Sea Shepherd
dancing on ice
The Yushin Maru 2 has relieved the Shonan Maru 2 and has taken up the task of chasing the Steve Irwin this week. The Shonan 2 headed west towards the ACV (Australian Ocean Protector) customs vessel to deposit the three Australians held onboard. The trio boarded the Japanese vessel, Shonan Maru 2, on Sunday (8th). Geoffrey Owen Tuxworth (47) of Perth, Simon Peterffy (44) of Bunbury and Glen Pendlebury (27) of Fremantle, all from Forest Rescue came by boat from shore to intercept the Shonan Maru that was hot on the trajectory of the Steve Irwin. By Friday (13th) afternoon the transfer was complete. No parties were injured on either side. The action is meant to highlight Japan’s inexorable and very much illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean and remind of the Australian government’s hollow pre-election campaign promise to tackle whaling. Their demand was simple “Return us to shore in Australia and then remove yourself from our waters.” The presence of any whaling vessel off the shore of Bunbury is in direct violation of the 2008 Federal Court ruling prohibiting whaling vessels from entering Australian territorial waters. Yet the Australian government turns a blind eye.
Meanwhile the Yushin Maru 3 remains at Macquarie Island, illegally within Australia’s twelve mile territorial limit, which means the Nisshin Maru has only one harpoon left, the Yushin Maru. Drone contact with the Nisshin Maru is null and void at the present time so there is no concrete proof whether whaling has begun. The Nisshin Maru is the primary research vessel of the 7 vessel strong fleet and the world’s only whale factory ship. If whaling has indeed begun Sea Shepherd will proceed with two of the three harpoon vessels not involved in killing operations. “If we had one more ship, there would be no possibility of any whales dying,” said Captain Paul Watson. “In July I met with Greenpeace representatives at the IWC and requested of them that they send one ship to support us. I told them that one more ship would shut down this entire fleet. They refused, and that is deeply disappointing, and as a result whales may die.” Greenpeace still not cutting the mustard it seems. Sea Shepherd’s fast scout, Brigitte Bardot, is still licking her wounds after being struck by a rogue wave that cracked the hull and severely damaged one of the pontoons on the vessel on the 28th December. The ship is docked in Fremantle and in a state of repairs till next season.
A word from the Captain: “We have demonstrated that we can shut these poachers down and every year we become more effective than the year before”, said Paul Watson.
"Their whaling is actually perfectly legal."
I believe this is not true for commercial purposes. They have chosen to ignore the legitimacy of Australia's claim in the area, that is a different matter altogether. They are whaling under the pretense of a scientific research programme- which is a questionable claim (even if it were their true purpose) given it is not necessary. (Apart from my personal opinion of the necessity of this scientific research, which I'd be happy to go into if asked, I have read statements released by Japanese scientists as to how this is not needed anymore which I can try and find to show you, please let me know). And in even if it were still necessary do they need 1000 whales per year quota for that? We are not talking about a species that is overabundant anymore (who would we be to judge anyway). The detriment this is causing goes further than whale's numbers, further than the negative effect this will cause to other wildlife due to the interdependence that exists between animals and the food chain.
I found this article very fascinating; New Scientist: Vital giants: Why living seas need whales-12 July 2011 by Marine Biologist Steve Nicol.
In it Steve Nicol starts by saying "whales dont just eat fish, they make the oceans far richer". In brief one point made was that the reduction in whale numbers has reduced the numbers of other marine wildlife even ones they eat. Killing large predators such as seals and whales does not increase fish numbers as thought.This is because they play a more critical role in maintaining and enhancing the productivity of the sea. The amount of life the oceans can support ultimately depends on how much food plants make. Photosynthesis can only occur on the top sunlit levels of the sea. A problem here is that due to gravity plants cells sink. Strong winds can churn up the waters, however so do large animals. They mix ocean waters through swimming (not drifting) and rising to the surface to breathe and then diving to the bottom to feed. Another way is by feeding at depth and defecating at the surface. I recommend reading the article.
Whether he asked Greenpeace representatives for drama or with the real hope of receiving help would this make their refusal the less real? To assume a result doesn't mean you should not bother with asking to see the result. This has a purpose has it not? Sea Shepherd has an ultimate goal. I do not find this action dishonest, it has ulterior motives that are not concealed. Why not also discuss the honesty of for example the Japaneses government? This article wasn't meant as an analysis piece though. I was merely quoting him.
This article here is meant to provide the coverage of events from a pro direct action perspective that adheres to animal rights. Truthfully and factually, without editorial influences, external control and political affiliations yet with the writer's perspective. How could it not? On this newsheet, stories will always be written by the hand of one who supports environmental, animal, anti-capitalist values, that is not hidden.
Ultimately I wrote this to cover Sea Shepherd's perspective.
> illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean
Their whaling is actually perfectly legal. I’ve been asking around for more than a year now what law they’re breaking, and still nobody’s been able to give me an answer. A lot of people bluster about IWC regulations, but they don’t have the force of law and the Japanese aren’t breaking any of them either.
> Captain Paul Watson. “In July I met with Greenpeace representatives
> at the IWC and requested of them that they send one ship to support
> us. I told them that one more ship would shut down this entire fleet.
> They refused, and that is deeply disappointing, and as a result
> whales may die.”
Watson has a really, REALLY poor track record for honesty. In the unlikely event he really did have such words with Greenpeace reps, it would have been for drama rather than any real expectation of getting any help. Greenpeace, from their end, is totally understandable in not lifting a finger to help bail Watson out: He’s been badmouthing them ever since they kicked him out for violence and selfishness more than 30 years ago.
Around the country, even in supposedly right-on Brighton, fundamentalist Christians have been harassing women outside abortion clinics.
Guerilla Gardening callout
Activists squat a derelict farmhouse in protest against new nuclear.
Anti-nuclear tree protestors evicted
UPDATE: Tree sitters evicted this morning (Weds 8th Feb)
Underwater reports: Sea Shepherd offer $10,000 reward for sea lion killers. The trial of Cove guardian Erwin Vermeulen's is underway in Japan. ALF activists free tuna off the coast of Croatia.
Affected by the Welfare Reform Bill? Take to the streets on the 28th for civil disobedience!
Faslane celebrates it's 30th birthday with a month of action
