tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80818028597459427952024-02-19T06:13:50.879+00:00Don't Fuck With TeddyA Blog For WhalesHimselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-40829541182500728382012-08-29T11:49:00.005+01:002012-08-29T12:33:06.622+01:00We Will Not Back Down by Captain Paul Watson and MoreThe sinking of the Adi Gil by the Shonan Maru No2 can be viewed in stills and video <a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/02/but-if-on-your-starboard-red-should.html">here.</a> *<br /><br />I have witnessed the incident described by Paul Watson in the documentary <i>Sharkwater</i> and yes, the two vessels had a coming together, and as always collisions at see should be avoided at all costs, the coming together of the shark-finning boat and Sea Shepherd's vessel Ocean Warrior, was just that, a coming together. Particularly when compared to the deliberate ramming of the Adi Gil by the Japanese harpoon vessel, Shonan Maru #2<br /><br />* The full post and a clip of the incident in question, now below main body text.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We Will Not Back Down</span></span><br />Commentary by Captain Paul Watson<br />August 28, 2012<br /><br />The one thing that I have been most proud of in my long career is the fact that after 35 years of interventions to defend marine life we have not caused a single injury to any person nor after some 350 voyages have I had any of my crew seriously injured. I am also proud of the fact that although we have been aggressively intervening against illegal whalers, sealers, dolphin killers, drift netters, trawlers, turtle killers and other ocean life-destroying enterprises, we have always done so within the boundaries of the law. <p> We have launched and carried out eight campaigns to oppose the Japanese whalers arrogantly operating in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We have not caused a single injury to any of them nor have we caused any damage to their ships. The whalers on the other hand have shot at us, rammed our ships and completely destroyed one of them without any legal consequences whatsoever. What we have done is to cripple them financially by blocking their ability to kill whales and the achievement that I am most proud of is that due to our interventions some 4,000 whales would now be dead if not for the courageous efforts of my incredible crews.</p> <p> Our objective from the beginning of the campaign was to sink the Japanese whaling fleet economically. We have achieved that. We have bankrupted them and driven them into debt; and the whaling fleet, weaker now than ever, only survives due to massive subsidies from the Japanese government.</p> <p> I have never been under any delusion that taking on one of the world’s great economic superpowers would not have consequences for us, especially since we have so humiliated the whalers at sea, outmaneuvering them and chasing them out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with their kill quotas denied and their profits wiped out.</p> <p> And of course the two events that could not be anticipated in our overall strategy have caused us the most problems.</p> <p> The first is the Japanese tsunami.</p> <p> Of the hundreds of millions of dollars contributed from around the world to the victims of that disaster, an allocation of some $30 million dollars was given to the whalers to fight Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. That is certainly not what the people who sent donations ever imagined that their contributions would be spent on. Rebuilding houses, food, medicine, repairing the infrastructure yes, but to subsidize the operations of the whalers to continue killing whales in a sanctuary – who could have foreseen such a betrayal of trust?</p> <p> With that money the whalers have hired public relations firms, increased security, and initiated lawsuits. However, the increased security on their fleet failed to prevent Sea Shepherd from once again intervening and as a result the whalers took only some 26% of their intended kill and once again lost all possible profits, sinking even deeper into debt.</p> <p> The filing for an injunction against Sea Shepherd in the United States courts also failed when the U.S. Judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction and although they are appealing the decision, their chances for success are slim.</p> <p> They are forcing Sea Shepherd to expend funds on legal fees but such expenses are all part of the overall battle plan and our success at sea is bringing in more and more support, allowing us to continue our fight against their poaching activities both on the water and now in the court.</p> <p> The tsunami funds have also been used to find strategies to defeat us and one of them was to track down a decade-old incident off Guatemala where we had intervened against an illegal Costa Rican shark-finning operation with permission of the Guatemalan government. The charges had been dismissed back then after the Costa Rican court reviewed our documentation, and the incident has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people in the award-winning documentary film<i>, Sharkwater</i>. But with a little persuasion from Japan, Costa Rica decided to resurrect the incident with a charge that we had sprayed water onto the shark-finning boat causing them to lose control and to collide with my ship. Even so there were no injuries and their vessel was not damaged. Hardly an extraditable offense.</p> <p> When first filed with Interpol by Costa Rica, the request was denied. But when I landed in Germany on May 13th, the Germans decided to act on the request despite the dismissal and detained me. My suspicions right from the beginning were that this was a Japanese initiative and once Japan saw that Germany was willing to act on a bilateral basis with Costa Rica they approached Germany with their request for extradition.<br />When a reliable source within the German Ministry of Justice tipped me off that the Germans would arrest me the next morning when I reported to the Frankfurt police I knew that once sent to Japan, I would not be leaving for a very long time. Thus I made the decision to depart Germany.</p> <p> I was also sent a copy of the Japanese request by this German source, and the entire case by Japan is based upon accusations against me by Peter Bethune.</p> <p> This was the second unforeseen incident.</p> <p> During Operation Waltzing Matilda (2009-2010), the Ady Gil, skippered by Pete Bethune, was deliberately rammed and sliced in half by the Shonan Maru No. 2. Pete Bethune decided to board the Shonan Maru No. 2 to confront the Japanese captain. In one of the episodes of <i>Whale Wars</i>, I advise Bethune not to board the vessel. His reply was that it was what he needed to do, it was his ship and he had the right to demand that the Japanese captain answer for the destruction of the boat. Bethune said he would take complete responsibility for his actions and thus he boarded the vessel with his own Jet Ski and assisted by his own crewmember.</p> <p> Bethune was taken to Japan and instead of taking full responsibility for the decision he made, he accused me of ordering him to board the <em>Shonan Maru No. 2</em>. This was a deal he made with the prosecutor in return for a suspended sentence. Our legal team has documented evidence of this deal.</p> <p> My critics can say what they like but I think that any objective review of the facts within the context of our history will show that these demands for my extradition are politically motivated and not based on a proper legal investigation. Everything that happened during the Costa Rican incident was documented by independent filmmaker Rob Stewart for the making of the film, <i>Sharkwater. </i>Everything that has occurred with reference to Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was documented for the Animal Planet program <i>Whale Wars</i> and in the film, <i>At the Edge of the World</i>. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operates overtly and above board. Everything we do is documented.</p> <p> For those critics who say that I should therefore submit myself to Costa Rica or Japan if I have nothing to hide I can only say that would be an option if allowed the opportunity for a fair and impartial trial. I do not believe that either country would give me a fair and impartial trial and even if acquitted by a Costa Rican court, they would then turn me over to Japan. Japan is not seeking justice, they are seeking revenge.</p> <p> What we have here is a Japanese captain having completely destroyed a 1.5 million dollar vessel, injuring a cameraman and almost killing six crewmembers. The crew was recruited by Pete Bethune to help man his vessel, the Ady Gil, and were not Sea Shepherd crewmembers, but Sea Shepherd still worked with them to try to stop the Japanese whalers and Sea Shepherd rescued them when their ship was rammed and destroyed. Note that Pete Bethune was not a Sea Shepherd Captain either. In fact, I have no doubt that had a Sea Shepherd Captain been in command of the Ady Gil that day, the collision would have been prevented altogether. But that was not the case and the collision occurred, yet the Captain of the Shonan Maru No. 2 has not even been subjected to questioning over this incident. This in contrast to charges against me that do not even involve activities by myself based solely on the accusations of a man who made a deal with the Japanese in return for a suspended sentence.</p> <p> With regard to Costa Rica, the courts have seen the evidence and questioned me and the witnesses and gave me a clearance to depart Costa Rica in 2002 (see scan of clearance documentation) and then revived the charges a decade later at the same time that a meeting took place between President Chinchilla of Costa Rica and the Prime Minister of Japan.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/images/stories/editorials/2012/editorial_120828_FM_Log_Scan.pdf">Click here to view the <b>2002 Ship’s Log Citing Clearance for Departure from Costa Rica (PDF)</b></a></p> <p> Other incidents by Japan have also not been investigated including the ramming of the Bob Barker by one of the harpoon vessels, and the collisions with the harpoon vessels and the Steve Irwin when the whalers attempted to force the Sea Shepherd vessel away from blocking the stern slipway of the Nisshin Maru.</p> <p> For myself, I have to weigh the best course of action within the context of our overall strategy to defend and protect the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. If I surrender myself to Japan and/or Costa Rica I will not be in a direct command position to intervene against the Japanese whale poachers in Antarctic waters. I can coordinate the campaign from a land base or from onboard ship but it will not be possible to do so as a prisoner of the Japanese. Operation Zero Tolerance must be my primary concern and it is towards launching that campaign that I have decided to dedicate myself. If detained prior to the launch, the campaign will proceed under the directions given through the campaign chain of command. After the campaign if the legal issues remain outstanding I will address them directly at a time of my choosing with guidance from our legal team.</p> <p> Another bit of misinformation is that I am fugitive from justice. I am not, and it is not a crime for anyone to work with or assist me. It is a complicated case, but I am not wanted outside of Japan, Costa Rica and Germany. There is no arrest warrant for me outside of these three countries and with regard to Germany, I have not broken any German law. Skipping bail is not a crime in Germany independent of the charge that was the cause of my being detained.</p> <p> Presently I am in a place where I cannot be touched by the Interpol “red” notice and our legal team is working on exposing the local warrants from Costa Rica and Japan as being politically motivated with the objective of having Interpol disregard them. I believe that any impartial review of the evidence will exonerate me and it is best to have this evidence reviewed with impartiality rather than to throw myself at the mercy of courts where the verdict has already been determined.</p> <p> From the beginning of this campaign to oppose the Japanese whale poachers in the Southern Ocean I was well aware that there were extreme risks involved. In addition to operating in the most hostile marine environment on the planet we were also aware that we were engaging one of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nations.<br />Despite this, every year we have gotten stronger and the whaling fleet has become weaker. And most importantly our efforts to defend the whales, to save their lives has increased dramatically to the point where the Japanese have failed for two years in a row to kill more than 70% of their no longer defenseless victims.</p> <p> And thus we come down to the showdown and the reason we call this <i>Operation Zero Tolerance</i>. Our goal this year is to achieve zero kills and we will do all within our power to make that goal a reality. It is expected that the Japanese will do whatever they can to stop us and one of their tactics is to eliminate me as the leader of this campaign. They may or may not do so but either way they cannot stop the passion of my officers and crew who will stand with me or who will stand if need be, without me. But stand they will and our ships will once more engage these ruthless killers on the high seas to shield the gentle giants from their merciless harpoons.</p> <p> If I am captured and politically crucified before this campaign all I can say is that this has always been for me a possibility and the Japanese will find that I am not as meek and unprepared as their previous prisoner. The loss of my personal freedom or even my life will be a fair price for achieving the objective of realizing the security of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. And with or without me that goal will be realized because we have something the Japanese whalers will never have. That is an absolute passionate respect for life and for maintaining the integrity of the Sanctuary. They are motivated by greed. We are motivated by love, and love and respect for life will always triumph over greed and death.</p> <p> To all of our supporters worldwide – thank you. Your support gives us the means to go forth, where we need to go to fight this battle. Thank you also to our crew of Cove Guardians who have begun their six months in Taiji, Japan to defend the dolphins. Thank you to our crew in Africa defending the seals, to our crew in the Galapagos defending those enchanted isles, to our crew in the Mediterranean defending the endangered Bluefin tuna, our crews in the South Pacific defending sharks and coral reefs and to all those Sea Shepherd warriors initiating fundraising, public awareness and activist campaigns for oceanic species worldwide.</p> <p> I am honored to work with each and every one of you. Together we are a force that has demonstrated and will continue to demonstrate that we can make a difference, and that <b>no matter what the obstacles or how impossible the mission, we will not back down</b>. Martin Sheen once told me that when someone accused him of supporting a lost cause that “lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for.” Martin, myself, and all of our crew are united in this belief that the impossible can become possible. And it is the passion, courage, imagination and resourcefulness of my incredible crew that will win this fight for the whales and for the oceans.</p> I’m proud of them all and most honored to have served this cause to protect our oceans, for the one most basic of truths is this: If the oceans die, we die! It is as simple as that and, thus, to me, there is no cause more important. <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2012/08/29/we-will-not-back-down-552#.UD3vyDa68S5.twitter">SSCS</a></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~<br /><br /></div>Ocean Warrior collision with shark-finning vessel.