Comments

Posts

Sea Shepherd member arrested for illegally boarding Japanese ship

“I’m not interested in Japan. I’m not interested. I don’t care if everybody in Japan supports us or doesn’t support us.” – Paul Watson, president of Sea Shepherd

On Friday, a whaling ship returned to Japan carrying Pete Bethune, a member of the radical animal rights group Sea Shepherd. As soon as it reached the shore, a group of Japanese police officers and coast guard officials came aboard and arrested Bethune for illegally boarding the Japanese whaling ship on February 15th and trying to make a “citizen’s arrest” of the Japanese captain. Bethune, the captain of the high tech Sea Shepherd speedboat that placed itself in the path of a Japanese ship and was heavily damaged as a result, thought that the Japanese had deliberately tried to “murder” his crew.

Bethune’s arrest was a huge news story on Friday. Most of the networks sent reporters to the port to give live updates from the scene of his arrest and the building in which he was being held. There is very little sympathy in Japan for the violent and extreme activities of Sea Shepherd, so most of the reports were quite negative.

Here’s how FTV’s evening news reported the event:

In the clip, anchor Taro Kimura conducts a interview with Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson via telephone. Kimura wants to know why Watson uses the word “hero” to refer to a man who threw toxic chemicals at Japanese whalers and illegally boarded a Japanese whaling ship. Watson laughs and Kimura and says he doesn’t care what Japanese people think [see quote at the top of this post].

In a section of Kimura’s conversation with Watson that didn’t make the final cut, Kimura asked why they oppose Japan eating whale when they eat other types of animal meat. Watson apparently denounced the eating of animal meat (he is a vegan). The Fuji Tv reporters smugly point out that Bethune has freely eaten quite a lot of meat while in captivity.

Kimura notes that CNN has just started reporting on Chinese people eating dog meat in a manner similar to their judgmental reporting on Japan’s eating of whales and dolphins. He thinks Japan needs to fight back against this kind of pressure, and that the trial of the Sea Shepherd member is an important means of doing so.

—

Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)

87 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - March 15, 2010 at 2:50 pm

Categories: Anti-Japan, Japanese Food Tags: sea shepherd

http://japanconversation.blogspot.com Aaron

Does anyone with knowledge of maritime law know if this type arrest is “normal?” That is, is a vessel in international waters considered to be sovereign territory of its registered country–that is, does Japanese law actually govern the actions that take place aboard Japanese ships? Or does Japan now have to take the issue to some kind of international court?

http://www.onivoro.com.br Kojima

Yeah. The vessel is considered sovereign territory of the ship flag. If Japanese flag, Japanese laws. The same for airplanes.

Kono

Seriously…I have had it with this lame “organization” that thinks its actually making a change…I mean this fatass is not only ruining the image of Japan, he’s causing destruction…destruction on private property, destruction of the image of Japan, etc.

Some one should capture this fool, and put him in a huge take with 20 some whales…see how he likes that.

Lopkjobviiie

Someone needs to defend our wildlife. I know I would want my children to see wildlife one day… But the way some of the people who disagree whith the whalers this world will be a sad lonely place. If you don’t like something you Stand up and fight. Not post your two cents on the Internet.
Bert

Personally, wethink that every citizen of the world should boycott anything made in Japan and protest the senseless killing of these creatures. Japan is lying and claiming they are doing research just to make a profit off of the meat and by-products of these living things. We should all refuse doing ANY business with them.

I wish that I could go out there and do something to help these folks who are actually putting their words into action. In the mean time our family will support them in any other way we can and refuse to buy anything made in Japan.
Sarah

Curious to know if anyone there would actually find a better way to make more money?

Being that money is the motivator here…

I went to school…to make more money. Seems like fishing only yeilds a certain dollar amount and being that the (oh what is it) the fishing association in that town that kills the dolpins…Taiji (SP?) filed bankruptcy. I would say the “idiots” are ah…visable and exposed for exactly what they are. Broke mofo’s.

