07/01/10

Seriously, the deliberate ramming of an australian flagged vessel is not an act of war? Then I wonder what is. Better redefine what australian sovereighty is then because at the moment the Japanese are wiping their ass on the australian flag (and they’ll get away with it)

kell says:

10:27am | 07/01/10

I guess I might be in the minority here - but I find the horrific nature of whaling, and the senseless conseqences of it, far more disturbing than the protesters. Until it stops, I’ll always be inclined to support the protesters.

Drewboy says:

10:29am | 07/01/10

I don’t condone what the Sea Shepherd is doing down there, but if they don’t do something who will?

The government is sitting on its hands whilst the Japanese do what they please in the Southern ocean.

Somebody is making a stance but unfortunately it isn’t the right people doing it

Martin G says:

10:29am | 07/01/10

What makes the whales so special? Minke whales are not endangered, how is what the Japanese doing any different to us killing wild Kangaroos for meat? It’s in international waters. The double-standards of some people are amazing.

These ‘Sea Shepherd’ people are delusional, acting like everyone in Australia is behind them. Not sure why environmental groups act like this, perhaps the religious fervour is due to a belief that ‘Gaia’ has vested power in them to protect the Earth? Whatever it is, it is potentially very dangerous as you have mentioned, Tory.

Aussie's are Hyporcites says:

10:30am | 07/01/10

Who cares? Let’s all just ignore the problem and let the Japanese or whoever, do what ever they like while the rest of the world turns a blind eye. So what if they kill a few whales, and a few more and a few more and… move on to killing something else because the whales are all gone. Humans get charged with crimes against humanity for the slaughter of innocent millions, e.g. Nazi war crimes, but hey, they’re whales so who cares? As a race of semi-evolved creatures, the humans species is responsibility for protecting the innocent from wholesale slaughter, but whales don’t count… why? If the entire nation of Australia argued against whaling, then, and only then, something might actually be done, but so long as there are people out there like you Tory, opposing the few who are trying to end the senselessness, the status quo remains. Who is the terrorist here, the Sea Shepherd for protecting the innocent or the Japanese for murdering them?

Kim says:

10:29am | 07/01/10

ever wondered why paul Watson never takes any of the risk himself but sends his worshippers to do it for him. I hate the idea of whaling and despise the Japanese “lethal research” excuse. just how much lethal research does it take and what are they trying to find out? anyway back on topic. I cannot justify the actions of Sea Shepherd. lets face it when they boarded the whaling ship it was called protest (in Somalia) it’s called piracy. Until the world, not just Australia gets involved in banning whaling by anyone for any reason it will never end, until the whales are extinct. Of course by then it won’t matter!

Murray says:

10:31am | 07/01/10

@ Albie - are you trying to say that the Japanese don’t kill whales in Australian waters? If they don’t, why did the Rudd Government say they would take legal action against them before the election? They may not have during this incident, but I’m quite sure they do at other times.

Joe Stephens says:

10:31am | 07/01/10

@Jack Thomas: it’s easy to support whaling.. you just have to have one bite of it and your hooked… give it a go =)

Garry says:

10:31am | 07/01/10

People may not like the Japanese on the seas doing what they are doing but you must never accept that a violent, disruptive, potentially damaging activities are okay. 

I rolled my eyes at comments like ‘peaceful protest’ the anti-whalers are anything but peaceful, we all know that, its like saying ‘we come in peace but carry guns for defensive purposes only’  they use acts of violence to cause damage and that is wrong. The moment a protestor becomes violent or react aggresively they become a terrorist organisation. A protest is that, a protest that is voilent is not acceptable. Remeber G8, we want to allow protest but the wanton destorying of property and businesses is no longer a protest.
I find it amazing that a boat, much smaller than a ship, can manouver into positions in the hope the ship will stop. A ship can not stop immediately. My view is that this was a deliberate attempt to intimidate and hope for a ‘near miss’ or ‘rocked by heavy waves of a bigger ship’ but failed, a game of chicken perhaps that went badly.

You act agressively you become the bad guy. There are better ways to protest. You want to change opinion me thinks this is not the way to go

wolf says:

10:34am | 07/01/10

Well Jack if you feel that strongly about “an indo boat full of refugees ploughing through Aussie waters” you could always set up you own organisation, recruit some of your fellow rednecks, buy a boat and go play games with them in international waters to prevent their arrival.

iansand says:

10:37am | 07/01/10

Roger Brown @ 11-15 It is very difficult to assess the course of a boat on the open ocean from film.  Everything is relative, and the footage is shot from an unstable and moving platform.  You cannot make any assessmen of course changes. 

Look at this one http://media.smh.com.au/national/breaking-news/boats-collide-in-whaling-clash-1019525.html&exc_from=videobox It is pretty clear to me that there is propellor wash immediately before the collision.  Look for changes in the water immediately behind the hulls.  To my eye (and I am no expert) that boat started to move ahead, into the path of the Japanese boat, immediately before the collision.  It may be that they were trying to avoid the collision, but I reckon going astern would have been a better plan.

Albie says:

10:39am | 07/01/10

@Murray

If the Japanese are killing whales in what are legitimately Australian territorial waters, then by all means the Govt would be entitled and expected to take legal action.

Our territorial waters,  however, are nowhere near antarctica. The waters in the southern ocean near the Australian claim to antarctica are not Australian waters - the “Australian” bit of antarctica isn’t even australia!

Article 4 of the Antarctic Treaty (signed in 1959): “the treaty does not recognize, dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force;”

Therefore where the ramming incident occurred, for instance, was NOT Australian waters, contrary to media reports… it is likely that most of the whaling activities that are reported as “illigeal” by protest groups, isn’t actually technical illegal (despite being abhorrent and egregious activity in my book).

We need to concentrate our efforts on protesting safely and pursuing whatever legal/diplomatic courses we can take and not get caught up in unfounded arguments that just make us look stupid.

Steve says:

10:40am | 07/01/10

The Ady Gil is there to interfere with the whaling ships. There is nothing to be gained by stopping in front of a security ship as the Japs claim they did.

If that is not enough to convince you that the Japs are guilty of attempted murder, go and watch the footage. The Ady Gil is sitting still and then Jap ship changes course directly towards her.

I don’t support what Sea Shepherd are doing, but ramming their boat on purpose is totally unacceptable!

wolf says:

10:40am | 07/01/10

@Shane from Melbourne they’re actually wiping their arse with the kiwi flag.  The Ady Gil is registered in New Zealand.

N says:

10:42am | 07/01/10

Ladies and gents; while I don’t like whaling, lets not loose sight of the fact that Japan is doing nothing illegal. They are conducting “scientific whaling” in international waters, as such there is nothing the Australian government (or any government) can do by itself, it becomes an international problem that requires a unified response. Whaling in the traditional sense is illegal, however Japan insists it is for scientific purposes (even though the whales are later eaten), a rather ingenious loophole in the law which allows the continuation.

As a side note Sea Shepherd actually repainted the Ady Gil upon receiving her, with black radar deflective paint. Frankly it was only a matter of time before such a vessel was hit. I’m surprised any water authority would grant a registration to a civilian vessel disguised in such a way. I know if I were to build an aircraft which had minimal radar signature, the CAA would never approve it.

Bob says:

10:45am | 07/01/10

kell: i find the horrific nature of slaughterhouses and the senseless consequences of it far more disturbing than a bunch of eco-nazis trying to play chicken with a whaler, that beautiful and gentle animals such as sheep and cattle have to endure horrendous cruelty to end up as a patty in your burger. until it stops, i’m inclined to feel that you and the rest of people like yourself are hypocrites. similarly, many tuna species are greatly endangered and are likely to be extinct (their predicaments are much worse than the hunted whale species), why aren’t you greenies out there defending them? enjoy your canned tuna and sashimi too much perhaps?

ps. The waters down there does NOT belong to Australia no matter how much we like to believe it. It is not internationally recognized, we have no sovereign over it and therefore, the interference by Sea Shepperd is an act of piracy.

Tim says:

10:47am | 07/01/10

Jack Thomas,
maybe thats because they aren’t whaling in “Australian” waters. Very few countries recognise our claim over these waters and to compare them to the mainland is silly.
The next time a refugee ship lands in the Antarctic, i’ll be the first to say they can stay there as long as they want.
As Papachango says above, Southern Bluefin Tuna are far more endangered than Minke whales, why aren’t you protesting about Australian fishermen?

kell says:

10:54am | 07/01/10

@ Bob - sigh.
You’re one of those people who love pointing out other wrongs to justify a wrong they can’t be bothered doing anything about.
What a lovely world we will end up with if everyone follows your justifications.
I’m a vegetarian, so I guess I won’t have to worry about your analogy about beef patties!
If you do want to discuss the horrifc nature of slaughterhouses - I’m up for that anytime

Jeremy says:

10:55am | 07/01/10

I didn’t realise that the Japanese don’t do their whaling in “Australian Waters” What was all the stuff by the Government then about leagal action???????If they don’t do it in Ausralian waters?.

L Anderson says:

11:04am | 07/01/10

To Jack Thomas , Australian waters baloney, Australia is the only country that recognise it as Australian waters no other country does and that is why the navy doesn’t go down there and arrest the Japanese for supposedly illegal whaling

Ben says:

11:05am | 07/01/10

Your comment:
This issue will only become an issue when it is economic.  When/If the impacts of Japanese whaling are felt by tourism operators along the east coast will be the day we see a show down in the Southern Ocean.

marley says:

11:06am | 07/01/10

I’ve got no time for Paul Watson and his dangerous, destructive antics.  You want to stop Japanese whaling?  Put your resources into organizing a massive boycott of Toyota or Sony.  Hit the big Japanese firms in the pocket book, and the whaling will stop, just like that. 

But Watson will never go for that approach, because he makes a fortune out of his grandstanding.  He’s not interested in winning this “war,” just in bringing in the donations and getting his name in the media.

Betelnut says:

11:20am | 07/01/10

The disagreements over whaling are largly revolve around the subjective assigning of “value” to different species of animals by different cultures. While I too am anti-whaling, in that i belive the practice is outdated and unecessary, I am 100% against the actions of the Sea Shepherd vigilantes for two main reasons.

Firslty, whilst the government of Japan has a policy to which I (and the vast moajority of Australians) disagree with, there in no excuse for physicially targetting the Japanese workers employed upon these ships with lasers or acid bombs, or even the threat of entanglement.  By all means protest against whaling in non-violent forms wherever you wish, but when you start targetting the citizens of a country because of the policies of their government, you have crossed over into the realms of classic terrorism.

Secondly, the cessation of whaling by the Japanese will only come about by domestic political pressure.  Knowing this, the actions of SS are totally counter-productive and only entrench the practice futher by playing into petty nationalism in Japan.  All countries respond poorly to external pressure to change domestic policies and the stuborness with which the (minority)  pro-whaling sentiments are held only increases with each incident on the southern ocean. Coupled with the “face” culture of Asian cultures, the current strategy seems more about the adrenalin fuelled adventures of a few mavericks than actually trying to end whaling.

At the end of that day, Australians need to realise we have different attachment to whales compared to other cultures, and in addition, our ability to change the domestic policies of the Japanese governement are limited. By all means protest, peteition, take legal action, boycott Japanese products etc etc but stop endangering peoples lives.

Bob says:

11:20am | 07/01/10

@ Kell: No, i’m pointing what should be obvious and common sense but such things rarely exists in people who share views such as yourself. You support these protesters even if their methods are illegal and highly dangerous? You support their protest over fishing of non endangered whale species in what every educated persons know as international waters? Where is your passion when it comes to Australian fishing fleets down in the southern oceans hunting highly endangered tuna? Or the entire EU fleet in fact, hunting to near extinction the entire tuna population in the Atlantic and Mediterranean? How about hunting baby seals or salmon in Canada to near extinction? You see the hypocrisy do you not? At least you are a veg, so you aren’t as half bad as the majority of greenies who spout this constant hypocritical rubbish, id give you that.

Save the whales says:

11:21am | 07/01/10

It became an act of war the moment the first harpoon penetrated the body of a defenseless whale.  This is a war for the protection of a species being placed on the brink of extinction due to the Japanese insatiable appetite and for their lack of respect for the preservation of these creatures.

These whales cannot fight back and their only chance of survival lies in the hands of these people.

Some say these people are heroes others say they are moronic adrenaline junkies. But the point is they are the only ones providing a semblance of safety for these whales. Our goverment are too spineless to act.

Betelnut says:

11:21am | 07/01/10

The disagreements over whaling are largly revolve around the subjective assigning of “value” to different species of animals by different cultures. While I too am anti-whaling, in that i belive the practice is outdated and unecessary, I am 100% against the actions of the Sea Shepherd vigilantes for two main reasons.

Firslty, whilst the government of Japan has a policy to which I (and the vast moajority of Australians) disagree with, there in no excuse for physicially targetting the Japanese workers employed upon these ships with lasers or acid bombs, or even the threat of entanglement.  By all means protest against whaling in non-violent forms wherever you wish, but when you start targetting the citizens of a country because of the policies of their government, you have crossed over into the realms of classic terrorism.

Secondly, the cessation of whaling by the Japanese will only come about by domestic political pressure.  Knowing this, the actions of SS are totally counter-productive and only entrench the practice futher by playing into petty nationalism in Japan.  All countries respond poorly to external pressure to change domestic policies and the stuborness with which the (minority)  pro-whaling sentiments are held only increases with each incident on the southern ocean. Coupled with the “face” culture of Asian cultures, the current strategy seems more about the adrenalin fuelled adventures of a few mavericks than actually trying to end whaling.

At the end of that day, Australians need to realise we have different attachment to whales compared to other cultures, and in addition, our ability to change the domestic policies of the Japanese governement are limited. By all means protest, peteition, take legal action, boycott Japanese products etc etc but stop endangering peoples lives.

Graeme says:

11:23am | 07/01/10

I’m personally against this folly that the Japanese call “research” but what does my opinion count in the big scheme of things? Not much at all in reality, especially when somebody is making a whole lot of money out of it. And it seems when it comes to the continued killings of whales year in year out, that nobody else’s opinion from Australia really bothers the Japanese anyway, as they will continue to do this for many years to come, or at least until they’ve made a species extinct, all in the name of research. And not forgetting the Norwegians and Icelandics, the Japanese aren’t alone here. Whilst the Sea Shepherd group may be against what the Japanese are doing, protesting using tactics that are going to get somebody killed are totally foolish. This group seems to want to raise the bar each season, this year they used this stealth boat as a tactic, along with their green lasers and stink bombs etc. What will it be next season I wonder? They have already shown the world that their actions can border on total lunacy by also ramming one of the Japanese ships, what’s next, will they go out and buy and refit an ex-navy ship and start firing torpedos? The only correct thing I’ve heard so far is what Peter Garrett says, both sides should back off and pull their heads in before it becomes more than whales that are getting killed. My dad once told me that violence only provokes violence, and it certainly seems that way in this case.

SLF says:

11:23am | 07/01/10

What has this got to do with Australia?

The whaling is not happening in Australian Territorial waters, they are in international waters over which we have no governance.

The Australian people can demand action, the government could pass laws but it is meaningless as we have no jurisdiction there.

The fact that a ship, which earlier in the day has fired lasers and thrown objects into a boat got rammed is no bad thing. For instance if Somali pirates harassing and attacking oil tankers said they were doing it ‘to stop the trade in fossil fuels’ would people be supporting them?

Nothing to do with us, but if we should be condemning people it is the pirates on the Sea Shepherd and their ilk who have zero respect for international maritime law.

BTW I am pro whale, but would be interested to see Australias reaction if all the Hindus in the world started to campaign against us eating Beef.

CSallen says:

11:24am | 07/01/10

We should let Rudd do for the whales just what he did for the environment in Copenhagen!
Oh wait a second, he did NOTHING.
At least Sea Shepherd are highlighting the issue to the media around the world. If they weren’t there all we’d get would be an outraged segment on Today Tonight to infuriate the battlers.
I certainly do not agree with putting a flimsy trimaran in harm’s way in order to stop a massive ship from it’s path of action and for that Sea Shepherd sould be reprimanded. It’s like sailing a small boat in the path of a Supertanker- just ask Jessica Watson.
But a little perspective please. What the Japanese is doing is Illegal and needs to be stopped. How many of us feel helpless every year when the hunt starts?
There is no research, just hunting for food which most Japanese won’t eat anyway.

Albie says:

11:25am | 07/01/10

@Jeremy

I suspect that when the Govt was in opposition (i.e. when the promises were made), they had not quite grasped the legal situation fully…

They can’t really rectify the situation either because Australia wants those waters to be Australian waters - so KRudd can’t very well emphasise publicly that they’re not aussie waters so he can’t do anything… that would somewhat send the wrong message to the Japanese.

A conundrum if there ever was one. Maybe it’s time to review the Antarctic Treaty?

Albie says:

11:25am | 07/01/10

@Jeremy

I suspect that when the Govt was in opposition (i.e. when the promises were made), they had not quite grasped the legal situation fully…

They can’t really rectify the situation either because Australia wants those waters to be Australian waters - so KRudd can’t very well emphasise publicly that they’re not aussie waters so he can’t do anything… that would somewhat send the wrong message to the Japanese.

A conundrum if there ever was one. Maybe it’s time to review the Antarctic Treaty?

Super D says:

11:29am | 07/01/10

The Japanese aren’t doing anything illegal.  The sea sheperd eco-terrorists are.  We don’t have to like what the Japanese are doing though we are obliged to defend their legal right to do it.  We may like what sea sheperd are doing though we are morally bound to repudiate their terrorist activities.  Anyone who wishes to claim that the Japanese are breaking the law should at least identify which specific law they are bound by that they are in breach of.  Some vague notion of “international law” that they are allegedly in breach of will not do.  I want to know which specific law that the Japanese are actually bound by that they are breaking.

Justin Turner says:

11:29am | 07/01/10

Holey speedboat Batman!

How manoeuvrable do you think the Shonan Maru 2 is? No where near as much as the plastic not so fantastic. It looks to have steered towards the Ady Gil, but the onus was on the Kiwis to get out of the way. The skipper of the Ady Gil panicked when the Shonan Maru 2 got close & accelerated forward, probably trying to get across in front before the collision, but mis-judged it by a long shot. Result, no more Ady Gil.

If the government was confident of the Australian territorial waters claim, then navy would be there. The fact is, if they take Japan to court, they risk an enforceable ruling that it’s not Australian territorial waters, & that means potential open season on Antarctica itself.

It’s a mess that’s been building for decades.

Luke says:

11:30am | 07/01/10

@ Jeremy - that was Kevin Rudds spin mate, it’s called winning votes. Nothing else, you’ll notice he does this quite a lot.