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uztJ7_kKS1Y" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">But If On Your Starboard Red Should Appear 'Tis Your Duty To Keep Clear </span></span><br />8 February 2011<br /><br />A simple mnemonic ditty to aid in safety at sea regarding the rule of the road.<br /><br />If, to your <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">STARBOARD</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">RED</span> appear<br />It is your duty to keep clear;<br />To act as judgement says is proper,<br />To starboard - or port - back - or stop her.<br />But when, upon your <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PORT</span>, is seen<br />A steamer's starboard light of <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">GREEN,</span><br />There's not so much for you to do,<br />For <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Green</span> to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Port</span> keeps clear of you.<br /><br />And just to fix it in your mind's eye, nothing better than a graphic, and, the reason I blog in the style that I do. And please I beg you, don't think I'm treating you like an idiot on this, there are vessels enough that have come to grief due to panic and an inexperienced helmsman not knowing his Port from his Madeira.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChqJRUXd4Kz9bswlkxcguFFqGEOlcgrWFRCBGscgl9Z8AE-DdIpWK5Rz1h75pIYjy9Na3BLRYBKUIYG7uv8ydRnH98NUtVhHXhKYME_7f08AkxruaPODgMmW5ettAdRLYYcn9dIrSkUcl/s1600/port_starboard_red_green.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChqJRUXd4Kz9bswlkxcguFFqGEOlcgrWFRCBGscgl9Z8AE-DdIpWK5Rz1h75pIYjy9Na3BLRYBKUIYG7uv8ydRnH98NUtVhHXhKYME_7f08AkxruaPODgMmW5ettAdRLYYcn9dIrSkUcl/s400/port_starboard_red_green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571308391819825730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Port has less letters than Starboard as does Left have less letters than Right.<br /></div><br />Right Kiddiywinks, with this in mind, what shall we have first? Stills I think.<br /><br />These are screen shots by the way, the originals were simply enormous. (Link further down the page.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc0q5OaETN9xE6nFzyuqwytNvHJ_-mUZiRo7Af3-RRb4Sr9bzUW79OJzHjZqFEL_NawPez3gu6_G-KiEPqeNcnFYla6RMFXz9aBgEXQBceOIbsNdQDRRfNouvrFLeWWMWE9nLfTI1xSKB/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc0q5OaETN9xE6nFzyuqwytNvHJ_-mUZiRo7Af3-RRb4Sr9bzUW79OJzHjZqFEL_NawPez3gu6_G-KiEPqeNcnFYla6RMFXz9aBgEXQBceOIbsNdQDRRfNouvrFLeWWMWE9nLfTI1xSKB/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317504007252226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-5O_3SD-t4Sj6VXFk2Hc6FDpifO7DfFznoCUo7usjA5hPYeaer1JD4nkiW-q510yojzjHrKGrBqtJ86UJRvGLgw908lLY-NDMxZ3p8IG359SI78ga9LC1r7_UUXr0_adEOaMpIemejFC/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0aQo_z-wZQOpOaiQQPl-Bcp5sBsvdDTUgSq3R8nSNErVahC6sUwLGxNnccd3gJx02uXHmD2Gs4b8IwUrB9c802X_61hOyworGo4SYcRRqRufz5w9SrxAKEs1Wx_ft_lctJZ6N9tubZYX/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317381666709170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3b3lc1UnvpoztwlzjVoY6KXELp42PHfr9Cxvud-n2iHfUI3kXfhL3FIdURryQjOWFHmqKhDmgiLnJWeHvX_j0DUSFUz7n0r38bbbAoocdxNwaM-3G7xwHTRQ0vun_m3KzivzEN34KQMU/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3b3lc1UnvpoztwlzjVoY6KXELp42PHfr9Cxvud-n2iHfUI3kXfhL3FIdURryQjOWFHmqKhDmgiLnJWeHvX_j0DUSFUz7n0r38bbbAoocdxNwaM-3G7xwHTRQ0vun_m3KzivzEN34KQMU/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317376320013586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbJf9EDbY-g91B9EM2QgXRMGQbjS9-HjxR_zqr36_2liJRfj1ix0X1LixISzCGufZ_EJ-1qi6bAsZ07k9oX1RDOsQc4Uc6X3ucLF-eENX8Yjw-j_HblDvLcv9rNs8pdGBhG6tFh5L1t1f/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbJf9EDbY-g91B9EM2QgXRMGQbjS9-HjxR_zqr36_2liJRfj1ix0X1LixISzCGufZ_EJ-1qi6bAsZ07k9oX1RDOsQc4Uc6X3ucLF-eENX8Yjw-j_HblDvLcv9rNs8pdGBhG6tFh5L1t1f/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317369722717666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MNraWck0wMexsIfVvN4jVwYKO9gC0EE049hcUwTuzRlw8WFagTnVAL5OYPswkf-GAMqq7z-jyTLyI7SoQ30mhaLoLf7-iOYOPjil1edtVA6RRxsvhNkXEoRAQTGLdCGxo6UbI-i_xPuq/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MNraWck0wMexsIfVvN4jVwYKO9gC0EE049hcUwTuzRlw8WFagTnVAL5OYPswkf-GAMqq7z-jyTLyI7SoQ30mhaLoLf7-iOYOPjil1edtVA6RRxsvhNkXEoRAQTGLdCGxo6UbI-i_xPuq/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317221850463698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpFtedeuSTTFV-tNgGrfSWR3BKM2PbCy9e2jzhXwvuim5SU1Q6HywDek6Obqq1uJ2A19BIR_lVA1JQl94nZufrxsgmKD6DXU_CAQDFIRQJ_vlQbKJ5K81-XzObQ74mKSTZrycAOJFPubS/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpFtedeuSTTFV-tNgGrfSWR3BKM2PbCy9e2jzhXwvuim5SU1Q6HywDek6Obqq1uJ2A19BIR_lVA1JQl94nZufrxsgmKD6DXU_CAQDFIRQJ_vlQbKJ5K81-XzObQ74mKSTZrycAOJFPubS/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317214284850242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BQZcbsAf1msbbrntG2rfuPdBiIzWGBObRmYYl4dx7iZ4bKQl7V6qoJRlvWzp-n4UYAK4oQKChGvwKyLlQIoLO8bUbfpoAzk-baCxMdoE-cqKkuJ6bAEg1R87DUSLxqHQalpjaJzYKthh/s1600/ady_gil_sharun_maru_sequencial.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BQZcbsAf1msbbrntG2rfuPdBiIzWGBObRmYYl4dx7iZ4bKQl7V6qoJRlvWzp-n4UYAK4oQKChGvwKyLlQIoLO8bUbfpoAzk-baCxMdoE-cqKkuJ6bAEg1R87DUSLxqHQalpjaJzYKthh/s400/ady_gil_sharun_maru_sequencial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571317202405538370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLdUISE3e8c" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />Yes I know, confusing isn't it? That must be the reason the <s>Chilcot Enquiry</s> <span style="font-style: italic;">Maritime New Zealand's</span> investigation had this to say about the incident.<br /><br /><blockquote>We have considered a significant amount of information in the course of our investigation. This has included the review of more than 24 hours of video footage, witness interviews, and a huge array of technical data from both vessels.<br /><br />The report finds there is no evidence either master deliberately caused the collision – but that both were responsible for contributing to, and failing to respond appropriately to, the “close quarters” situation that led to the accident. <a href="http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/adygil/">more and link to big pics.</a></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEj8ps46j62FD7Ld14A8aZdENENXkJDVccHmVFTrjgcTA_5xCzpwoaYS3f0V-I3AvWf4JM3kieok9n-aruuu-rzyQBZ1VBbwphzuw7DVnBtrFPFOcRVc9UWosy7DhYr9e9wc9lAJRaTn6/s1600/MNZ-NFG.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEj8ps46j62FD7Ld14A8aZdENENXkJDVccHmVFTrjgcTA_5xCzpwoaYS3f0V-I3AvWf4JM3kieok9n-aruuu-rzyQBZ1VBbwphzuw7DVnBtrFPFOcRVc9UWosy7DhYr9e9wc9lAJRaTn6/s400/MNZ-NFG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571447588065209090" border="0" /></a><br />h/t imaufoHimselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-44458793641836109882012-05-22T16:55:00.002+01:002012-05-22T16:59:41.893+01:00Pual Watson on Democracy NowCaptain Paul Watson is presently released from a German court on a quarter of a million dollars bond.<br /><br />As hard as it might be to comprehend, fifty million sharks, valued in the billions of dollars, are taken annually by the shark finning industry.<br /><br />Little wonder that Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd Conservation society have enemies. And let us not forget the Japanese, you can bet the farm that they will be up to their necks in this transparent piece of political chicanery.<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.democracynow.org/embed/story/2012/5/22/sea_shepherd_founder_paul_watson_fights" width="600" frameborder="0" height="337"></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote>Captain Paul Watson, founder of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, has been released on bail in Germany following his arrest for possible extradition to Costa Rica on decade-old charges stemming from a confrontation with shark fin poachers. Sea Shepherd continues to maintain that Watson’s arrest was politically motivated and is calling on its supporters to come together in a day of action on Wednesday when the Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla visits Germany. Watson joins us from Frankfurt. “We’ve never injured anybody,” Watson says. “The most powerful weapon in the world as far as I’m concerned is the camera, so we go into battle armed with cameras...Right now 19 million sharks a year are being destroyed to feed the shark fin industry in Asia. And that means the fins are cut off of these animals and they’re thrown back into the ocean, and this is what we filmed off of Guatemala and this is what we intervened against — a highly illegal operation.” [Transcript to come. <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/22/sea_shepherd_founder_paul_watson_fights">Check back soon</a>.]</blockquote><br />See what a shark finning operation looks like <a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/10/sharks-piled-high-rows-of-fins-photos.html">here.</a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-39691190851895475552012-02-21T18:41:00.003+00:002012-02-21T18:49:05.268+00:00Radioactive or Not Tsunami Debris Could Seriously Impact US & Canada West Coasts<blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Radioactive or Not, Tsunami Debris Could Seriously Impact US's, Canada's West Coasts</span></span><br />by Jon Letman<br />20 February 2012<br /><br />Pacific coastal communities prepare for possible impacts of marine debris from Japan's triple disaster.<br /><br />In the age of constant crisis coverage, it is easy to forget that disasters don't just end once the cameras move on. On the contrary, they morph into new situations, sometimes improved, but often more complex and severe. In the case of Japan's earthquake-tsunami-nuclear catastrophe, part of that tripartite disaster floated out to sea as debris where it has been drifting for months to destinations unknown.<br /><br />According to Japan's Ministry of Environment's Waste Management Division, the 9.0 magnitude temblor and tsunami generated some 25 million tons of debris in total, literally sucking the lives of thousands of people and their belongings out to sea. Since last March, the remains of destroyed buildings, vehicles, broken furniture, fishing boats, nets and miscellaneous flotsam has been adrift in the north Pacific vastness. But how much was pulled into the ocean and where it will end up, no one can really say for sure.<br /><br />Scientists and experts in Canada and the United States and, in particular, the Hawaiian islands, recognizing the potential for a fourth leg to Japan's triple disaster, are trying to forecast a possible debris path as they prepare for what could be headed their way.<br /><br />One scientist closely monitoring the situation is Dr. Nikolai Maximenko, a senior researcher at the University of Hawaii's International Pacific Research Center in Honolulu. Speaking at a conference on the Hawaiian island of Kauai in December, Maximenko said that one-third to one-quarter of the total debris may have been pulled out to sea by the tsunami. But what first appeared as dense, yellow floating masses of broken lumber was quickly overshadowed by a more immediate human and environmental disaster unfolding on land.<br /><br />Maximenko and other scientists in Hawaii are using diagnostic computer models in an attempt to accurately predict the likely path of debris. In June 2011, sailors traveling between Yokohama and Alaska sighted suspected tsunami-generated detritus. They described navigating two days across a field of "unusual debris," including they said looked like "file cabinets, lumber, freezer chests and large pieces of Styrofoam."<br /><br />In another significant sighting last September, the Russian sailing ship STS Pallada reported passing through debris some 400 miles west of Midway atoll while on its way from Hawaii to the Vladivostok. The Russian crew spotted an unoccupied Japanese fishing boat (later confirmed to be registered in Fukushima Prefecture) as well as televisions, bottles, boots, wash basins and doors.<br /><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming to a Beach Near You </span> <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/radioactive-or-not-tsunami-debris-could-seriously-impact-uss-canadas-west-coasts/1329238229">much more</a></blockquote><br />Previous with photos <a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/04/tsunami-debris-floats-towards-us-west.html">Tsunami Debris Floats Towards US West Coast </a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-9184171296104451052012-01-07T11:41:00.001+00:002012-01-07T12:49:40.048+00:00Bullfighter Jose Padilla - TwatI suppose it must have been playing on my mind, after all, <a href="http://onlyinamericablogging.blogspot.com/2011/10/juan-jose-padilla-my-heart-bleeds-for.html">a comment</a> left on a blog defending bullfighting, is a pretty rare thing. In fact I would go as far as to say it's unique; where it concerns bullfighter, Juan Jose Padilla it is. Consequently, and as much on auto-pilot as anything else, I set to first thing this morning and knocked these few pics out.<br /><br />Every comment on every post that I have read, concerning Padilla getting his, has. as you may well imagine, been a tad short in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?gl=US&v=-kAlrG4jS9M">sympathy department.</a> The sentiments more in keeping with my first graphic in this little gallery, which of course is my own core sentiment.<br /><br />O fucking le, you twat.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXeiQaVHXea71hXJdax32cBQKdNkOtxFDgmkAOhqmxOePnnRhSK4nKA4hk9vyR2vPbSgdGR7pz6VTXPOrwv8SKzJJ3ZJgQHaa1IY8R-NHmaeTm5KA3XPOJEBVDSjrfwiOjuaOrIC4MQI/s1600/jose_padilla_bullfighter_schadenfreude.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXeiQaVHXea71hXJdax32cBQKdNkOtxFDgmkAOhqmxOePnnRhSK4nKA4hk9vyR2vPbSgdGR7pz6VTXPOrwv8SKzJJ3ZJgQHaa1IY8R-NHmaeTm5KA3XPOJEBVDSjrfwiOjuaOrIC4MQI/s400/jose_padilla_bullfighter_schadenfreude.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694855391113113618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPJ7bR64uiZl4MTRgXu2JW-mrsXoqrMdjZ1-t0lWUDZI_pN4_TtAY3k5E7ZYgd9PVu76U8p-JTMs8dpVrU7CXWY2aF2Om4LQcAbfTKh7ODCcBGetpzP-fH3wSyfwkPt9HloZjFb3J94o/s1600/jose_padilla_bullfighter_twat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPJ7bR64uiZl4MTRgXu2JW-mrsXoqrMdjZ1-t0lWUDZI_pN4_TtAY3k5E7ZYgd9PVu76U8p-JTMs8dpVrU7CXWY2aF2Om4LQcAbfTKh7ODCcBGetpzP-fH3wSyfwkPt9HloZjFb3J94o/s400/jose_padilla_bullfighter_twat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694855247207126482" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74-0niWRpgLo-E34wbCVV1oTpChuSV_vHmptoM29jKwVHh5Z-4rQQgVdox2gui5dk0NAcp0nYoPSjYvyVPZg6OufKYlYuSXYpfAITLXG9ZXWd8_805zHPneyBSfkA71SZYzbMjbuKRHU/s1600/jose_padilla_bart_simpson_eye_caramba.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74-0niWRpgLo-E34wbCVV1oTpChuSV_vHmptoM29jKwVHh5Z-4rQQgVdox2gui5dk0NAcp0nYoPSjYvyVPZg6OufKYlYuSXYpfAITLXG9ZXWd8_805zHPneyBSfkA71SZYzbMjbuKRHU/s400/jose_padilla_bart_simpson_eye_caramba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694854960060545570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gFIXqDn_Vz9gm5Z_bnEknMZ2S6T_Vv_ecDhOkfXL5c6pLzwKdUeYp1vWAm8FBaKBrzdTd8EcuRD1dgz5mhoy-3ZlEv-QXnYqD497gYunlDTrugb4lPSGvvAvnztc6cVQkAczh0RGS6s/s1600/jose_padilla_bullfighter_ole.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gFIXqDn_Vz9gm5Z_bnEknMZ2S6T_Vv_ecDhOkfXL5c6pLzwKdUeYp1vWAm8FBaKBrzdTd8EcuRD1dgz5mhoy-3ZlEv-QXnYqD497gYunlDTrugb4lPSGvvAvnztc6cVQkAczh0RGS6s/s400/jose_padilla_bullfighter_ole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694854662557403362" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAHeiz6TRtQ3VauIniFEJPdFGmsuk6lX96qpzdrcUQWac9xApFoHkLuaJMkOiYqGF03NIdZ1iMPd2Oj40agBTKqsvo7yrUjRN_YPDoEptpy6HTOP0_WUF8GuaFc5WjEZZw-7fnePEZgo/s1600/bullfight_bull-1_twat-0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAHeiz6TRtQ3VauIniFEJPdFGmsuk6lX96qpzdrcUQWac9xApFoHkLuaJMkOiYqGF03NIdZ1iMPd2Oj40agBTKqsvo7yrUjRN_YPDoEptpy6HTOP0_WUF8GuaFc5WjEZZw-7fnePEZgo/s400/bullfight_bull-1_twat-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694854401631272898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMeA7Uyk4KHgnoH7yN6-KkOmL0Yq5UTQ89RD68CqYgSNE7qmz3W5qg2K4cNWRfNq3mKhddXtxDBzJ_yG_hLd48poauZeidiptv3CVLYB5EAiudgH8nwcFpGUB_F4ZgXcGG7mof6Fgh8k/s1600/jose_padilla_bullfighter_hospital.