So…if this is a standard there I would say the educated individuals of the country really need to wake up and change their direction or 50 years from now, they are going to be a total bankrupt country, especially if they think “fishing” is going to get them places- seems like it will trap them mo pun intended there- lol! Last time I checked, the fat guy above from Whale Wars- is doing what he loves. But Animal Planet-well they are the smart ones…aren’t they.They are laughing all the way to the bank people!

Grandpa’s days of showing ya how to catch a fish- are Nostalgic!!!
Sarah

The World Wildlife Fund has also estimated that the Japanese government has had to invest $12 million into the 2008-09 Antarctic whale hunt alone just to break even, and that subsidies in total have amounted to approximately $150 million since 1988

Another example of why educated people in Japan should ban this- do you want your country to prosper, instead of fail?

If nothing but money- can’t you find something better to do. Seems like Animal Planet knows exactly what they are doing…

Hamachiman

Arrogant fool. Even those Japanese citizens who do not eat whale meat or agree with whale hunting will still find this guy’s smug hypocrisy and criminal actions offensive. He (they) don’t care what Japanese think? Really? Wasn’t it the green freaks themselves that were trying to come up with a way to not alienate ordinary Japanese?

I find whale hunting distasteful, but not as distasteful as these law breaking thugs.

Dandridge

Well, do you think people really take Japan seriously? If Japan DOES take a pro-active stance against Sea Shepherd, than you’ll have people bemoaning about the resurgence of Japanese militarism or other nonsense. And you can’t logically argue with negative publicity that’s spun on dehumanizing an entire nation and people. I don’t care much for whaling, but I find all the misconceptions and ignorance toward Japanese by non-Japanese rather distasteful.
Oshiri

My thoughts exactly, Hamachiman.
If he doesn’t care what they think, then why is he doing what he’s doing?
http://www.squidoo.com/the-cove Eric

When you think about it, the Japanese whalers and government should thank Paul Watson and all the other Sea Shepherd loons: they make the whalers look so good in comparison.

Darien Shields

I am glad to see this news covered in an objective fashion here on the site. It’s nice to see the facts without any sides being picked.

That said, lets talk about how Sea Shepard are morons…

Personally, I’m against whaling and eating whale or dolphin meat. In most cases I don’t think there’s even a huge reason for them to do it. I know there may be a spattering of fishermen for whom it is a way of life, but you can’t exactly by slabs of this meat down at the supermarket. I don’t think Japanese people are queueing up to eat it. They put it in some school lunches a while ago, but that struck me more as an advertising campaign. Hey kids! Try whale meat! Get your mum to buy you some more!

That said? I’m getting sick to the stomach of Sea Shepard. Their tactics are irresponsible and dangerous, and possibly even worse than that? They’re naive and juvenile. They’re antagonising Japan and giving the Japanese lots of great reasons to get up in arms about the whole issue. I’m willing to bet that there are droves of Japanese people who didn’t give a hoot about the whaling issue until Sea Shepard started up fiascos like this one, and now a lot more people are angry about it.

I believe that there is a mature, diplomatic solution to the problem. If we could just all get around the debate table and explain in a non condescending manner why whales and dolphins hold a special place in the animal kingdom, and then work towards a peaceful solution, the whole matter could be solved without the need for violence. But the activities of groups like Sea Shepard only serve to retard the flow of diplomacy and make it more difficult for everyone.
http://www.onivoro.com.br Kojima

Really bad, bad PR.
ian

Did your reporter actually watch the footage of the Ady Gil accident or did they just guess at what happened.. footage shows the Ady Gil was deliberately rammed by the japanese whaling vessel. And as for toxic chemicals thrown… butric acid is basically rotten butter. The only effect it has on humans is that it stinks horribly. It does not irritate skin and is not a caustic acid. At least get your facts right before making broad sweeping comments.
And NO, i am not a member of Sea Shepherd.
I just like to see fair and honest reporting, and unfortunately there is too much opinionated articles printed these days that seem to want to infuriate and overdramatise things… all in the name of ‘a good story’
As a friend of mine once told me…. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story…

deanS

Don’t know about the reporter but I think you just watched the footage from SS here check out this clip and pay attention to the rear of the Ady Gil.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3983311/the_shonan_maru_ramming_the_sea_shepherds_ady_gil_destroying_and_sinking_the_boat/
It looks more like the AG powered forward(prop-wash) to be hit while being filmed by SS. Btw try a search on Ady Gil and arrows and see what comes up.

