Guest guest Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 Japan whalers want protection November 12, 2007 JAPAN wants Australia to help protect its whaling fleet from what it calls " environmental terrorism " as it kills humpbacks in the Southern Ocean this summer, the ABC reports. Japan's whaling fleet is preparing to depart for its annual scientific hunt and 50 humpback whales will be targeted for the first time. Japan's Fisheries Agency says Australia and New Zealand should help protect the Japanese fleet and has accused environmental group Sea Shepherd of being responsible for violent confrontations in recent years. Greenpeace Australia campaigner Pia Mancia said the notion of Australian authorities protecting the Japanese whalers was absurd. " It's the whales who need the protection, " she said. " Particularly because they’ve announced they’re targeting humpback whales which are endangered. " They say they're doing it for scientific purposes and if that’s the case, if they’re doing it for scientific research they do not need to kill the whales. " They can use non-lethal methods. " http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22743041-952,00.html ........................... Japan wants Aussie protection during humpback kill ABC Mon Nov 12, 2007 Japan wants Australia to help protect its whaling fleet from what it calls " environmental terrorism " as it kills humpbacks in the Southern Ocean this summer. Japan's whaling fleet is preparing to depart for its annual scientific hunt and 50 humpback whales will be targeted for the first time. Japan's Fisheries Agency says Australia and New Zealand should help protect the Japanese fleet and has accused environmental group Sea Shepherd of being responsible for violent confrontations in recent years. Sea Shepherd's captain Paul Watson says his organisation is not responsible for the collisions with Japanese ships and has acted lawfully. " Japanese whaling is illegal. They're targeting endangered species in a whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on whaling, " he said. " We have the law on our side. " http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/12/2087736.htm ........................... Japan asks Australia to protect whalers ABC Monday, 12 November , 2007 Reporter: Shane McLeod TONY EASTLEY: Japan is worried that its whaling fleet is going to be targeted by protesters on the high seas during its annual Southern Ocean hunt and it wants Australia and New Zealand to provide some protection. Japan says its ships have been subject to terrorist-like action and says it's stepping up its own security for its crews. But environmentalists say it's Japan that's been provoking confrontation, especially with its plans to kill up to 50 humpback whales this season. North Asia correspondent Shane McLeod reports. SHANE MCLEOD: Japanese officials won't say exactly when the ocean-going whaling fleet is due to depart on its annual Southern Ocean hunt. But it's expected to be within days. And with Japan anticipating more confrontation on the high seas between its ships and environmental group Sea Shepherd, Fisheries Agency spokesman Hideki Moronuki is calling on Australia and New Zealand to ensure the safety of the Japanese fleet. HIDEKI MORONUKI: Those two countries maintain the same position as Japan does against the violent action of terrorists… terrorism. So everybody can imagine that Sea Shepherd may take very dangerous illegal actions again, so I need the kindest support of those two countries in order to secure the safety of our crews and the (inaudible). SHANE MCLEOD: Sea Shepherd and the Japanese fleet clashed last summer, before Japan's ships headed home early after an unrelated fire crippled the main whale processing ship, killing one crew member. Mr Moronuki says Sea Shepherd is engaging in environmental terrorism. He says Japan is stepping up measures to deal with the threat. HIDEKI MORONUKI: We cannot take illegal actions even though the Sea Shepherd would take illegal, very dangerous illegal actions. So we have to take another legal actions in order to escape from dangerous actions by Sea Shepherd. It's very difficult what we should do, something. SHANE MCLEOD: Sea Shepherd's captain Paul Watson says his organisation is not responsible for collisions with the Japanese ships last season. And he says he's not worried by Japan stepping up its security measures. PAUL WATSON: I don't think it'll have any impact at all. I mean, what we have to understand here is Japanese whaling is illegal. They're targeting endangered species in a whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on whaling. We have the law on our side. We operate in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature, which allows for non-government organisations to uphold international conservation law. If Japan acts… reacts violently to us, causes any injury at all to any of our people, that will backlash very severely upon Japan, because Japan is the criminal nation here. And last year, for instance, Japan accused us of ramming their vessels. The Australian Federal Police did a forensic investigation and their evidence will back up our story on that: we were rammed by the Japanese. If I had have rammed the Japanese, I would probably have said so. But last year they hit us. TONY EASTLEY: Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd, speaking there with Shane McLeod in Tokyo. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s2087785.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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