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMeA7Uyk4KHgnoH7yN6-KkOmL0Yq5UTQ89RD68CqYgSNE7qmz3W5qg2K4cNWRfNq3mKhddXtxDBzJ_yG_hLd48poauZeidiptv3CVLYB5EAiudgH8nwcFpGUB_F4ZgXcGG7mof6Fgh8k/s400/jose_padilla_bullfighter_hospital.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694854116520295634" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDtUI1nF6h-_wgihRJ9AO_0Jee249eEZHPd9Fv-oCMVC-RtFgqgfprN_0lXlK-JLIOmfsn0mhKgwpFDHLbwMXP9_MPu5HD0YfidXFhxGyGBDArfatSW-hvWK7Rillg3YW7CvqKZFvR48/s1600/from_teddy_to_jose_padilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDtUI1nF6h-_wgihRJ9AO_0Jee249eEZHPd9Fv-oCMVC-RtFgqgfprN_0lXlK-JLIOmfsn0mhKgwpFDHLbwMXP9_MPu5HD0YfidXFhxGyGBDArfatSW-hvWK7Rillg3YW7CvqKZFvR48/s400/from_teddy_to_jose_padilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694870771735071122" border="0" /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-50886495267835728772011-12-31T11:12:00.006+00:002011-12-31T18:15:10.711+00:00Happy New Year Sea Shepherds Everywhere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxj2FNZhXXxM6I80EG2mk9lNs3FR2gxYWIZ0170RMSYxJzOizFLEIECSNIgRAKUrpglGx4nc0s5iN41-NQTOblNZWUbF2uyIIImOzPCUF3FAtV5qiWswj-G2PHB-JpL4gKzjx-lhl7fk3/s1600/happy_new_year_sea_shepherds_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxj2FNZhXXxM6I80EG2mk9lNs3FR2gxYWIZ0170RMSYxJzOizFLEIECSNIgRAKUrpglGx4nc0s5iN41-NQTOblNZWUbF2uyIIImOzPCUF3FAtV5qiWswj-G2PHB-JpL4gKzjx-lhl7fk3/s400/happy_new_year_sea_shepherds_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692249057023192466" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Click again when opened.</div><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eOS20plm7UM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3A19q7rysLs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="640"></iframe>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-18557256393049757142011-12-28T00:42:00.002+00:002011-12-28T00:47:22.854+00:00Sea Shepherd’s Aerial Drone Revealed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHffksUPtuhJrQvLrUEHdgdbiUSTNxH_qU-l0CyqMlI7yXWzudpwScAM-iTEgjDQPkvXf2IyQlAPDbFBA4npFp0Ui4Hm5PHSZMNDf81_-vW51E59pfqWAwatWdKNQX0G-RYJ_jddSz19P/s1600/sea_shepherd_drone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHffksUPtuhJrQvLrUEHdgdbiUSTNxH_qU-l0CyqMlI7yXWzudpwScAM-iTEgjDQPkvXf2IyQlAPDbFBA4npFp0Ui4Hm5PHSZMNDf81_-vW51E59pfqWAwatWdKNQX0G-RYJ_jddSz19P/s400/sea_shepherd_drone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690974278765485666" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote><br />Some additional information about the drones used by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has come to light. The sUAS (Small Unmanned Aviation Systems) were deployed last week and successfully discovered the Japanese whaling fleet more than 1,000 miles north of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.<br /><br />The technology, not unlike the larger military drones used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, is considered a major advantage for the conservation org; which in the past has relied upon a mix of guesswork, experience, and outside assistance to locate the whalers. <a href="http://missouri-news.info/missouri-news/sea-shepherds-aerial-drone-revealed.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">more missouri-news.info</a></blockquote>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-68434630526454316222011-12-28T00:02:00.008+00:002011-12-28T00:25:25.946+00:00Yes Teddy I Know, Greenpeace Are Such Wankers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ct6SbQ8sLzOzc1_X-N_L2v-U5ZQEYg3lWLdH9wwmN5s9aCa3V79eMjQ8xbSJNztA906yftJuKofGlNZP0lpuqM7nTmCBqjGS5cemk_tXX4cseSRig5wxL6wbkkNitq27n5y-FRL6uFAd/s1600/japan_grief_iconic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ct6SbQ8sLzOzc1_X-N_L2v-U5ZQEYg3lWLdH9wwmN5s9aCa3V79eMjQ8xbSJNztA906yftJuKofGlNZP0lpuqM7nTmCBqjGS5cemk_tXX4cseSRig5wxL6wbkkNitq27n5y-FRL6uFAd/s400/japan_grief_iconic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690965661214122866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greenpeace Should Address Its Own Disgraceful Behavior</span></span><br />December 12, 2011<br /><br />Junichi Sato, Executive Director of Greenpeace Japan, has publicly condemned Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for accusing the Japanese whaling industry of using funds, earmarked for the Tsunami Earthquake Relief Fund, to provide security for its fleet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCW6L8pTfthCBE4F_hK1b1kiRz2rk22xw5671Ww6kMczKB3E5zcSXYygq29D3XOMD8l4AplZo2TrCipfKbSraSWKdE_VVYRlJCQwvMnF5-P1Mu7bTZEuxCBbaJcfmD36ZZpr7hJxdeMWy/s1600/greenpeace_pussycat_wankers_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCW6L8pTfthCBE4F_hK1b1kiRz2rk22xw5671Ww6kMczKB3E5zcSXYygq29D3XOMD8l4AplZo2TrCipfKbSraSWKdE_VVYRlJCQwvMnF5-P1Mu7bTZEuxCBbaJcfmD36ZZpr7hJxdeMWy/s400/greenpeace_pussycat_wankers_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690964089577910658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few days before, Greenpeace claimed credit for exposing the scandal that relief money was being utilized for the support of the whaling fleet. Sato made the following statement: "Not only is the whaling industry unable to survive without large increases in government handouts, now it's siphoning money away from the victims of the March 11 triple disaster — at a time when they need it most. This is a new low for the shameful whaling industry and the callous politicians who support it."<br /><br />In response to Japan’s suspect claims that the money came from taxes and not from the relief fund (contradicting the Japanese Fishery Agency release that the funds indeed came from the relief fund), Sato, forgetting his earlier statement, decided to use the opportunity to discredit Sea Shepherd. According to Sato, Captain Paul Watson said on Sky TV that it was "really disgraceful" that the money had come from "people all over the world" who never dreamed how it would be used.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qKonVwVpm_UMiUTA23XDYXQJhEdUGlrTSexJfnoQs0o55GXERa3gTx3RlOqRxVCeaDLhRwCG9OBvcbP5YPbNmOkD0VdgjUPO00AcrzPnPeMqiVCEFMoyJmS5LPzxFU7jE4LbXwrOceij/s1600/eat_greenpeace_pies_and_lie_like_a_bastard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qKonVwVpm_UMiUTA23XDYXQJhEdUGlrTSexJfnoQs0o55GXERa3gTx3RlOqRxVCeaDLhRwCG9OBvcbP5YPbNmOkD0VdgjUPO00AcrzPnPeMqiVCEFMoyJmS5LPzxFU7jE4LbXwrOceij/s400/eat_greenpeace_pies_and_lie_like_a_bastard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690964478713917282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sato called that claim irresponsible and stated that Watson is not doing conservationists any favors by misrepresenting the truth. Sato claims, "Its about the credibility of the whole anti-whaling movement."<br /><br />We know some $30 million has been allocated from the Tsunami Earthquake Relief Fund, as stated by the Japanese Fishery Agency, with the justification that rebuilding the whaling industry is a legitimate use of such funds. Now the Japanese government is backtracking, claiming the funds came from taxes. Either way, the question must be asked: when people are homeless because of the disaster, why is $30 million being given to the whaling industry to defend their illegal whaling operation in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary? Either the Department of Foreign Affairs is lying or the Japanese Fishery Agency is lying.<br /><br />Captain Paul Watson believes that it is irresponsible for Greenpeace Japan to use the contradictory messages from the Japanese government to smear Sea Shepherd.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M8wL5XzbY86ort9ROP9SZbX_TfOiPf-HJuXX25K-nHQSNsuFF7x-mV73BoyQDyjsPI-lRsMOm34lcJPWSreT4qxeBUdQQaTXcSGtBsppKSVmxOGZDMK7-jrCQCtYV53b444y4kc3UZis/s1600/greenpeace_bear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M8wL5XzbY86ort9ROP9SZbX_TfOiPf-HJuXX25K-nHQSNsuFF7x-mV73BoyQDyjsPI-lRsMOm34lcJPWSreT4qxeBUdQQaTXcSGtBsppKSVmxOGZDMK7-jrCQCtYV53b444y4kc3UZis/s400/greenpeace_bear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690967242495202034" border="0" /></a><br />“Sato should look to his own organization when it comes to questioning credibility over this issue. They raise some $40 million dollars a year on their anti-whaling campaigns and all they do is produce mail-outs asking for funds. They have not sent a ship to the Southern Ocean to hang banners for years. The Japanese whaling fleet will pass right by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza, now in Palau, and Greenpeace will not confront them. This is also a disgrace. The raising of money from the public to pretend to be saving whales and at the same time attacking the only organization that has saved whales in the Southern Ocean,” said Captain Watson. “I have asked Greenpeace to join us in a common cause to oppose the whaling fleet and they have refused. I have no idea what they do with the millions of dollars they raise to save whales but I do know the funds are not used for saving whales. As for credibility, Sea Shepherd saved 863 whales last year from the harpoons and Greenpeace saved none. That is the only credibility which we are concerned with.” <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2011/12/12/greenpeace-should-address-its-own-disgraceful-behavior-498">Sea Shepherd.org</a></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihqosc3qJnyNs_nHgL1inNpYh8_F6OhJT2655cjH9qEGc2T8JkiPy4aS68ZBpwPcEiAmXdV05xYN6ECFlYJe_Jnfew1bbaaiDJdiiM9WP4lL8CDcGsnwZndwaCLnuIhNb3xmRSon2Dqnh/s1600/sea_shepherd_bear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihqosc3qJnyNs_nHgL1inNpYh8_F6OhJT2655cjH9qEGc2T8JkiPy4aS68ZBpwPcEiAmXdV05xYN6ECFlYJe_Jnfew1bbaaiDJdiiM9WP4lL8CDcGsnwZndwaCLnuIhNb3xmRSon2Dqnh/s400/sea_shepherd_bear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690967635779842050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu0WKPiF7rcOvOzYENqP4wYmvkSQzuDLfituLd1QM5cU6EC6yRypnq4D_A8ZLWf8cwobZok-HNmzfPnqdOYUEZKXa_VLzb1JV3S67q73_eVns6F2-OSDNjhcG03_yZX4z5LGIhn3m8tQz/s1600/think_japan_think_this.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu0WKPiF7rcOvOzYENqP4wYmvkSQzuDLfituLd1QM5cU6EC6yRypnq4D_A8ZLWf8cwobZok-HNmzfPnqdOYUEZKXa_VLzb1JV3S67q73_eVns6F2-OSDNjhcG03_yZX4z5LGIhn3m8tQz/s400/think_japan_think_this.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690968630452337074" border="0" /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-40336592951960148842011-12-27T16:49:00.003+00:002011-12-27T16:55:43.364+00:00Arnie Gunderson Discusses China Syndrome & The Impact of Fukushima on World's OceansI can't give you a review of the effect on the oceans video just yet, it's an hour long and I'm just now about to watch it myself. Later then.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33561652?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/33561652">Fukushima - Could it Have a China Syndrome?</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6415562">Fairewinds Associates</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />Fairewinds' chief engineer Arnie Gundersen discusses whether the accidents at Fukushima were a meltdown, a melt-through, or a China Syndrome. Whatever the accidents are named, thousands of tons of water contaminated with plutonium, uranium, and other very toxic radioactive isotopes are flooding the site, the surrounding water table, and the ocean. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33668643?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/33668643">Gundersen on EcoReview: Fukushima's Impact on the Oceans</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6415562">Fairewinds Associates</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />Arnie Gundersen appears on EcoReview to speak about the impact that the Fukushima nuclear disaster will have on the world's oceans. <a href="http://www.fairewinds.com/">Fairewinds</a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-32218213929604317992011-12-26T21:23:00.002+00:002011-12-26T21:29:28.853+00:00Japanese Security Boats Shadow Sea Shepherd Fleet<blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese security boats shadow anti-whaling ship</span></span><br />Jane Hammond<br />December 27, 2011<br /><br />Two Japanese security vessels with uniformed guards were tailing anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's flagship, Steve Irwin, last night as it headed towards the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.<br /><br />The Steve Irwin is closing in on the whaling fleet's factory vessel Nisshin Maru as the groups head south for the start of this year's battle over Japan's plan to kill more than 900 whales.<br /><br />Sea Shepherd used high-tech drones to find the whalers on Christmas Day and expects to catch up with the Nisshin Maru by New Year's Eve.<br /><br />The anti-whaling group plans to block the factory ship's slipway to prevent any dead whales being dragged aboard and flensed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_HFPqTNlPEoOErcOlSETKGSJfOqxdk64SxwPvG1Ao9l9Ylp2wUy0B078CNHM-HfnQ83tCs3dyGyILtMgfHK3UvUZHOUbSC9MKCyjYkYP5blZ2uC82G4ce9MjXK6JQohYDd0LaIYADJSn/s1600/japanese_security_vessel.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_HFPqTNlPEoOErcOlSETKGSJfOqxdk64SxwPvG1Ao9l9Ylp2wUy0B078CNHM-HfnQ83tCs3dyGyILtMgfHK3UvUZHOUbSC9MKCyjYkYP5blZ2uC82G4ce9MjXK6JQohYDd0LaIYADJSn/s400/japanese_security_vessel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690552205603290018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Steve Irwin captain Paul Watson said yesterday he was surprised by the military-style bunkers on the decks of the vessels and extent of the whaling fleet's security.<br /><br />"There seem to be a lot of changes on the Shonan Maru 2 this year, with armed security personnel and they seem to have a bunker-type thing on the top of their ship with sandbags," Capt. Watson said.<br /><br />"I don't know if they are expecting us to attack them with weapons or something. They seem awfully paranoid.<br /><br />"We are just there to stop them killing whales but we are doing everything we can to make sure we don't hurt these people."<br /><br />Capt. Watson said rancid butter bombs were the worst thing the conservationists would be using against the whalers this year.<br /><br />Late yesterday, the Steve Irwin was about 50 nautical miles behind the factory ship while the two security vessels were sitting about seven nautical miles off the Steve Irwin's stern.<br /><br />Sea Shepherd's other two ships, the high-speed Brigitte Bardot and the Bob Barker, were not being tailed by the Japanese.<br />Twenty Australians are among the Sea Shepherd's crew of 88, including five West Australians. <a href="http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/12459316/japanese-security-boats-shadow-anti-whaling-ship/">The West.com.au</a><br /><br /></blockquote>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-77399761506411722762011-12-25T22:12:00.004+00:002011-12-25T22:23:48.808+00:00Sea Shepherd Intercepts the Japanese Whaling Fleet with DronesOh I do like your style boys, drones indeed. Drive on!<br /><br />And fair play to Bayshore Recycling Corp (BRC) and Moran Office of Maritime and Port Security (MOMPS) for making this possible. Good on you.<br /><blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea Shepherd Intercepts the Japanese Whaling Fleet with Drones</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese Security Ships Move In On the Steve Irwin</span><br />December 24, 2011<br /><br /><br />The Sea Shepherd crew has intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on Christmas Day, a thousand miles north of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.