J Cole says:

11:33am | 07/01/10

People have free will. They obviously feel passionately enough about this to risk their lives. No one is forced into anything they don’t wish to do from the start so where’s the problem if everyone knows the risks. I think it’s good that there are some people still that feel passionate enough about something that they don’t just wait “for the Government to do something”.

sam says:

11:42am | 07/01/10

It would be a shame if people were not allowed to stand up for something they believe in don’t you think Tory?

Harquebus says:

11:45am | 07/01/10

It’s time to arrest the poachers.

Kel says:

11:48am | 07/01/10

Call him a terrorist, a vigilante, whatever, he saved 100’s of whales last season from being slaughtered and is set to do the same this season!!!!!

I’m ok with that…. it would be great if our government showed the same passion!!! And let’s not forget, the Sea Shepherd would not need to be there if Mr Rudd kept his election promise….....  Uh oh well, any of the his elections promises really!!!!

S.L says:

11:50am | 07/01/10

It reminds me of the tree huggers who paddle kayaks out in an attempt to stop a trillion ton American warship from entering Sydney harbour and then scream at every ambulance chasing TV crew they can find that the Yanks tried to run them over!!!!!!!
I too are pro Whale but nobody is holding a gun to the activists heads. They are there of there own accord. If harm comes to them they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Jayco says:

11:57am | 07/01/10

I think you shouldn’t write about subjects you clearly have no idea about, Tory. Go the Sea Shepherds. Continue the fight as our government don’t have the balls. Don’t worry about diplomacy. If we can establish a relationship with Japan after WWII I’m sure they’ll get over the collapse of a deceitful and inhumane industry such as whaling. And when it does collapse (its on its knees now, hence the whaling boat aggression)organsations such as SS can bask in the glory and pour more resources into their other campaigns such as the shark fin issue.
P.S. They aren’t vigilantes. They comply to the same laws that we all do.

Bob says:

11:57am | 07/01/10

Sam: yeah stand up some more, i cant wait for the next escalation so that the sea shepperd is finally sunk with the crew arrested for piracy. good riddance. oh yes, those wanting australia to send navy ships to help out.. go ahead, i’d like to see that too. i mean our nation’s credibility cant be hurt much worse can it with Kevin07 at the helm..

David Mitchell says:

12:02pm | 07/01/10

Justin, you obviously don’t know a thing about boating, the Andy Gil was actually stationary when the Japanese Pirates deliberately aimed their vessel at the Andy Gil. The captain of the Andy Gil in fact did all he could to get his vessel out of the way by both using reverse and forward thrust. The only thing he could do in the situation.  THe Japanese should be held liable for attempted murder.  In addition, they failed in their duty as is required under International Marine law to come to the aid of the sticken vessel which put out a May Day signal following being struck. 

In addition they continued to water cannon the crew of the Andy Gil only further risking their lives. The Japanese Master/crew, the Japanese whaling society and government are condemmed by their actions and should be prosecuted under International Law !!!! 

Super D, if you think you are so clever and knowledgeable about International Marine Law then please start quoting from it your self.  Until then you too are condemned by your ignorance.  And as to your claims of the Sea Sheppard being Eco Terrorists, I don’t think so since after all they were neither the aggressor nor actually caused any actions which endangered the Japanese lives.  It is the other way around the Japanese are the pirates and terrorists !!!!

RIP Ady Gil says:

12:06pm | 07/01/10

what are all these people on claiming a waste of money on the Ady Gil, Australia didn’t pay for the thing, and it was donated to the Sea Shepard, so get over the cost will you, let the Yank who paid for it worry about the loss of money. also do you people realsie, this is not happening in Australian waters, it is in internation waters. if the japs can’t enter australian waters without permission, they certainly cannot harm whales in australian waters. its against the law. so if Mr Watson was to go around melbourne streets being a vigilante, he would then be charged. last of all, why say Mr Watson is putting peoples lives at risk. they are volenteers, they know the risks they go on their own free will. seems like alot of people are commenting on something they know nothing about

John Williams says:

12:07pm | 07/01/10

Ban whaling?
On what basis, because you think they are cute?
Because you do not like killing animals?
Whoa ! That could raise some problems in the food chain supply.
The Sea Shepherds are in reality The Sea Terrorists.

ad says:

12:09pm | 07/01/10

It seems all very easy to me. The whale hunt is held under the guise of scientific research. It has been going on for some time. I assume whales haven’t changed much over the last 50 years so what “new” scientific research are they doing each year. I can only assume they are liars or have the worst scientists on the planet. You choose - one is the truth

cats says:

12:15pm | 07/01/10

I fully support the Sea Shepard. There is no humane way to kill a whale. There are human ways to kill cattle etc, thats why we generally agree with eating cattle. Also, we do not breed whales. So killing such a large number of them are endangering them. The Japanese must be either really arrogant and think they can do whatever they want, or they just really love eating whale. Personally, i think its the former.

Also, being legal does not make it right. There are many laws in place that are not right. For example, the exclusion of homosexuals to marry, or the outlaw of 220 herbs that grow naturally in the ground (including marijuana). And those who don’t believe in these laws should be able to fight to have them reversed.

@G - your an idiot. The Sea Shepard focusses on Whales. There are HEAPS of other organisations to deal with other animals being slaughtered. I suggest you do your research before posting such ignorant crap. WSPA, amoung other things, deals with the slaughter of thousands of dogs in third world countries. PETA deals with the slaughter of ANY animal for meat, including cattle. These kinds of organisations don’t rate animals on cuteness by any stretch of imagination.

I bet you lot feel so safe in your desk jobs and suburban homes that you’d never give a second thought to trying something different and risky. Wankers.

Jamie says:

12:21pm | 07/01/10

Any act that is driven by profit whether it be Japanese whaling or Australian bluefin tuna fishing is wrong.

If everyone would stand up for what thy truly believe to be good than this world would be a different place, and governments would fear the people, a very healthy relationship. Not the other way round.

Lucie says:

12:23pm | 07/01/10

Have we heard anything from the Rudd Government regarding this? I heard Greg Hunt from the opposition on ABC2 Breakfast, comment this morning. This Governmnt always seem to hide when there are any sticky situations to deal with. We hardly heard anything for weeks with the oil spill pouring into the Indian Ocean as well.

Eddie says:

12:28pm | 07/01/10

Legends - every one of them -

Mick of the ocean says:

12:28pm | 07/01/10

So if I pass a semi-trailer pull in front of him then stop and he hits me,  he is in the wrong? get real.

Jeefunk says:

12:31pm | 07/01/10

The Japanese are totally in the wrong here, not because of whaling but because they aimed at the Andy Gil. Watch the video. And I love the little garnish at the end - even after tearing off the bow of the smaller vessel, they sprayed it using water cannons. What a bunch of wankers. They should be held responsible for what is an obvious attempt to harm the crew on the Andy Gil.

Sea Shepherd Supporter says:

12:33pm | 07/01/10

At least these people are out there fighting for a cause they believe in, rather than commenting from their armchairs at home about what should or shouldn’t be done or writing opinionated blogs. The crew go there knowing the dangers and are willing to fight for the future of our environment, if only there were more people who actually took some sort of action to better the planet.

Jeremy Bentham says:

12:34pm | 07/01/10

The Punch has a good point. The freezing waters of the Antarctic offer minimal survival times for ship wreck victims, to the extent one could consider the Japanese if they deliberately rammed the protesters of attempting murder. There already have been reports of them using military standard lasers, so one could get the impression that they intend to stop the protests with deadly force. I have made a conscious decision to consider whether I really need japanese products if other the same products are available from a more ethical country.

David Mitchell says:

12:41pm | 07/01/10

To further add to what I commented on re Super D’s ignorance of International Maritime Law and covernants:  As per gleaned from Wiki:  The United Nations International Maritime Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Admiralty Law- Maritime Law otherwise known as the Law of the Sea in general deal with all things related to maritime law including incidents at sea, as well as the Duty of Care requirements of shipowners and their Masters (ie. Captains and crew of a vessel).

Prior to the mid-1970s, most international conventions concerning maritime trade and commerce originated in a private organization of maritime lawyers known as the Comité Maritime International (International Maritime Committee or CMI). Founded in 1897, the CMI was responsible for the drafting of numerous international conventions including the Hague Rules (International Convention on Bills of Lading), the Visby Amendments (amending the Hague Rules), the Salvage Convention and many others. While the CMI continues to function in an advisory capacity, many of its functions have been taken over by the International Maritime Organization, which was established by the United Nations in 1958 but did not become truly effective until about 1974.

The IMO has prepared numerous international conventions concerning maritime safety including the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), the Collision Regulations (COLREGS), Maritime Pollution Regulations (MARPOL), International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Convention (IAMSAR) and others. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defined a treaty regarding protection of the marine environment and various maritime boundaries.

Once adopted, the international conventions are enforced by the individual nations which are signatories, either through their local Coast Guards, or through their courts. 

Both the Australian, NZ, US and Japanese Governments are all signatories to these International conventions and so hence legal action can and should be taken by not only the Sea Sheppard society but as well our respective governments against both the Master/Crew, the Japanese whaling organisation and the Japananese governments.

I seriously hope this occurs and that they are found guilty and appropriately prosecuted and fined and/or jailed.  It is what they deserve

Bob Rivers says:

12:43pm | 07/01/10

What a naive piece of prose:

“Do you reckon if Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers and putting his young acolytes in harm’s way he’d be welcomed on to the national broadcaster to tout his particular brand of vigilantism? I doubt it.”

That’s because Melbourne has a government-funded and porfessionally trained police force to tackle the so-called drug dealers and protect the public at large. Who is protecting the whales and tackling the illegal hunting of them in Australian economic waters by the Japanese? No-one. Except Sea Shepherd.

Great analogy Tory. Not.

Tim says:

12:47pm | 07/01/10

Cats,
so you don’t believe in the rule of law?

You say that people who disagree with laws should be able to fight to have them changed?

So i’m assuming from your comments that you’d think it was OK if some religious fundamentalist bombed an abortion clinic then?
I mean they’re only fighting for what they believe is right aren’t they?

kelly says:

12:48pm | 07/01/10

@ Jamie, Cats & Sea Shepard supporter -
THANK YOU. I appauld your comments & wish so much that there were more like you.

Steve of Cornubia says:

12:55pm | 07/01/10

I reckon everybody who has given donations to the organisation(s) that bought that boat have a right to ask some serious questions. I’m not good at seeing into the future, but when I first clapped eyes on the Sea Shepherd I thought, “What the…...?” I could see no sense whatsoever in buying such a fragile and ridiculously expensive craft (to buy, maintain and operate), just to hassle lumbering whaling ships. Then, within days, the daft thing was rammed by one of the big, slow, cumbersome japanese vessels.

I think somebody bought that thing just because he could, and he fancied himself as Batman. Stupid, arrogant and an alarming waste of generous people’s money.

The only thing dafter than that would be actually believing that Kevin Rudd was going to stop whaling. Mind you, he was going to single-handedly fix the world’s climate with a tax, too. No wonder he’s turned to writing fiction, he’s a dab hand at it.

Joe Stephens says:

12:55pm | 07/01/10

@Sea Shepherd Supporter: if you’re such a supporter, what the hell are you doing on an armchair commenting on blogs? It might be considered hypocritical, unless your actually typing from the boat, which in that case I’d say you have bigger problems to worry about then blog. Go fight for the cause you apparently believe in. I believe in the food chain which I can conveniently fight for and enjoy on any armchair.

Papag says:

01:01pm | 07/01/10

Sea Sheperd,should change the name to See Idiots.
Australia has no sovereignty on the Southern Ocean therefore International Maritime laws apply.Not Australian “Laws”.
The Japenese have the right to travel on these waters.
The Sea Sheperd put a small craft in front of a large craft which usually ends in dissaster.
The Sea Sheppards Crew are no better than the Feral unwashed Tree huggers.And no smarter.

Patrick says:

01:02pm | 07/01/10

Further the Andy Gil, and Sea Shepard don’t have Australian registered vessels. As far as is known, these vessels don’t fly countries of origin flags and as such are pirates operating in international waters. Australia has no responsibility for these ships or their crew.

They are a bunch of pirates who complain when things go wrong for them. Yet if they ever sink a Japanese whaling vessel they will be celebrating a victory. Hypocrisy if I’ve ever seen it.

Shane From Melbourne says:

01:02pm | 07/01/10

I stand corrected upon the registry of the Greenpeace vessel.
Looking at the NZ papers, they are calling it a “collision”, urging restraint in those waters and the usual government waffle. Maritime New Zealand will investigate and no doubt a limp statement of condemnation will be issued by the New Zealand government.

hehe says:

01:03pm | 07/01/10

I wish joe stephens and others got off their armchair and became a different part of the food chain….

Joe Stephens says:

01:13pm | 07/01/10

@hehe: oh don’t be so melodramatic.. why don’t you wish for world peace or something. What about an end to global poverty and hunger? Surely you can’t use all your wishes up on people who don’t agree with you.

Fredrick says:

01:15pm | 07/01/10

The Ady Gil is NZ registered. The Steve Irwin is Dutch. Shane, neither are from Greenpeace, they belong to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Super D says:

01:18pm | 07/01/10

@David Mitchell

I can’t see anything in those laws about whaling being illegal.

Though if we’re quoting wikipedia, the world’s most unauthoratative source of information righ back at you”

“Eco-terrorism refers to acts of terrorism, violence or sabotage committed in support of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes against persons or their property”

Pretty much sums up what Sea Sheperd do. 

At best you can claim that the Japanese failed to stop and render assistance to a stricken vessel though seeing as there was another Sea Sheperd boat right there on the spot and that all 6 crew members were rescued it’s hard to call this anything more than bad form.  Its not as if the sea sheperd activists were left clinging to their sinking terror vessel for hours.  I call no foul.

Again, details of the laws against whaling that japan is bound by yet in breach of is what we’re after.  I don’t need to quote them, I know there aren’t any.  This doesn’t mean that the Japanes aren’t completely gaming the international whaling rules and are in breach of their spirit or that I support what they are doing in any way, shape or form.

Raymond says:

01:23pm | 07/01/10

Japanese TV news shows those Steve Irwin clowns shining a green laser into the eyes of the Japanese bridge crew.
What if the Japanese retaliate by lasering the crew of the helicopter.
Can you imagine the uproar.

eek. says:

01:24pm | 07/01/10

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2794140/Thar-he-rows-Daring-Brit-takes-whale-photos-from-his-canoe.html

I hope Japan didn’t see this story!

Jane says:

01:26pm | 07/01/10

Spot on Tory…...it screams deliberate STUNT…and a pretty stupid and dangerous one at that. They could have got out of the way but CHOSE not to. Serve them right.

Then again…KRudd did pledge legal ‘action’ on whalers pre-election….and nothing has transpired. I guess it’s a comment on Labor’s perception of the word ‘action’ in general as evidenced by their State comrades over the years….ergo ‘to do nothing’.
Pity people, including Greenpeace, were so easily deceived and hopeful.

Greenpeace cowboys are obviously getting a bit frustrated with said inaction and broken promises no doubt…but this was NOT the way to react.

wolf says:

01:27pm | 07/01/10

@Shane from Melbourne: The vessel does not belong to Greenpeace, it belongs to Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was formed by Paul Watson after he was expelled from Greenpeace for being a fat douchbag.
This is part of the reason I despise Sea Shepherd and Paul Watson - their irresponsible lunacy tarnishes the reputation of other legitimate organisations that I happily support.

Mike says:

01:27pm | 07/01/10

Tory, you opened this article with the remark: “Do you reckon if Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers and putting his young acolytes in harm’s way he’d be welcomed on to the national broadcaster to tout his particular brand of vigilantism? I doubt it.”

That’s an attempt to directly compare a vigilante with the Sea Shepherd’s activities.  It is making a “straw man” of the debate.  As you would be aware, that means you attack an argument that was not made because you believe you can more effectively argue the unmade point.  As you would also be aware, that is an intellectually dishonest debating tactic.

Comparing Sea Shepherd to a vigilante cruising the streets of Melbourne looking for drug dealers—which is what you are doing—ignores several rather significant features which make the comparison invalid.

For a start, whilst Melbourne has an active and well-staffed police force devoted to hunting down and arresting criminals—they even patrol Melborune occasionally, or so I’ve heard—international waters do not.  That is part of the argument against vigilantism: the police have the role of objectively enforcing the law, and because vigilantes are infrequently objective, the role is properly enforced by police.  However, there is no such police force, national or UN-based, which patrols international waters.  If anything the debate here clearly shows individual countries have little to no rights in international waters beyond vigilantism as you ineptly describe it—the piracy problem in Somalia was eventually combated by a flotilla of armed military vessels from several “vigilante” countries, not by the bloody UN.  And there certainly is no UN or national-based police force equipped or even devoted to investigating, arresting, or prosecuting breaches of the moratorium on whaling.

One might also note the inadequacy of the relevant authorities in enforcing that moratorium.  Taking your (flawed) analogy for a moment, when police are confronted with a criminal with a white powdery substance in his possession, most police don’t simply back away when the criminal says “It’s only talcum powder, mate.”  They arrest the individual on suspicion and test the substance.

Lastly, as other people have noted, despite your direct comparison with Melbourne streets, this isn’t happening on Australian soil.  It is happening in international waters.  It is almost a lawless area.  There are certain international laws that may apply, but it is not a terribly civilised area.  At the end of the day, direct action or force may be required in a just cause.  As far as I can tell Sea Shepherd has neither injured or killed any Japanese whaler.  And just as the crews of the Sea Shepherd accept the risks of their conduct, any Japanese crewer on a whaler would have to be blind not to accept the risks of their chosen vocation, which now includes confrontation with the Sea Shepherd.  There is a very strong case that the Japanese are breaking international law by ignoring the moratorium on whaling or dishonestly claiming that the whaling is scientific.  The IWC, UN, or any “concerned vigilante” nations which show a lot greater interest in the hijacking of oil tankers don’t seem to be bothered by this possibility.  I fail to see why the said IWC, UN, or “concerned vigilante” nations should be bothered about the private activities of a group of individuals who aren’t affecting the oil trade.

Joe says:

01:30pm | 07/01/10

i love how no one can have another view if it doesn’t fit with Joe Stephens…

or we’re are all rednecks

Jane says:

01:35pm | 07/01/10

Thanks wolf…..I’m corrected also then….it’s ‘Sea Shepherd’  NOT ‘Greenpeace’ as I alluded to as well.

gareth says:

01:36pm | 07/01/10

So a small highly moveable boat couldn’t get out the way of a large vessel??? That’s a bit fishy!!

