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| View Poll Results: Have you respect left for the Japanese government? | |||
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13 | 15.66% |
| Yes |
  
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34 | 40.96% |
| Little bit |
  
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26 | 31.33% |
| What is a "Sperm Whale"? Am I pregnant? |
  
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10 | 12.05% |
| Voters: 83. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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02-10-2009, 04:19 AM
Ten Reasons that Operation Musashi Has Been a Success - Sea Shepherd
Ten Reasons that Operation Musashi Has Been a Success news_090209_1_Ten_Reasons_Musashi_Success1 .The Japanese whaling fleet was located very quickly in the campaign, the earliest ever that the fleet has been intercepted. The fleet was also relocated very quickly on the 2nd Leg of the campaign. 2. The Steve Irwin pursued the Japanese whaling fleet for over 2000 miles between December 18th and January 7th disrupting their whaling operations for 19 days. The Steve Irwin returned and relocated the whaling fleet shutting down operations of the fleet for an additional 8 days. We can claim 27 days that we physically prevented the whalers from killing whales. This means many less whales killed and more whaling profits lost. The whaling fleet will not meet its quota for the fourth year in a row. 3. The Yushin Maru No.2 suffered ice damage to its propeller while being pursued by the Steve Irwin. This took the harpoon vessel out of operation between December 20th and February 5th, for a total of 46 days. This will also reduce the number of whales killed and will cause a further loss of illicit profits for the whaling industry. 4. The Yushin Maru No.2 was refused permission to do repairs by Indonesia, a significant embarrassment to Japan. 5. Australia refused to agree to Japan's request that the Steve Irwin be denied permission to refuel in an Australia port. This was extremely embarrassing for Japan to be denied this request and demonstrated an error in diplomatic judgment. Nations should never make public demands unless they know they will be met. 6. The Japanese whaling industry spent a small fortune rigging their ships with anti-boarding devices, covering their ships with netting and installing long range acoustical weapons. In addition they spent money on fuel while under pursuit and repairs to the Yushin Maru No.2. They also spent a great deal of money to charter the Taiyo Maru No.38 to transport a special security force. This ship had to deliver three injured crewmembers to Fiji (they were injured during normal whaling operations, not by any of Sea Shepherd's actions), and because of this diversion the Steve Irwin was able to relocate the fleet and intervene before the security force could return. 7. Sea Shepherd crewmembers engaged the entire Japanese fleet in a dramatic two day confrontation that demonstrated the determination and the resolve of the entire crew to intervene against illegal Japanese whaling operations. The reaction to this year's campaign by the Japanese whalers was a revelation of their frustration and desperation by physically and violently attacking the Sea Shepherd crew. 8. The campaign received wide international media coverage, once again exposing Japan's continued illegal whaling activities. The campaign received coverage in Japan and has contributed to the growing controversy in Japan over Southern Ocean whaling. 9. Over a thousand hours of video was recorded for the 2nd Season of Whale Wars by Animal Planet. This program has angered the Japanese whaling industry more than anything else we have done. With Whale Wars we are reaching millions of people around the world to expose illegal Japanese activities. The first season of Whale Wars was a hit and the 2nd season will be even bigger. 10. Not a single Japanese whaler was injured and the crew of the Sea Shepherd suffered only very minor injuries. Our record of never injuring our opposition remains unblemished. We made the decision to withdraw in the face of escalating violence by the whalers because we could not control the situation with one ship against four vessels, three of which had greater speed and maneuverability. 
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02-10-2009, 05:57 AM
I don't like the idea of whaling. However, I also find protesters - for example: the kind shown in the television show "Whale Wars" - extremely annoying (to put it bluntly).
Protesters even boarded Japanese vessels... to do... what? ~ And they wondered why the Japanese detained them. That's like forcing entry into a stranger's car and expecting not to get in trouble for it. That, to me, was incredibly idiotic. In my personal opinion - and forgive me if you disagree - they put Steve Irwin's name in vain. I prefer for whaling to decrease, or stop, officially in a formal, more secure manner... rather than having a boat full of hostile civilians harass ships like a band of fake pirates. The latter method is far too reckless in comparison to the former, for various reasons: (1) Hostile behavior at sea, (especially) these days, can be translated as a deadly scenario, which not only confuses the Japanese in distinguishing a real threat from a fake one... but also puts the protesters in danger, in the event that the Japanese choose to defend themselves with deadly force. You can't expect them to understand English -- or, by extension, your intentions. (2) Harassing a person doing their job can be unfair. Perhaps that person is in that situation due to certain circumstances in their own lives. After all, pawns are only pawns. The king (or kings) is in charge; He should be the real target, not the man trying to earn a living for himself or his family. (3) Similar to number 1, creating a more chaotic environment in the icy seas increases the already high likelihood of something going wrong: a person falling overboard, critical equipment malfunction, or even injury from any of the heavy features of the ships... ... There are also concerns for health and the effects on international relations to consider. My point is that, although I disagree with the Japanese on whaling, I think a victory should be won against them on the political stage, without all the unnecessary risks brought with direct anti-whaling protesters. My 2 cents.