On butyric acid have you ever had it thrown on you(especially in the eyes)? I mean were you just using the Wiki or info from the SS?
“Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Corrosive. Extremely unpleasant smell may cause nausea. Liquid may burn skin and eyes. Readily absorbed through the skin. Severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant.”
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/BU/butyric_acid.html

Look to me the SS’s(and the cove peoples) antics are probably just going to hurt there cause in the long run. If you want an example just keep an eye on the Bluefin tuna issue being discussed. Also if they are always going on about the mercury and pcb levels in whales and dolphins why don’t they speak up on commercially caught fish(especially fish in trouble),they seem to have a lot of viewers to help the issue.
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp

ian

ummm could the injuries to the crewmen been sustained by spraying pressurised pepper spray into the wind?? Seeing it blown back in their faces and the pain they were in kinda shows it wasnt butric acid that injured them….

Dandridge

Wouldn’t the crewmen be wearing goggles and other safety gear if they were spraying pepper spray? Because you’d have to take into account, the wind blowing it back at them and other factors.
Liam

ian, you’ve never been exposed to butric acid, have you? Let me repeat that definition from earlier.

“Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Corrosive. Extremely unpleasant smell may cause nausea. Liquid may burn skin and eyes. Readily absorbed through the skin. Severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant.”

Butric acid is not only incredibly painful if it gets on you (especially if it’s in the eyes), but a high enough dose of it is potentially lethal, and Sea Shepherd do appear to be throwing high enough volumes of it in those glass canisters to kill someone with it if they got a near direct hit on them.

Rob A

The ‘arrows’ floating around the Ady Gil were placed there, along with the ‘environmentally harmful oil leaks’(dumped by the Japanese) to make the Shepherds look violent or like the aggressors.

As far as their ‘prop wash’ – you do know you can’t steer a boat with no forward movement, right? How were they supposed to avoid the harpoon ship without moving?

I’m pretty sure given they are always looking for more ships that they wouldn’t take a multi-million dollar record-holding boat and intentionally destroy it. Even the Shepherds aren’t dumb enough to think the Ady Gil could survive a ramming.

deanS

I’m sure you are just a troll and you have already made up your mind, but here you go anyways.
arrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpx–tQG4Qs
As to the oil it’s a diesel powerboat and even if you empty the fuel tank, the engine(and surrounding compartment) will still contain fuel and oil and leak when it sinks. They are violent and they are aggressors even it they aren’t shooting arrows they say they use airguns(like the type to shoot t-shirts) to shoot containers of butyric acid and play chicken with large ships.

In trying to defend the prop wash issue you sound like you just listen to the SS propaganda. It’s a record holding powerboat just sitting out there for no reason(just joking around what they would do if they got rammed).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfGM-LzGKjc
Granted it has plenty of power to zip along and cut in front of the whalers and shoot lasers to blind the ships and drop prop tanglers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqGMt22r_I8
Let’s review here you have a record setting powerboat vs a whaling ship. Generally speaking the SS footage does not really show below the waterline as the whaler approaches(both from the AG and the BB)cut to fuzzy close up or from a possibly moving ship, I just wonder why were they just sitting there away from the rest of the SS ship’s watching the whalers go by(Oh look a whaling ship is coming at us maybe we should turn away and put on some speed, we have been antagonizing whalers after all?).

As to your third argument it cost $2.5 million to build, which was mostly funded by sponsors(as the Earthrace). They already have another donor(sucker) for 1 mil and have announced plans for a AG2 “The new version of the Ady Gil would likely be improved for use by Sea Shepherd, and cost between $3 and $5 million.”
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/10/local/la-me-whale-boat10-2010jan10
You mean you don’t think that they wouldn’t sacrifice the AG for the publicity? They can’t be that poor after the TV spreading their brand of propaganda and now this on the news.