<br /><br />The Sea Shepherd ship, Steve Irwin, deployed a drone to successfully locate and photograph the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru on December 24th. Once the pursuit began, three Japanese harpoon/security ships moved in on the Steve Irwin to shield the Nisshin Maru to allow it to escape.<br /><br />This time however the Japanese tactic of tailing the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker will not work because the drones, one on the Steve Irwin and the other on the Bob Barker, can track and follow the Nisshin Maru and can relay the positions back to the Sea Shepherd ships.<br /><br />“We can cover hundreds of miles with these drones and they have proven to be valuable assets for this campaign,” said Captain Paul Watson on board the Steve Irwin.<br /><br />The drone named Nicole Montecalvo was donated to the Steve Irwin by Bayshore Recycling of New Jersey, and Moran Office of Maritime and Port Security, also of New Jersey.<br /><br />Captain Watson having received reports from fishermen when the Japanese ship passed through the Lombok Strait waited south of the strait at a distance of 500 miles off the southwest coast of Western Australia. Sea Shepherd caught the whalers at 37 degrees South, far above the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/12/24/sea-shepherd-intercepts-the-japanese-whaling-fleet-with-drones-1299">More and photo's.</a></blockquote><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/12/24/sea-shepherd-intercepts-the-japanese-whaling-fleet-with-drones-1299"></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-56984488374261396372011-12-22T17:32:00.002+00:002011-12-22T17:49:21.680+00:00Happy Christmas Sea Shepherds Everywhere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Yh5DH2J8AB_RHraw9TWfY9VGnkjnV_UYQ42upPCooZGGS7rVVTjORPngMzEvdO1mm649dom8D5GfnZi_9-rixlqC8OAcJPiiHjYaJNgImFvhW9dKRuSWgulOINL1qhN5PfcL2FmZolX/s1600/Teddy_says_happy_christmas_sea_shepherds+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Yh5DH2J8AB_RHraw9TWfY9VGnkjnV_UYQ42upPCooZGGS7rVVTjORPngMzEvdO1mm649dom8D5GfnZi_9-rixlqC8OAcJPiiHjYaJNgImFvhW9dKRuSWgulOINL1qhN5PfcL2FmZolX/s400/Teddy_says_happy_christmas_sea_shepherds+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689007381915515522" border="0" /></a><br />But a special Christmas and thank you to all those at the sharp end of this campaign. Stay safe.Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-72160958279074623712011-12-14T10:14:00.007+00:002011-12-14T12:05:42.540+00:00A Japanese Citizen Speaks: ''Japan tsunami relief funds go to save — whaling''Putting it politely, the Japanese Government could never be accused of being the sharpest chisel in the box, one would only have to read my <a href="http://onlyinamericablogging.blogspot.com/search/label/Japan">Fukushima coverage</a> to have that endorsed.<br /><br />That this same government <span style="font-style: italic;">knows </span>that Japan's whaling activities are despised all over the world, passes up the perfect opportunity to end this outdated, barbaric practice, saying that it is no longer viable given the recent natural and man made disasters that have befallen the country.<br /><br />Because if this most recent piece of insanity, the ripping off of tsunami relief fund to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, is in order to save face, and many think so, by sending their killing fleet to the Southern Ocean once more, then I'm lost for words to describe their way of thinking.<br /><br />And so is the fellow that wrote this article, that says as much as needs to be said, letting me off the hook having to write (rant) more. But I shall just pull this sentence out of the body of the text.<br /><br /><blockquote> And more importantly, whatever I gave to Japan, I will be giving more to Sea Shepherd to continue its fight against the Japanese whaling fleet</blockquote><br />And he Japanese at that.<br /><br />And that is something we all must remember, no money no direct action by Sea Shepherd, the <span style="font-style: italic;">only organisation</span> that is actively involved in thwarting the Japanese killing machine in Antarctica. <a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/02/oi-you-lot-yes-you-greenpeace-will-you.html">Where is Greenpeace?<br /></a><br />I don't know what the budget is for running SeaShepherd.org, many many millions of dollars at least, and here's the rub; every last dollar given freely by a sensitive, caring public in order to put an end, once and for all, something that should have ended decades ago.<br /><br />Volunteer dollars only, fighting corrupt, and it's all of that, government subsidies and money stolen from the victims of Japan's recent devastating tsunami.<br /><br />And those volunteer dollars are the most important thing in the world, no money, no action and another thousand magnificent creatures meet their deaths in such a manner so cruel, so horrendous, that it makes me wonder just what we are as a species. In fact I think I have in the past gone so far as to question if indeed whalers are part of the same species as us, and not a sub-species of humanity in their own right.<br /><br />With all this in mind, might I ask you to consider supporting Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, their activities are not directed at solely stopping this gruesome trade in whales, but the protection of dolphins, sharks, turtles and many other species around the globe.<br /><br />There is a direct link to SSCS donations page in the side bar. Please help if you can, thank you.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japan tsunami relief funds go to save — whaling.</span></span><br />Michael Yaki<br />Dec 13 2011<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMLkmGmpTA1iPl19mvo_ufZ-wdZR4fLsD0ICtnAz2caRbqdQ0kDA_qWNy7bxAKTqsGUQlEkMKajP7SxKIfkLEyGGnSMig2FGOr12JHi48mSiDv1tpFR523VoQcgbnpV3yC-EKhvsu8ftd/s1600/japan_grief_iconic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMLkmGmpTA1iPl19mvo_ufZ-wdZR4fLsD0ICtnAz2caRbqdQ0kDA_qWNy7bxAKTqsGUQlEkMKajP7SxKIfkLEyGGnSMig2FGOr12JHi48mSiDv1tpFR523VoQcgbnpV3yC-EKhvsu8ftd/s400/japan_grief_iconic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685930801751928082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once again, the subject of whale-killing has surfaced, and, once again, Japan decides to lead the annual “Coal in Stocking” holiday sweepstakes. Why?<br /><br />Because the Japanese government just confirmed that it has targeted roughly $30 million of its special Tsunami reconstruction budget to provide additional and increased financial support for its notorious whaling industry.<br /><br />That’s right. No joke. Of the billions being spent to rebuild villages and towns wiped out by the tsunami, to repair an electrical infrastructure crippled by the meltdowns in Fukushima, to safeguard millions from the continuing threat of radiation poisoning, the Japanese government thoughtfully determined that propping up a pariah industry was a priority as well. It has used the money to bulk up security for its factory vessels that are headed down, even as we speak, to the southern oceans to kill a thousand whales in the name of “science.” It is also triple what the whaling industry receives each year from the government.<br /><br />In plain English, the Japanese government is using its tsunami largess to inject tens of millions of dollars into an industry that serves no useful purpose.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjYvxqBA6t1VMSv_L7CjxvLBrpivNji1CNEmB3t3DoTjioxCNWRU5x4JhDRoMZ_npkkTY663pObv6NP66QnAbJe2TqOm7gHARkNXxFyrG6L5OR1xhSQhiLqhTl3dAZP2zM4W3KypUpBN3/s1600/yushin_maru_harpooned_whale_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjYvxqBA6t1VMSv_L7CjxvLBrpivNji1CNEmB3t3DoTjioxCNWRU5x4JhDRoMZ_npkkTY663pObv6NP66QnAbJe2TqOm7gHARkNXxFyrG6L5OR1xhSQhiLqhTl3dAZP2zM4W3KypUpBN3/s400/yushin_maru_harpooned_whale_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685931805534814418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In response, the Japanese government has stated that no “donations” have been used to fund the whale-killing stimulus package, but we all know that just parses the real budget issues involved. For reasons unknown and unexplainable, the Japanese government is addicted to the whaling industry and, like all addicts who found a windfall, decided to go for the big score. But money is fungible. Just because you have $10, you can’t use all $10 to buy crack cocaine if you also need $5 of that ten to buy some milk for your cats. If your friend gives you $5, and you use that to buy milk, you can say with a straight face that none of that money went to buy $10 worth of crack. But anyone knows that without it, you wouldn’t have been able to get your fix. And that’s exactly what Japan has done with the tsunami donations it has received, enabling it to divert other budget funds into enhancing its ability to kill whales.<br /><br />This expenditure is immoral. It is frivolous. It is a slap in the face of the millions of donors to Japan, many who, no doubt, deeply disagree with their whale hunting but who — like me — were willing to dig into their own pockets because it’s what neighbors, friends, members of the human community do in times of crisis. We don’t expect, however, to be told that our dollars enabled them to exponentially increase its proficiency at shooting exploding harpoon grenades into sentient marine mammals. And don’t let the party line of “we’re not killing endangered whales” let them off the hook. They target fin whales, the second-largest living being, and which is squarely the endangered species list. And there is more than credible evidence that the whaling fleet has killed critically endangered blue whales. And don’t buy “it’s part of our historic traditional diet” malarkey either. 95% of Japan doesn’t eat, or want to eat, whale meat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaihn6VhA-gLFRaqQNgURRUfMWy6qG7leGo1JffperYvG0NiIOmKqGk03YbZ4bh1F45CIGlB5CxTBzRgW1Zg76iWazR69_LWb-KoZyN-o7Zstt88xucbkdezCi_or-XL-sKKilVt-EB_oX/s1600/yushin_maru_harpooned_whale_4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaihn6VhA-gLFRaqQNgURRUfMWy6qG7leGo1JffperYvG0NiIOmKqGk03YbZ4bh1F45CIGlB5CxTBzRgW1Zg76iWazR69_LWb-KoZyN-o7Zstt88xucbkdezCi_or-XL-sKKilVt-EB_oX/s400/yushin_maru_harpooned_whale_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685932074976247330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I just don’t get it. There remains little, if any, justification for the hunting of whales, and what little there is is more than offset by the critically low population levels of many, if not most, of the remaining species still swimming freely in our increasingly polluted, crowded, and overharvested oceans. Whales bring in far more dollars alive than dead. Every year brings exciting new revelations shedding light on their intelligence, their social groupings, even signs of culture.<br /><br />Japan could have used the tsunami as an excuse to invest money into the coastal villages that it says are “dependent” on whaling into other, better, and more economically prudent and lasting enterprises. It could have gracefully saved face from the annual shellacking it takes from the international community. Instead, it stubbornly decided to amp up the stakes even more.<br /><br />Well, Japan, game on.<br /><br />I won’t be so petty as to ask for my money back. But I believe that amongst the international community, notice should be taken of this ill-use of disaster relief funds when Japan asks for assistance in the future. And more importantly, whatever I gave to Japan, I will be giving more to Sea Shepherd to continue its fight against the Japanese whaling fleet. Last year, because of Sea Shepherd, the Japanese called off its hunt early. Against a better-funded Japanese fleet, it appears that once again cetacean lovers everywhere must spend part of their holiday funds to ensure peace in our oceans and goodwill for all whales. <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/yaki/2011/12/13/japan-tsunami-relief-funds-go-to-save-whaling/">Source</a></blockquote><a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/yaki/2011/12/13/japan-tsunami-relief-funds-go-to-save-whaling/"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdNVrRLBr83TKg0yJNbFzi0vE2Pgyyo-7LSI6SLeg2PBjNCmQa1vR2j0cZWrheUSwoL8Q3QntUgqDgYm1r-dWqDy-h3S5Jv-wD_2Ej1ia8da-9s6Hb70dJoshuvUhIfPkDU5EUFIJpHjm/s1600/dead_whale_mother_and_calf_nisshin_maru+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdNVrRLBr83TKg0yJNbFzi0vE2Pgyyo-7LSI6SLeg2PBjNCmQa1vR2j0cZWrheUSwoL8Q3QntUgqDgYm1r-dWqDy-h3S5Jv-wD_2Ej1ia8da-9s6Hb70dJoshuvUhIfPkDU5EUFIJpHjm/s400/dead_whale_mother_and_calf_nisshin_maru+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685953311595734754" border="0" /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-31099315588931888262011-12-12T12:08:00.004+00:002011-12-12T12:27:33.204+00:00Japan: Country in Tatters Irradiating the Planet at Alarming Rate But Can Still Find Millions of Yen to Slaughter World's Biggest Mammals<blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japan Uses Tsunami Funds for Whaling</span></span><br />by Brittany Hahn<br />December 12, 2011<br /><br />Times have been tough in terms of money. Families are struggling to make ends meet and to simply get by. With the trouble that the economy has put on many people, things are even more difficult when tragedy strikes. And strike it did in Japan. On Friday, March 11, 2011, the coast of Japan was hit with the most powerful earthquake in its history. The earthquake was a magnitude 9.0, and triggered tsunami waves of 40.5 meters. As a result of the destructive incident, 15,840 people lost their lives, and 5,950 people were injured. More than half a year later, both the country and its people are still recovering. There is still much rubble to clear away and rebuilding to be done, and the threat of radiation poisoning still looms. Empty towns stand as a reminder of what used to be. Additionally, 3,647 people are still missing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyrfYNbSjOHqx7wmAStEE3nIDjRYC64WTus7526BHxYXey-Av8MGGTnvrA3zjoeantwu12m2jY7e8grl2GWrI_ArZUjoeFB35yo2eTFWFINX6-pOUVSXEsOqf4TwIk4x_FJB-ItS9AVlu/s1600/teddy_says_mankind_is_a_bollocks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyrfYNbSjOHqx7wmAStEE3nIDjRYC64WTus7526BHxYXey-Av8MGGTnvrA3zjoeantwu12m2jY7e8grl2GWrI_ArZUjoeFB35yo2eTFWFINX6-pOUVSXEsOqf4TwIk4x_FJB-ItS9AVlu/s400/teddy_says_mankind_is_a_bollocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685215543402358786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Although there is still approximately 23 million tons of debris left to be removed, Japan has decided to allocate 2.28 billion yen ($30m US) to a more commercial operation: Whaling. This is in addition to its annual funds of $6 million. Greenpeace forced Japanese officials to divulge their financial plan. The executive director of Greenpeace Japan, Junichi Sato, commented, “It is absolutely disgraceful for the Japanese government to pump yet more taxpayer money on an unneeded, unwanted, and economically unviable whaling programme, when funds are desperately needed for recovery efforts.” I could not have put it more eloquently.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJljXcEmw1mqVdbhwKIYf5GI5d1Ej3gvQ1hGkUmzayzRcPpdrvDS78X0uG5f1Yu5-H65V8UCpLea6roOxP-BldVRIJRkj0THtvgMb8JEksw6J7GGqVtCwBCCyw-vI3yLe6j5mvE2GxZlr/s1600/kill_yourself.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJljXcEmw1mqVdbhwKIYf5GI5d1Ej3gvQ1hGkUmzayzRcPpdrvDS78X0uG5f1Yu5-H65V8UCpLea6roOxP-BldVRIJRkj0THtvgMb8JEksw6J7GGqVtCwBCCyw-vI3yLe6j5mvE2GxZlr/s400/kill_yourself.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685215742794954498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Japan officially granted the money to the Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR), which is the agency that oversees the whaling operation. The program is carried out under the guise of research, but all whale meat is commercially sold. This year, the whaling operation plans to kill more than 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales in the Southern Ocean. As it is illegal to carry out such acts within this area, Sea Shepherd has vowed to stop them. Japan claims that this program will aid the towns wrecked by the tsunami. <a href="http://holisecleveland.