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Japanese warship 'to guard whalers'
The Australian ^ | January 02, 2006 | Amanda Hodge

Posted on 01/01/2006 5:41:10 PM PST by Dundee

Japanese warship 'to guard whalers'

A STANDOFF between Japanese whalers and environmentalists has escalated, with a conservation group claiming the Japanese Government has sent a warship to Antarctic waters to protect its fleet.

The Washington-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said it had received a tip-off that a Japanese naval ship had been sent to the region to defend its whalers from protesters.

The group said it was concerned the warship would try to seize its vessel and those of the two Greenpeace crews shadowing the whaling fleet through the Southern Ocean.

"The Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research has made an open accusation of piracy and eco-terrorism against the Greenpeace Foundation and Sea Shepherd," it said.

"If Japan adopts the false accusations that acts of piracy have been committed against their ships, they can use the accusations as an excuse under international law to attack and seize the ships they accuse."

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's vessel joined two Greenpeace boats in the Antarctic waters last week to try to stop the whale hunt.

Both organisations have been accused of deliberately ramming the whaling boats -- an accusation they strongly deny.

Greenpeace spokesman aboard the Arctic Sunrise Shane Rattenbury said he had been unable to confirm rumours over the weekend, which is a Japanese national holiday, that the warship was on its way.

But he said the Japanese whaling fleet was under huge pressure due to the presence of the three protest boats, which were beaming rare images of a whale hunt to the world.

"I think it would certainly raise the stakes, because not only would it be a very expensive exercise but sending a military vessel into Antarctic treaty waters would make a very serious diplomatic incident," Mr Rattenbury said.

Environment Minister Ian Campbell would not comment on the rumour or what action the Australian Government might take if it proved true.

But on Friday he accused the Sea Shepherd crew of acting in a "warlike manner" by allegedly trying to damage one of the Japanese whaling vessels.

Senator Campbell referred an email from the captain of one protesting ship to the Minister for Justice and Customs. The federal Government has refused requests to send its own naval vessel to the Southern Ocean to oversee the whaling fleet, which is hunting in what Australia declares to be its Antarctic territory and a whale sanctuary.

Japan does not recognise Australia's claim to the waters.

Japan's constitution prevents it from sending an offensive force overseas. But in 1992, the Tokyo government passed a special law to allow a Japanese naval vessel to accompany the first shipment of plutonium oxide from France to Japan.

Greenpeace opposed the shipment of plutonium and sent one of its own vessels, the Solo, to shadow the load.

During the first leg of the voyage, the Japanese naval vessel Shikishima was accused of ramming the Greenpeace boat.

The Japanese Fisheries Agency maintains its whaling program is legal research.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alf; antarcticwaters; baleen; earthliberation; ecoterror; ecoterrorism; ecoterrorists; greenpeace; japanesetroops; kyoto; peta; whaling
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I'm not all that happy with the Japanese whalers, but I hate Greenpeace even more. Like I said before, I wish the whalers and Greenpeace would sink each other.

Having done a Southern Ocean patrol myself, I feel sorry for the crew of the Japanese warship. Conditions down there, even at the best of times, suck beyond the telling of it.

1 posted on 01/01/2006 5:41:11 PM PST by Dundee
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To: Dundee

I'm not at all happy of the concept of "Japanese Warships". The last time we had these DownUnder there was all Hell to pay. It's about time to sink a few more of these, to remind them of their manners.

Good on Greenpeace for standing up to these Japanese bullies. They have no business in our Southern oceans, which are whale sanctuaries.


2 posted on 01/01/2006 5:44:49 PM PST by DieHard the Hunter (I am the Chieftain of my Clan. I bow to nobody. Get out of my way.)
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To: Dundee

Greenpeace really needs to invest in a warship if they are going to be credible in saving the whales. Surely Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and other hollyweirds will contribute.


3 posted on 01/01/2006 5:45:22 PM PST by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I looked in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Dundee
Dinner is served


4 posted on 01/01/2006 5:47:21 PM PST by Flavius (Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Dundee
I'd pay good money to watch the Japanese send these watermelons to Davy Jones's Locker.

It would be a beautiful thing !

5 posted on 01/01/2006 5:48:30 PM PST by Freebird Forever (If they're truly public servants, why do they live in the mansions?)
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To: BipolarBob

> Greenpeace really needs to invest in a warship if they are going to be credible in saving the whales. Surely Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and other hollyweirds will contribute.

Between them and the Sea Shepherd Society, they have been doing a fairly credible job for 30+ years now.

I'm no tree-hugger, but I do draw the line at countries like Japan who, under the guise of "research", sneak into South Pacific waters (where they do not belong) and plunder magnificent animals, merely to feed their greedy guts. I don't care what they do in their own waters, but leave the South Pacific alone.


6 posted on 01/01/2006 5:51:03 PM PST by DieHard the Hunter (I am the Chieftain of my Clan. I bow to nobody. Get out of my way.)
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To: Dundee

This sounds like a job for the United Nations...ajudicating disputes between nations.

