The Whaling Wars Are Getting Hotter: Were the Anti-Whalers on Ady Gil Using Lethal Weapons?
Posted: Sunday, January 10, 2010
by Joel Kontinen
http://joelkontinen.blogspot.com/
While temperatures in the northern hemisphere are getting colder, the whaling wars in the south are definitely getting hotter. The most recent battle involved two vessels, the Japanese Shonan Maru No. 2 and the New Zealand speedboat Ady Gil.
The Ady Gil collided with the bigger Japanese ship and almost sank. Both parties are nevertheless trying to claim victory in the propaganda war.
The Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research issued a press release in which they stated that the Shonan Maru No. 2 had retrieved potentially lethal bowgun arrows from the sea. The anti-whalers had also hurled projectiles containing butyric acid and fired line-launch rockets against the Japanese vessels.
This suggests that the warriors of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society feel that they can use all conceivable methods against the whalers.
While it is not at all easy to understand why some nations should be allowed to kill hundreds of whales for "scientific" purposes, it is even more difficult to tolerate the harming or even killing of humans for the sake of saving cetaceans.
Might it be time to call together a peace conference?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Certainly sounds like the time for a "sit down", doubt if it will happen or if it does, that any meaningful compromise will occur. Can only hope....Thanks, Steve. I hope so but it doesn't seem likely.
Great article!I am opposed to commercial whaling (and the whole "its for scientific research" argument given by Japan doesn't really work, there's only so many specimens potentially needed for that plus they don't seem to be publishing much new whale-based science in peer reviewed journals).If whaling was sustainable, well-regulated and humanely practiced then my opposition to it would be greatly reduced, but the Japanese whaling operation doesn't seem to me fit these criteria.That said, I am more strongly opposed to the dangerous and fanatical antics of the anti-whaling extremists - they put themselves (fine) and the crews of the whaling ships (not fine) in unnecessary danger, and commit irresponsible acts that border on, or can even be considered to be, piracy.It'd be great if they could get together and resolve it peacefully, but I don't think that is going to happen.I think Japan is subject to a ban on commercial whaling, which is why they use the "scientific research" justification.... which is perhaps of dubious legality and honesty.But the activities of the anti-whaling activists are not just of dubious legality, they are outright illegal, and they deserve to punished to the full extent of applicable law.Thanks, Ben. I think this is the first time I agree with you completely. You add some excellent arguments to the case. Neither party can really be pleased with what they have done or are doing.
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