Whale Wars

[alewar]

I wonder how people in the US would react if activists started throwing butyric acid at butcher shops or ramming cattle trucks because they want to stop the slaughter of land mammals.

Cattle in religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You are confusing the territorial waters of japan, with the international ones. Within its territorial limits, Japan is free to hunt whatever they decide to. When they enter international waters (that belong to all of us), they should respect them.

When you go to your neighborhood's park, you play with the swings, but leave them there afterwards.

 

[elmer fudd]

Tribes in the US typically hunt about 50 bowhead whales a year. The harvest varies from year to year. If I remember right, they start out with a hand thrown harpoon with an explosive tip and deliver it from an umiak, but once the harpoon has made contact they finish up the hunt from powerboats.

They also keep armed guards around their camps with military style rifles to ward off any "polar bears" that might come around. I'm guessing that keeps away the "Pauler" bears too.

 

[fireflock]

You are confusing the territorial waters of japan, with the international ones. Within its territorial limits, Japan is free to hunt whatever they decide to. When they enter international waters (that belong to all of us), they should respect them.

When you go to your neighborhood's park, you play with the swings, but leave them there afterwards.

Ahhhh....international waters.....like when SSCS is protesting seal hunts in Canada.

Does the free to hunt what you want in territorial waters extend to the dolphin slaughter shown in The Cove?

The point is that different societies have different standards for what is acceptable and what is outrageous. How can you tell them that your society is correct and theirs is barbarian when you can't agree on an objective standard for right and wrong?

 

[OnceLoyal]

The SS is no more legal than the Japs.Thats why the program is pretty cool to me. Just remember this is a reality TV SHOW.... The amount of good the SS does on a direct level is extremely minimal when one looks at the whole picture.. It is cool that is gets the word out to people. Unfotunately the millions of people who watch this show will never do on anything to try and help the cause. I think the Japs have every right to defend themselves. To an extent, if they feel like their safety is compromised deadly force could and should be used. They are in the middle of the ocean and the Capt. has a whole crew he is responsible for. This is messing with their lively hood also. Things are kept calm only do to the media o course. I have a little insight because I am part of a reality show now that may or may not take off. Germany already accepted it and we are waiting to hear from discovery to see if they will grab it or not.
FOr the record I am against killing the whales. Also no rubber bullets that I know of could penetrate a vest. I've used them in an AR-15 and AK.

 

[SkipperJohn]

Recently I saw a show on Nat Geo that followed a biologist into the Japanese fish markets. This woman purchased whale meat then performed DNA testing. A substantial portion of her random tests proved to be from illegal whales.

A while back I read a story once about a fisherman who worked on a Japanese tuna boat. Like most tuna boats at that time they used the presence of dolphin to help guide their operations as the tuna and dolphin foraged on the same fish. The difference was, according to this fisherman, the Japanese fleet tried to capture the dolphin and would serve it to the crew as a kind of reward.

 

[drdiver1952]

Recently I saw a show on Nat Geo that followed a biologist into the Japanese fish markets. This woman purchased whale meat then performed DNA testing. A substantial portion of her random tests proved to be from illegal whales.

I can't make this point strongly enough. There is no "illegal" or "legal" because there are NO laws governing the take of marine animals--fish or mammal--in international waters. There are international conventions that have little or no binding power or punitive capacity. There is no protection for any marine animal except those exerted by local sovereignties on their waters and their citizens and by the extent they enforce them--which is often nonexistent.

 

[OnceLoyal]

I can't make this point strongly enough. There is no "illegal" or "legal" because there are NO laws governing the take of marine animals--fish or mammal--in international waters. There are international conventions that have little or no binding power or punitive capacity. There is no protection for any marine animal except those exerted by local sovereignties on their waters and their citizens and by the extent they enforce them--which is often nonexistent.