Also this isn’t “our waters”. Australia’s claim to the Australian Antarctic Territory is only recognised by a handful of other countries. If this went to the International Criminal Court it could backfire big time.

Damian Martin says:

01:40pm | 07/01/10

@ Tory Maguire
“We’re not big on vigilantes in this nation, which has an imperfect but workable system of the rule of law, enforced by publicly funded police.”
I don’t know about you, but I haven’t noticed any police boats in the southern ocean recently.

Freddo says:

01:45pm | 07/01/10

@Mike (2:27pm),
so its OK to become a pirate and break any laws you deem necessary if you are fighting for a “just” cause.
Please define what a “just” cause is.

JIMBO says:

01:46pm | 07/01/10

Oh no, the hippies and junkies have taken over the blogs ...
Get me out of this desk job, and into an alternative non-taxable lifestyle (funded by our government and taxpayers of course). I will be able to spend my days eating local veg produce, smoking local weed, and voicing my opinions all day long et al.

Vaughan says:

01:47pm | 07/01/10

Armoured boat Tory? Interesting, is that because it was built using kevlar and carbon fibre in order for it to be as strong as possible when cutting through waves in high seas whilst scooting round the world as an eco racer? This particular boat is/was a technological stroke of genius built to highlight more ecological shipping practises before it was purchased and donated to the Sea Shepherd group and renamed. Its profile and colour provide a stealth capability but on this occassion I fear that the Japanese whaling captain saw it well enough to steer in its direction.

AJ of Here says:

01:49pm | 07/01/10

Isn’t the Japanese allowed an annual quota of whales according to the Whaling Treaty (apologies as I don’t know the exact name for it) they signed? If so, interfering with their intake of quota is not legally defensible.

On top of that, to suggest that a 40,000 ton ship can outmanouevre and deliberately ram what amounts to a speedboat is laughable in the extreme. Who are these guys trying to fool? Not the thinking public, I’ll bet. As anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of science can tell you, you cannot break certain rules of physics. In this case, the laws of momentum and inertia. There is no way a ship the size of the whaler can outperform the Andy Gil. The fact that these guys are trying to convince the public of such is an insult to the intelligence of all Australians.

Lastly, there are certain maritime safety rules that all ships must adhere to, even in international waters. I submit that the Sea Shepherd Society as a whole has violated these rules on numerous occasions, and in this case, the Andy Gil has done the same and paid the price. If anyone is to be persecuted, it should be the SSS for reckless acts endangering shipping and human lives, piracy, and other such activities.

Craig says:

01:49pm | 07/01/10

@ Roger Brown

I’d probably go to China if I wanted to hunt Panda Bears. Not too many in Japan mate

Yamaguchi says:

01:55pm | 07/01/10

I am an Japanese man living Tokyo. Sea Shepard tactics is equal International Piracy. I am not impressed with this design of Ady boat and in retaliation I will have to my birthday party at whale restaurant this year.

BULMKT says:

01:56pm | 07/01/10

Sooner or later, those who insist on playing chicken will lose.

As for the Sea Shepherd founder, Paul Watson, this dude is nothing more than an eco-terrorist.
http://www.highnorth.no/library/movements/Sea_Shepherd/se-sh-re.htm
http://www.icrwhale.org/eng/history.pdf

By the way, WTF is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society doing with a hi-tech multi million dollar stealth speed boat anyway? What’s next, mounted 50 calibre machine guns? RPG’s? Torpedoes?

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is nothing more than the sea version of Al-Qaeda.

I’m not a fan of whaling either, but the actions of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society don’t impress me one bit.

Andrew says:

02:09pm | 07/01/10

The Japanese are harvesting a natural regenerating resource, wether we like it or not,its more climate friendly than raising beef or other types of food ,and there’s not a lot of difference to fishing for other species of marine life(discounting the emotion) providing they don’t place the species in danger where’s the problem,and as far as a large boat ramming a very manoeuvrable speedboat your dreaming,the manoeuvrability of a large boat at close quarters is at best paradoxical.

JIM says:

02:24pm | 07/01/10

Our convict background has shone through ... Many here are supporting the Sea Shepherd pirates! But then again, it is the vocal minority that has spoken, the majority are either working (to stabilise the Aust economy) with no time to blog, or still on holidays with families.

Joe Stephens says:

02:26pm | 07/01/10

@Joe: love the name, but shouldn’t have changed it so many times before writing something smart

Yo,ho,ho and a bottle of rum... says:

02:29pm | 07/01/10

Pirates indeed, have a look at the flags that SS fly / paint on their ships; its a pseudo jolly roger with the ‘bones’ bit replaced by a shepherd crook and a trident. Japanese (or any) navy could be forgiven for firing on such vessels as a genuine mistake, sighting the jolly roger as a marking of a pirate ship.

Mike says:

02:33pm | 07/01/10

@ AJ: the Japanese intake of whales is for “scientific” purposes.  That’s the *only* reason they are permitted by the treaty to take whales.  If the whales are being slaughtered for reasons *other* than scientific whaling, they are in breach of the treaty.  There is an extremely strong case that given:
(a) whales are being slaughtered in quite literally their thousands every year;
(b) the market in whale meat which exists in Japan; and
(c) the failure of any Japanese body to produce any research or experiment which would justify the killing of whales in vast quantities
that Japan’s whaling is commercial, not scientific, and therefore in breach of the whaling moratorium.  Using Tory’s inept analogy: a criminal saying that the bag of white powder found on him is just a small bag of flour that he needs to bake a fruit cake.

Gia says:

02:43pm | 07/01/10

Can’t you all see the ridiculousness of saying “i’m pro whale” or “i don’t hate whales”? It’s hilarious, actually. I can safely assume that whales haven’t directly negatively affected your life, so of course you’re not anti whale. Bright bunch of commenters you have here, Tory.

And Tory, the Sea Shepherds are aware that one day they may be in severe danger. You’re not bringing any “news flash” to the table. They are out there doing what they want to do, aware of the worst consequences. How are they putting your life in danger? What’s it to you? If one of them dies, you can -golly gosh- write a blog about it, and your armchair warrior attitude can safely stay put as you mutter “told you so”.

Kel says:

02:43pm | 07/01/10

@ Yamaguchi 2.55pm - Well said….. ner nerny ner!!!!!

@ BULMKT 2.56 - WTF Al-Qaeda? Are you seriously comparing the slaughter (there is no HUMANE way to kill a whale) of innocent whales and the people who protect them to someone who arranged suicide bombers to fly planes into the WTC killing 3000 people?????

And, they have a “hi-tech multi million dollar stealth speed boat” because, people from all over the world donated money (1.5 mill for the Andy Gil & 5 mill for the Bob Barker) to Paul Watson and the Shepherd Conservation Society to protect whales from being slaughtered and being Yamaguchi’s birthday dinner!!!!

Julie Coker-Godson says:

02:48pm | 07/01/10

As far as I’m concerned I don’t like the idea of any Japanese ship hunting either in or thereabouts to Australian waters at any time, the Japanese have their own waters to fish, if they have out-fished them, that is entirely their fault.  I fully support the Sea Shepherd.

Dave says:

02:50pm | 07/01/10

Is there a moron overflow today? Special School on holidays? Off your meds??

Sea Sheppard and anyone who supports them are utter arse clowns who deserve everything they get and going by the posters here most of you don’t even have a basic grasp of the actual facts outside of your outright propaganda your spewing

1. Minke Whales are NOT, I repeat for the criminally stupid NOT ENDANGERED!! A quick 30 second Google would tell you that. Try it, I dare you. There are nearly 1 million whales in the Antarctic Zone - yes 1 friggin MILLION. The Japanese take just over 12 000 per year. The annual growth rate of whales craps all over that. The Japanese aren’t even making a dent in the population.
2. Pandas are in China not Japan you idiot - get a grownup to construct your next Strawman
3. The ‘stealth boat’ was gifted to Sea Shepard by a rich moron
4. Its registered in In Zud and is not an ‘Australian’ flagged boat
5. In regards to it being ‘our territorial waters’ not its bloody not. Most nations (read those who weren’t part of the lucky dip carve up back last century) ignore and territorial claims. Go and have another look at that map were Australia ‘claims’ near 3/4’s of the bloody continent….see all those foreign stations in ‘our’ territory…do you think the Russians, French etc asked any of our governments if they could build there?
6. What do you think is easier to maneuver a) a light speedboat or b) a huge fricken whaling ship? The morons in that speedboat are the only ones at fault. They could have moved out of the way of that monster anytime they wanted to. They put themselves and their craft in harms way deliberately and came off second best - sucked in, pity it didn’t sink immediately.

Fair dinkum, people’s stupidity continually astounds me…especially those who are allegedly so vehement in their support/opposition to a topic and yet are happy to publicly embarrass themselves with lack of any actual knowledge on the subject.

Minke Whales are not endangered, anyone trying to tell you different is lying. End of Story. The Japanese and anyone else - including the Norwegians who take the same amount of whales per year as the Japanese, should be allowed to harvest the whales for domestic consumption. Its no different to all the cows, pigs, chickens, roo’s, emu’s, crocs, goats, deer etc we butcher by the hundreds of thousands on a daily basis to feed our population. I’d love to see whale meat on the shelves and would give it a crack to see what it tasted like.

Again, for the morons, the Minke whale is not endangered, get it through your thick skulls and at least be right once in the conversation.

Look Closer says:

03:04pm | 07/01/10

Just one question DAVE - since you seem so adamant & all….
er - why EXACTLY would it be necessary for the Japanese to CONTINUALLY say they are killing whales for ‘scientific research’ if what you’re saying was even remotely true????
With all the $$$ invloved in Japan, wouldn’t they simply put forward your argument (with funding behind it’s research) rather than feeling the need to lie to the international community???????

cats says:

03:08pm | 07/01/10

@Tim

Do you seriously think that from my comments, i would assume it’s ok for people to blow up buildings they don’t agree with?You didn’t notice that my examples were ones in which no one is harmed? Anti-abortion people (as much as i disagree with them) have every right to protest to have laws changed, assumingly that they do so without harming anyone else. Don’t you understand, that protesting to have laws changed is the only way to have them changed? If no one petitioned to change laws, we would still be following medieval rules! Don’t be so ignorant.

@JIMBO
I’m not sure how you came to the conclusion that i am a junkie veg hippie who lives off centrelink. I don’t feel the need to tell you about my life. I was critizising the mentality of people on here - that anyone who does something “dangerous” or stands up for what they believe in, is a lunatic and is doing the wrong thing. Just look at how they reacted to Jessica Watson, a teenager who was not sitting at home drinking or sleeping around with various guys, but having the time of her life and doing something she believed in. This mentality is typical of inner city dwellers in their white picket fences who have never had an adventure and chose to spend their whole lives working 8-5, going on the occasional holiday, and having 2.5 kids. Anyone who does anything different to them is an idiot, apparently.

Tim says:

03:10pm | 07/01/10

For Kel:
Terrorism (from dictionary.com)
–noun 1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.
4.The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

I think that describes the actions of both Al Qaeda and the Sea Shepherd group quite accurately.

Jack Thomas says:

03:13pm | 07/01/10

To quote Peter Garrett’s own website,“I rise to speak about the Japanese government continuing to perpetuate the sham of scientific whaling in Australian waters.

This has resulted in the slaughter of some 400 whales. Weep, fellow Australians, for the fate of these beautiful creatures.

For those of us like me who have been connected with this issue for over 25 years, weep when you know that your government is not doing enough.

Weep when you recognise that we now have a new consciousness about living in harmony and balance with creatures like the whales. There are some who would smile at this and yet, by the weight of emails that I am receiving in my office—and I am sure it is the same for my other colleagues in the House—it seems that most if not all Australians are horrified at the thought that these animals—innocent, creative, gentle, intelligent and, incidentally, great singers in the animal kingdom—are being murdered in this way. It really is time for the government to act.”

I am not sure who is the bigger flog, Garrett or some of the kill-the-hippy Japanese whaling cheer squad posting here.

Bob Rivers says:

03:18pm | 07/01/10

People who can’t spell or have a basic grasp of grammar don’t get to call other people “morons”, Dave. Because only an “arse clown” fails to understand that there is no humane way to kill wild whales - the shocking deaths of which cannot in any way be compared to that of most domestic livestock. That is why many of us are against whaling - because it is a cruel and barbaric practice to harpoon mammals and then drag them behind a boat waiting for them to die an agonising death, which can take up to an hour or more in some documented cases.

cats says:

03:19pm | 07/01/10

@Dave

They are not harvesting the whales, AND THEY NEVER WILL, as its too expensive and too hard as whales need huge amounts of water to live in. So, the only way to catch and eat a whale is to harpoon a live, free whale. Just because minke whales are not endangered now, doesn’t mean they won’t be if the hunting continues at such a rate. Whaling is not a sustainable practice. All extinct animals started like this: not extinct.

VOR says:

03:20pm | 07/01/10

Japanese footage clearly shows the Ady Gill starting to move forward into the path of the Shonan Maru 2. It looks like a massive bluff that failed.

In any case, like Bob, above, I find the concern over whale slaughter intensely hypocritical. Hundreds of thousands of defenceless cattle, sheep and chickens are killed in horrible ways every year, but most urbanites never see it.

Dan says:

03:27pm | 07/01/10

Australians tend to take an absolutist view on the banning of whaling without listening to any of the arguments put forward by the Japanese.  In the interests of restoring balance to the debate please consider the following arguments.  1. Minke whales are not classified as threatened or endangered.  In fact, their numbers have steadily increased over the last 20 years despite continued Japanese whaling.  The number of Minke whales taken annually from the Southern Ocean (around 60) is entirely sustainable compared with the total population (around 80 thousand).  2. The desire to “save the whales” is a relatively modern fad, whilst whale meat has been part of the Japanese diet for centuries.  It would be unfair if Japan be forced to change a harmless cultural activity to placate the modern western fashion.  3. It was commercial whaling by western nations that pushed fin whales to the brink of extinction, not Japanese whaling.  4. Whilst the method of capture is undoubtedly cruel, western nations regularly commit equally cruel acts against animals.  5. Whaling takes place in international waters.  The proximity of Australia to the Southern Ocean does not give Australia any particular right to lecture Japan about its activities.
When one considers the Japanese point of view it is possible to suspect that perhaps Australia is not as morally superior as it seems to think it is.

Tim says:

03:26pm | 07/01/10

Cats,
these people aren’t “protesting” to have laws changed. They are deliberately breaking laws and risking other’s lives with dangerous actions to get what they want. By your comments you seem to think that is OK.
So excuse me for thinking that you accept violent actions. You clearly do on this issue.

Kel says:

03:28pm | 07/01/10

Tim @ 4.10pm:
The Sea Shepherd has a camera and the Japanese whalers have harpoons….... Mmmmm….... Interesting, when talking intimidation and threatened violence!!!!

Keeep fighting the war on terror Tim!

Freddo says:

03:30pm | 07/01/10

Jack Thomas with no argument and no reply to the legitimate issues raised, resorts to name calling.

G says:

03:34pm | 07/01/10

@ cats

Amoung other things.

I will say that,

Once you have the munchies you would probably love to have 200g of beautiful fresh whale meat seared on both sides sitting on top white asparagus, shitake mushrooms and drizzled with white miso dressing that I had in Toyko…

hmmmm tasty.

Tim says:

03:35pm | 07/01/10

Kel,
Sea Shepherd:
Military Stealth boat   - check
Military Lasers         - check
Projectile Launcher - check
Acid Bombs           - check

Vs

Japanese:
Water Cannon
Sound System

Mmmmm, very peaceful.

cats says:

03:41pm | 07/01/10

@Tim
pffft who’s lives are they risking exactly? Not the Japanese whalers safely on board their massive ship.

@Dan
“Australians tend to take an absolutist view on the banning of whaling without listening to any of the arguments put forward by the Japanese”

We haven’t heard any arguements from the Japanese except that its for scientific research. They haven’t said anything else.

“4. Whilst the method of capture is undoubtedly cruel, western nations regularly commit equally cruel acts against animals. “

Yeah thats why there are organisations like the RSPA that deal with local problems. The Sea Shepard deals with whaling, period.

“When one considers the Japanese point of view it is possible to suspect that perhaps Australia is not as morally superior as it seems to think it is.”

Who said Australians are morally superior? This is not about Aust vs Japan. For the people who believe in this cause, its about fighting for the rights of animals.

cats says:

03:43pm | 07/01/10

Why don’t you go and join a whaling fleet then, G? You’re obviously so passionate about supporting the painful and prolonged suffering of dying whales.

Cuppa says:

03:44pm | 07/01/10

Whilst i dont always agree with you Tory, i think this article is right on the money.You make some very valid points.

Kel says:

03:47pm | 07/01/10

Tim

You forgot about the explosion of the harpoon after being shot into a whale and the 60 EXCRUCIATING minutes of being dragged along in the water before they die - CHECK

IAN G says:

03:47pm | 07/01/10

IT IS A REAL SHAME THE BOAT WAS DAMAGED BUT I KNOW OF A REPLACEMENT BOAT THAT IS BLACK AND IS MOORED OF OF CRIB POINT HASTINGS.JUST FIX IT UP AND PUT A COUPLE OF TORPEDOS ON BOARD AND SAIL IT DOWN THERE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO TURN UP AND FIRE A COUPLE AND SAY IT WAS A WHALE FIGHTING BACK

Australian Meat Eating Hypocrits says:

03:49pm | 07/01/10

I’ve never been able to figure out on what basis so many meat and fish loving Australian’s decide which animals can be killed and eaten and which animals can’t?  It seems that if it comes neatly cut in a plastic wrapped packet at the supermarket, with no public vision of it ever being an animal that has suffered (because these animal industries carefully control this vision) then that’s fine.  But if an animal’s systematic killing is done in a highly visible manner then that’s horrific, inhumane, cruel, etc etc?!  e.g.  Have any of you actually visualised cuddly little lambs being slaughtered to provide your good old Aussie lamb chops?  Have any of you ever been to a chicken factory or beef abottoirs?  Try looking closely at that cattle truck that’s sitting next to you in the traffic next time you stop next to it.  So much hypocrisy on the Australian side…!!

Jane says:

03:54pm | 07/01/10

Watch this to see just how DELIBERATE the Sea Shepherd freaks are.
The Sea Shepherd ‘batman boat’ excellerates INTO the path of the Japanese ship….you can see the water displaced behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizcE6diCB4&feature=related

...and more DELIBERATE rammings BY Sea Shepherd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDsZcLVXyn8&feature=related

A complete and utter STUNT…they made themselves get hit. ...and cry hard done by afterwards pfft. Idiots.