Where is the KOFIMAN???

Here is another wonderful opportunity for the UN to screw up another operation and make it FUBAR!


7 posted on 01/01/2006 5:55:57 PM PST by albee ("Those that bite the hand that feeds them will lick the boot that kicks them!" - Eric Hoffer)
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To: DieHard the Hunter

I'm not FOR either side, but I agree about whales being magnificent animals. If I could stop whaling I would, but many would label me a communist for doing so.


8 posted on 01/01/2006 5:57:38 PM PST by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I looked in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Dundee

Cool idea. Can we use a few Marines at the rodeo to rid ourselves of the animal rights protesters? Better yet, can we make PETA roping an event?


9 posted on 01/01/2006 6:00:24 PM PST by barj
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To: Dundee

How can a country lay claim to an Ocean. I thought there was a 12 mile limit amd the rest was international.

That being said the Japanese are known to overfish any sea however, if Greenpeace attacks them or rams their ship they should have a right to protection.

That being said why doesnt Japan and all the other countries of the world stop the pirates from Samalia who would board a passenger ship at sea.


10 posted on 01/01/2006 6:03:26 PM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: DieHard the Hunter

As much as I hate whaling I have to give props to japan for standing up to eco-terrorists and showing that piracy and naval terrorism will not be tolerated.

Hope it goes smoother then when the french tried to off some greenpeacenicks in the pacific back in the eighties.


11 posted on 01/01/2006 6:03:31 PM PST by spikeytx86
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To: BipolarBob
> I'm not FOR either side, but I agree about whales being magnificent animals. If I could stop whaling I would, but many would label me a communist for doing so.

I sure wouldn't label you a communist, ever. The wanton slaughter of magnificent animals for Japanese Epicurean tastes makes my blood boil.

Whales are *great* for the tourist trade. One whale hanging around offshore is worth many hundred times more alive than he is dead on some Japanese fishmarket's shelf. See one in real life, and you'll never forget the experience.

If full truth, the Japanese really get on my nerves. In 50 years time, they will be a force that will need to be reckoned with. Again.
12 posted on 01/01/2006 6:08:15 PM PST by DieHard the Hunter (I am the Chieftain of my Clan. I bow to nobody. Get out of my way.)
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To: Dundee
"I'm not all that happy with the Japanese whalers, but I hate Greenpeace even more. Like I said before, I wish the whalers and Greenpeace would sink each other"

Well put and right on target.

13 posted on 01/01/2006 6:10:47 PM PST by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: One Wing to Rule them All and to the Darkside Bind them)
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To: DieHard the Hunter
I hunt, but the idea of hunting a species to extinction is just immoral. So I hate whalers.

BUT...

If it is proved beyond all doubt that whale numbers have recovered enough to permit controlled and sustainable hunting, then controlled and sustainable whaling could resume.

We aren't at that point yet, so the whaling needs to be stopped.

However, Greenpeace also opposes recognizing national claims on Antarctica, which means that countries like Australia cannot enforce its anti-whaling laws in its Antarctic EEZ.
14 posted on 01/01/2006 6:11:55 PM PST by Dundee (They gave up all their tomorrows for our today’s.)
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To: spikeytx86

> As much as I hate whaling I have to give props to japan for standing up to eco-terrorists and showing that piracy and naval terrorism will not be tolerated.

In this case, Japan is the eco-terrorist and pirate. They have no business in the South Pacific whale sanctuary. What they are doing is illegal: they are thumbing their nose at the law.

Like I say, I am no tree-hugger. But I've had a gutsful of Japan and its greedy, self-seeking ways. And if Greenpeace has the balls to stand up to them, I say goodon'em. Go with my blessing.


15 posted on 01/01/2006 6:11:58 PM PST by DieHard the Hunter (I am the Chieftain of my Clan. I bow to nobody. Get out of my way.)
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To: Dundee

I haven't used a whale oil lamp in quite a while now (like forever) what else is a whale used for these days? Why are they still caught?


16 posted on 01/01/2006 6:14:38 PM PST by Ditter
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To: sgtbono2002
Has anyone noticed the teeeny little discrepancy in Japan's policy of overfishing combined with Kyoto?
17 posted on 01/01/2006 6:18:38 PM PST by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: One Wing to Rule them All and to the Darkside Bind them)
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To: cake_crumb

arrggg ping


18 posted on 01/01/2006 6:22:24 PM PST by vrwc0915 ("Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants,)
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To: DieHard the Hunter
I met a man yesterday who was a small child living in Hawaii at the time the Japanese attack and he remembers it clearly. He said he and his mother were out walking and she climbed over a high fence carrying him to get them to safety. Talk about someone who hates the Japanese woohoo!
19 posted on 01/01/2006 6:26:12 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Dundee

Send in the French. They can't protect themselves from anyone with any intent, but they have a history of destroying unarmed ships (not that I didn't agree with them).


20 posted on 01/01/2006 6:28:25 PM PST by freedumb2003 (American troops cannot be defeated. American Politicians can.)
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