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/japan-uses-tsunami-funds-for-whaling/">more</a><br /></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrijnv08Z4xrpyUQXXleFsViuI7lRHTi1opbIkiYoe1PobbXe3QNWl_ey1AsvB1wmxFI915OBcJ6fgcHClLoaSVoLYjuaXoOtibkjiBPIdXZbzIw0f5Srf52S4EzNrUWWTMV8DvKNCbEN/s1600/teddy_sea_shepherd_boycott_japanese_goods.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrijnv08Z4xrpyUQXXleFsViuI7lRHTi1opbIkiYoe1PobbXe3QNWl_ey1AsvB1wmxFI915OBcJ6fgcHClLoaSVoLYjuaXoOtibkjiBPIdXZbzIw0f5Srf52S4EzNrUWWTMV8DvKNCbEN/s400/teddy_sea_shepherd_boycott_japanese_goods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685217377266653682" border="0" /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-1181719071673000302011-12-09T15:30:00.002+00:002011-12-09T16:22:42.990+00:00Obama and His Tart Conspire to Deny Sea Shepherd Pilot a VisaIf this is what world statesmanship has come to, I think we should to look to the playground for some replacements. Pathetic doesn't even come close.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yMKQbc6oe6HtGeYH6O8n6Gd_mhHTb5KszG3zU_lex0PFynddbWvUjbaj5MCuR53FWwusO9phIr80eMkuRUzOr5aM3vG700KFLaXTNdQ5wRJEl7Fk83V3-XxBe-68PkVufbU55pdDgnyA/s1600/kid%2527s_gear_seashepherd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yMKQbc6oe6HtGeYH6O8n6Gd_mhHTb5KszG3zU_lex0PFynddbWvUjbaj5MCuR53FWwusO9phIr80eMkuRUzOr5aM3vG700KFLaXTNdQ5wRJEl7Fk83V3-XxBe-68PkVufbU55pdDgnyA/s400/kid%2527s_gear_seashepherd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684152122515284850" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shopuk.seashepherd.org/store/c/320-Kids-.aspx?a=111208_sscs_enews">Kids gear Sea Shepherd </a><br /></div><br />What say you kiddywinks, are you up for the job?<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Australian Government Attempts to Sabotage Sea Shepherd’s Campaign to Defend the Whales</span></span><br />December 5, 2011<br /><br />On the eve of Sea Shepherd and its three ships' departure to defend whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, the government of Australia has tossed an obstruction in our path designed to delay our plans to confront the Japanese whaling fleet.<br /><br />Chris Aultman, who has been our helicopter pilot annually since 2005, was today denied his visa to Australia. He was not given a reason for this decision.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG15AQjbmqLGbvZzroQz9sovw4uxZSHC77XiGcIqHiWCjgp6qRZho9P1lDN3staiV11CAaLjdi-C1da1XXN9WNFGDG-KbFWLtCM_3qojHpnDWEi2WHYh0esUYlWJvzT4tyoJKzFNsiQv5p/s1600/Australian+Embassy-Gillard-Obama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG15AQjbmqLGbvZzroQz9sovw4uxZSHC77XiGcIqHiWCjgp6qRZho9P1lDN3staiV11CAaLjdi-C1da1XXN9WNFGDG-KbFWLtCM_3qojHpnDWEi2WHYh0esUYlWJvzT4tyoJKzFNsiQv5p/s400/Australian+Embassy-Gillard-Obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684139263036225698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Chris Aultman, a United States citizen, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, a professional helicopter pilot, a star of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars series, and a man who does not have a criminal record, has been told he will not be permitted a visa to enter Australia. The Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. would not give him a reason.<br /><br />It appears that the Japanese ambassador to Australia has been making phone calls.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-8r2B_vZyB-PuDT_X2et2hoplDa3f8Yam5QLLoZAyoj0Eg3_GXQkc-8eLdwQ6y40NjbF43lRLm9jriSw_IzsyxOxudsu1MgwJtiMeaIlNwSXR7AZBU5mMy9gxm8jAr-WMhkjYeyw8ff8/s1600/Australian+Embassy-Keep_Dick_out_of_Politics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-8r2B_vZyB-PuDT_X2et2hoplDa3f8Yam5QLLoZAyoj0Eg3_GXQkc-8eLdwQ6y40NjbF43lRLm9jriSw_IzsyxOxudsu1MgwJtiMeaIlNwSXR7AZBU5mMy9gxm8jAr-WMhkjYeyw8ff8/s400/Australian+Embassy-Keep_Dick_out_of_Politics.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684139720145410738" border="0" /></a><br />Australia denied visas for Captain Paul Watson and 1st officer Peter Hammarstedt two years ago. After a two-month delay, 25,000 Australian signatures on a petition, and the assistance of former Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell and Tasmanian Senator Bob Brown, Peter and Paul were finally granted visas. No reasons were given for the denial or the delay.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFM6GwtFnvNvNm1WLG9mneWToX7c2YZ9QksuSlZ9WZSfAvWrB668sAO8btOlmGpQQVkTNd95jQhwNnFGxigpvD7Qis2CF9VJgpEXW4VzDPwIdo4EACSS-BU1pKvlfnzDtNacM_Xyb6q1Y/s1600/Opera_House_gillard_les_paterson.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFM6GwtFnvNvNm1WLG9mneWToX7c2YZ9QksuSlZ9WZSfAvWrB668sAO8btOlmGpQQVkTNd95jQhwNnFGxigpvD7Qis2CF9VJgpEXW4VzDPwIdo4EACSS-BU1pKvlfnzDtNacM_Xyb6q1Y/s400/Opera_House_gillard_les_paterson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684139968292456210" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Sir Les Patterson, late Cultural Attaché to the Court of St James. <a href="http://sirlespatterson.com/">sirlespatterson.com</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Les Patterson: The best place to hide something from a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British#Pommy" title="Alternative words for British" class="mw-redirect">Pom</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> is under a bar of soap. </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Les_Patterson">Wiki</a><br /><br /></div><br />Now it appears that Australia is seeking to keep the Sea Shepherd helicopter grounded by denying a visa to our veteran helicopter pilot. Australia has also refused to send a government ship to the Southern Ocean to keep the peace in the Australian Antarctic territorial waters and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.<br /><br />Captain Paul Watson spoke personally to Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke while attending the Australian Antarctic Expedition’s 100th year anniversary dinner in Hobart on December 1st.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT_exYWjFRmxtg5aT6rF8jLaTvQR8dwAuq5qvC7qYSxCTQqEF0GjFT3_4_WS_BMhIJqixW6sWhFIvyFNy-OAAKNw1E0BT8l0d9epteUtcJJwDPXdBu7ZFgSKOWktwciShzjS6zMR5RG5m/s1600/ayers_rock_gillard_obama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnT_exYWjFRmxtg5aT6rF8jLaTvQR8dwAuq5qvC7qYSxCTQqEF0GjFT3_4_WS_BMhIJqixW6sWhFIvyFNy-OAAKNw1E0BT8l0d9epteUtcJJwDPXdBu7ZFgSKOWktwciShzjS6zMR5RG5m/s400/ayers_rock_gillard_obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684140420636767138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Paul Watson: </span><span>Mr. Burke will you be sending a ship to keep the peace this year?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tony Burke:</span> That’s not going to happen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Paul Watson:</span> I think it would be the responsible thing for Australia to do considering the potential threat from the whalers who have indicated they intend to be far more aggressive this season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tony Burke: </span>Look, Japan requested that we send a ship to protect their ships from you. If we turned them down it’s only fair that we deny your request also.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Paul Watson:</span> Well, except for one thing. Our ships carry Australian citizens on our crew and we will be in the Australian Antarctic Territorial waters and it is your duty to protect Australian waters and Australian citizens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tony Burke:</span> (shakes Captain Watson’s hand) It’s nice to meet you and stay safe down there.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClSEyMIzORDjXCwLJDIEMtSn7EIADiMwjhrJKXimwwHXGMPtC_TP59LD78RZZTbw7jerVDOk67af50qsHgubzn5JADSMQb3zgXOrqkn6l1WZ_iLsec0dXsZOLcyTnfdTD3Z92GfXdezv1/s1600/occupy_new_york_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClSEyMIzORDjXCwLJDIEMtSn7EIADiMwjhrJKXimwwHXGMPtC_TP59LD78RZZTbw7jerVDOk67af50qsHgubzn5JADSMQb3zgXOrqkn6l1WZ_iLsec0dXsZOLcyTnfdTD3Z92GfXdezv1/s400/occupy_new_york_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684140745405785458" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Direct Action</a><br /></div><br />Captain Watson said after that conversation, “I wonder what the Minister will say if the Japanese injure any Australian citizens in Australian waters? I think this is grossly irresponsible of the government to refrain from due diligence in keeping the peace. Australia has stated that Japanese whaling is illegal and they recognize that it is being carried out in waters claimed by Australia. They know that Australian lives will be at risk and yet they refuse to get involved.”<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5QXNhr8gEc5R9U6dn44EjriPaElrXHVNTWqsHxgbi6DuGbuPN7BL82VOcB4_jqSHneDyAWUSkdWY2TvtTM9EXvG-VGDxiWh3ZXrIbpeNwY3EyvZd_fg22WO-NbO_21J08FXHfs8wPKB-/s1600/occupy_ny_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5QXNhr8gEc5R9U6dn44EjriPaElrXHVNTWqsHxgbi6DuGbuPN7BL82VOcB4_jqSHneDyAWUSkdWY2TvtTM9EXvG-VGDxiWh3ZXrIbpeNwY3EyvZd_fg22WO-NbO_21J08FXHfs8wPKB-/s400/occupy_ny_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684141143815880706" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Direct Action</a><br /></div><br />The denial of the visa for Chris Aultman is another indication of the Australian government’s hostility towards Sea Shepherd’s opposition to illegal whaling.<br /><br />The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has received overwhelming support from the people of Australia. Unfortunately, the government of Australia does not reflect that support. This is the same government who promised just prior to election that they would take a tough stand against Japanese whaling.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X0OdWmcZ17qD9GPcv7py3KQjxR4KCiofzSe-6yHAhXwxXavQNQthCy1arVPNlSpgfx0npvklJvQOx80QtQGdGyGLilHOC6bJOOkEDQu7akiDoMck2BPK6efHWALNTtn5jrKsuMUz67W2/s1600/Japanese_Embassy_London_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X0OdWmcZ17qD9GPcv7py3KQjxR4KCiofzSe-6yHAhXwxXavQNQthCy1arVPNlSpgfx0npvklJvQOx80QtQGdGyGLilHOC6bJOOkEDQu7akiDoMck2BPK6efHWALNTtn5jrKsuMUz67W2/s400/Japanese_Embassy_London_whales_are_the_99%2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684138672882072994" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Direct Action</a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Dec 8, 2011: Visa granted to Chris Aultman. Thank-you Senator Bob Brown.<br /><br />Sea Shepherd helicopter pilot, Chris Aultman, has been granted a visa to enter Australia, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today. "I thank Immigration Minister Chris Bowen for his swift response to my request as to why two Sea Shepherd crew members were denied visas to enter Australia. Sea Shepherd's Chris Aultman and Tim Pierce, helicopter pilot and mechanic respectively, have both successfully applied before for visas to Australia. Mr. Pierce is expected to be able to also join his colleague in Australia," Senator Brown said. "The Japanese Government is sending a patrol boat from its Fisheries Agency to 'strengthen the protection' of whaling ships as they illegally hunt whales in Australia's territorial waters.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR9fEXcjJkvGNhqDttixg7lwsAWdVPICjU116JVH2cK_eD1n8GMevcIJyGfyE3S85KlleZtlDsvsd9BIKFSNTsFXfa5ku66DatiiDZancWFZbg36iGFLd32wXlVNIMAnFNx1B6cBG5BiX/s1600/japanese_embassy_whales_are_99%2525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR9fEXcjJkvGNhqDttixg7lwsAWdVPICjU116JVH2cK_eD1n8GMevcIJyGfyE3S85KlleZtlDsvsd9BIKFSNTsFXfa5ku66DatiiDZancWFZbg36iGFLd32wXlVNIMAnFNx1B6cBG5BiX/s400/japanese_embassy_whales_are_99%2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684141521067446354" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Direct Action</a><br /></div><br />Japan has also taken tens of millions of dollars out of tsunami relief funds to help finance the whale killing fleet heading to Antarctica. I have serious concerns that the presence of the patrol boat may escalate tensions when Sea Shepherd tries to protect the whales the Japanese ships are slaughtering. The Australian Government must have a plan in place to ensure safety as the Sea Shepherd fleet prepares to leave Australian ports to defend hundreds of whales from Japanese whaling ships," Senator Brown said. <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/12/05/australian-government-attempts-to-sabotage-sea-shepherds-campaign-to-defend-the-whales-1292">SeaShepherd</a><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SedF2DbG2e0/TuIdstuvnWI/AAAAAAAAk-o/baD-Dthttp:N7qwY/s1600/Japanese_Embassy_London_boycott_japanese_relief_%2526_goods.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDs1S20DXQvGPMz57lcRq22FDl8l6tXfgjlVsd5C-MfFDXS5Yy34ua5KecJBMAX7b603psLEepquV7cLFOX1uAMOjLQlTSfY2LXgDJ0RQnnWEmAw7q6MaEQFxwHy_ZDSldm8elDzzZaCO/s400/Japanese_Embassy_London_boycott_japanese_relief_%2526_goods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684138333722090850" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">Support Direct Action</a><br /></div><br />Latest:December 9, 2011 Whalers file lawsuit against Sea Shepherd in US. Paul Watson dismisses it as frivolous. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whalers-file-lawsuit-against-sea-shepherd-in-us-20111209-1on3p.html#ixzz1g3TdNrfm">More </a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-49723703765344983542011-12-07T18:45:00.007+00:002011-12-07T19:13:38.055+00:00Australia Won't Protect Japan Whale Hunt<span style="font-size:130%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Australia won't protect Japan whale hunt </span></span><br />December 07, 2011<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNerkpTbJmalT0os87GMV9IVhquIs8d6Li7wOQkEDw4-0-Ekc6ASkOYa9ikln7utc7Bv2hWXCy-sMlRA179JN2qRsW-_qt7lONT75t_bmP9zGojyd1T5JtKvSDrwEwtlQegV55WDxhLIL/s1600/japanese-factory-ship-nisshin_maru.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNerkpTbJmalT0os87GMV9IVhquIs8d6Li7wOQkEDw4-0-Ekc6ASkOYa9ikln7utc7Bv2hWXCy-sMlRA179JN2qRsW-_qt7lONT75t_bmP9zGojyd1T5JtKvSDrwEwtlQegV55WDxhLIL/s400/japanese-factory-ship-nisshin_maru.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683464725918591330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />AUSTRALIA still doesn't buy Japan's argument that its whaling in the Southern Ocean is for scientific reasons and won't protect the hunt, Environment Minister Tony Burke says.<br /><br />Japan's whaling fleet has set sail for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, which it says is for scientific research, with security beefed up amid international protests.<br /><br />Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd is preparing to confront the whalers and try to stop them harpooning whales.<br /><br />Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson says both his group and Japan have each asked Australia to send a vessel to guard them from each other during what he expects to be intense high-seas confrontations.<br /><br />"That is one of the reasons I asked Australia to send a vessel down to keep the peace, but they refused," Captain Watson said.<br /><br />Mr Burke said Australia's position couldn't be more clear.<br /><br />"We don't buy for one minute this argument that it is somehow scientific whaling," Mr Burke said today.<br /><br />"You don't travel from one side of the globe to the other to harpoon whales and chop them up in the name of science."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpCmSo_tiYhnoSVYME3AdfxN9wED2TE8xS1etl_9KnIoFkbTTO03m2lYiZdHUFKQDveEnQNPRWnRXEajJZDDG7aOTzAkxINESHqP82FlPKRiKPV5mHok9FDz6sEwp_7f0iBz2Ik-ly0AI/s1600/nisshin_maru_research.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpCmSo_tiYhnoSVYME3AdfxN9wED2TE8xS1etl_9KnIoFkbTTO03m2lYiZdHUFKQDveEnQNPRWnRXEajJZDDG7aOTzAkxINESHqP82FlPKRiKPV5mHok9FDz6sEwp_7f0iBz2Ik-ly0AI/s400/nisshin_maru_research.