This would make the case more in the Jap's favor then imo. Like I said.. That capt. is responsible for all his crew and millions of $$$. If put in danger thye have every right to defend themselves. I still think it is terrible, but until some form of rules are put into place there is nothing anyone can really do. Personally if I was raised in that market, and knew nothing different I probably would be doing the same thing. If I was the Capt. of that ship I would probably blast them out of the water.

 

[drdiver1952]

This would make the case more in the Jap's favor then imo. Like I said.. That capt. is responsible for all his crew and millions of $$$. If put in danger thye have every right to defend themselves. I still think it is terrible, but until some form of rules are put into place there is nothing anyone can really do. Personally if I was raised in that market, and knew nothing different I probably would be doing the same thing. If I was the Capt. of that ship I would probably blast them out of the water.

As far as legal and illegal accurately mirror right and wrong, that is true. Often this is not the case. I agree the Japanese do have the right under maritime law to sink Sea Shepherd ships if they wanted. I don't think they do or are unable to obtain the means for whatever reason. While the Japanese clearly would prefer to be left alone, Sea Shepherd also doesn't really want to hurt anyone--themselves included or they would have done so by now. Accidents can happen, though and probably will as this dangerous game continues into the next whaling season.

 

[cdreamer]

It ought to get really interesting this year. Sea Shepherd has added
a 2nd vessel and there is possibility for a 3rd. Sorry pics did not post
but you have got to see this thing. Do a search for "Earthrace".


Friday, August 28, 2009
Earthrace Undergoes Sea Shepherd Transformation
Category: Blogging
Exclusive: The Earthrace Begins A Sea Shepherd

Transformation



If Batman joined Sea Shepherd, this is the boat he would bring...



Ever since it was announced earlier this summer that Earthrace would be joining Sea Shepherd for this year’s campaign against Japanese whaling ships, we’ve been eager for more updates. The 78 foot biodiesel-powered wave-piercing trimaran is a sleek, world-record holder (fastest for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat) that would even draw gadget-envy from James Bond’s Q.


Back in June, Captain Paul Watson of SS said that he intended to use Earthrace to “intercept and block harpoons”. While that sounds like a feat achievable only in a Michael Bay movie, Earthrace captain Pete Bethune is taking his orders seriously. We recently spoke with the creator of this incredible vessel and how he’s getting the boat ready for the harsh Antarctic seas (and potential Japanese encounters).


ER: On how the Earthrace is being transformed for its new mission:


PB: “We’re adding between 8 layers and 4 layers of kevlar, depending on area, all over the underwaterline sections, as well as some areas above the waterline. Earthrace is pretty much all carbon, which is brittle, especially as it gets colder. The kevlar adds impact resistance. It does not make it iceproof, it just limits the damage when we do end up scraping some ice. Earthrace though is quite vulnerable down there, so we will need to be especially carfeul. Antarctica is very unforgiving.”



ER: On the use of Earthrace to block harpoons:


PB: “Paul must have been pretty excited when he said I’ll be blocking harpoons with Earthrace. if they ever hit us with an explosive harpoon it’ll be massive damage. but certainly we’ll do our best to get in their way. If they hit us it will always be their guy that pulled the trigger — but hopefully things won’t come to that.”


ER: What types of new technology can we expect Earthrace to sport while going head-to-head with the Japanese ships?


PB: “A new broadband radar that cannot be detected. FLIR nightvision system. Iridium openport comms so we cn upload videos and pics all the time. And new type of paint that scatters radar signals making us hard to detect.”


ER: On what’s next for the ship while in dry dock:


PB: “By the end of this week we hope to have all the kevlar added and be well underway on the fairing compound. And from next week we’ll be starting to paint (all-black) I expect.”


Look for Sea Shepherd’s Operation Waltzing Matilda to launch later this year.

 

[archman]

I'd bet that "Earthrace" will get trashed by either the Antarctic Seas or a whaling boat within a year or two of service.

It looks like a little toy.