“All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.”
Adolf Hitler
Vox24

“As far as their ‘prop wash’ – you do know you can’t steer a boat with no forward movement, right?”

It is indeed possible to steer a boat with no forward movement.

It’s called REVERSE. All boats have it. It’s how they stop.

So, to answer your question: “How were they supposed to avoid the harpoon ship without moving?”, I’d say: by placing the throttle to the reverse position and MOVING BACKWARDS.
LB

How were they supposed to avoid the harpoon ship without moving?

Um, by not parking their dumb asses right in front of it, for starters?

The laws concerning maritime navigation state that both vessels must do everything possible to avoid collision – however they also clearly state that smaller, more maneuverable vessels must cede the right of way to larger, less maneuverable vessels.

Jerry

So, would this be the end of Sea Shepherd?

Oshiri

We wish! They’ll probably come back stronger with Hollywood behind them!

nipponjofa

This ugly obese dude want to get donation．
money..money..
this brutish criminal don’t worry about whale．
just only money．
Australia,New Zealand want to get Antarctica．
not whale．
But sorry,Antarctica is not your territory．
japan has the right to whaling in the Antarctic Ocean．

whale is so yummy．
i want to eat tonight．
thankyou

Kevin not kevin

You almost had a haiku:

Whale is so yummy.
I want to eat it tonight.
Thank you for your time.

Narcosis409

That is awesome!

Rob A

It costs a lot of money to run those ships. Thousands and thousands of pounds of Diesel fuel, AVGas for the heli, food, water, supplies, registration, maintenance, etc.

Paul Watson may be a douche, but he’s certainly not in this for the money. Publicity? Yes. Money? No.

If he were concerned about money, I’m sure with all he’s collected thus-far in donations he would be combating whaling from an ice-rated luxury yacht.
Lizasmark

what a dickhead

SamuraiBob

You can’t board another vessel to make a “citizen’s arrest”. The person who did is either an arrogant jerk or a brainless fool. The idea of citizen’s arrest only applies in a country which recognizes it under its laws on its territory. Watson and crew seem to think that whatever their aims justify their actions. Hmm, reminds me of several other similar-type thinking groups that have been in the news in the past few years.

Maybe Mr. Citizen’s Arrest will have a couple of years to study his lack of legal jurisdiction knowledge in a Japanese prison.

Fat Tony

Even if Japan did support the right to citizen’s arrest, the boat is under Japan’s jurisdiction, where, presumably, he is not a citizen.

Jose

To make things worse, (if my sources are right) whaling isn’t even a crime in Japanese law.

So, he is no citizen AND he has no grounds for the arrest.

Craig

Sea Shepherd are pretty retarded
ushi

Is he a hero in Australia?

Craig

Yes. And Paul Hogan is the President.

Fat Tony

I thought it was more like North Korea. Steve Irwin is the president and Hogan is the General Secretary of the Australia Party.

Oshiri

Steve Irwin is alive? I knew it!
Fat Tony

No, no, the point is, North Korea is a necrocracy Kim Il Sung is still officially the president.

Liam

Sadly, plenty of people seem to think of him as such. There’s far too much misplaced sympathy for them here.
boman

im australian and i think this guy is a douche bag, who shouldnt be geting money for doing what he is doing, its only because he has a tv show that he thinks he can do all this.

nagoriyuki

I’m really sorry to confess this, but somehow his words sounds like “tsundere” to me.

“I…I’m not interested in you! I’m not interested! I don’t care if you support me… or don’t support me!!” – Paula Watson, president of She Shepherd
Todd

The issue isn’t eating whale meat. It’s about poaching in a marine wildlife preserve, under the guise of scientific research. The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is where Japan takes whales. Millions of people in Japan go coastal whale watching every year, while whaling is done halfway around the world out of sight and out of mind. Paul Watson is no different than Dian Fossey, protecting endangered wildlife when even the government responsible for them fears to do so.

