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Loading...Japanese Whaling Season Halted by Activists
- Jake Richardson
- March 5, 2011
- 7:03 am
- 223 comments
Japanese government officials pulled the plug on the annual whaling season due to harassing activities from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The Sea Shepherd crew has allegedly thrown paint and rancid butter at whalers, and tossed tangled ropes in their propellers. Sea Shepherd boats have hounded Japanese whalers across many miles of ocean to slow them down, and foil their whale killing ways. The Japanese had set a goal of killing over 800 whales this season, but returned home with less than 200, according to one report.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said their success was due to increasing their technological capacity, “We had better equipment, we had a longer-range helicopter … really, it came down to having more resources.” (Source: Associated Press) Sea Shepherd said they followed the main Japanese whaling ship, the Nisshin Maru for 2,000 miles.
The Japanese government said the activists are endangering their crew, and calls them terrorists. Sea Shepherd activists counter that they haven’t hurt anyone. (One of the Sea Shepherd boats was actually smashed by a Japanese boat, but no one from either side was injured severely.)
One of the Sea Shepherd ships is called the Bob Barker, and was named after the game show host who donated five million dollars for it. The ship is docked in New Zealand, and was retrofitted last year for action. Other celebrities such as Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Edward Norton, Pierce Brosnan, and Christian Bale have reportedly contributed to their work. The Japanese whaling front organization called the Institute for Cetacean Research, said “This issue is not about whaling, but about the safety and violent activities at Sea.” (Source: ICRwhale.org)
So killing whales is not violent? Claims have been consistently made by the ICR that they are taking whales for research purposes, but somehow the whales wind up sold as food. Whale meat consumption may be on the decline in Japan however, due to shifting public attitudes. The federal government there has had to use tax payer dollars to promote whale meat, and even include it in some school children’s lunches.
Activists hope the Japanese government will stop the destructive tradition of whaling.
Image Credit: kohane
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Read more: Animal Rights, Do Good, Nature & Wildlife, News & Issues, Pets, Wildlife, Japan, sea shepherd, whales, whaling
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people are talking
Thank you.
thanks
so cute and amazing!!
Thanks for sharing this article. Food for thought.
The religious people are such hypocrites. What gives YOU the right to decide whether I want to die o…
223 comments
+ add your ownI too am against all the criminal terrorist activity surrounding "whaling"--and I feel the Japanese should be held accountable for all the slaughtering they are doing--"research" my aunt fannie!!! You, the Japanese terrorists, are slaughtering a species into extinction for no better reason than to line your pockets!!
To me, ANY and ALL measures taken against the Japanese are defensive--protection of self &/or the whales!
IMO, Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd crew are heroes, and should be applauded for their wonderful efforts, and successes.
Kudos to those such as Bob Barker, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Ed Norton, Pierce Brosnan, Christian Bale and others who so generously provide what others cannot.
gambateh !!!! way to go sea shepherd !!!!
Aww, what's the matter Japan? The big, bad meanies ruining your murder-fest? GOOD. You evil, whale slaughtering bastards, LEAVE THEM ALONE! Jap whaling ships' crews are in danger? GOOD. I wouldn't shed one tear if the entire whaling fleet sank, damned murderers. How could I have ANY empathy or sympathy for people who so callously slaughter our ocean's most majestic beings.
I can't believe Japan is so cruel and refusing to give in and stop killing the whales, bless you Sea Shepherd!
Thank you Sea Shepherd for all you do in saving our whales. You guys rock !!!!
Good Luck to Sea Shepherd's crew and THANKS to them.
We, people, don't own wild animals and just for that
we don't decide for their destiny
We MUST RESPECT them.
To Japan:
Leave Whales and dolphins ALONE..!!!!!!!
YEAH!! finally some positive news If i had won that mega millions .some was portioned out for the sea sheperd There is no excuse for the japanese to be slaughtering whales!!
Good old Sea Shepherd ! They frequently put their own lives at risk when they put themselves in the line of fire of those harpoons. The terrorist and illegal activities of the whalers must be stopped.
Way to go Sea Shepard.
Keep up the great work, and thanks.
I am all for the actions of Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, crew & the back up group.
The people who kill whales & dolphins are inhumane sh**s. BOYCOTT ALL ALL JAPANESE GOODS.
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