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Whalers fire water at activists in Antarctic Ocean
AP via SFGate ^ | 2/2/9 | KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 02/02/2009 7:47:04 AM PST by SmithL

SYDNEY, (AP) --

Japanese whalers blasted water from a cannon at conservationists who hurled bottles of rancid butter and paint during a clash Monday in frigid Antarctic waters, officials said.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society also accused the whalers of throwing hunks of metal and golf balls at its members, lightly injuring two activists in the fracas. Japanese officials said only a water cannon was used.

The group — which routinely harasses the Japanese whaling fleet during its annual hunt in the Antarctic Ocean — sent a helicopter and two inflatable boats toward a Japanese harpoon ship early Monday in heavy seas about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) southeast of the Australian state of Tasmania, said Paul Watson, the group's leader.

Japan, which has described the Sea Shepherd protesters as terrorists, plans to harvest up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales this season. Under International Whaling Commission rules, the mammals may be killed for research but not for commercial purposes. Opponents say the Japanese research expeditions are simply a cover for commercial whaling, which was banned in 1986.

The whalers opened up on conservationists on one raft with a water cannon, knocking one man off his feet and leaving him with cuts and bruises, Watson told The Associated Press by satellite phone.

Another protester was hit in the face with a large chunk of metal lobbed from a harpoon boat. He was wearing a shield on his helmet, but still suffered bruises, Watson said.

The Japanese also aimed a "military grade" noise weapon that can cause deafness and vomiting at the Sea Shepherd crew, Watson said. Some felt its vibrations but were too far away to be otherwise affected, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ecoterrorists
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To: SmithL

It’s enough to make you sign up for a Japanese whaling ship. Go whalers!


41 posted on 02/02/2009 9:13:56 AM PST by popdonnelly (The problem with Obama is that he believes his own hype.)
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To: SmithL
sent a helicopter and two inflatable boats toward a Japanese harpoon ship early Monday in...

Attacking a harpoon ship with an inflatable boat is just downright stupid.

42 posted on 02/02/2009 9:18:06 AM PST by VRWCmember
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To: VeniVidiVici

...even better: a grappling hook on a line tied off to the vessel, fired into the helo’s skids.

That helicopter would’ve been in the water in about 15 seconds.


43 posted on 02/02/2009 9:38:31 AM PST by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: Tex Pete

The Japaneese need to re-introduce the spar torpedo!


44 posted on 02/02/2009 10:10:58 AM PST by catman67
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To: Dustbunny
“Orientals eat a huge variety of marine life including dolphins.”

mmmmm dolphin.....

45 posted on 02/02/2009 10:21:09 AM PST by monday
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To: SmithL
The Japanese also aimed a "military grade" noise weapon that can cause deafness and vomiting at the Sea Shepherd crew, Watson said. Some felt its vibrations but were too far away to be otherwise affected, he said.

Sounds like the LRAD. Since these are being used against pirates off Somalia, their use against the pirates in the Southern Ocean is entirely appropriate.

46 posted on 02/02/2009 10:22:21 AM PST by GATOR NAVY
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To: Tax-chick
"Yeah, I guess whales throwing up would be pretty gross -"

If you've ever worn very expensive perfume, you've probably smeared some whale vomit on yourself...Ambergris

47 posted on 02/02/2009 10:27:25 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack
From your link (Wiki):

Because giant squids' beaks have been found embedded within lumps of ambergris, scientists have theorized that the whale's intestine produces the substance as a means of easing the passage of hard, sharp objects that the whale might have inadvertently eaten.

That sounds more like whale poop than whale puke.

48 posted on 02/02/2009 10:31:10 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: The Good Doctor

Personally, I loved the part where the entire crew (except the three senior “officers”) got rip-roaring drunk as they were sailing into the teeth of a monster storm.


49 posted on 02/02/2009 10:38:47 AM PST by Stonewall Jackson (We failed, but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves a blessing.-Robert E.Lee)
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To: ArrogantBustard
"That sounds more like whale poop than whale puke."

A few more details on the "manufacture" can be found here

50 posted on 02/02/2009 11:44:03 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Puke it is ...


51 posted on 02/02/2009 11:52:30 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: george76
Where does Watson get the funds for his exploits?

Ignorant old ladies and stupid hipsters that don't get it that they support terrorists.

52 posted on 02/02/2009 11:53:25 AM PST by Travis T. OJustice (Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.)
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To: SmithL

they have their own reality show.

I watched an episode and found myself cheering for the whalers.

Now if only we could put the golf balls IN the water stream fired from the whaling ship...


53 posted on 02/02/2009 11:55:35 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Hootch

I would cheer for an anti-sea shepard.

Just as legal as they are.

(probably a lot more fun too)


54 posted on 02/02/2009 12:03:03 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Tax-chick
Pooping out rainbows would be fun to find...:O)
Had a dog once eat a blue sock and pooped out kelly green. I was ready to take her to the vet when she threw up the blue sock. Darn, it stained my carpet...
55 posted on 02/02/2009 1:06:34 PM PST by goat granny
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To: Travis T. OJustice

When one of their ship’s engines died they got $150,000 from some musical group, can’t remember the name. No doubt Irwin’s widow gives a chunk of coin to keep the ship afloat.


56 posted on 02/02/2009 1:22:45 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: SmithL

One organization which backs the Sea Shepherd Society is IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They are soliciting donations from dog lovers all over the US through a very simple and sweet infomercial called “Dog Tales”. Good show for dog lovers, just don’t make the mistake of giving money to IFAW.


57 posted on 02/02/2009 2:33:30 PM PST by WarEagle (Can America survive a President named Hussein?)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Expensive perfume, ME? No wai.


58 posted on 02/02/2009 2:41:12 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Even for a thin-skinned solipsistic narcissist, Obama seems a frightful po-faced pill." ~Mark Steyn)
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To: goat granny

We had a cat that ate socks, with all sorts of bizarre digestive results. This dog just eats crayons and corks.


59 posted on 02/02/2009 2:42:16 PM PST by Tax-chick ("Even for a thin-skinned solipsistic narcissist, Obama seems a frightful po-faced pill." ~Mark Steyn)
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To: Tax-chick

:o) animals are fun..


60 posted on 02/02/2009 3:43:09 PM PST by goat granny
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