Hectic3

Yes it is, but is Sea Shepard’s actions the right way to go about it? Ramming people’s ships, committing fraud, trespass and throwing acid onto other vessels. Whatever credibility they had went to naught the moment they made these brazen attacks.

Of course if they weren’t so militant about it, they would have captured the moral high ground and more people (myself included) would be more sympathetic to their cause.

Rob A

The moral high ground has been tried and failed. Japan ignores other countries directives and requests to stop whaling – even in that other country’s territory – and continues to outright lie and hide its actions under the disguise of ‘research’.

They aren’t researching anything except the price of whale meat. “Weighing Stomach Contents”? They throw the organs overboard. That’s not research.

Dandridge

So can a group of Japanese go to Australia and launch protests and stop kangaroos from being hunted? Like ramming cars and other activities?

Lizasmark

are they in a protected zone?
Lizasmark

are they in a protected zone?

Narcosis409

Exactly. If an Indian group began using S.S. tactics against Americans for eating beef, I doubt they’d have support S.S. seems to get.
Lizasmark

sorry. i ment toss the fishermen over board

Lizasmark

I agree so much with your feelings, as far as im concerned they can go shit in their neck of the woods. and sink

corlariaus

did the Japanese police or media actually say that
he illegally boarded a “Japanese whaling ship” ???????

As we all know, there is not such thing as a
“Japanese whaling ship” only “Japanese research ships” !!!!!!
soheythere

Unlucky guy, today’s just not the day for him.
Once in court, he’ll get the worst translator and lawyer on his side.
Should’ve picked better places to throw acid jars..

Dandridge

Don’t be too sure. The anti-Japanese bashers would probably stir up the Internet when he goes to court. And not to mention the anti-whaling crowd would make noise about Bethune in trial.

arkityp

well i think it’s unfortunate that people won’t make the necessary changes in their culture to accommodate the decline in resources. the fact of the matter is that hunting dolphin and marine mammals are destroying our ecosystem. this is non-exclusive to japan, and it is a surefire way to ensure plagues of famine and natural disaster for future generations.

that being said, paul watson is a douche, but i commend him for attempting to control this situation, even if in an ineffective and belligerent way. we can all sit here and point fingers as to how wrong he is, but i highly doubt anyone will plan and execute a better strategy.

Rob A

If you thumbed down this comment you are in some serious denial about the condition of the marine ecosystem.

Yellowmonkey

Hello, I’m a Japanese guy who has found this site a few weeks ago and was moved by its fairness. Though my English skill is limited, could you allow me to make a question on this issue, please.

My point is that why some Westerners are so fanatic and narrow-minded when it comes to food, especially whales and dolphins. In the movie in this entry, Paul Watson seems not to be ashamed of his sheer lie that Japanese fishermen injured themselves. Why is it that the majority of the West don’t blame him?

Honestly, it seems for me that not only Japan but entire the (North-)East Asia is bullied and hated by the West. Two years ago all the dog meat restaurants in Beijing were closed due to the pressure from the West. The same happened to South Korea in 2002, when the football (I mean soccer) world cup was held (in this case, even the president of the FIFA asked Korea to close dog meat restaurants). Despite the sheer racial prejudice, few in the West criticized the activists who did not hesitate to impose their preference.

In addition, the director of the movie “The Cove” even condemned Japan as Nazis, saying “Would I be blamed if I had taken a camera in Auschwitz when the cruelty was taken place? [...] I believe it [the Taiji dolphin hunting] is a crime of the same degree [as Auschwitz] against humanity. This should widely be known in the world.” ( Excerpted and translated from http://www.cyzo.com/2010/03/post_4071.html )

Could this be permitted in the West? Are there anyone in the West who agree with him? I do hope it is not, or world might declare a war against us again.

I seriously wonder and fear why we should be hated so much. Could anyone give me an answer, please?

Matt

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and count ten. There is no such thing as “the West.” Japan is enjoying a period of unprecedented popularity overseas, even in those East Asian countries where it has historically been loathed far beyond any emotion, positive or otherwise, that most non-Asians have ever felt for Japan.