Jane says:

04:02pm | 07/01/10

ooops…wrong links..

watch these..the sea shepherd was deliberately in the path..and excellerated to be so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizcE6diCB4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDsZcLVXyn8

G says:

04:04pm | 07/01/10

@ Cats,

I wish I could.  But ever since the accident.. anywho

Fortunately, the Japanese already go out and bring back the succulent whale meat.  Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, like Corianda whale with lemon pilau rice.

RB says:

04:11pm | 07/01/10

Calm down everyone & dont worry!We have Kevin Rudd & we know he delivers!Oh, wait….........

Julie says:

04:12pm | 07/01/10

Agree with your comments Tori. The media thogh have not been very thorough with their facts though, thus leading to a lot of mis-information. To get a better understanding people like Professor Rothwell of ANU present a better understanding of the the international law relating to this matter. The boat is a NZ flagged boat, manned by NZlanders and 1 dutchman. Therefore NZ is responsible for the investigation. If you read the ABC website and/or watch Skynews, Julia Gillard has commented and announced an investigtaion as well

Bob Riivers says:

04:15pm | 07/01/10

To Australian Meat Eating Hypocrits, I take it you haven’t read this document on the regulation of animal slaughter in Australian abattoirs? http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/nccaw/guidelines/livestock/abattoirs

I’ve seen livestock killed on farms and in abattoirs. I’ve seen whales killed by Japanese whalers. If you can’t see the difference, then you have no right commenting.

Even kangaroo cullers put a single bullet through the heads of their prey - most roos never knew what hit them - can anyone here honestly say that whales are treated to the same respect and dignified deaths when they are harpooned and dragged behind Japanese whaling ships until they drown or bleed to death?

Has anyone here seen The Cove? Do all you pro-whalers think that repeatedly harpooning dolphins with crude spears until they bleed to death is an acceptable way to kill an intelligent mammal? If so, then I hope one day you all meet the same fate . . .

Chris says:

04:20pm | 07/01/10

Tory if you dont support whalers, then what is you do to take a stand against the slaughter of whales for so called “research”?
I would hazard a guess and say not much, very easy to juge these people from behind a desk.
I may not agree with some tactics but at least they are out there keeping the issue in the media and standing up for what they believe in, are you?
And for what it’s worth, the Jap boat did ram the Adi Gil very easy to spot.
And yet we blame them for the sinking, good logic there.

cats says:

04:21pm | 07/01/10

“Have any of you actually visualised cuddly little lambs being slaughtered to provide your good old Aussie lamb chops?”

No, but i grew up with chickens and saw my parents cut their heads off and cut open their bodies. Needless to say, the chicken tastes great to me and i eat it whenever i get the chance. The difference is that farmed animals die in humane ways - the standards are set by the RSPA who control and enforce these standards.

Thank you Punch righties, you’re given me something to do on this boring day of work. I am going home.

Carl Palmer says:

04:21pm | 07/01/10

I think the PM should form a committee and review the situation.
I feel a song coming on…..

I’m reviewing the situation
Can a PM be a villain all his life?
All the trials and tribulations!
Better settle down and get myself out of strife
A fix that would make good of me
That TV would come down to me,
The fingers, that I will wag at them
The money I will throw at themmmmmmm
And the misery my folks will make of me?????

...I think I’d better think it out again!

On ya PM love ya work.

Jane says:

04:23pm | 07/01/10

..excellerates??? sheesh :0…I am tired.
Accelerates!!!!!!! d’oh

Michael says:

04:25pm | 07/01/10

“We’re not big on vigilantes in this nation”
Yeah BS lady. I for one cheer every time I hear of the actions of sea Sheppard, I think its disgusting that we need foreign environmentalists to enforce our laws in our waters (I don’t care if japan doesn’t recognise our claim), the high court of Australia has ruled the actions of the Japanese whalers to be illegal, and our government refuses to do anything about it, this is treasonous.

PS Captain Watson WTF why waste a perfectly good ship, maybe it stopped 1 whale from being taken, but no doubt many others will die because you’ve lost a very fast and capable ship… noob.

Ricky says:

04:29pm | 07/01/10

Ha, Ha, G, your comments are gold!

Dave says:

04:34pm | 07/01/10

Bob, apart from picking up on my grammar, do you honestly think the way animals are killed all over the world on a daily basis is any different to getting harpooned and dragged back to the ship? Can you think of an easier way of catching these great big beasts? My fishing rod and Alvey reel might not do the job. Can’t shoot em. Can’t electrocute them. Can’t slit their throats with a sharp knife while facing Mecca,. Please my learned friend suggest a more humane way of harvesting them. I’m all ears. I’m sure the mad keen Japanese fishermen would be delighted to know.

Oh wait, you weren’t actually interested in alternatives where you?

Cats- Over 1 million whales - please tell me how harvesting 12 000 a year is going to make a dent in their population when they calve significantly more than that every year (that means that significantly MORE than 12 000 whales are born each year around Antarctica alone). That IS sustainable harvesting ... is your calculator broken? Every year the whale populations - across the board - are going up and up and up and up because of…what people?? Sustainable Harvesting for the win!

Look Closer - i agree *shock horror* ‘Research’ is a load of crap. The Japanese, Norwegians etc SHOULD be allowed to sustainable harvest whales from the sea. But that would send the non-thinking ‘Save the Cute Animals’ brigade into fits of apoplexy hence the sleight of hand. Its a farce, we all know it, but its a farce that lets people sleep at night.

JIm says:

04:40pm | 07/01/10

@ Kel, Cats and all da hallucinating bongers ... How many ants and other insects (part of the Animal Kingdom too!) have you killed or maimed lately??? Just because you cannot see them, it does not mean they were not under the soles of your thongs when you treaded on them. What about the incapacitated ones you have left on the ground, with 4 of their 6 legs torned off by your foot? HYPOCRITES!

mick says:

04:43pm | 07/01/10

the sea sheaperd is is doing what the australian goverment wont do which is trying to stop the slaughter of these whales.research what a joke, shame on japan.keep up the good work sea shepherd.

Dennis Richards says:

04:44pm | 07/01/10

Comparing one evil (murdering whales) with another evil (killing sheep) does not make the first evil right and detracts from the issue. The Japanese are slaughtering whales under the guise of research. This is clearly a lie. The Japanese do not care about the rest of the World in its condemnation of these fishing practises and peaceful protests have fallen on deaf ears. So when peaceful means fail, what is to be done?
Surely, it boils down to the mores of that community, which over time will be influenced by others. Some people are proud to say they are a vegetarian yet if they would read “The secrete lives of plants” they would not be so willing to promulgate their “righteousness”. We all have to eat, some eat fish, some cow, some dog, some kangaroo and some slaughter, maim and devour vegetables. If from this fiasco we end up respecting other living creatures then something will have been achieved.

thunderbirdmk4 says:

04:55pm | 07/01/10

This farce has been going on for over twenty years.
Any person who believed Rudd,  obviously voted for Hawke and Keating.

They promised the same.

The Japanese like other Asian nations do not care less about Australia,  outside of selling their shoddy products here.

All this Greeny protestation will achieve exactly as it did decades ago.

Trade and Political advantage will supercede any moral parameters in Australia.

Oz says:

05:03pm | 07/01/10

The irony of the situation is that Paul Watson and the Sea Shephard flotilla are actually making it LESS likely that Japanese whaling will cease.  In their arrogant self-righteous attention seeking indulgence, they may be seen as heroes to fellow un-thinking greenies, but they are actively contributing to the problem.

Do smokers stop because they are berated by the anti-smoking fanatics.  No!!!  If anything, it hardens their resolve.  Smokers stop when they make the decision themselves and do it in a climate where they are supported and gently encouraged without do-gooder pressure.

Likewise, the Japanese will stop whaling when the domestic pressure in Japan encourages them to do so.

Watson and his greenie loons are going the absolute wrong way about it.  They are putting the Japanese under fanatical pressure and as a consequence, the Japanese domestic attitude is ‘why should we stop just because these fanatics demand it’.

It’s about time that greenies cared more about whales than they do about stroking their own self-righteous egos.  Then we might get somewhere.

Deliah says:

05:07pm | 07/01/10

The morally repugnant actions of the Japanese persisting in cruelly slaughtering these majestic mammals is forever condemned. Unfortunately the Australian Government also deserves condemnation for their gutlessness and not fulfilling an important election promise. If they showed some spine, this situation would not be confronting us.

ian granger says:

05:11pm | 07/01/10

the point is the japanese are in a whale sanctuary a united nations sanctuary a legally chartered area they are the criminals here an australian high court ruling that they are illegally carrying out this barbaric trade in our waters as for calling sea shepherd terrorists i thought terrorists murdered people in cold blood what a joke labeling them terrorists some of you bloggers should be cheched by immigration you a clearly not aussies the name you leave is not real

Tim says:

05:17pm | 07/01/10

@cats,
You obviously haven’t seen some of the other ship rammings and violent actions that the Sea Shepherd group have been responsible for if you think that whaler’s lives haven’t been placed in danger. That or you are completely deluded.
@Kel,
So i assume from your comments it would be OK to violently attack abbatoir workers then. Killing cattle can be just as cruel as killing whales.

Oh i forgot, cows aren’t as cute as whales.

iansand says:

05:19pm | 07/01/10

If whaling is traditional for the Japanese I am all in favour of it.  These traditions must be maintained to avoid the homogenisation of world culture.  That means hunting whales in the traditional way,  in boats propelled by oars, using harpoons thrown by people.

A Step to the Left says:

05:23pm | 07/01/10

All these right wing conservatives are very entertaining I must say.

Bob Rivers says:

05:35pm | 07/01/10

Right on, Dave - let’s all go out and harpoon cows and then tow them behind trucks until they bleed to death or die of shock. That’s perfectly acceptable as far as you’re concerned - as long as we eat them!

To everyone else who thinks there’s no difference between harpooning whales and dispatching livestock in abattoirs, we can all dispense with the current regulations here governing the humane treatment of food animals:

http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/nccaw/guidelines/livestock/abattoirs

While we’re at it, let’s all go back to bull-baiting or beating dogs with sticks before we eat them like they still do in Korea and parts of China.

As long as we eat an animal, it doesn’t matter how we kill it, right?

As for Jane’s version of who rammed who, let’s look at it from another side, shall we?

http://media.smh.com.au/national/national-news/vision-from-mv-bob-barker-1019679.html?sy=smh&source=smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whaling-war-set-to-worsen-after-crash-20100106-luej.html?autostart=1

Deliah says:

05:45pm | 07/01/10

@ Oz. I think you need a reality check. Greenpeace have been trying to change the attitude within Japan for years. Further, both the Howard and Rudd governments have attempted diplomacy without success. The Sea Shepherd would not have to take up the fight if our elected government showed some spinal fortitude and moral authority. It seems to me the international legal route is the only option left. If Rudd fails to deliver on his election promise, a lot of votes will go elsewhere, including this swinging voter. It is not just the Greens who feel passionately about this issue but the majority of the mainstream.

Yamaguchi says:

06:06pm | 07/01/10

Most Japanese dont like to eat whales. We just need whales for facial cosmetics. If eating then bonus use. Mostly we eat for novelty value of eating whale.
This is very emotional discussion. No necesary to getting flustered because of whale.

Joe says:

06:10pm | 07/01/10

Sorry Joe… No name change..
I just don’t agree with Sea Shepherd’s tactics… I’m glad you see i have a point

Malcolm says:

06:15pm | 07/01/10

Govt did break more promises to protect whales and stop the japanese, if this had been done, this collission would not have happened as the sea shephard would not have been needed to go there.
When govts fail then the public must do as needed to step in and stop this yearly slaughter of so called research, I didnt know dinner was research ?
I am in same situation within australia, where we have laws that govt refuses to uphold and follow, so i am about to take steps to get attention for a govt that openly allows child abuse to continue when so much evidence against this person, 3000 pages and serious mental instability, if govt wont follow the law then i will force them to follow laws.

Kel says:

06:25pm | 07/01/10

Tim,

As a vegan (sssshhhhh though, it might ruin your argument) I believe that any inhumane/cruel acts against animals is disgustingly wrong… Maybe you should have checked first…...

As for a violent attack against an abbatoir worker….....  Not really sure where that come from…... but ok, I do not believe in violence and choose to not eat animals or their bi products in leiu of a “violent attack” agaist any person (don’t get me started on shark finning).....

However, I DO believe in protesting & the Sea Shepherd stands up for what they believe in (something our government has not been able to do), they have everyright to protest against whaling by being in between the harpoon and the whale they are protecting!!!!!

PS. Just for the record, ALL creatures, great, small and otherwise are “cute”

Mike says:

06:26pm | 07/01/10

@ Dave: Well, Dave, I went to do a Google search on the subject of whales as you suggested.

And you’re quite right: 760,000 *minke* whales in the Southern Whale Sanctuary.

However, the Wikipedia page on Whaling in Japan makes for intriguing reading.  Especially given the constant references to Japan either breaking the moratorium and carrying on commercial whaling anyway.  Or the bogus scientific research they reckon justifies the whale killing.

The page on whaling also makes for some interesting reading, specifically, the toxicity of whale meat generally.  There is an argument that *minke* whales have never been an endangered species, but that rather conveniently ignores that 10 of the 28 species of whale hunted *are* critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable, with another 10 on top of that as conservation-dependent—i.e. threatened.

The reason those species are endangered so is because of indiscriminate whaling by Japan and other countries like it.  That is: Japan is going after the most populous species because there just about aren’t any others left which aren’t protected.  It’s rather silly to amuse ourselves with the idea that if the moratorium on commercial whaling is lifted that the Japanese or the Norwegians would restrict themselves to a quota in line with their “cultural traditions”.

Incidentally, the argument that it’s a “cultural tradition” is a false one, as well.  The “cultural tradition” is to hunt whales with thrown harpoons and oarboats, not go after them with diesel-powered boats and high-powered harpoons.  Simple fact is, “cultural traditions” often die out and damn well should because they’re unethical or immoral - does anyone still think child betrothals or child marriages are justifiable just because some back-country cave dweller thinks he has a cultural right to have one? Whaling is another such “cultural tradition” that deserves to be prevented for this reason: by definition it is are ignorant of the fact that—again, according to your chosen source of Wikipedia—“Whales are known to teach and learn, as well as cooperate, scheme, and even seem to grieve.”  That suggests a measure of intelligence which it is immoral to hunt and kill.  The “cultural tradition” of hunting whales comes from the same ignorant time as “Moby Dick” when whales were seen as monsters of the seas, not a necessary part of the environment.

As for your pronouncement that Japan should be able to take whales commercially—tough.  There’s a moratorium on.  That’s international law.  If Japan wants that reversed, let it spend more of its cash and favours as it does in the IWC to completely reverse the ban.  If not, it can damn well stop acting like the rest of the world’s opinion doesn’t matter and toe the line.  Japan can not flout the law by taking whales dishonestly for commercial purposes, which it appears they are doing.  It’s unfortunate that it now is at risk from its actions, but if you choose to engage in illegal activity, you have to accept the risks and consequences.  Either do that or get over your addiction to a primitive tradition that has no place in the modern world.

Joy says:

06:40pm | 07/01/10

I think they’re very brave & passionate…no-one else is doing anything to save these beautiful, wondrous, intelligent creatures from BARBARIC slaughter & so I say, good on them, they wouldn’t have to be there at all if the powers that be had the guts they have. I don’t care if the Sea Shepherd is doing anything illegal to these disgusting whalers - too bad - I hope it annoys them enough that they’ll simply stop but I doubt it. I think the activists are heroes and I hope they have every success and keep safe, but if they get hurt I know they’ll believe it was in a most just cause. All POWER to them!!!!!

Kurisu Sonsaku says:

07:08pm | 07/01/10

I’m gonna get caned for this but meh;

The Southern ocean is classed as a whale sanctuary by Australia, Japan does not recognise this and as such is classed as international waters. Like it or not that is how it is troops.

As for the 491-ton Shonan Maru 2 – maximum speed 12 knots, and the 13-ton, 45-knot trimaran, the latter vessel had greater speed & manouverability and navigated itself to a position of harm. You can say that the Shonan Maru 2 steered toward it but that is a foolish assumption and to mistake push from the swell as opposed to steerage is a poor choice (FYI slow ships do not turn on a dime but take hundreds of metres) trust me i’ve been to sea.

Get over it, SS was in the wrong, personally i find the method of killing the unprotected Minke whale objectionable but if you braise ocean going beef in Miso broth it’s not too bad (similar too beef in a bland way). They may be noble and majestic and perhaps even cute, but lambs are cute too and i’ll also eat them.

Matt says:

07:36pm | 07/01/10

For starters, just because the Australian government says “we own this piece of ocean” does not mean that we do & it sure as hell does not mean that the Japanese have to listen to such a stupid & arrogant claim that a country can own a piece of ocean thousands of kms away from its continental shelf. That is why the Australian government does nothing & they know that is why they can do nothing. Secondly regardless of retards like the Sea Shepherd & the moronic lemmings in the Australian public who think they’re “just awesome” & doing a great job trying to protect whales (while endangering HUMAN LIFE every step of the way) Maritime Law is what should matter here & the simple fact is that Watson & the layabout idiots he captains are ALL GUILTY of numerous dangerous criminal acts, like piracy for example (that’s where you illegally board another nations ship on the high seas, which is considered under every law to be that nations sovereign territory & not to mention a highly dangerous & recklessly stupid act), as well as assault (throwing glass jars of rancid butter at HUMAN BEINGS) reckless endangerment (parking your ship in front of the path of an infinitely bigger ship & then bitching about the fact that it hit you & your crew nearly drowned (not even slightly the captains fault they were hit?) but I don’t see any of you whining about that do I? No, bugger human life & the rule of law & yay to the criminal terrorists who care more about a few animals than thousands of years of human development & the evolution of law, order & civilisation. You people make me sick.

Rupert says:

07:45pm | 07/01/10

You’re stupid Tori. The Japanese are acting in defiance of an AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL COURT ORDER banning them from whaling in the Southern Ocean. Sea Shepherd are the only ones with the courage to face them. ALL the crew understand the risks involved and all are personally prepared to put their lives on the line to save the whales. That is what they do. In Africa poachers get shot! Maybe we should shoot the Japanese?

Chris says:

07:50pm | 07/01/10

This is not an enviromental issue this is an anti Japanese issue. Minke whales are not endangered. Our cultural bigotry does not seem to extend to Norways whaling, Denmarks dolphin slaughter or Canadas baby dolphin clubbing why?

Tim says:

08:03pm | 07/01/10

So Bob Rivers you would be completely OK with the japanese whaling if they were more humane?

Nah didnt think so.

Daniel says:

08:38pm | 07/01/10

Well I think the Japanese were well and truely in the wrong in this situation. But once again Australians do nothing about anything and are mosre interested in who Tiger Woods is screwing around with. There should be huge protests in the strets over this whaling issue.