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683465150379867602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The minister said Japan had asked for a higher level of protection for their vessels simply because they were to be involved in whaling.<br /><br />"There is no way that we could countenance something like that," he said.<br /><br />"I've said so publicly at the International Whaling Commission, and the fact that the opposition has now jumped on that same bandwagon doesn't change the fact that we have no plans to send a vessel down."<br /><br />Captain Watson said it appeared the Japanese fleet was accompanied by two security vessels with security people and coast guard aboard.<br /><br />"We are hoping to deter their operations," he said.<br /><br />"I assume the security vessels will try and dislodge us."<br /><br />He said an estimated $28 million that Japan had given to this campaign was likely behind the beefed-up security.<br /><br />"That money did come from the earthquake relief fund," he said.<br /><br />"I think that it's totally disgraceful. People from around the world sending money to help the victims of the Tsunami-earthquake were not expecting their money to be used to fund killing whales in the Southern Ocean."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE6ca28oTA0NZ2kdTmSffrnjBicsF4qbSPM8DMF8ZEdNCv4SHMU3Sc5Bhd8gvC5cxDgzwAx1Gs1zUl6ntwu3V3zoy0JHqsVwe1ByiP_NbHbwK1R1za-OHOMWVTJBmKUKoIOx94yW1regT/s1600/nisshin_maru_research_bullshit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE6ca28oTA0NZ2kdTmSffrnjBicsF4qbSPM8DMF8ZEdNCv4SHMU3Sc5Bhd8gvC5cxDgzwAx1Gs1zUl6ntwu3V3zoy0JHqsVwe1ByiP_NbHbwK1R1za-OHOMWVTJBmKUKoIOx94yW1regT/s400/nisshin_maru_research_bullshit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683466206263413890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Sea Shepard fleet will set sail in about eight days on three ships.<br /><br />The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot leave from Albany in Western Australia while the Bob Barker will depart from Hobart.<br /><br />Comment was being sought from a spokesman for the whalers. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/australia-wont-protect-japan-whale-hunt/story-e6frfku0-1226216206739">news.com.au</a></blockquote><a href="http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/australia-wont-protect-japan-whale-hunt/story-e6frfku0-1226216206739"><br /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-64483892130588968772011-12-06T15:35:00.003+00:002011-12-06T15:55:12.529+00:00The Twats Are On Their Way Japan Whalers Head for Antarctica<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japan whalers head for Antarctica</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japan's whaling fleet left port for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, press pictures showed, with security measures beefed up amid simmering international protests.</span><br />06 December, 2011<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN35V7EqvDiHAd63oMSx7HF2RkmpaN4ShbsXyDH5I4Lq-K3VVIGETQa40ImmJCat7VV6oBzoStWvukuTl4irhptVufJIfr6cjvWbdjEURqZN2jbIk8Vg00282SVT2rDqDXQYJwEUMhhvn/s1600/the_japs_are_coming.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN35V7EqvDiHAd63oMSx7HF2RkmpaN4ShbsXyDH5I4Lq-K3VVIGETQa40ImmJCat7VV6oBzoStWvukuTl4irhptVufJIfr6cjvWbdjEURqZN2jbIk8Vg00282SVT2rDqDXQYJwEUMhhvn/s400/the_japs_are_coming.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683044350566642914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Three ships, led by the 720-tonne Yushin Maru, set sail from Shimonoseki in western Japan on a mission officially said to be for "scientific research", according to local media reports.<br /><br />The government's fishery agency declined to confirm the reports, citing security reasons.<br /><br />In February, Japan cut short its hunt for the 2010-2011 season by one month after bagging only one fifth of its planned catch, blaming interference from the US-based environmental group Sea Shepherd.<br /><br />The fleet aims to catch around 900 minke and fin whales this season, according to a plan submitted by the government to the International Whaling Commission.<br /><br />Commercial whaling is banned under an international treaty but Japan uses a loophole to carry out "lethal research" on the creatures in the name of science.<br /><br />It makes no secret of the fact that whale meat from this research ends up on dinner tables and in restaurants. <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2011/12/06/japan-whalers-head-for-antarctica">TimesLive</a></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDatjReja8O0MzUp1UFHWLKP_-Q80FT9siSVwOVdR3ZeCBa29arvx96tNI69I6VFy_6yZ9boZ-bX_uAdQTMBfYzDFue5kt0BXKZvT4m-MKn7z6sU-y6CA_GwCL_FobBT9l8s1NbRKqVf9/s1600/whaling_is_not_research2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDatjReja8O0MzUp1UFHWLKP_-Q80FT9siSVwOVdR3ZeCBa29arvx96tNI69I6VFy_6yZ9boZ-bX_uAdQTMBfYzDFue5kt0BXKZvT4m-MKn7z6sU-y6CA_GwCL_FobBT9l8s1NbRKqVf9/s400/whaling_is_not_research2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683044167633905522" border="0" /></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-47813605375269608442011-10-19T19:10:00.005+01:002012-05-22T16:52:44.167+01:00Sharks piled high, rows of fins: Photos reveal breadth of killings in TaiwanI don't think I can talk about this at the moment.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sharks piled high, rows of fins: Photos reveal breadth of killings in Taiwan </span></span><div class="blog-byline"><br />By <span class="author vcard"> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/juliet-eilperin/2011/03/02/ABZpz6M_page.html" rel="author">Juliet Eilperin</a></span><br /><span class="updated" title="">10/19/2011</span> <br /></div> <div id="entrytext"> <p> Documenting the extent to which Taiwan is scouring the seas for sharks, the Pew Environment Group released a series of images Wednesday that capture that nation’s impact on global fisheries. </p> <p> <span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks6.jpg?uuid=tIQ6kPpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption">Shark fishing boats in Taiwan. ( Shawn Heinrichs for the Pew Environment Group) </span></span>A series of photos and accompanying video suggest that Tawain, which reports the fourth-largest shark catch in the world, is an even greater player in the international shark trade than previously thought. The images capture imperiled shark species, such as scalloped hammerhead and oceanic whitetip, being prepared to be sold.</p> <a name="pagebreak"></a> <p>“These images present a snapshot of the immense scale of shark-fishing operations and show the devastation resulting from the lack of science-based management of sharks,“ said Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation at the Pew Environment Group. “Unfortunately, since there are no limits on the number of these animals that can be killed in the open ocean, this activity can continue unabated.” Scientists estimate the global <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/california-adopts-shark-fin-ban/2011/09/06/gIQACgsD9J_story.html">shark fin trade</a> kills between 26 million and 73 million sharks a year. Sharks have become an increasingly priority for enviornmentalists because of the rising prices of shark fins. California recently <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/california-adopts-shark-fin-ban/2011/09/06/gIQACgsD9J_story.html">banned shark fin soup</a> to curb the trade and a number of countries have created shark sancturaries to protect the animals from overfishing. Those measures have not stopped the trade. In Colombia, this week, the Guardian <a target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/19/shark-massacre-colombia">reports </a>that divers discovered a huge shark massacre in a shark sanctuary of the cost of an islaned called Malpelo.</p> <p>Taiwanese officials, contacted in Washington, emphasized that the catch Pew documented complied with both Taiwanese and international law. Only three shark species — whale, basking and white sharks — have international trade protections, and there are no global limits on shark fishing. </p> <p>Grace Lin, deputy director of the economic division at the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office, said her country has a national action plan for sharks in place and is working to protect whale sharks, which swim in Taiwan’s waters. She added that as of Jan. 1 vessels will have to land sharks with fins attached, a move aimed at curbing the fin trade. </p> <p>“We are aware of this,” Lin said of the massive shark trade in her nation.<br /></p><p><br /></p> <p> <span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks1.jpg?uuid=tJPhKvpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption">Shark fins at a processing warehouse in Taiwan. <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"> </span></span><span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks2.jpg?uuid=tKNYCPpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption">The U.S.-based environmental Pew Environment Group expressed concern over new photos that seem to show the killing of large numbers of "biologically vulnerable" sharks by fishermen in Taiwan<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"></span></span> <span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks3.jpg?uuid=tEhncvpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption">Shark fins <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"></span></span> <span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks4.jpg?uuid=tFtUIvpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /><br /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull">T<span class="blog_caption">he remains of sharks after their fins have been removed. <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"> </span></span><span class="imgfull"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/blogpost/201110/Images/sharks5.jpg?uuid=tHCwuvpREeClJSAB457qtA" align="bottom" width="454" border="0" /></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="imgfull"><span class="blog_caption">A shark processing plant in Taiwan. (Shawn Heinrichs for the Pew Environment Group) <a href="http://ht.ly/72s4K">WaPo</a></span></span> </p></div> </blockquote>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-59691764557773018402011-10-19T18:29:00.003+01:002011-10-19T18:44:38.074+01:00Shark Massacre Reported in Colombian WatersIt really is time countries stopped fucking about with these bastards. Gun boats in and sink the fuckers. Forget arresting them, forget international law, because that ain't worth a goddamn, you only have to ask NATO that. Forget the mister nice guy, sink the fuckers.<br /><br />And let us not forget the root cause of all this, the fucking chinks and all the other slitty-eyed fuckers who indulge in this shit. Fucking twats!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shark massacre reported in Colombian waters</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Environmental authorities say up to 2,000 hammerhead, Galápagos and whale sharks were slaughtered for their fins</span><br />Sibylla Brodzinsky in Bogota<br />19 October 2011<br /><br /><div id="article-body-blocks"> <p>Colombian environmental authorities have reported a huge shark massacre in the Malpelo <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/wildlife" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Wildlife">wildlife</a> sanctuary in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/colombia" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Colombia">Colombia</a>'s Pacific waters, where as many as 2,000 hammerhead, Galápagos and whale sharks may have been slaughtered for their fins.</p><p>Sandra Bessudo, the Colombian president's top adviser on environmental issues, said a team of divers who were studying sharks in the region reported the mass killing in the waters surrounding the rock-island known as Malpelo, some 500 kilometres from the mainland.</p><p>"I received a report, which is really unbelievable, from one of the divers who came from Russia to observe the large concentrations of sharks in Malpelo. They saw a large number of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/fishing" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Fishing">fishing</a> trawlers entering the zone illegally," Bessudo said. The divers counted a total of 10 fishing boats, which all were flying the Costa Rican flag.</p><p>"When the divers dove, they started finding a large number of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/animals" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Animals">animals</a> without their fins. They didn't see any alive," she said. One of the divers provided a video that shows the finless bodies of dead sharks on the ocean floor.</p><p>Calculating an average of 200 sharks per boat, "our estimates are that as many as 2,000 sharks may have been killed," Bessudo said.</p><p>The sanctuary covers 8,570 square kilometres of marine environment that provides a habitat for threatened marine species – in particular sharks. Divers have reported sightings of schools of more than 200 hammerhead sharks and as many as 1,000 silky sharks in the protected waters, one of the few areas in the world where sightings of short-nosed ragged-toothed shark, known locally as the "Malpelo monster," have been confirmed. In 2006 Unesco included the park on its list of World Heritage sites.</p><p>Bessudo, a marine biologist, has spent much of her career in Malpelo and fighting to preserve the unique marine environment there.</p><p>But the high concentration of sharks in Malpelo and the remoteness of the marine sanctuary draws illegal fishing boats from nearby nations which trap the sharks, strip them of their fins, and throw them back into the water. Shark fin soup, considered a delicacy of Chinese cuisine, can fetch £63 per bowl in a Hong Kong restaurant.</p><p>Colombia's navy sporadically patrols the waters and maintains a small outpost on the 1.2 square metre island, which is 36 hours from the nearest port. At the time of the reported shark finnings, however, no navy ships were nearby.</p><p>Once the report of the finnings were made public, the navy dispatched a ship to the area and on Sunday reported the seizure of an Ecuadorian fishing boat, caught with an illegal catch of 300kg, including sharks and other species.</p><p>At the same time, Colombia's foreign ministry took up the issue with the Costa Rican government, which vowed to co-operate to help stop the practice by ships registered under its flag.</p><p>In a communiqué, the Costa Rican foreign ministry said it "energetically condemns" the reported finning and said it would prosecute if the participation of Costa Rican flagged ships were involved. At least three of the ships were identified by their names: the Marco Antonio, the Jefferson and the Andy. Guardian</p></div></blockquote><div id="article-body-blocks"><p><br /></p> </div>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-31340291478745532872011-10-11T18:21:00.006+01:002011-10-11T18:39:49.260+01:00Research Me Feckin Arse Says TeddyAnd other bits of information, not least, Sea Shepherds, git'nr done<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Committee on Special Permit Research Whaling Interim Report</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/study/enyou/pdf/chukantorimatome.pdf"><br />http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/study/enyou/pdf/chukantorimatome.pdf</a><br /><br />[The translation is not official.]<br /><br />3. Research Mechanism and Financial Resources<br /><br />The following opinions were given regarding the research mechanism and financial<br />resources of the whaling research program:<br /><br />● The current system of allocating the profits from the sale of byproducts (whale meat) to cover the research costs is not working very well. This is because 1) catch volume has decreased in recent years because of obstruction by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society while 2) sales performance is poor because of the disparity between demand and the [designated] market price, which was originally determined based on the research cost.