Protesters urge govt for whaling action

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Protesters urge govt for whaling actionDANIEL FOGARTYJanuary 10, 2010 - 6:29PMAAPThe Australian government must act decisively against whaling in its Antarctic territorial waters, protesters outside the Japanese Consulate in Melbourne have urged.About 30 people unfurled banners, including one in Japanese, calling for rapid action."We are calling for an end to whaling and for the Rudd government to act immediately," protest organiser Zin Rain told AAP."We would like to see the Rudd government send a vessel down to the Southern Ocean, to Australian Antarctic waters, intervene and monitor whaling activities down there."The protest comes just days after the bow on Sea Shepherd conservation society's boat the Ady Gil was sheared off in a collision with the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru 2.The group has filed a piracy complaint against the Japanese vessel in The Netherlands.It will also consider bringing charges of attempted murder in New Zealand or Australia, while civil action in Japan is also on the cards, group spokesman Captain Paul Watson told AAP on Sunday."We believe New Zealand should file criminal charges against the Shonan Maru, this was no accident, the video clearly shows them turning, making their abrupt turn to starboard right into the Ady Gil and cutting it in half and keep going," he said via phone from the Sea Shepherd vessel the Steve Irwin."They didn't even stop, they did not offer assistance, they didn't even respond to a distress signal."It was a deliberate attempt to take that boat out and anybody that was in it."Capt Watson also called on the Australian government to defend its sovereignty in the area."If we get into a confrontation with the Japanese and they end up killing one of those Australian citizens, (prime minister) Kevin Rudd is going to find himself in a very, very embarrassing and humiliating political position," he said."He has been in a position where he could have sent a boat down to save the lives of Australian citizens, and he has refused to do so."© 2010 AAPBrought to you by