Kim Lennard says:

08:42pm | 07/01/10

Hi Tory,
Nice stuff.Like your work
You’ve just about nailed this major issue in our lives.
First time reading the Punch and I like it.
By the way did you think of having any contributors from a place called Victoria [ south of NSW- better beer,food,lifestyle,sport etc ]

Solsa says:

09:01pm | 07/01/10

@Deliah and others.
The Sea Shepherd does not “have to take up the fight” at all. They CHOOSE to do so, then whinge to get publicity. My bet is that Paul Watson will carry on doing these sorts of stunts for a couple more years to get lots of fame, then go write a book and maybe make a movie and live in a nice large house on the proceeds - supplied by all the dummies who fall for the cheap publicity from creating unnecessary danger.

Steve says:

09:02pm | 07/01/10

Tory .
You completely miss the point. Vigilante’s? People voted for this Labor government because of certain promises made by this now current government. These promises have not been kept. If we all stand by, we are complicit. At least Sea Shepherd will have a crack, and having a crack, I would have thought is a more Australian way

Q.E.D. says:

09:30pm | 07/01/10

@ Bob Rivers says:06:35pm | 07/01/10

Bob, looks like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other to me.

Q.E.D. says:

09:31pm | 07/01/10

@ A Step to the Left says:06:23pm | 07/01/10

“All these right wing conservatives are very entertaining I must say.”

Don’t you mean “starboard”?

Dave says:

09:58pm | 07/01/10

Emotive drivel aside Bob, answer the question, how else do you propose whalers ‘bring in’ these massive creature that range in size from 5-14 tonnes ?? If you can find a better way than explosive bolt harpoon I am sure you’ll make a fortune.

As for the rest waaaaahh!

Most Australians don’t give a crap how it got to be wrapped in plastic on a black polystyrene tray in the Woolies meat department as long as its there when it comes shopping time. Why do whales get a free pass?

Bob Rivers says:

11:22pm | 07/01/10

That’s the whole point, Dave. I don’t propose anything. I’ve evolved. People like you haven’t. Cruelty is perfectly OK with you and everyone else who condones harpooning. The rest of us have moved on from Captain Ahab.

B S Goh says:

12:32am | 08/01/10

Can we all focus on the problem on how to SAVE the Whales from EXTINCTION? It is incredible that the public is unaware of the basic scientific facts of the whale populations in the Southern Oceans. The data is available at the International Whaling Commission website. There are more than 500,000 Minke whales. This is about double what it was before commercial whaling 150 years ago. With the invention of the explosive harpoon in 1844 harvesting of the Blue whales took place and the original population of about 200,000 was greatly reduced. Now there are only 2000 Blue whales left. Minke and Blue whales compete for Krill their main food. Bad luck for the whales as global warming has reduced Krill by about 80 percent since 1970. Thus the only way we humans can now do to save the Blue whales from extinction is to cull significantly the Minke whales. It is best and prudent to reduce the Minke population to about 250,000 which was its original population before commercial whaling. We have created a new equilibrium among the whale populations from commercial whaling and need to re-establish the original equilibrium among the whale populations. Detailed analysis of mathematical models for management of whale populations are in my book, Management and Analysis of Biological Populations and also in a recent research paper in the journal Evolutionary Ecology Research, 11 (2009) 1-11.

Matt says:

03:39am | 08/01/10

@cats says: 04:08pm | 07/01/10

“Anti-abortion people (as much as i disagree with them) have every right to protest to have laws changed, assumingly (sic) that they do so without harming anyone else.”

So Cats, on one hand you think it’s OK for a mother to kill her unborn human baby as a matter of self convenience (don’t bring up rape, if it was a matter of helping rape victims the pro abortion lobby wouldn’t be so vehement is free access for all comers, and yes I do digress from the topic but I knew you’d bring up the old “rape” chestnut) but on the other hand, whales have to be protected at all costs? ARE YOU SERIOUS??? So people should try to change laws they don’t agree with as long as the don’t hurt anyone, but you support abortion. Is it OK to hurt Human Beings or isn’t it? Do you support the actions of the Sea Terrorists when they attack Japanese sailors with glass jars of acid or ram their ships into the Japanese vessels thereby putting all lives involved at risk (and don’t say the protesters haven’t rammed anyone. both recent & past footage clearly shows the fault of the protesters & only the wilfully blind can deny what’s right before their eyes)? Is it OK to hurt Human Beings or isn’t it? Either you support the actions of the Sea Shepherd protesters or you don’t. Do you even know what it is you’re supporting? Do you even have the slightest clue as to what it is you actually believe in? Your core philosophies that you’ve revealed to all through your numerous self righteous rantings today are so full of holes you could drive a ship through them (pardon the pun). So… Is it OK to hurt Human Beings or isn’t it? I already know the answer to this one but I’m really curious as to what you think because it seems like you really don’t have the slightest clue.

struth says:

04:12am | 08/01/10

right wing crap is what is here and your notion that there is a rule of law here is one of many delusions common in the oz psych the law is whatever they reckon at the time…  but keep up with your silly delusions many find them amusing

Jim says:

05:25am | 08/01/10

This collision was inevitable and comes as a result of the tactics adopted by the Sea Shepherd Organisation where they choose to flaunt the rules of good seamanship and the Conventions of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Whilst I do not support whaling by the Japanese I do respect their right to defend themselves against the Sea Shepherd Organisation and its terrorist-like tactics.

Harry says:

05:32am | 08/01/10

We kill cows, pigs, chickens, roos…whales…what’s the difference?

Andrew says:

06:00am | 08/01/10

Most of the world has condemned Japan for it’s whaling for a very long time.  We are all not fooled by the “scientific experiments” line. The UN is a useless body of bureaucrats, passive protest is a waste of time and it’s now clear that Kev and the gang are focused on producing a series of children’s books.  The only way to stop this culinary cull is more forceful protest.  Vigilante’s or not these guys on the Sea Shepherd are taking a true active step.

Deliah says:

06:11am | 08/01/10

@Solsa. Your post clearly demonstrates you fail to see the moral dimension of this issue. The unnecessary and barbaric slaughter of sensitive and intelligent mammals is morally indefensible. Put simply, it is a classic good v evil battle. You know the saying “evil happens when good people do nothing.” The crew of the Sea Shepherd has guts in spades, something very much missing in the current government. I met some of them recently whilst overseas and was impressed by their commitment, determination and bravery. In your world it appears those who fight to make the world a better place are dismissed with cynical platitudes.

Deliah says:

06:39am | 08/01/10

It is worth checking out how this story is being reported in New-Zealand. The consensus is the Japanese are at fault and Kevin Rudd is getting very negative publicity over the issue. Mention is made of his litany of broken promises i.e. whaling, hospitals and cutting executive salaries. That Australian airports were used for planes assisting the Japanese death ships is utterly shameful. Memo to the Rudd government “hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy is thy name.” The voters will not forget.

Bill says:

06:49am | 08/01/10

@ SLF: Your Hindu analogy should have identified a group more likened to Animals Australia who DO actively, peacefully protest the slaughter of animals for you to fill your gut with. Do you also call this group terrorists or pirates?

While I think that flash looking boat was a silly thing to sacrifice, I am left to ponder the morality. If the Japanese are allowed to harpoon whales in International waters, does that mean that whales (or any species for that matter) are allow to harpoon the Japanese in International waters?

Q.E.D. says:

06:53am | 08/01/10

@ struth: 05:12am | 08/01/10

What?!

Peter says:

07:26am | 08/01/10

Tory,  If “Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers ...then YES he would be welcomed IF… there was no other authority putting a check on the drug dealers.  But there is an authority called the police.  What authority should be putting a check on “illegal whalers??”  There is none…despite Rudd promising to “get tough”.

ON another note my company is conducting scientific research on the possibility of injecting various whales with radioactive waste material.  Apparently it is not harmful to whales,  only people.  Anyway it is just “scientific research” at this stage…..

Peter says:

07:28am | 08/01/10

Tory,  If “Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers ...then YES he would be welcomed IF… there was no other authority putting a check on the drug dealers.  But there is an authority called the police.  What authority should be putting a check on “illegal whalers??”  There is none…despite Rudd promising to “get tough”.

ON another note my company is conducting scientific research on the possibility of injecting various whales with radioactive waste material.  Apparently it is not harmful to whales,  only people.  Anyway it is just “scientific research” at this stage…..

Drunk Guy says:

07:36am | 08/01/10

The reason for the absurd arguement that the Antartic waters are not our jurisdiction is simply that some northern hemisphers countries who have an interest in non recognition of our status as the protectors of the sanctuary status of the Antartic waters are prejudiced in their non recognition of it to make financial gain and continue with a practice that is against reccomendations from the world Whaling Commission which prohibits whaling purely for commercial reasons.
People like you, Tory, who are fence sitters but with a big stick to poke at those on either side are not being helpful in any way to the situation. The fact is that only Sea Shepard is doing anything to reduce the numbers of whales being slaughtered and butchered alive in a bloody and brutal manner for pure financial gain.
If Rudd and garrett weren’t so busy flying around the world hitting the taxpayer for $millions and dumping emmissions accross the planet they might have time to actually get something done about preventing our status as guardian of the Antartic waters santuary from becoming a complete global joke.

Q.E.D. says:

07:56am | 08/01/10

If the whalers are breaking the law, I won’t support their activities.

However, I believe we have been conned into believing that whales are somehow special. We have been conditioned to think they are intelligent and sensitive, but do we really know that?

Furthermore, I’m yet to hear a comparison of the slaughter of whales versus fish, which would be far more relevant than whales versus cows, surely?

Deliah says:

07:56am | 08/01/10

Expert legal opinion states that the cull will stop and action against Japan in the International court will likely succeed. The case that the slaughter of whales is not “scientific research” is a strong one. Despite this, the Australian government continues to shirk it’s responsibility in both reneging on an election promise and refusing to send a ship. This shows scant regard for the lives of whales and humans. That the government insists on putting it’s head in a bucket on this issue shows how out of touch they have become with the community at large.

shane says:

07:59am | 08/01/10

The whales are doomed, as is most of lifes diversity on the planet. Its like fighting one front in a war with tens, if not hundreds of thousands of fronts. Let these morons kill themselves for all I care, as the great Bill Hicks said, “I just felt the world get lighter. We lost some MORONS”!!!

Deliah says:

08:33am | 08/01/10

@Q.E.D. Your comparison analogy is seriously flawed. Whilst Whales and cows are mammals, fish are not. The horrific manner in which whales are slaughtered cannot be compared to how fish are caught. Are you aware that the whales scream in agony when being harpooned? They are highly evolved sensitive mammals which some basic research will confirm.

Disgusted says:

08:41am | 08/01/10

Paul Watson ‘s actions vindicate his expulsion from Greenpeace.

Conservationists worldwide will lose some credibility through Sea Shepherd’s “war on whaling”.

Tim says:

08:46am | 08/01/10

Sorry Kel (7:25pm),

You being a vegan just makes it worse. You are trying to hide behind a “cruelty to animals” argument but like other vegans what you are really against is meat eating of any type.
Try and define “cruelty to animals” and you will get a thousand different responses from a thousand different people

This is beside the point as cruelty to animals is not the issue, rule of law is.
Sea Shepherd do not just passively protest against whaling as you imply. They actively and violently attack whaling vessels. Either you are being deliberately obtuse or you haven’t been following the actions of the group you say you support.

Your argument boils down to:

One should be able to break the law as long as it is for a “just” cause.

If you can’t see the problem with this argument, then no logic would be able to convince you.

nick says:

08:47am | 08/01/10

someone may only get killed because our government is too gutless to intervene - even with the whaling happening in Australian waters.

Wendy says:

08:58am | 08/01/10

The NZ Government have launched an enquiry into the incident which an outcome should be heard within the next two days. Gillard has now said Australia will launch an enquiry also. I bet Gillards enquuiry will take months as do all Labors enquiries or even years. And where is the champion of “save the whales”? Peter Garrett on this issue? Nowhere to be seen again. We have the Oppositions Greg Hunt out being interviiewed about it, but Garrett last night declined again to be interviewed for the 7.30 Report. I laugh at the way the Rudd Governmnet always go into hiding when things look a bit tough in the media for them. Where was Garrett when there was 400 barrells of oil spilling into the ocean off WA? Nowhere to be seen again. Rudd Labor are a pathetically weak Government.

WHAle2010 says:

08:58am | 08/01/10

What a shame we just all don’t seem to get it.  Diplomacy and the current international laws have done nothing to put an end to this abhorrent practice.  Without the sea shepherds actively engaging the whaling fleet this issue would not see the coverage and support that it currently does, just look at the number of comments it has attracted here.  At least they are prepared to DO SOMETHING about such a draconian practice.  I am quite sure that the safety of their crew and the Japanese crew is always paramount - to reference them as vigilantes is purely emotive and unnecessary.  The issue is clearly how to engage JAPAN and put an end to this industry - that even now in Japan is becoming unpopular. Tory is right that we could do far more to ensure that the whaling fleets are not supported with things such as fuel embargo’s etc, however these have commercial consequences that the Govt is not willing to risk.  Until international law puts an end to whaling - I fully support and endorse the Sea Shepherds in their endeavors to actually DO SOMETHING.  I hope they continue to DO SOMETHING until the international community actually grows some teeth and this practice is abolished.  Sea Shepherd is a group that has evolved due to the failure of govt and international support to stop whaling - dont blame them for trying to police this issue particularly when the japanese tactics to continue whaling are far more aggressive

Chris says:

08:59am | 08/01/10

Chris @ 08:50pm | 07/01/10
I meant Canadas baby seal clubbing..

Q.E.D. says:

09:07am | 08/01/10

@ Deliah says:09:33am | 08/01/10
I know that whales are mammals, that’s why I said ‘fish’ and not ‘other fish’!

Whales are big, most fish are smaller. Who’s to say fish don’t scream?!

I’ll leave it at that, as I’m sure we will never agree on this.

Kelly W says:

09:14am | 08/01/10

I’m in amazement at the number of people on this blog happy to justify a horrifc wrong by citing other wrongs!?!! It’s incredible.
Argue the Sea Shepard’s tactics & actions by all means…But this repeated attempt to detract away from the cruelty of whaling by scrambling for other examples of cruelty is ridiculous!
Do you apply this same crazy logic to other areas of life?! God I hope not!!
Imagine, justify any wrongdoing at all - simply by pointing out other ones!!
Talk about the issue at hand or spare us please!!

Kel says:

09:29am | 08/01/10

Tim @ 9.46am

Vegetarians are against meat eating, vegans are against using and/or eating any animal products (this includes any products that test on animals) because of the CRUELTY this bestows on animals.

And while we are talking about laws, pedophilia and child exploitation is legal in some countries…. 

Just becasue it is legal, doesn’t make it right!!!

Q.E.D. says:

09:57am | 08/01/10

@ Kelly W says:10:14am | 08/01/10

Kelly, you are starting with the assumption that whaling is ‘wrong’. Others may choose to disagree.

Stuart says:

09:59am | 08/01/10

So what if “Sea Shepherd is going to get someone killed”. Is still heaps safer fighting the Japs than it is to walk the streets of Melbourne….

Christine says:

10:02am | 08/01/10

Ady Gil is a very fast and highly manoeuvrable vessel.  The Japanese ships clearly are not.

I detest whale slaughter, but it is hard to overlook that Paul Watson may have allowed or encouraged a dangerous collision, for what purpose we can only guess.

Having a fundamentalist belief in the rightness of a cause does not excuse highly dangerous and apparently illegal activity.  The rhetoric coming out of the Sea Shepherd caper is starting to sound similar in tone to that used by other extremists (for example, the people who beat up and sometimes murder abortion clinic workers), and the Australian government seems to be on the right track with their responses to date.

Minkes are not endangered says:

10:06am | 08/01/10

Australians seem to pride themselves on not being a racist bunch but the silence on Norways larger whaling program is deafening.
Oh this isnt a racist issue, no? Australians cant be racist, right?
Interesting trivia Japan and Denmark both have a royal family, both have a small cultural dolphin hunt, a long running Australian sunday night current affairs program goes to one country to do a story about a barbaric dolphin hunt and another country to do a fluffy royal princess story, care to guess which country gets which story?

Sam says:

10:35am | 08/01/10

It’s obvious that something needs to be done and the whole world knows that these whales are not for scientific purpose! not sure if I should laugh or cry, one thing is certain the Japaese are having a feast!

Steve Taylor says:

10:41am | 08/01/10

I have one thing to say - DON’T SAVE THE WHALES!!! There I said it. Let the vitriol begin.

Tim says:

10:45am | 08/01/10

@Kel,
I know the difference between Vegans and Vegetarians. I eat meat and like to use animal products and you don’t. On that issue i know we will never agree.

The main difference between us however, is that from your support of the Sea Shepherd group you think it is OK to break the law and use violence to support your ideals and I don’t.

And @Minkes are not endangered:
Which country has an ex Australian as the princess in that news story?
Which country is whaling in waters that Australia has a claim on?
Which country is twice as far away as the other?

Nah It must be racism.

terence says:

11:04am | 08/01/10

the japanese were busted for lying about their tuna catch for years.
Trust is something that is earned and between Changi, Sandikan etc, tuna and whales they have a long way to go. For heavens sake they still won’t tell schoolkids the truth about what they did to the chinese or what they did elsewhere in ww2

Garry says:

11:05am | 08/01/10

I am disappointed by the protestors, their ‘we could have died’, ‘The Japanese never gave us aide’ ‘I feared for my life’  is all meant to say ‘we never did anything wrong, we were simply protesting peacefully in International Waters in a highly manouverable boat and decided to stop where we did for a picnic and sing a few songs to lament the poor whales and we had the right of way and the big bad ship should have turned away becuase of course they can turn just like a jetski we usually ride near the beach, and they so deliberately sailed into us poor innocent law-abiding people.’

That’s how I see this protest now, a deliberate run for news stories to make the whalers look bad.

They already are, but they have the law on their side. If they really want this stopped they need to protest to governments, embaress them into submitting.

The tactic is all wrong. eco-terrorists, protesters with violence is not the way to change will. It is as if to say, ‘you change or we hurt you’.

Protest all you want, getting into Harms way is not the way.

Ryan says:

11:11am | 08/01/10

An interesting article, but with one flaw.

You compare the actions of the Sea Shepherd’s to those of a vigilante in Melbourne. But let’s just say in Melbourne the police force got disbanded, the Crown stopped prosecuting criminals and the government’s only solution was to politely ask the criminals to stop.

In such a case, a vigilante who travelled around protecting civilians and taking criminals off the streets would be welcomed as a hero, regardless of what tactics they used.