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_kqGe3-OAVh6IKLeEcHXCMZoVxDthTUcYf5nG7ONNvMSzlIpU77qtbLqUiO41ziMOBwf5zWn7KdCPfDxa_DSv65ohpWKfMiGeKbfe0c40CmY7k0SvNosKnUpduGgLkXalyGlp-PCHTBX/s1600/whaling_is_not_research2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_kqGe3-OAVh6IKLeEcHXCMZoVxDthTUcYf5nG7ONNvMSzlIpU77qtbLqUiO41ziMOBwf5zWn7KdCPfDxa_DSv65ohpWKfMiGeKbfe0c40CmY7k0SvNosKnUpduGgLkXalyGlp-PCHTBX/s400/whaling_is_not_research2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662289046551090162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />● If the program is to be continued as a part of national strategy, the current system of covering the costs of research from the sales of by-products should be reviewed, and the whaling research program should be conducted with improved stability under the national budget.<br /><br />● Considering the growth of domestic whale meat stocks and the current demand for whale meat, coastal whaling is sufficient to cover needs. There is no need to continue the whaling research program in the Antarctic, with its incumbent high costs and risks.<br /><br />● The income and expenditure of the whaling research program is not sufficiently transparent due to the current system in which the Institute of Cetacean Research engages Kyodo Senpaku to sell the by-products, and Kyodo Senpaku buys the unsold products at the end of each term and puts them on the market. It would be preferable for Kyodo Senpaku to specialize in the chartering business while the sale of by-products is entrusted to some other party.<br /><br />● Another very important issue is to delocalize and vitalize whale meat distribution and consumption by promoting its nutritional benefits and cooking methods.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddO2ggrshMNhu2Wde3qJsWitf2kuL5nfl9nh-iJ_-sSW2SolZxifmorazt0goJxYebnDtsdCYwPlRDwE1lYa3q00BoAqDICIjjbTa0zUBbeQZOi5WfqAuwz0k1Rn5ZReALJrXwA3x9t2B/s1600/japanese_research_lie_shop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddO2ggrshMNhu2Wde3qJsWitf2kuL5nfl9nh-iJ_-sSW2SolZxifmorazt0goJxYebnDtsdCYwPlRDwE1lYa3q00BoAqDICIjjbTa0zUBbeQZOi5WfqAuwz0k1Rn5ZReALJrXwA3x9t2B/s400/japanese_research_lie_shop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662288551921588626" border="0" /></a><br />4. Other<br /><br />There were a couple of other opinions such as the following:<br /><br />● The Antarctic research was cut short due to harassment by anti-whaling NGOs and the catch volume was well below target. As a result, the Institute of Cetacean Research and Kyodo Senpaku have suffered a great financial loss and urgently need government measures to compensate their losses from the current operation.<br /><br />● Japanese small-type whaling businesses are having difficulty surviving. Rather than continue the Antarctic whaling program, it is more important to concentrate on coastal whaling, which is rooted in our whaling tradition and food culture, and to resume the commercial hunting of minke whales under small-type whaling.<br />(p11)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwvsizR9jO5VV5I0MXCgpgXyY5T4X99amUetDCL4K8bJM-0oNH0qwh8EO4dRbqwwnt6n7QeyS77qTh7U_e4bZx-wx_XJiLG9iOIaLALIBOckqWl_ot6F0THeBpMjW3IxVdVG7QUz7mCE2/s1600/nisshin_maru_research_bullshit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwvsizR9jO5VV5I0MXCgpgXyY5T4X99amUetDCL4K8bJM-0oNH0qwh8EO4dRbqwwnt6n7QeyS77qTh7U_e4bZx-wx_XJiLG9iOIaLALIBOckqWl_ot6F0THeBpMjW3IxVdVG7QUz7mCE2/s400/nisshin_maru_research_bullshit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662288260508883058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ⅳ[IV] Summary<br /><br />This interim report summarizes the discussions at five whaling research commission meetings for the purpose of hearing a variety of opinions on the stable conduct of whaling research. Many opinions were expressed at the meetings regarding the whaling research - a majority suggested we should “continue with a resolute attitude (toward the research)" while a minority proposed to "downsize or end the research because of global criticism and cost efficiency".<br /><br />None of these opinions proposed to expose the research vessels or the lives and assets of the crew to danger. On the contrary, the assurance of safety in the execution of the survey was considered essential and a basic premise.<br /><br />We hope that this interim report will be taken into consideration during the formulation of future whaling policy.<br /><br />Translation<br />JWCS Volunteer staff: Rie Semba, Simon Varnam <a href="http://jwcs-english.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2011/09/committee-on--2.html">Source</a></blockquote>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-28320107178940745772011-10-10T14:22:00.000+01:002011-10-10T14:23:59.235+01:00Juan Jose Padilla My Heart Bleeds For You Not: Re-UpUpdate: Re-upped to include video in living gory colour. I normally have a severe aversion to gore, but on this occasion I'm quite delighted to make an exception.<br /><br />Big tip of the hat to video compiler and uploader,<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/meanstreak1977"> meanstreak1977</a><br /><br />As you might well imagine, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=-kAlrG4jS9M">comments section</a> is dripping with sympathy.<br /><br /><blockquote>That must have hurt, all those barbs in the back. Poor bull, at least he took half the matadors face with him.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">face off!</span><br />Nice shoes<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">haha...awesome. take that you wanker</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">-<br /></div><br />I normally reserve my little saying: <span style="font-style:italic;">Isn't it nice, when the twats of this world get theirs</span>? for fallen public figures. But I shall allow myself a little divergence today and say, in the case of Juan Jose Padilla, bullfighter, isn't it nice, when the twats of this world get theirs?<br /><br />Shame the bull didn't poke your other eye out, you twat.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-kAlrG4jS9M" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qnvt-IUFjOspXpNigdjz053n2FQuTAyFG16cP5lMxxJPthGEFrCAyZ38gPlaWypchquNbw3clDSSWz93bsUwlGWSCP00u64sBQO95QNsbzhixjKWsK7OJw3eErdXvKRGLXQbnKpnEgiM/s1600/pooh_bear_and_piglet_joy_to_the_world.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qnvt-IUFjOspXpNigdjz053n2FQuTAyFG16cP5lMxxJPthGEFrCAyZ38gPlaWypchquNbw3clDSSWz93bsUwlGWSCP00u64sBQO95QNsbzhixjKWsK7OJw3eErdXvKRGLXQbnKpnEgiM/s400/pooh_bear_and_piglet_joy_to_the_world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661708189171643682" border="0" /></a><blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Jose Padilla, Spain Bullfighter, Suffers Terrifying Face Goring</span></span><br />by Harold Heckle<br />Oct 8, 2011<br /><br />MADRID -- A Spanish bullfighter is likely to suffer facial paralysis and lose the sight in one eye after a terrifying goring, the hospital treating him said Saturday.<br /><br />Television images showed the moment when the bull's left horn ripped into Juan Jose Padilla's lower jaw to emerge beside his protruding eyeball as spectators in the northeastern city of Zaragoza screamed in horror.<br /><br />Padilla is in a stable condition and recovering from a five-hour operation to repair his face, the statement from the Miguel Servet Hospital said.<br /><br />It said Padilla, 39, suffered eye, bone, muscle and skin damage when the bull pinned him to the ground and gored him. Surgeons had not been able to repair a severed facial nerve.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oS9SZ4puQG1zkH92YkkgvyfeUCuJkT2I6S7x0Fmv5Ymq9JwRmGA-YSYFYUVyUyNBHCTVk8nSCyIkR51HFs7wlHhx3OFVYslE85uuTVumOkTPy7JqGzr6HIixlRBd8ITsDH_of_LAp6qf/s1600/JUAN-JOSE-PADILLA-SPAIN-BULLFIGHTER-GETS-HIS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oS9SZ4puQG1zkH92YkkgvyfeUCuJkT2I6S7x0Fmv5Ymq9JwRmGA-YSYFYUVyUyNBHCTVk8nSCyIkR51HFs7wlHhx3OFVYslE85uuTVumOkTPy7JqGzr6HIixlRBd8ITsDH_of_LAp6qf/s400/JUAN-JOSE-PADILLA-SPAIN-BULLFIGHTER-GETS-HIS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661708679849732978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TV footage also showed Padilla getting up from the ring, his face gushing blood, as the bull was distracted by bullring assistants.<br /><br />"I can't see, I can't see anything," the matador shouted as he was rushed to emergency facilities at Zaragoza's Misericordia bullring before being driven to the hospital.<br /><br />The bull, named Marques, weighed 508 kilograms (1,120 pounds) and was the second fighting beast Padilla had faced late Friday, during the second day of the annual Virgen del Pilar festivities in Zaragoza.<br /><br />Surgeons used titanium plates and mesh to reconstruct parts of Padilla's facial bone structure and eye socket, doctors Simon Sanz and Nadal Cristobal said in a very detailed, signed statement.<br /><br />Padilla was lucky the horn did not penetrate his brain, said Vicente Yesteras, one of Padilla's retinue of bullring helpers.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/08/juan-jose-padilla-spain-bullfighter_n_1001412.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003"> huffpo</a></blockquote><br />Previous: <a href="http://onlyinamericablogging.blogspot.com/2011/02/whale-and-bull-story.html">A Whale and Bull Story </a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-91769244796058049792011-10-10T05:04:00.002+01:002011-10-10T05:29:46.957+01:00Juan Jose Padilla My Heart Bleeds For You NotI normally reserve my little saying: <span style="font-style:italic;">Isn't it nice, when the twats of this world get theirs</span>? for fallen public figures. But I shall allow myself a little divergence today and say, in the case of Juan Jose Padilla, bullfighter, isn't it nice, when the twats of this world get theirs?<br /><br />Shame the bull didn't poke your other eye out, you twat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qnvt-IUFjOspXpNigdjz053n2FQuTAyFG16cP5lMxxJPthGEFrCAyZ38gPlaWypchquNbw3clDSSWz93bsUwlGWSCP00u64sBQO95QNsbzhixjKWsK7OJw3eErdXvKRGLXQbnKpnEgiM/s1600/pooh_bear_and_piglet_joy_to_the_world.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qnvt-IUFjOspXpNigdjz053n2FQuTAyFG16cP5lMxxJPthGEFrCAyZ38gPlaWypchquNbw3clDSSWz93bsUwlGWSCP00u64sBQO95QNsbzhixjKWsK7OJw3eErdXvKRGLXQbnKpnEgiM/s400/pooh_bear_and_piglet_joy_to_the_world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661708189171643682" border="0" /></a><blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Jose Padilla, Spain Bullfighter, Suffers Terrifying Face Goring</span></span><br />by Harold Heckle<br />Oct 8, 2011<br /><br />MADRID -- A Spanish bullfighter is likely to suffer facial paralysis and lose the sight in one eye after a terrifying goring, the hospital treating him said Saturday.<br /><br />Television images showed the moment when the bull's left horn ripped into Juan Jose Padilla's lower jaw to emerge beside his protruding eyeball as spectators in the northeastern city of Zaragoza screamed in horror.<br /><br />Padilla is in a stable condition and recovering from a five-hour operation to repair his face, the statement from the Miguel Servet Hospital said.<br /><br />It said Padilla, 39, suffered eye, bone, muscle and skin damage when the bull pinned him to the ground and gored him. Surgeons had not been able to repair a severed facial nerve.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oS9SZ4puQG1zkH92YkkgvyfeUCuJkT2I6S7x0Fmv5Ymq9JwRmGA-YSYFYUVyUyNBHCTVk8nSCyIkR51HFs7wlHhx3OFVYslE85uuTVumOkTPy7JqGzr6HIixlRBd8ITsDH_of_LAp6qf/s1600/JUAN-JOSE-PADILLA-SPAIN-BULLFIGHTER-GETS-HIS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oS9SZ4puQG1zkH92YkkgvyfeUCuJkT2I6S7x0Fmv5Ymq9JwRmGA-YSYFYUVyUyNBHCTVk8nSCyIkR51HFs7wlHhx3OFVYslE85uuTVumOkTPy7JqGzr6HIixlRBd8ITsDH_of_LAp6qf/s400/JUAN-JOSE-PADILLA-SPAIN-BULLFIGHTER-GETS-HIS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661708679849732978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TV footage also showed Padilla getting up from the ring, his face gushing blood, as the bull was distracted by bullring assistants.<br /><br />"I can't see, I can't see anything," the matador shouted as he was rushed to emergency facilities at Zaragoza's Misericordia bullring before being driven to the hospital.<br /><br />The bull, named Marques, weighed 508 kilograms (1,120 pounds) and was the second fighting beast Padilla had faced late Friday, during the second day of the annual Virgen del Pilar festivities in Zaragoza.<br /><br />Surgeons used titanium plates and mesh to reconstruct parts of Padilla's facial bone structure and eye socket, doctors Simon Sanz and Nadal Cristobal said in a very detailed, signed statement.<br /><br />Padilla was lucky the horn did not penetrate his brain, said Vicente Yesteras, one of Padilla's retinue of bullring helpers.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/08/juan-jose-padilla-spain-bullfighter_n_1001412.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003"> huffpo</a></blockquote><br />Previous: <a href="http://onlyinamericablogging.blogspot.com/2011/02/whale-and-bull-story.html">A Whale and Bull Story </a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-56797134211081838302011-10-06T02:49:00.003+01:002011-10-06T02:54:38.820+01:00New Zealand Attacks Japan's Decision to Resume Whaling<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Zealand attacks Japan's decision to resume whaling</span></span><br /><br />New Zealand has condemned Japan's decision to resume whaling in Antarctic waters later this year.<br /><br />The New Zealand government described the seas around Antarctica as its neighbourhood, and called Japan's whaling plans "entirely disrespectful".<br /><br />Wellington also expressed concern at Japan's plans to increase security to protect its whaling fleet.<br /><br />Last year Japan cut short its whaling season because of harassment from anti-whaling activists.<br /><br />Japan's Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano said on Tuesday that extra ships would escort the fleet to the Antarctic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">'Lives at risk'</span><br /><br />There has been a ban on commercial whaling for 25 years, but Japan catches about 1,000 whales each year in what it says is a scientific research programme.<br /><br />Critics say it is commercial whaling in another guise.<br /><br />Objection - A country formally objects to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium, declaring itself exempt. Example: Norway<br /> Scientific - A nation issues unilateral "scientific permits"; any IWC member can do this. Example: Japan<br /> Indigenous (aka Aboriginal subsistence) - IWC grants permits to indigenous groups for subsistence food. Example: Alaskan Inupiat<br /><br /> Japan's fleet sails south to the Antarctic in the autumn each year, returning the following spring.<br /><br />But last year it returned early, citing safety concerns, after confrontations with an anti-whaling activist group that had followed the fleet south.<br /><br />The group, Sea Shepherd, has pledged to follow the fleet again this year and obstruct its hunt.<br /><br />In the past there have been collisions between its vessels and the whaling fleet, and its activists have also boarded Japanese vessels.<br /><br />There had been speculation that the activists' campaign, budget problems in the wake of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, and new rules at sea might persuade Tokyo to stop whaling.<br /><br />But Mr Kano said that this was not the case.<br /><br />"Japan will conduct the research whaling while strengthening measures against acts of sabotage, including dispatching Fisheries Agency escort ships," he said.<br /><br />New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, expressed alarm at recent statements from Sea Shepherd suggesting its vessels could use life-threatening tactics to stop whalers.