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02-10-2009, 06:54 AM
Amazing how different the accounts given by Sea Shepard and the actual whaling team differ. The Japanese side tells of having all different types of horrors done to them - raw sewage thrown onto their vessel, violent attacks one after another, attempts to knock them offboard, theft of THEIR video footage of what Sea Shepard is doing to them - what Sea Shepard jumps on their ship to do - take down cameras, ruin food and fresh water... something that could result in death. And anyone who says that isn`t that bad has never been out to sea with a limited stock of fresh water.
Even if both sides are presenting themselves in the most positive light, Sea Shepard is still engaging in dangerous activities that put both themselves and the Japanese fleet at risk of losing their lives. I don`t think whaling is necessary - but then again, I don`t live in an area where whaling has always been a diet staple or around families that have always been whalers. Either way, I still hate Sea Shepard with a passion because they are indeed going about it in the wrong way and lying left and right about "safety". Try hunting down Japanese footage of them instead of watching only their heavily edited tapes making them look like heroes. Regardless of their "goals" - they`re little more than pirates. I really hate those who lie to forward themselves in the public eye.
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02-10-2009, 07:17 AM
There can be no "victory" against Japan in regards to stopping this whaling. It is legal and sanctioned by the IWC. When the moratorium on commercial whaling was approved, Japan intended to launch an objection to it. This would have allowed them to continue full commercial whaling, they withdrew their objection under pressure from the US. Norway, on the other hand did file an objection and kills about the same number of whales as Japan every year. If somehow the IWC changes their mind and decides that whaling in all of it forms should be banned, Japan would withdraw from the IWC and they would be legally allowed to begin commerical whaling. Japan has also threatened to withdraw if progress towards the IWC goal of resuming commercial whaling doesn't continue.
I would say that the Japanese coast guard is pursuing the Steve Irwin because the actions of Sea Shephard constitute piracy. Even their captain Paul Watson has admitted that what they do could be considered piracy under the UN law of the Seas. Japan has stated that they will attempt to arrest anyone that interferes with whaling operations and because what Sea Shephard is doing is piracy the Steve Irwin could be sunk legally if Japan saw fit to do so.
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02-10-2009, 07:44 AM
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That said, I agree that the Sea Shepard idiots are acting like terrorists, and are waaaay beyond the bounds of what is legal and right. Japan has petitioned for a right to hunt a limited number of whales, and they were granted that legal right. They should be able to exercise that right unmolested.
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02-10-2009, 08:13 AM
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Hopefully such tactics will make Japan's whaling operation too expensive and not commercially viable. (As far as I'm aware they already rely on government subsidies) We will win... because the world is against Japan and because the area where they hunt is our (Australia and New Zealand's) "backyard" so to speak.
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02-10-2009, 08:18 AM
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If whaling is a tradition to them then let them use the boats and tools they used in the 1300's in their own waters. New Zealand used to whale... we don't call it a tradition. Also the Japanese are hypocrites if they site tradition as an excuse. Look up the fishing rights of the Ainu. Japan's whaling logic doesn't cut two ways - Los Angeles Times
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02-10-2009, 08:22 AM
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What I have read is that the politicians are more adamant about keeping whale meat available than the Japanese population. At least in my experience most Japanese do not eat whale meat, and many are a little embarrassed by the hub-bub caused by their continued whaling. I understand some politicians simply don't like the world telling Japan not to do something it has the right to do (at least in Japan's eyes). I know I am oversimplifying the issue, but that's what I understand...though I enjoy getting all kinds of perspectives.
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02-10-2009, 08:55 AM
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It`s like the otsumami of choice among the older men.
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02-10-2009, 09:00 AM
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Okay then. If the world feels that they should stop, then the laws should being changed to prevent it. If they`re using a "loophole" - then close the loophole. At this point in time, it is legal, and I see any violent attacks against them because you don`t agree with them WAY out of line. Petition those who control the thing, not attack the little guys who are out there making a living. Even those in Japan who are against whaling find Sea Shepard and their tactics flat out terrifying. And, as mentioned before - Japan is not the only country whaling. But they`re the only ones I ever hear are attacked...
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