The same thing is happening with the whales. Despite there being laws in place, there is no enforcement from the Australian Navy and the government seems to have no desire to take the matters to court. Only today an international law expert predicted that whaling would be stopped in a month if a case was started, but the government has given no indication that such action will be started anytime soon.

I certainly do not support all the actions of the Sea Shepherd society, however they are hardly bombing ships or shooting Japanese, and the only reason for their campaign is the failure of our government.

Deliah says:

11:11am | 08/01/10

@Q.E.D.  Kelly’s assumption that Japanese whaling is wrong is absolutely correct from the moral perspective. It is also illegal:

1.) The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was set up in 1994 with Japan being the only country to vote against it. In 1998 the International Whaling Commission found that Japan “does not address critical important research needs.” Resolutions condemning Japan have been ignored.

2.) Japan is in in breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a requirement that there is co-operation with appropriate international organisations regarding the conservation of whales.

3.) The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that whaling in the Australian Antarctic sanctuary is illegal.

In conclusion, Japanese whaling is cruel, unnecessary, immoral and illegal.

Bob says:

11:16am | 08/01/10

The arguments that whale hunting is inhumane and therefore wrong is weak. It is especially weak coming from the Australian masses considering we are a heavy meat eating nation. Have a look at videos from slaughterhouses please, tell me where is the respect and love for animal life in there? You can easily you tube it. Here’s just one random one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fmROQAJvi8&feature=fvsr

The point here is that humans practice cruelty to our food, there’s no getting away with it. You can argue you try to slaughter them humanely, but what about their life prior to death? Cramped packed cages, minimal land to roam, zero freedom. Think about it if you use the humane argument, would you rather be a whale that lives freely or a pig stuck in a cage for the entirety of your life?

As such, people who claim it wrong on the basis of hurt it inflicts while they themselves partake in such cruelty by consuming meat and fish (but ignoring it or fluff it by claiming humane slaughter) are nothing more than hypocrites. You can claim it wrong on other basis, if it were in fact endangered or that they were being taken in your waters, but neither of these are true so there is no basis for the terrorist actions other than emotional attachment to whales. These actions promote anger and only increases japanese public support of their government on whale fishing.

The race issue is an interesting point by the way.. it is indeed true iceland and norway have a very active whaling fleet and similarly kill dolphins for food, yet they arent ever on the news in a negative light about it. Why? Maybe its harder to accuse those who look similar to you and garner public support over a non-issue than it is to make spin and garner support against those who are different?? It clearly works coming from some comments with anti-japanese sentiments here and elsewhere.

Traxman says:

11:28am | 08/01/10

BTW…..who is Paul Watson and where does his money come from ?

Q.E.D. says:

11:36am | 08/01/10

@ Deliah:12:11pm | 08/01/10

Deliah, I see you didn’t bother to list 3 points that demonstrate whaling is ‘wrong’.

Please let us know why whaling is ‘morally wrong’ and then draw a comparison with something similar, that is ‘morally right’.

Diana says:

11:37am | 08/01/10

@ Bob. Whilst I agree with your comments about animal cruelty, your post requires challenging. As others have said, two wrongs do not make a right. Also, there are many non-vegetarians who select their food carefully i.e. free range, organic. The term whale fishing is incorrect as whales are not fish. Illegal whale hunting/poaching would be a more accurate term.

Bob says:

11:37am | 08/01/10

@Deliah: Some interesting but flawed points you raised.
1. The sanctuary setup is not an international law that all UN nations have to abide by, it is merely a law that countries which decide to sign up to it agree to. Japan did not sign so it is not a law which applies to them.

2. The hunted whale species are being done at sustainable levels and thus conservation cannot be an argument against it. Show us a reference to a credible source which clearly shows that amount of those particular species being hunted is not sustainable. Australia is in breech of that article by overfishing of southern blue fin tuna which is HIGHLY endangered.

3. Australia’s court can only rule for australians and does not apply to international matters, please, don’t be naive. Our own laws do not apply the world, did you seriously thought otherwise?

As for your conclusion, yes it is cruel. Unnecessary? I leave that for the japanese to decide. Immoral? According to you greenies or god? Definitely not illegal.

chris says:

11:46am | 08/01/10

Bob@ 12.16
Yep the race issue is what I find interesting about or this, it seems Australias cultural bigotry is only reserved for Japanese whaling. Whenever these blogs pop up there usually is ww2, nukes, enola gay references etc points to the true undercurrent of the rage.

Jim says:

11:56am | 08/01/10

@ Delia and others ...
Are you ‘neo-Colonialists’ saying that just because the Federal Court of Australia has made a ruling, the rest of the world must ‘kowtow’???

AND also, TWO WRONGS never EVER EVER EVER make a RIGHT!!!

Q.E.D. says:

12:15pm | 08/01/10

@ Diana says:12:37pm | 08/01/10
“As others have said, two wrongs do not make a right.”

Agree.

What annoys me is many people seem to be unable to filter fact from emotional rhetoric, and I find that very frustrating. Whaling, per se, should not be viewed in isolation as being ‘wrong’.

I also believe there is a considerable race element to this.

Solsa says:

12:18pm | 08/01/10

@Deliah: “a classic good v evil battle”. Where do you get off defining what’s good and what’s evil? You are entitled to your opinion but that’s all it is - your opinion. Don’t go telling me what I should define as good and evil. Only dictators do that. Here you get your vote and that’s it.

Sally says:

12:20pm | 08/01/10

The Sea Shepherd crew are absolute legends. Those defending whaling are demonstrating retarded moral development by justifying cruel acts by pointing out other cruel acts. An unethical act cannot be justified on that grounds. By the way just because something is illegal or legal does not make it morally right. Get a grip.

Steve says:

12:25pm | 08/01/10

Im with Yamaguchi, these whales arnt endangered and they have many other applicable commecial uses besides eating such as cosmetics, and rubber etc. More power to Japan for getting on the front foot and showing these fish whos boss down there in the Southern Ocean.

Bob says:

12:25pm | 08/01/10

@Diana: You agree with my points but decide to pick a semantic such as whale hunting or fishing? It matters not, the point is both statements are understood. I have never claimed it to be right to cruelly hunt whales. But it is a personal belief and i make the case that we humans treat our food cruelly on a daily basis world wide. Why the focus on whales (they aren’t endangered).. In fact, why the huge support for the eco-terrorist Sea Shepperd group? Sabotaging ships, rope entanglement, throwing acid and stink bombs on the deck to cause misery for the working crew, using military grade lasers and dangerous crash causing sailing is not the act of terrorists? Protesters have a right to a peaceful protest. Violent protests are unlawful in any country in the world. Get a clue, if you support these actions, you are either ignorant or blinded by a false belief of moral superiority.
Why all the anti-japanese sentiment on this particular issue when iceland and norway simply refuse to accept the whaling ban? Is it because the japanese didnt want to be contentious and hostile such as iceland and norway by using a scientific research loophole? I think it may be best for japan in future, simply state that their whaling is commercial and hence people ought to get over it. Prolly wont work though, as the japanese are well aware of the racist treatment they have been receiving. In fact its completely stupid that sea shepperd, an organization based in the netherlands which are right next to iceland and norway.. have to sail all the way to the antarctic to harass japanese whalers. If they are so pro whale, go protest in their backyard. However, i doubt that would garner any public support ($$$) as there are no racist sentiments towards Norwegian or Icelandic people.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

12:32pm | 08/01/10

Hello, comments have been made on this issue that relate to racism and references to WW2.  As the daughter of a late LtCdr RAN FAAA some of whose friends had “dealings” with the Japanese during WW2 I would like to say that I do not accept that racism is an issue.  Just as the Japanese did not sign onto the Geneva Convention with regard to the treatment of POWs, neither have they signed onto any convention relating to the harvesting of whales.  This INMYHO is a pattern of behaviour I find repugnant of some of these people.  They are arrogant to the extreme and this behaviour shows it only too well.  I am appalled that there are persons on this blog who support the Japanese in any form, violent or otherwise.  Those who say that WW2 history is irrelevant had better think again, given the present conduct of those on the Japanese vessel and the calls of the Japanese Government for protection of the whalers against our own people.  I think not, is my opinion, particularly as I have read of some of the war crimes committed by the Japanese against our own men in PNG and Ambon.  For those who expect us to forgive after all this time, I suggest you read the history on war crimes, PNG and Ambon Island and then try to understand why, for some Australian men, there can never be forgiveness.  Nor can there be in this current episode, as the Japanese are showing their true/real colours.

Jim says:

12:45pm | 08/01/10

Looks like in this forum, the Anti-Whalers have been hijacked by the Anti-Japanese!!!

Deliah says:

12:49pm | 08/01/10

@ Bob. I think you will find that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is definitely international law of which Japan is definitely in breach. Thus, the international court which applies would be the way to go as international law experts have pointed out. I realise the Federal Court only applies domestically. However, what does it say about the government when it refuses to enforce it’s own laws?

@Q.E.D. There is uniform agreement that the way the whales are slaughtered is barbaric and inhumane. This equates to immorality as does the fact there are mountains of whale meat in cold storage in Japan and a diminishing demand. As custodians of the planet surely humans have a moral obligation to care for fellow inhabitants particularly advanced and endangered mammals. Just out of interest have you ever been whale watching? If not, I would encourage you to have this life changing experience.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

12:55pm | 08/01/10

@ Jim:  Anti-Japanese Whaler behaviour NOT anti-Japanese.  The issues of racism were raised by other punchers.  I have simply offered an explanation of why some people feel the way they do and I do not believe that racism is an issue.  INMYHO the Japanese conduct in this whaling incident is as wrong as it can be.  End of Story.

Q.E.D. says:

12:57pm | 08/01/10

@ Julie Coker-Godson 01:32 pm

You say “that I do not accept that racism is an issue.” and then start banging on about “these people” and “they”! So, where do you stand? You sound very racist! :-0

Should my young sons hate all Japanese? What a load of nonense.

chris says:

01:10pm | 08/01/10

I think Barry Cohen nails it here http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/bullying-wont-stop-japanese-whalers/story-e6frg6zo-1111119141748

Julie Coker-Godson @ 1.32
Thank you for proving my point. Whaling is more of an anti Japanese issue than anything else. Time does not erase atrocities committed nor should it but If you were to travel to the Japan of today and see for your self what the people are now like, you may be suprised how friendly, respectfull, polite and helpfull they are. A small minority in the far right pro whaling faction of Japan does not represent a whole people. Atrocities commited 60 years ago does not represent a whole people today.

Bob says:

01:19pm | 08/01/10

@Julie: People here do not support the cruelty of wars. You have clearly misunderstood. We are supporting the right of a sovereign nation to use a natural resource sustainably and legally which occurs in non territorial waters. They have done nothing wrong, yet they are being hated and harassed. We see it as a double standards and highly racists coming from a predominantly meat eating nation which fail to criticize or publicly vilify to similar extends the whaling activities of Norway and Iceland.

Tell me how i am wrong on these points. Explain that somehow what the sea shepperd doing is actually the “right” thing in terms of the law and dont base it on emotional attachment to whales or moral superiority complexes. You can’t. Its entirely normal in human nature to kill and eat animals. You can try to justify it by humane slaughter, or even offering of prayers prior to killing the animal, but then you are taking the moral high road based on nothing but your own delusions.

Thus, based on these points, it is clear that the reason sea shepperd purely focus on the japanese whaling fleet the world away and ignoring their own close neighbours whaling fleet is to garner public racist sentiments towards the japanese and residue distrust of “arrogant japs” stemming from ww2. Do you think they would have as much support financially if they were to harass norwegian or icelandic whalers? Think about it.

ps. You call them arrogant, but you fail to see the arrogance of your own stance.. telling them whats right and wrong, what to eat and what not..

Bob says:

01:27pm | 08/01/10

@Deliah: Stop the lies that the hunted whales are endangered. http://www.highnorth.no/iwc2000/briefings/numbers.htm

Your stated UN laws only apply to the overfishing of endangered species. Does not apply here. Does however, apply to the majority of tuna populations. Go protest against Australia’s tuna fleet harvesting southern blue fins.

Minke whales compete with other bigger whale species such as blue whales for krill and plankton. Their numbers are now higher than ever recorded since the 1800s. There are no hunting of bue whales for decades, yet their numbers are now near extinction because of over competition by minke whales for the same food source.

Q.E.D. says:

01:38pm | 08/01/10

@ Deliah says:01:49pm | 08/01/10

“@Q.E.D. There is uniform agreement that the way the whales are slaughtered is barbaric and inhumane. This equates to immorality as does the fact there are mountains of whale meat in cold storage in Japan and a diminishing demand.”

OK, so if whales could be harvested humanely, would whaling still be ‘wrong’?

J says:

01:47pm | 08/01/10

Did anyone see that episode of “The Blue Planet” with David Attenborough about the pod of killer whales that separated a mother gray whale from its calf, then drowned the calf and ate its tongue and left the rest of the carcass to sink?  Scientists said they killed the gray whale calf for sport.

“Sensitive” isn’t a word I’d use to describe that, lol.  Freakin’ scary though… yes!

Ryan says:

01:53pm | 08/01/10

Hang on a second, are people honestly trying to turn this into another race issue. It has nothing to do with the fact that the whalers are Japanese, they could be American, Indonesian or New Zealanders and the response would be the same. The reason why the Australian public doesn’t attack Norway is because Norweigan ships aren’t whaling anywhere near Australia. If we lived in the Northern Hemisphere then we wouldn’t be concerned with the Japanese, and the same false assumption could be drawn.

As for the argument about meat eating nations taking the moral high road, that too is ludicrous. Yes people eat meat, from domesticated animals which are bred for their food and which are a sustainable resource. Whales are not bred for their food, and a majority of their species are endangered. Even those who are not endangered are at a high risk, as there are no efforts to ensure their numbers are sustained throughout whaling efforts. And let us not forget that cows are terminated a lot more humanely than whales.

There are a number of problems with the legal arguments as well. Just because Japan doesn’t accept the laws regarding the sanctuary, it doesn’t mean their actions are necessarily “right”. In the past, slavery had full legal support, it was legal to kill Jews under Nazi Germany, but that doesn’t make it “right”. The vote buying at the IWC serves to demonstrate how easily these laws are manipulated.

Ultimately, if justice is to be served then people need to question why these actions are occurring. Emotions aside, it cannot be denied that whales are more than just fish, they are highly intelligent animals with complex social interactions, and this is why the Sea Shepherd wants to protect them. In Japan, however, there is only a small demand for whale meat and it certainly isn’t required to sustain their population. It seems the only pro-whaling argument is that of maintaining culture, and this simply cannot be used to override the various environmental impacts that result from whaling.

Deliah says:

01:56pm | 08/01/10

@Bob. Your link is years out of date. I think you will find the Fin Whale is endangered. Also, the halt on hunting Humpbacks is only temporary according to the Japanese. I don’t need to remind you that whale watching is a major tourist industry in both Australia and New-Zealand.

As for various comments about the Norwegians, I deplore their whale hunting and make a point of boycotting both Japanese and Norwegian goods. Iceland did stop whaling but unfortunately resumed it again recently. I am unable to think of goods made in Iceland I can boycott. Possibly you can enlighten me.

Andy says:

02:10pm | 08/01/10

Let me put it this way:

[beginning of rant]

1. Australian claim to the Antarctic waters is ILLEGAL according to the Antarctic Treaty which put ALL such claims in abbeyance. For Australia to claim that it is our territorial waters is AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW. Conveniently forgotten, eh?

2. The SS broke international law. MULTIPLE TIMES. From the laws of maritime safety all the way up to piracy. Their boats CAN and SHOULD be sunk and all crewmembers CAN and SHOULD be shot for piracy. And tehre is NOTHING, according to international law, that ANYONE can do about that. The Japanese are being NICE as it is, and you idiots are calling them morally inferior. Another thing that is conveniently forgotten.

3. Because o the above, the Australian government CANNOT make any demands of the Japanese or risk facing international embarassment. Deal.

4. An Australian Federal Court order is worthless when dealing with the Japanese. The Australian Federal Court does not have any jurisdiction in Japan. Get over yourselves.

Australia was a great country, but man, our arrogant, witless, ignorant, emotional, illogical, unscientific masses makes us the laughing stock of ANYONE with a modicum of logical thinking. Julia Gillard, as Education Minister, for Pete’s sake, DO SOMETHING about this! Another generation and we’d have half the non-migrant population sitting along George Street drooling out the side of their mouths starving to death because they don’t know which end of the GI tract to shovel food down!

WAKE UP, AUSTRALIA!

[end of rant]

Deliah says:

02:19pm | 08/01/10

@ Ryan. Excellent post which succinctly defines the issues and successfully prosecutes the case against whaling.

@Q.E.D. I think you missed my second point. Apart from the inhumanity aspect there is no compelling reason to justify whaling. The demand for the meat is very low even in Japan. Also, there are cheaper alternatives which are now used instead of whale by-products for cosmetics etc. Thus, the argument that whaling is “wrong” can be robustly sustained.

Craig says:

02:27pm | 08/01/10

Apparently i’ve wasted 30 minutes skimming through this thread. So many ‘Experts’ spouting facts & figures on Whales!!, who do you believe?

Well here’s my 2 bobs worth:

1. Indonesions use Dolphins as bait (cut into small pieces on their longline hooks) to catch sharks, which are in turn ‘Finned’ & then dried out on the boats deck before they are offloaded to the Chinese for use in traditional Medicines & foods.

The moral of the story is this: Asian countries do not have the same sensitivites about food as Australians do. Whaling for the Japanese is part of their culture, they will continue to self justify the hunting/taking of whales just as we will continue to eat sheep/pig & cows and our own Aboridgines continue to hunt/eat Turtles & Dugong.
Therefore the actions of the Sea Sheperd will always fall on deaf Japenese ears. By putting themselves into that situation so close to the Whaling vessel, they only succedded in endagering the lives of their own Volunteers. That was dumb protesting.

PS. I like whales, they are wonderful creatures of the sea, that apparently taste good to the Japenese. Go figure.

Tim says:

02:49pm | 08/01/10

And Ryan ends the thread by comparing the legalities of killing whales to killing Jews in nazi Germany.

Godwin’s Law demands it.

Jim says:

02:51pm | 08/01/10

@ Deliah & others ... Call it what you may, but this whole debate is about MORALITY. Every culture and race have their version of ‘morality’.
It seems you and the SS supporters are trying to force your version of ‘morality’ on others. You are entitled to VOICE it; but once you try to FORCE it on others, you are no better than Osama, Mao, Hitler, Stalin, and Bush et al.
Moderate Australians are in the minority in this forum because they are the silent majority, and only speak at the ballot box. And we do know, that whether Labour or Liberal / National are in power, it will be the status quo as far as these policies are concerned.
The more extreme end of the polical spectrum (the Greens and One Nation) only account for 10 percent (or 15 percent at their peak) of the popular vote each.
I do not perceive to speak for middle Australia, nor should others in this forum.