<br /><br />"The New Zealand government has consistently urged all parties to act responsibly during the whaling season, and to avoid actions that may put their lives, or the lives of others, at risk, " Mr McCully said. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15180776">BBC</a></blockquote><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15180776"></a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-33944589140014994852011-10-05T18:32:00.003+01:002011-10-05T18:49:48.810+01:00Paul Watson Talks to CNN on Japan's Proposed Return to Illegal Whaling<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep" height="374" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed_edition&videoId=world/2011/10/05/bpr-japan-whaling-watson.cnn"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed_edition&videoId=world/2011/10/05/bpr-japan-whaling-watson.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" height="374" width="416"></embed></object>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-42323388866897433482011-10-01T12:13:00.003+01:002011-10-05T18:49:28.711+01:00SeaShepherd.Org Rename FleetWhy do I get the impression that <a href="http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_united_kingdom/index.php">The International Fund for Animal Welfare</a> might be a tad more disposed towards <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbhYblgyXwUFki40ATYmSFcA_De91QtYIuT0dnHPkexx_GhoLrzOG7QlGuVRdiPt04Zsx_Z0m4sKLQHshXFo_1lcM0nQ2db7tK3KY2K3KrRXuu3cwCv02OiDogbp22_FCVHUQP8vfM77J/s1600/greenpeace_bear.jpg">this bear</a> rather than <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQJnUeQdYyqDt6rcLD8dvzXCXwIsNEfv1rmViBn5xPciNv38reNZc78-_RsDvHJAaJaRFRUWtqIo911lWq4zZIpa2LKNrl9hOFhP1dkQKAfqUiASPreNJ6ysY1LlSW6q8jAbFgLVOiKeT/s1600/sea_shepherd_bear.jpg">this one?</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAknByWhc7obv5XKWfgGf0XhtlnorW8G_BVdvxi17w6710X_xjmIj85LN6ndlauN3AzXiKIf5zQv9ztXQxrMA94rLPSkWPGrK3aQ8YQOCdrZ8YXrJ6bKoO3qd7dha7EkJKjyNYnnuWye7R/s1600/seashepherds_steve_irwin_many_fronts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAknByWhc7obv5XKWfgGf0XhtlnorW8G_BVdvxi17w6710X_xjmIj85LN6ndlauN3AzXiKIf5zQv9ztXQxrMA94rLPSkWPGrK3aQ8YQOCdrZ8YXrJ6bKoO3qd7dha7EkJKjyNYnnuWye7R/s400/seashepherds_steve_irwin_many_fronts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658472018428000098" border="0" /></a>Patience.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japan urged to abandon outdated whaling policy</span></span><br />30 September 2011<br /><br />LONDON, England -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is disappointed but not surprised that Japan's whaling fleet is reportedly planning a return to Antarctica later this year to kill more whales for its dying market.<br /><br />Following Japanese media reports today that whaling will continue with around US$27 million in additional government security budget to protect the fleet, Patrick Ramage, Director of IFAW's Global Whale Program, said: 'I'd bet this is whaling's last gasp. The industry is out of gas and crashing. This move is more about pride than profit, more about politics and prerogatives of the Japanese Fisheries Agency than it is about public support.'<br /><br />IFAW opposes whaling because it is cruel and unnecessary; there is simply no humane way to kill a whale. Footage of Japanese whaling analysed by IFAW scientists has shown whales can take more than half an hour to die. Whaling is also uneconomic, whereas whale watching offers a humane and profitable alternative to the cruelty of whaling, generating around US$2.1 billion annually for coastal communities.<br /><br />Ramage added: 'If true as reported, this decision doesn't change the basic facts: whaling is an economic loser that makes no more sense for post-tsunami Japan than it did before the tragedy. The government bureaucrats are throwing good money after bad to pursue whales in a sanctuary.</blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzWnba4LmQjWM_0a3i6SAWrRqebN913KoKv61gRM3Yg4-VEI3U8Y_v5QB-O9t9OuD-arf0RKwwGb8nePnaw1gBj9JPmwCgVWcYw_asuJImAAjr-bVfYpFa50Sv2rRmg38vhK8nQFHshqQ/s1600/seashepard_bob_barker_many_fronts_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzWnba4LmQjWM_0a3i6SAWrRqebN913KoKv61gRM3Yg4-VEI3U8Y_v5QB-O9t9OuD-arf0RKwwGb8nePnaw1gBj9JPmwCgVWcYw_asuJImAAjr-bVfYpFa50Sv2rRmg38vhK8nQFHshqQ/s400/seashepard_bob_barker_many_fronts_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658472554156568306" border="0" /></a><br />Patience I tell ye!<br /><br /><blockquote>'Meanwhile, the good people of Japan have lost their yen for whale meat and coastal communities around the country are pursuing profits from whale watching. The future lies with them. That Japan will quit the Southern Ocean seems certain. But Tokyo will determine when and how they will retreat, not Canberra, Auckland or Washington.'<br /><br />IFAW urges Japan to reconsider its decision to continue whaling in the pristine Southern Ocean Sanctuary, in defiance of global opposition and several international laws.<br /><br />Despite the worldwide ban on commercial whaling, Japan hunts whales in Antarctica under the loophole of 'scientific whaling,' which in reality is commercial whaling by another name. There is no science in scientific whaling; in fact non-lethal research is providing us with all the data we need to unlock the secrets of these incredible mammals.<br /><br />Last November, the Japanese fleet headed for Antarctica to train its harpoons on around 1,000 whales. However, under pressure from <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">many fronts</span></span>, Japan called an early halt to its whaling season and headed back to port having killed less than half of its self-allocated kill quota.</blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyD8rwlqn4S_413xchWvYi97UzrDL0a6wHx25v4ZHXzTAoUj6MJN5i41hHeGo042mgiqsF3op8qZSPJcwW8YoMP-S_YDBpxHWALGUjVuIW3IGx9p-4OpGwLVZ4bPW5EsvEjmbm8Lbe15k/s1600/Sea_shepard_Gojira_many_fronts_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyD8rwlqn4S_413xchWvYi97UzrDL0a6wHx25v4ZHXzTAoUj6MJN5i41hHeGo042mgiqsF3op8qZSPJcwW8YoMP-S_YDBpxHWALGUjVuIW3IGx9p-4OpGwLVZ4bPW5EsvEjmbm8Lbe15k/s400/Sea_shepard_Gojira_many_fronts_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658473661311753186" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote>The Australian government has presented a case against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean to the International Court of Justice. IFAW calls on all governments to take the strongest diplomatic action possible against Japan and demand that it ends its whaling programme now. <a href="http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_united_kingdom/media_center/press_releases/9_30_2011_72084.php">IFAW</a></blockquote><br /><br />''Many Fronts'' not very gracious of them is it?<br /><br />Please <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/">support Sea Shepherd Org.</a> Go on, send them a few quid, or become a regular donator. They'll even send you a t-shirt and some decals for your car, but that's nothing compared to the feel good factor you will carry around with you.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmHK1UxE-L3aJUH-iI74QjCqrhhfTQyghZELLTKOOYnHsJXA4K2LPXkNNq1AJqvv7AMwWaAlCQY1sEbDATzbpij0gnY7OjaQ6voYmTe81Md8W7oBoZp2iDhCCyeeIIt-wBQ_JQpY-MzSR/s1600/gitnerdone_sea_shepherd_conservation_society.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmHK1UxE-L3aJUH-iI74QjCqrhhfTQyghZELLTKOOYnHsJXA4K2LPXkNNq1AJqvv7AMwWaAlCQY1sEbDATzbpij0gnY7OjaQ6voYmTe81Md8W7oBoZp2iDhCCyeeIIt-wBQ_JQpY-MzSR/s400/gitnerdone_sea_shepherd_conservation_society.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658888845945629330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTufrHqokEApXpclxxNXHETwqkhRMWftfYCFbD5WZueCYGzSGVgkoRQ0kswZI_gwi5-G9zI8XP2qS9OOaxglvgW7WTPdHnn3tyhMFfVivJylVqv4-vjEjUNVrZ1ndmkY7_SySoqHDe56EZ/s1600/sea_shepherd_org_gitnerdone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTufrHqokEApXpclxxNXHETwqkhRMWftfYCFbD5WZueCYGzSGVgkoRQ0kswZI_gwi5-G9zI8XP2qS9OOaxglvgW7WTPdHnn3tyhMFfVivJylVqv4-vjEjUNVrZ1ndmkY7_SySoqHDe56EZ/s400/sea_shepherd_org_gitnerdone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658888843662563634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Previous:<br /><br /><a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/02/greenpeace-money-well-spent.html">Greenpeace: Money Well Spent? </a><br /><br /><a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/02/greenpeace-so-what-you-are-saying.html">Greenpeace. So What You Are Saying Effectively, Is, That You Are A Waste Of Fucking Time?</a><br /><a href="http://dontfuckwithteddy.blogspot.com/2011/02/oi-you-lot-yes-you-greenpeace-will-you.html"><br />Oi! You Lot, Yes You Greenpeace, Will You Fucking Stop! </a><br /><br />h/t <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/DiveSpot">Dive Spot</a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081802859745942795.post-77084099477904057742011-09-29T21:34:00.004+01:002011-09-29T21:46:50.351+01:00Fukushima’s Contamination Produces Some Surprises at Sea<blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fukushima’s Contamination Produces Some Surprises at Sea</span></span><br />By David Jolly<br />September 28, 2011<br /><br />Six months after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, the news flow from the stricken nuclear power plant has slowed, but scientific studies of radioactive material in the ocean are just beginning to bear fruit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sILDORyqvgk-6rS1H3mFMDY5ProRI9SaOwxKQvkt1Uk9HdW70ywPoHl78tAft_lw9eYoyi8T8kPYKcGn-pyrqpyBGZD_Xgxrj9iTqdV-5WUAV4ra0PP5octK8wjJs9wNI3PUO95mT6RC/s1600/green_Fukushima-blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sILDORyqvgk-6rS1H3mFMDY5ProRI9SaOwxKQvkt1Uk9HdW70ywPoHl78tAft_lw9eYoyi8T8kPYKcGn-pyrqpyBGZD_Xgxrj9iTqdV-5WUAV4ra0PP5octK8wjJs9wNI3PUO95mT6RC/s400/green_Fukushima-blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657883772480202386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The word from the land is bad enough. As my colleague Hiroko Tabuchi reported on Saturday, Japanese officials have detected elevated radiation levels in rice near the crippled reactors. Worrying radiation levels had already been detected in beef, milk, spinach and tea leaves, leading to recalls and bans on shipments.<br /><br />Off the coast, the early results indicate that very large amounts of radioactive materials were released, and may still be leaking, and that rather than being spread through the whole ocean, currents are keeping a lot of the material concentrated.<br /><br />Most of that contamination came from attempts to cool the reactors and spent fuel pools, which flushed material from the plant into the ocean, and from direct leaks from the damaged facilities.<br /><br />Japanese government and utility industry scientists estimated this month that 3,500 terabecquerels of cesium 137 was released directly into the sea from March 11, the date of the earthquake and tsunami, to late May. Another 10,000 terabecquerels of cesium 137 made it into the ocean after escaping from the plant as steam.<br />Ken Buesseler, a marine chemist, paid his respects at Namiwake Shrine outside the city of Sendai, Japan, before departing on a cruise to study radiation releases into the ocean from the Fukushima power plant.Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionKen Buesseler, a marine chemist, paid his respects at Namiwake Shrine outside Sendai, Japan, before departing on a cruise to study radiation releases into the ocean from the Fukushima power plant.<br /><br />The leakage very likely isn’t over, either. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the plant, said Sept. 20 that it believed that something on the order of 200 to 500 tons a day of groundwater might still be pouring into the damaged reactor and turbine buildings.<br /><br />Ken Buesseler, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who in 1986 studied the effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the Black Sea, said the Fukushima disaster appeared to be by far the largest accidental release of radioactive material into the sea.<br /><br />Chernobyl-induced radiation in the Black Sea peaked in 1986 at about 1,000 becquerels per cubic meter, he said in an interview at his office in Woods Hole, Mass. By contrast, the radiation level off the coast near the Fukushima Daiichi plant peaked at more than 100,000 becquerels per cubic meter in early April.<br /><br />Before Fukushima, in 2010, the Japanese coast measured about 1.5 becquerel per cubic meter, he said.<br /><br />‘‘Chernobyl might have been five times bigger, over all, but the ocean impact was much smaller,’’ Mr. Buesseler said.<br /><br />Working with a team of scientists from other institutions, including the University of Tokyo and Columbia University, Mr. Buesseler’s Woods Hole group in June spent 15 days in the waters off northeast Japan, studying the levels and dispersion of radioactive substances there and the effect on marine life.<br /><br />The project, financed primarily by the Moore Foundation after governments declined to participate, continued to receive samples from Japanese cruises into July.<br /><br />While Mr. Buesseler declined to provide details of the findings before analysis is complete and published, he said the broad results were sobering.<br /><br />“When we saw the numbers — hundreds of millions of becquerels — we knew this was the largest delivery of radiation into the ocean ever seen,’’ he said. ‘‘We still don’t know how much was released.’’<br /><br />Mr. Buesseler took samples of about five gallons, filtered out the naturally occurring materials and the materials from nuclear weapon explosions, and measured what was left.<br /><br />The scientists had expected to find ocean radiation levels falling off sharply after a few months, as radioactive substances were dispersed by the currents, because, he said, “The ocean’s solution to pollution is dilution.’’<br /><br />The good news is that researchers found the entire region 20 to 400 miles offshore had radiation levels too low to be an immediate threat to humans.<br /><br />But there was also an unpleasant surprise. “Rather than leveling off toward zero, it remained elevated in late July,’’ he said, up to about 10,000 becquerel per cubic meter. ‘‘That suggests the release problem has not been solved yet.”<br /><br />The working hypothesis is that contaminated sediments and groundwater near the coast are continuing to contaminate the seas, he said.<br /><br />The international team also collected plankton samples and small fish for study. Mr. Buesseler said there were grounds for concern about bioaccumulation of radioactive isotopes in the food chain, particularly in seaweed and some shellfish close to the plants. A fuller understanding of the effect on fish that are commercially harvested will probably take several years of data following several feeding cycles, he said.<br /><br />‘‘We also don’t know concentrations in sediments, so benthic biota may be getting higher doses and if consumed (shellfish), could be of concern,’’ he wrote later in an e-mail, referring to organisms that dwell on the sea floor.<br /><br />The study also found that the highest cesium values were not necessarily from the samples collected closest to Fukushima, he said, because eddies in the ocean currents keep the material from being diluted in some spots farther offshore.<br /><br />The overall results were consistent with those previously found by Japanese scientists, Mr. Buesseler said.<br /><br />He said more research was urgently needed to answer several questions, including why the level of contamination offshore near the plant was so high.<br /><br />“Japan is leading the studies, but more work is needed than any one country, or any one lab, can possibly carry out,” he said. <a href="http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/fukushimas-contamination-produces-some-surprises-at-sea/">NYT</a></blockquote><br />h/t <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TreeHugger">TreeHugger</a>Himselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11666097098083216833noreply@blogger.com0