Jane says:

03:15pm | 08/01/10

Yo…this is a discussion about the latest dangerous STUNT pulled by the Sea Shepherd organisation ....the collision of two boats and motive.

‘Race’ and even ‘whaling’ itself is secondary/almost irrelevant to that in the wider context.

These retards buzz around like blowflies circling and taunting the boat, perilously close attempting to sabotage it ...and sook when they get hit. If ya wanna play rugby girls then play….and accept the consequences either way..
They accelerated INTO the path of the larger boat…(.you can see the backwash from the Ady as it propelled forward in the seconds prior to being hit in the view from the whaler’s deck)...they had convenient cameras trained on it and aircraft hovering above to capture the inevitable ‘staged’ event and the best angle sympathetic to their claims ....and then lied about it.

I’m against whaling too….but these brain dead cowboys are just idiots and deserve what they get. The boat didn’t look too ‘sunk’ either with activists walking all over it and on display for the extensive photoshoot for media benefit afterwards. Any wonder Greenpeace kicked these retards to the curb. Protesting is admirable in itself but does not include ‘anything goes’. A shameless, pathetic stunt that impedes the anti whaling cause itself.

Bob says:

03:25pm | 08/01/10

Ryan: You realize the SS is based in netherlands right? Why then did they haul all the way down south to protest against japanese whaling when they could simply have a short trip off their coast and protest against all the whaling fleet there? Think harder please. Also, read the news from other EU countries, their public dont have the same vitriol against their neighbours than Australians have against japanese whalers.

Deliah: I’ve asked you to show reference to your claims that the hunted whale species are endangered. You can’t because there aren’t any, even according to the IWC which have published the figures. Did you know greenland is actively hunting whales that are endangered? They claim it is being done sustainably.  The vast majority of the quota for japanese whalers are of a thriving Minke population which has continually grown.

I have to return to my original point, why the public vitriol against japanese whalers specifically? I don’t see greenpeace or SS offshoots harassing eskimos or even greenlanders that hunt on highly endangered whales. I mean the comments on here and other sites by some to demand Australian military intervention amounts to racism. Its shameful when such ignorant people have so little respect for other cultures.

Q.E.D. says:

03:27pm | 08/01/10

@ Deliah :03:19pm | 08/01/10

Your argument is much stronger when you introduce the economics of whale meat in Japan and take that thought a step forward. Far more persuasive than all the emotional rhetoric about the ‘poor old whales’.

I will now go off and do some research on this.

Lara says:

03:38pm | 08/01/10

Anyone that says Sea Shepherd is a terrorist organization has no idea what they are talking about. Genocide is going on and no one does a damn thing about it. We have made many species die out in the past 100 years and every year it gets worse. The japanese are using a loophole in bullsh*t law to slaughter a dying species for PROFIT and the government wont do a damn thing because the Japanese have paid them all off. Sea Shepherd wouldnt be down there if the Government was doing its job and actually stopping these poachers. Paul Watson does what he has to do to stop an injustice. Who are you people to say anything? You just sit on your computers all day complaining and for what? What good does it accomplish? NONE!  It makes me sick.. People like you are why people like Paul Watson have to fight so hard. They have to do more to make up for what YOU ARE NOT DOING!

Seamus says:

04:45pm | 08/01/10

Bob’s response to Delilah @ 1237 p.m.
Beautifully worded my friend.  You backed Delilah up, parked her and, hopefully, shut her arrant nonsense down.

KM says:

04:50pm | 08/01/10

Mr. Watson and the rest of the enviro-zombs should be hailed absolute irresponsible over zealous idiots. Face facts Australia has no legal recourse down in Antarctica they are not our protected waters. They fully deserve to get what was coming to them. No sane person would steer there boat 1.5 million dollar chunk of carbon fiber in the way of a ship steaming a speed. Mr. Watson should have his license taken away and a lasso thrown around him. I would never donate a cent to an origination with such brain dead people in charge.

wpro says:

05:16pm | 08/01/10

I would have loved to read as many emotional comments when Australia joined the coalition of the willing, causing the death of 100 000’s in Iraq to protest the killings of human beings. If I remember well there were not many voices of reason then. Good on you, Aussies.

Ben says:

05:20pm | 08/01/10

Save the Sardine I say!

Ricky says:

05:26pm | 08/01/10

Julie coker-goodson i couldnt agree more.Unfortunatly many people in this country have short memories.I dont.,& i am glad you dont either.Personally, i think the japanese have a long way to go to earn peoples trust.

Bill says:

05:27pm | 08/01/10

wpro,

So the prior genocide of citizens, by the Hussein regime, prior to the involvment of the Coalition was acceptable to you?  Hundreds of thousands being murdered because they are different from the other citizens/tribe?  Interesting.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

05:31pm | 08/01/10

@Q.E.D. 1.57pm “@ Julie Coker-Godson 01:32 pm

You say “that I do not accept that racism is an issue.” and then start banging on about “these people” and “they”! So, where do you stand? You sound very racist! :-0

Should my young sons hate all Japanese? What a load of nonense.”

To address your first point “these people” and “they”, see earlier punches on this blog where the issue of racism was raised by other punchers - NOT me.  I simply commented on it.

As stated above, I do NOT believe that racism is the issue here for the reasons previously stated.  I believe it is the actions of the Japanese whalers themselves that is the issue. And…I mentioned nothing about your sons…I didn’t know you had children.  STOP putting YOUR spin on MY words. I remain unchastened by the comments of you or anybody else about my POV - it remains what it is and I am NO racist.  That is an accusation you would not want to make to my face.

Darren says:

05:34pm | 08/01/10

Let’s nutshell this…

It’s not in our jurisdiction, that’s why the government do nothing.
If it were anyone’s jurisdiction, it’s with the UN.

What right do we have to demand another country to do one thing or another?  We can ask, but that’s all.

Slobbering from the mouth does nothing.

Bill Adams says:

05:47pm | 08/01/10

Having long been an admirer of the Sea Shepherd group I’m apalled at the lack of respect and concern shown for this group who at least have the guts to stand up against these cruel tormentors of the defenceles whale.If there were no defenders of the whales there would be none left now and the lily livered efforts of the so called defender of the environment Garrett are nothing short of disgraceful.Another election promise has bitten the dust.

Q.E.D. says:

06:02pm | 08/01/10

@ Julie Coker-Godson says:06:31pm | 08/01/10
“That is an accusation you would not want to make to my face.”

OK, Julie. Why not?

I’m sure the Japanese military was ghastly, as was the German military. I’ve just come back from living in Europe, and I love to eat bratwurst and sauerkraut - but, I still think the Nazis were bastards.

And, of course you don’t know I have children. Jeeeez.

You also don’t know I’m from Mars

Deliah says:

06:03pm | 08/01/10

@ Jim. Poll after poll shows that the vast majority of Australians are against Japanese whaling the in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. This position is not confined to the extreme left. As many have said this is a moral issue which the current government are seemingly unable to manage.

It seems to me and many others it is time for the International Court to decide. I hope the government are compiling their legal advice and putting together the application as I write. It is the only solution. Diplomacy has failed, the blogs can only do so much and Greenpeace have gone missing in action.

TB says:

06:36pm | 08/01/10

What I find mind-boggling is Japan’s attitude from a purely economic standpoint. I recall reading about 3 or 4 years ago that Japan’s increase in whaling quotas had no basis whatsoever in demand for whale. At that particular time the Japanese market was already oversupplied with whale meat, and the commercial whaling operations were actually being bailed out by the government!

Based on this alone, I can’t help but think that Japan’s cultural arguments hold no water whatsoever. If whaling is of such great cultural significance, then why are the whalers having such a tough time staying in business?

rod sexton says:

06:42pm | 08/01/10

Whether you are no-whale or pro-whale, Greenpeace are the antagonists. The boat that hit the trimaran is 1000 tons - a boat that cannot turn on a dollar coin.
Greenpeace elected to ‘park’ their trimaran in front of the Japanes boat then cry foul when they got hit.

Deliah says:

06:51pm | 08/01/10

@ Lara.  I concur with your post. Many are doing more than belting out their outrage on the computer. In my case I have given Greenpeace a serve where it hurts, their pocket. Where is their money going? What are they doing?

I have changed my support to the brave warriors of the SeaShepherd. If seasickness wasn’t a problem, I would be there amongst them confronting the evil on the high seas of the Antarctic.  History tells us that vilified social justice warriors often end up heros.

Ryan says:

07:56pm | 08/01/10

@ Bob: mate, you are completely off the point. We are not talking about where the SS comes from, we are talking about the AUSTRALIAN public. It is the AUSTRALIAN public who are so vigorously opposed to the whaling, it is the AUSTRALIAN public who are demanding military intervention, and it is the AUSTRALIAN public who you are calling racist. The reason the AUSTRALIAN public is opposed to Japanese whaling, compared to Norway and Iceland, is because Japanese whaling is occurring close to our country in (disputably) our waters. If you picked up all the Australians opposed to whaling and moved them closer to Norway/Iceland then they would be vigorously opposed to their whaling programs (and then someone just like you would call them racist for not caring about the Japanese).

All that said, this nonsense about racism only serves to distract the debate from the real issue: what should be done about the whaling occurring south of Australia. That is the issue that needs to be discussed here, attempts to subvert the topic will never allow a compromise, and are exactly what the Japanese government have been trying to do.

I also note you completely failed to address any of my points related to the real debate.

@ Darren: that argument could also be used to justify Australia not opposing a mass genocide occurring in New Zealand, simply because it isn’t our territory. As I said before, true justice isn’t achieved by getting bogged down in legal matters, it is only through looking at the cold hard facts that we will be able to reach a solution.

Jon says:

08:27pm | 08/01/10

Go Sea Shepherd, the rednecks don’t get it. No amount logical and factual explanations will make them understand, they only have enough IQ to power their penises.

Catherine says:

09:45pm | 08/01/10

I’m not on either side, but just want to let the anti-whaling people know that Japan is an island with a huge population, unlike Australia and USA, it’s not easy to breed animals there. I’m sure Japan doesn’t do whaling just because they like it or it’s because of tradition (like what they claimed)

If you want to convince the Japanese public into anti-whaling, ramming a boat into the whaling ship and throwing lasers at them won’t do anything. They’ll see it as Australia bullying Japan because China is now the no.1 in Asia and that they don’t have a real army but only the self-defence force (although very high-tech).

Catherine says:

11:25pm | 08/01/10

I agree with Bob, this is more like anti-Japan/racism than anti-whaling. Why doesn’t the media mentions Norway, Russia, Iceland .etc?

Hence, Japan is an island with a huge population, unlike Australia, it’s hard to breed animals there.

Sean Belgrand says:

12:20am | 09/01/10

To be honest, all I see is the usual rhetoric from a run-of-the mill journalist waxing lyric in an effort to affect a response from emotional readers. If Tony was serious about the plight of whales then she would do what all serious journalist would do, investigate. Instead the armchair creaks, the keyboard taps and the end product is another non-committed blog from the shallow end. Spare me your crocodile tears.

STV says:

05:33am | 09/01/10

If there are any criminals in this story, it’s the Japanese!
Nobody is protecting these whales, which are not only endangered, but also vital to the oceans and balance of nature.
So, YES, Paul Watson is a HERO!

Peter says:

07:26am | 09/01/10

Julie Coker-Godson - Ma’am, you are a racist hiding behind nationalistic rhetoric. Hopefully your hate will manifest itself in some karmic way

Deliah says:

07:44am | 09/01/10

Finally some good news. The SeaShepherd has instigated court action in The Netherlands against the Japanese for piracy. Meanwhile Peter Garrett has emerged from hiding and is making more positive noises about taking Japan to the international court and the New-Zealanders are taking to the streets in protest against the whalers. Looks like things might get difficult for the whale slaughterers.

B S Goh says:

08:54am | 09/01/10

For those interested in the problem on how to save the whales please look at the data at the International Whaling Commission website: http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/estimate.htm.

The only way we humans can stop the Minke whales from competing and driving the Blue whales to extinction is to cull the Minke. The current Minke population is greater than the worst estimate of the original Minke population before commercial whaling. The Minke population increased with the depletion of the Blue whales. The International Whaling Commission well established management procedure says that no species should be harvested if the current population is below seventy five of its original population. Thus the Japanese got science on their side.
The original population of the Blue whale was about 200,000. Now it is only about 2000 and is in extreme danger of extinction. The biggest threats to the future of the Blue whale is the competition from the Minke whales and the decline of the Krill population due to global warming. We all share the common objective on how to save the whales.

My plea is that we should place the highest priority on the Blue whale. It is the biggest and most beautiful animal on the planet.

Bill Adams says:

09:02am | 09/01/10

Sean Belgrand,well said mate.Tony irritated me with this blog(in fact I was close to unsubscribing) but you are right she got the reception she was seeking.Clever girl.

Marisa says:

09:02am | 09/01/10

Sea Shepherd also runs campaigns against shark finning, baby seal and dolphin slaughter. The volunteers onboard their boats must follow a vegan diet. They have never harmed a human life in their protests, no matter how radical in appearance. They are funded by donations. At least they have the balls to go and do something about something they are passionate about,when the so many of the rest of us are all talk. Go out today and do something to make a difference about an issue that you feel strongly about. Until then you have no moral right to have an opinion on their actions.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

09:23am | 09/01/10

@Peter:  You are being deliberately provocative so I won’t bother with you.
@Q.E.D. “Q.E.D. says:07:02pm | 08/01/10

@ Julie Coker-Godson says:06:31pm | 08/01/10
“That is an accusation you would not want to make to my face.”

OK, Julie. Why not?

I’m sure the Japanese military was ghastly, as was the German military. I’ve just come back from living in Europe, and I love to eat bratwurst and sauerkraut - but, I still think the Nazis were bastards.

And, of course you don’t know I have children. Jeeeez.

You also don’t know I’m from Mars”

What is it with you people, that whenever a fellow Australian makes a stand on an issue involving another nationality we are immediately targeted as racist/nationalist whatever?  The racism accusation is just another excuse to evade the points under discussion.  I don’t know about you but I most certainly do not take to the Japanese sending “security vessels” or “escort ships” anywhere near our waters per se!  Their persistence in whaling despite the wishes of other countries demonstrates their arrogance and total rebuttal of anything resembling fair play on this issue. Their cruelty towards these beautiful animals is, I believe, just a pattern of behaviour with them and is something I’m afraid we cannot persuade them from.  More’s the pity.  BTW I do have Japanese friends so cut the racist crap.

Rebecca says:

10:23am | 09/01/10

Whether you are for or against, you’re all still talking about it. The Sea Shepherd chaps draw a lot of media attention to the yearly Japanese “scientific” whaling, which is kind of the point. They are all prepared to risk their own lives for this attention. I think it’s brave, stupid and clever all at once. I hope they succeed, so they can turn their attentions to other causes in need.

BRI says:

10:45am | 09/01/10

Forget about legal actions which will go nowhere..an eye for an eye..sink one of their ships and lets get serious about these japanese criminals..The ICS is purely a front for commercial whaling and we all know it..their spokesman is another TOKYO ROSE…

Garry says:

12:13pm | 09/01/10

Deliah I can not agree this is the stupidest idea Sea Shephard has had. It will be the laughing stock of those who are not rabid whale lovers (I do not call them enviormentalists because only whales are being looked at). It is like a terrorist bring you up on terrorism charges for protecting yourself against attacks from them. Sea Shepard is getting desperate they are loosing the battle and rather than think, they have stepped forward with a dummy spit. Terrorists like Sea Shepard, - they are no longer protesters when they change from protests to ‘positive action ’ a similar comment to ‘we come in peace but…’ - will loose support because who wants to be a part of an organisation that uses violence.

I read they chose Netherlands because a crew member is from there, well what about America, New Zealand or even Australia? I think they knew in any other country it would be laughed at.

It is a shame, I really supported their actions but have of late found myself cringeing at the tactics. They are acting like spoilt kids. I much rather with all the support they have, use it to collectively have people who do support them threaten political leaders to make changes or they not get elected. A pollie will listen if he truly feels threatened. Mr. Rudd made a big voice about stopping this killing, he has done nothing and people here are blaming the Japanese only… Mr. Rudd is being let of very easy.

Bob says:

12:28pm | 09/01/10

Taking them to court would be a good thing for the Japanese if anything. The only reason (aside from obvious racial mistrust on our parts) they are catching so much flack is they are still in the IWC and whale on scientific loopholes. They could simply do what many other whaling nations do and LEAVE the IWC and thus not bound by any law whatsoever and do as they please. So if you push them, they will simply withdraw from the treaty. Also, International Court would have to address the issue of southern ocean ownership.. the world does not agree to australian claim over those oceans, do not forget that. It aint our waters, the whales are not ours, our laws do not apply there.. yet why do all the greenies including bob brown and garret keep spouting lies all day about it??

As for the piracy charges, hilarious. With all the evidence against SS, do you seriously think they have grounds to stand on in a court of law? Another PR stunt.

ps. None of you have addressed my initial point. The fact that SS which is based in the Netherlands focus their violent protest against the japanese is because its easy for them to gain public support from australians down here (and hence, $$) than it is for them to protest against greenland, norway and iceland nextdoor to them who hunt whale species more endangered than Minkes. Why do you think that’s the case? Connect the dots. You dont have to look far, plenty of comments on this site and other news site clearly indicate racial hatred.

Whale Burger says:

12:32pm | 09/01/10

To Watson, who is prattling on about having the Oz Navy steam south to engage the Japanese armada..the Ady Gil is a NZ registered vessel. I would think that…very soon…Watson and his Sea Shepard rabble will be officially designated as Eco-Terrorists.

Catherine says:

01:05pm | 09/01/10

@ STV,

I think you should do some serious research on whaling first rather than listening to what SS said.

There’re many different species of whales, they have competitions for food as well.

@ Deliah,

You take Japan to international court and you get laughed out of there.

As for your moral superiority complex, no, you’re not. Valuing the life of an animal you like over that of a human being has no right to talk about moral and compassion. This is actually disgusting.

ru srs? says:

01:49pm | 09/01/10

quote = “Do you reckon if Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers and putting his young acolytes in harm’s way he’d be welcomed on to the national broadcaster to tout his particular brand of vigilantism? I doubt it.”

well.. maybe thats because theres cops out patrolling the streets doing their job there..  whos looking after australias interests in the whale sanctuary otherwise.. not our bloody government.

another quote - “In the end it doesn’t matter who rammed who.”

gawd, your really are quite dopey.  i spose if i shot you, wouldnt matter who shot who?

tandanus says:

02:41pm | 09/01/10

Cards on the table first: I’m a member of SeaShepherd. A 3 minute review of the footage from the Ady Gill (on Youtube) clearly shows they were dead in the water the whole time. The Japanese boat approached from way off and turned into them. To suggest they shoulnt have been there sounds a lot like “Girls who wear short skirts are asking to be raped”. The action of the Japanese skipper is indefensible. There is no justification on the high seas for driving your ship into a craft the size of the Ady Gill. SeaShepherd, in all their years of operation, have never been convicted of breaking any law.  I will continue to support SeaShepherd.

Q.E.D. says:

03:01pm | 09/01/10

@ Julie Coker-Godson says: 10:23am |

“Their cruelty towards these beautiful animals is, I believe, just a pattern of behaviour with them and is something I’m afraid we cannot persuade them from.”

So, you are saying that the Japanese are morally inferior. Is that not even a little bit racist?!

By the way, I didn’t bring race into it; I responded to your silly racist remarks.

Q.E.D. says:

03:10pm | 09/01/10

@  ru srs? says: 02:49pm | 09/01/10

What year of high school are you in?

Andy says:

05:47pm | 09/01/10

Yes, we should all have the conviction to act on our beliefs. As such, I will be writing to the Japanese ambassador, asking him to protect his citizens and authorise the Japanese whalers to use whatever force neccessary to defend themselves and other LAW-ABIDING seafaring people from pirates. Sink the Steve Irwin and the Bob whatisname! Shoot every crewmember onboard for acts of piracy, reckless endangerment and multiple serious and heinious violations of the international maritime laws.

Thank you, all you morally superior people for opening my eyes to the right course of action to take with regards to this matter.

davido says:

10:12pm | 09/01/10

What a ridiculous article. I find the comparison with vigilantism and drug dealers particularly odious for the following reasons:

1. whales cannot fight back, drug dealers can and do;
2. whales were approaching extinction, drug dealing still flourishes;
3. we like whales, we dont like drug dealers; and
4. junkies are not eaten by drug dealers, whales are eaten by the Japanese.

Why anyone who wasnt paid money can support the absurd charade the Japanese call scientific research, I dont know. I do know Australia has an economic interest in protecting whales. Whale watching tourism brings money into this country.

By the way, for those of you interested, in the history of Sea Sheppard they have never ever lost a legal case. That means they are operating within the law, while others may not be.

davo says:

06:12am | 10/01/10

“Do you reckon if Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson was roaming the streets of Melbourne in a high-tech armoured car deliberately provoking drug dealers and putting his young acolytes in harm’s way he’d be welcomed on to the national broadcaster to tout his particular brand of vigilantism?” would they ever! you, and your fellow tabloid press acolytes (the australian, daily terror et al) would just go bananas in excitement over that, and egg them on until something really dangerous did happen! You crack me up, pffft.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

10:39am | 10/01/10

@ Q.E.D. says:04:01pm | 09/01/10

“@ Julie Coker-Godson says: 10:23am |

“Their cruelty towards these beautiful animals is, I believe, just a pattern of behaviour with them and is something I’m afraid we cannot persuade them from.”

So, you are saying that the Japanese are morally inferior. Is that not even a little bit racist?!

By the way, I didn’t bring race into it; I responded to your silly racist remarks.”

I am NOT a racist for the umpteenth time of saying it, nor did I say the Japanese people as a whole were morally inferior, nor did I imply it.  I really wish people would stop putting THEIR spin on my words.

As to the racism issue, why don’t you try reading the posts on this blog from the very BEGINNING.  That way you will see that this issue (racism) was raised well before I made my first post.  My posts were, in the first instance, comments on people raising this issue in the first place.  You’re in such a hurry to hit the keyboards to “flame” me you can’t be bothered to read the history of the blogs.  I stand by the POVs I have expressed in this blog and will not resile from them.  End of Story, I’ve got the tennis to watch today.

B S Goh says:

11:07am | 10/01/10

The Japanese has Science on their side in harvesting the Mike whales in the Southern Oceans. I researched for many years on the dynamics of whale populations. You can read my latest research paper in on this subject and the use of mathematical models in the management of whale populations in the journal Evolutionary Ecology Research, 11 (2009) 1-11. If you have more interest on this research you can read my book entitled, Management and Analysis of Biological Populations.
The reason why I say that the Japanese has Science on their side are: (1) International Whaling Commission, IWC, basic rule in management says that no whales from a population if the population level is below seventy five percent of its original population. (2) The Minke population increased greatly and more than doubled when the Blue whale population was reduced by commercial harvesting from 1868 with the invention of the explosive harpoon. Currently there is no whale expert who would say that the current Minke population is below its original population.
Thus the harvesting of the Minke whales by the Japanese is currently an Ethical issue. It is not a Conservation issue. If the Australian Government wants to take Japan to task formally in International Organizations then it must also object to the harvesting of Minke whales by Iceland and Norway. Otherwise the Japanese can rightly claim that we are targeting them and we would have lost our high moral ground. In my view by claiming that we can object the Japanese harvesting of the Minke whales on the grounds that they are doing this in our backyard we could inadvertently weaken Australia’s claims to sections of the Southern Ocean. There are prima facie evidence that what the Japanese is doing is actually good for the survival of whale populations in particular the Blue whales.
My recent research concludes that the only way we can save the Blue whale, which is in extreme danger of extinction, is to cull significantly the Minke whales in the Southern Ocean. This is because British scientists Atkinson et. al. in Nature (2004) showed that the krill population has declined by about 80 percent since 1970s due to global warming. The Minke competes headon with the Blue whale for krill their main food. Thus the only way we humans can help the Blue whale is to reduce the intense competition from the Minke and work harder to reduce global warming. With the failure of the Copenhagen Conference on global warming things are pretty grim for the Blue whales on the global warming factor. Thus we need to decide sooner rather than later if we are prepared to do the nasty but necessary thing to cull the Minke population to reduce its competitive pressure on the Blue whale. An independent assessment of this competitive interaction between the Minke and Blue whales is the fact that the age of sexual maturity of the Minke has decreased significantly. This information can be measured accurately. Most biologists working on this research would agree that this means that the decline of the age of sexual maturity means it is doing better than before as a population

Q.E.D. says:

02:14pm | 10/01/10

@ Julie Coker-Godson 11:39am

Julie, I had read all the posts, from the begining.

I would suggest in future you express your thoughts less clumsily. What I hear you saying is “I am not racist, but….” (and I wasn’t alone).

This is already an emotive issue and throwing grenades into the mix without more caution only serves to inflame and derail the argument.

Hope the tennis was good.

Over and out.

Q.E.D. says:

02:32pm | 10/01/10

B S Goh says:12:07pm | 10/01/10

” There are prima facie evidence that what the Japanese is doing is actually good for the survival of whale populations in particular the Blue whales.”

Goh, thanks for the scientific support!

I agree, this isn’t a clear-cut conservation issue.

Mark says:

09:40am | 11/01/10

So how can what was supposed to be a Two Million Dollar Rocket Ship get run over by an Ex Trawler?

Could it have something to do with the sneaking up behind the aforementioned Trawler. Bombarding with Stink/Acid bombs and then sneaking off into the distance to sit and high five one another effectively dead in the water.

CJS says:

12:50pm | 11/01/10

Tory Maguire your opening paragraph lacks one important point, there are no patrol cars on the beat 1000km south of Tassie, and to my recent surprise Team America World Police are not real. So if groups like Sea Shepard don’t stand up and say no, who will ? Sometimes the means does justify the end !

Bill says:

03:50pm | 11/01/10

YOU IDIOT

As you point out twice in the begining of your story….POLICE are the people to handle drug dealers - and yes - probably law breaking whalers.

However - while there are Police on the beat in every city to protect us form the drug dealers - there are NO POLICE in the Sthn Ocean.

So….Would you prefer the Whalers did what they do without some form of opposition like the Sea Shepard provides.
As pointed out numerous times by Sea Shepard - NOONE has ever been killed or seriously injured in any action they have taken in the last 30 years.
NO criminal OR CIVIL charges have been laid against Mr watson or any sea shepard crew member - other than arrest for boarding ships liek the whalers to hand over messages written down on paper - rather than delivered by water cannon.

You are right - Paul Watson and his crew SHOULD NOT be int he Sthn Ocean at all….but until the gutless, toothless aussie politians get off their bums and send customs or Navy down there - SOMEONE HAS TO BE.

To use your example of vigilantes on the streets killing drug dealers is to simplify BOTH arguements and display your own ignorance.

Jolly Rouge says:

09:32pm | 11/01/10

The Ady Gil wasn’t just parked in front of the Japanese ship waiting to be rammed. The footage shows the Japanese bearing down on them from a distance.
The Ady Gil crew are professionals (ex cops, ex-navy, fireman) and not some smelly dreaded greenies as is insinuated. And even if they were, so what?!
Paul Watson & SSCS aren’t perfect, but the fact remains, they are the only ones down there protecting life where others are unwilling. Which is more noble than what those Sydney to Hobart sailors get upto….nothing but boys with toys.
Yes, cows, sheep, pigs should be saved. But currently it’s legal to kill them and is a bigger/ harder battle. Whales are protected (supposedly) by law in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.
The Japanese have had crew die, ships burn, illegal re-fueling etc. but Tori Maguire doesn’t wave a big stick over their heads…
If everyone believes this should be solved diplomatically, then fine, will someone please tell the Japanese to stop killing the whales and come to the table, and not carry on as usual. Until then SSCS will continue to represent the majority of people, while the few rednecks that are left can put all their trust in Kevin.

Claus Bork says:

01:39am | 12/01/10

I we didn’t have organisations like Sea Sheaperd, Greenpeace, WWF and similar, the world would go ‘the way of the ignorant consumers’ so to speak. These people risk their lives in a battle against profit at all costs - as the battle where the Japanese claim to be killing whales for scientific reasons - when we all know, that it’s a huge lie - it’s all about profit. The Japanese have chosen to chase profit - but there is another goal to pursue, that is to try to come to a balance with our surrounding nature - which we, I’m sorry to say, do not treat very gently…
In my opinion it’s naive beyond any reason, to speak about terrorists in connection with Sea Sheaperd, it’s a matter of basic admiration for nature as a whole - and willingness to risk life and health to fight for this belief.
Unfortunalely stupidity rules…
Maybe that’s why many people fear 2012.
Claus Bork, ‘Retrolife’ - Denmark

Sandy says:

04:42am | 12/01/10

“YOU IDIOT

As you point out twice in the begining of your story….POLICE are the people to handle drug dealers - and yes - probably law breaking whalers.

However - while there are Police on the beat in every city to protect us form the drug dealers - there are NO POLICE in the Sthn Ocean.\”

God in heaven, thank you for some common sense, Bill.  This idiot, as you call here, rightfully, author doesn’t seem to understand this location is in the middle of nowhere, and does she think the whale police are out there patrolling.  What a moron! 

But then she apparently has grown up in a world changed through activism, like Paul Watson’s and his volunteers—the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement, the animal-rights movement, which she has obviously benefited from.  Had she been born 40 years ago, she wouldn’t have even been writing an article like this.  Duh!

They were basically nothing causes until the late 60s and 70s when MY generation, the Baby Boomers became ACTIVISTS!  How do you think laws were changed!  Activists!!!

I hate when people don’t get their facts straight and then actually have the gaul to write an article criticizing what they don’t even understand.  Paul Watson and his volunteers are NOT VIGILANTES!  Now, do you morons all get that yet.  What the Japanese and others are doing is illegal!  Every citizen of the world has the right to confront these criminal countries and deter them from breaking the law.  I have the right, YOU have the right, and so does Paul Watson and The Sea Shepherd. 

Get it right if you are going to write about something.  This is blatant ignorance and misinformation probably fed to you by the Japanese.  They are doing a great job of misinforming while they continue to break international law.

Timmo says:

10:06am | 12/01/10

Well it’s not suprising that the Japs are crashing into the protesters boat and trying to kill them. I believe that they are Australian Citizens trying to do something at least to save the Whales, who by the way are Mammals the same as us. Yes everybody, we are Animals too and it is also noted in the history of war which the Japanese deny, that they, the Japs, were always very good at killing Mammals, that is Australian Soldiers and Innocents during the last war. They used to chop off our heads and put Babys of Bayonets like their mates the Nazis, so It is really nothing new. The problem with the Japs is as a race they still have the same old attitudes and arrogance of their predecessors. We really have ourselves to blame as after all their brutality towards us we just turned around and sold out our country to them. If this was happening to American Citizens they, the Yanks would have probably placed a sub there that just let a torpedo loose accidently and claim friendly fire, and that my friends would stop it immediatey. Lets hear it for the Whales. Yeaa.

Bob says:

11:53am | 12/01/10

This makes it pretty clear that the Japanese captain knows how to steer a boat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfgPgnyX0ak&feature=related

Bob Rivers says:

01:07pm | 12/01/10

Well this video makes one thing clear: that those who still belive the Japanese didn’t ram the Ady Gil on purpose are complete gullible fools.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/01/11/120771_tasmania-news.html

I hope the captain of the Japanese ship is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But knowing the Aussie Government, trade is more important than upholding the law.

Jane says:

04:23pm | 12/01/10

Great informative piece BS Goh….thanks….and yet none of the freaks since have bothered to comment or acknowledge.

The Ady Gil accelerated into the path of the whaler…there is no denying the backwash from it as the whaler turns away…..cut the bull. It was a STUNT…and a very dangerous/ stupid one. They flit around it like annoying blowflies all day…and waaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaa and feign hard done by when they get hit. Actions and consequences.
They have done a dis-service to the anti-whaling cause. Nice one idiots.

Wato says:

12:27am | 13/01/10

I’m not a fan of whaling, but these guys are idiots. This Paul Watson twit is giving Watson’s a bad name. He should go and read up on the COLREGS before he pulls such a ridiculous media stunt which results in him looking like an arse as he displays his poor seamanship skills for all the world to see. One can infer from the COLREGS that the master of a vessel should make all efforts possible to avoid a collision at all times. The Ady Gil can be clearly seen in a position where she is not making way, which changes to her making way forwards into the path of the Japanese whaler as the whaler nears the Ady Gil. This sort of stuff doesn’t really aid the credibility of the anti-whaling cause a great deal at all…...

If I was funding Sea Shepherd I’d be asking if this is really the best way to spend the money…....plenty of publicity, but at what cost?

J.T. says:

03:03pm | 15/01/10

Many of you are very new to this scene.  I was involved in Direct Intervention back when Greenpeace still had balls. Paul Watson is continuing the fight that Greenpeace sold out on.  The crew of the Sea Shepherd vessels believe that there are things more important than them, things worth fighting and even dying for.  But they’re NOT terrorists.  They’re NOT destroying anyone else.  The worst they can be accused of is stink bombs and creating distractions.  In exchange for that, many more cetaceans are alive today than would be otherwise. 
The Japanese (and Danes) have thumbed their noses at the IWC’s rules and the international treaties for decades.  No government has stopped them or even put sanctions against them.  So Sea Shepherd does what no one else will do.  When the U.S. and Australia (and the rest of the world) give those international treaties some teeth, they won’t have to be there anymore, braving ungodly miserable weather.
For the record, any capable seaman would tell you that the Ady Gil had right of way, and no obligation to move from its position.  The overtaking vessel is obligated to signal intention via horn, and to pass properly, making sure to avoid that which is ahead of it. 
Paul Watson’s style isn’t always endearing, but killing sentient marine beings is far worse.  Those cetaceans don’t belong to ANYONE, Australian, Japan or otherwise.  They travel through all the seas, as free sovereign creatures (just as we do, with a lot more equipment.)  Killing them is not justifiable.  Hunting them is not justifiable.  Protecting them seems like the only human thing to do, as they have a long history of protecting us.  Perhaps when people stop seeing them as lesser beings or commodities and start recognizing them as members of a non-geographical sovereign nation, then they will come to see that these Japanese vessels have effectively waged war on a nation and its citizens.  Watson and others are doing far less damage than could be justified, in coming to their aid.

Steve says:

10:50am | 16/01/10

Why have we not heard anything from the official investigations of the Ady Gil incident?

Despite some mitigating factors, there is a prima facie case for the Sh?nan Maru 2 to answer. Surely the investigating authorities should have worked that out by now. It has been 10 days. They will have to refer the matter to a prosecuting authority eventually. Why wait?

T.S.J. says:

01:44am | 17/01/10

The Sea Shepherd organization puts the lives of many people in danger. If indeed the japanese vessel DID or DID NOT intentionally ram the Ady Gil, it still doesn’t change the fact that the crew of Ady Gil played chicken with the japanese vessel AND LOST. They have themselves to thank for that.

Paul Watson said that he could sink the japanese vessel, the he would do it. Causing their deaths.

So… in conclusion. The term “terrorist” is a proper description of Sea Shepherd.

Drunk Guy says:

07:52am | 01/02/10

Funny isn’t it, the real question is;  Why are Australians so afraid of standing up and doing something about injustices within Australia and the rest of the world?

We are so fat lazy and comfortable in our boring miserable lives (generally speaking) that we don’t want to leave our comfort zone to defend our own rights, let alone protest attrocities and inhumanities accross the world so much so that we are prepared to argue that those who can actually get off their arse are radicals to say the least and go on a sliding scale to outright terrorists to justify our lack of effort and committment.

What amazes me is that when there is a personal issue for people they then wonder where all the support is.

Brian says:

07:33pm | 30/05/10

Well done to the Seas Shepherds and also (finally) well done to the Rudd government for doing something about the Japanese “scientific” whaling.

Brian says:

07:38pm | 30/05/10

Lets get this into perspective. In all the years of Sea Shepherd activity they have never caused a death of anyone (either one of their crew or the Japs).

The only things being killed are the whales. If it wasn’t for the SSCS alot more whales would be killed. Well done Sea Shepherd.

T Naylor says:

01:34am | 03/07/10

Did anyone watch the video? The Sea Shepard deliberately set themselves up. Their “Batman” boat clearly has the specs to get out of harms way but instead but put themselves right in front of it. The Whaler cannot skid to a halt or steer out of of the way with such little space. The Sea Shepard boat, in my estimation wanted either the Whaler to concede and turn around or get a collision. Eitherway, they win. They get loads of publicity and make the Whalers look lilly livered or like cold blooded aggressors.

My only regret is they didn’t split the boat in two, forcing the Shepard crew to accept a rescue at sea of humans saving humans. Except for flipper, you won’t catch a whale saving a human life.

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