Conflating cultural or political differences and racism is silly, transparently defensive and unlikely to advance discussion in any direction.

fg

“Western countries” here simply means, U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries operate in the same language sphere, share fundamental values and have a common background in cultural and historical development. They are New World colonial countries that were founded mostly by immigration.
Unfortunately, their values conflict with other nations such as Japan. Like Japan, most old world countries have relied on diet that is geographically available and sustainable. If Western countries don’t want Japan to kill whales and dolphins because it is harming their food supply or the whale watching tourist attraction, their argument may be justified and they too should address their interests clearly and condemn nonsensical terrorist sensationalism such as Sea Shepered. If they are merely causing all this raucousness based on ignorance, self-righteousness, emotionalism and personel interest, they should be severely criticized.

These Western nations already control most of the wealth and consume much of the natural resources of the world at present, including the global media such as CNN, and Hollywood which has proven over and over to be biased and manipulative to gain popular support for their political agenda. That is why many Japanese and people from other countries with dietary traditions feel the hypocrisy of this issue.

Matt

You can’t possibly be suggesting that Canada, Australia, New Zealand or even the UK control more wealth or consume more resources than Japan. That’s just wrong, no further discussion necessary. And if the measure of the sacrosanct traditional Japanese food culture we’re hearing so much about these days is that it’s “geographically available and sustainable,” then why are we talking about a whaling effort that takes place in an entirely different hemisphere? Hardly traditionalist locavores, these Antarctic whalers.

Keep in mind, too, that the focus here is on whaling cynically taking place under the guise of research within the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was voted into existence by the International Whaling Commission, with 23 countries for and only Japan against. All the countries that voted for establishment have national and cultural histories of whaling. Japan needs to consider its place within the global community, a role it cannot simply wish away, and stop crying discrimination every time it doesn’t get a little gold star in its notebook.

Lizasmark

i wish i could have worded it as well as you did. you got my vote

Kevin not kevin

The IWC is a complete joke. The commission was created to find a sustainable level for whaling, and now it has become a tool for anti-whaling governments.

I agree that whaling under a guise of research is ridiculous, but if you want to see that go away, just have the IWC tell Japanese fishermen where and how many whales they can catch – problem solved.
fg

No, the issue here is, the ridiculous behavihor of the Sea Sheperd, and the popular support behind their degenerate activism. They just discredit any logical argument, and confuse the issue even more. So why don’t the anti-whaling countries condemn them and shut them down. Instead, they step up on their pedestal and start criticizing the Japanese who are research whaling under international agreement.　Your going around in a circle.

Tomeitom2

i just thought as advanced as japan is they would know and feel that it is wrong japan is being as ignorant as us americans when we wiped out the buffalo , wild horses and wolves and such. I know my rx is faster w/o a cat converter but usa polluted for so long even my ’70 cadi De ville n ’71 olds have them with no oil burning . its our responsability to do what we can cats. aint required until 1975 but all cars run at least as clean as a 1991 fuel injected caprice , and it cost me a lot of money retrofitting the older cars . point now we know we got limited whales left . japan is better than whaling IMO Research my ass ,thats the crap 1900s american type ravaging of limited resource

fg

What I meant by controlling and consuming most of the world’s wealth and resources, is all the so called “western countries” put together as an supplement to the original poster. As I said they share fundamental values, language, and interests and a historical background, and probably a high degree of political interest too.

Lizasmark

we wouldnt get on your case if you would just stop the killing in a protected area. kill your own whales in your own bassakwards country. sorry dude but its a protected area do some more checking into the laws

Tomeitom2

all of our countries have hypocracies and bassakwardness whaling is one of the last IMO backward things of which japan takes part , they are just as modern as any other world superpower’s maybe moreso …..BUT STOP WHALING please

Tomeitom2

USA was attacked in pearl harbor by japan .We did’nt start it BUT our first bomb should have been the last to ever be used in war . ever . anywhere . dogs n ocean mammals are smarter and in tune to humans all other life here but sea shitpard crew have no bussiness on the high sea im from new jersey and always loved japan ,i will visit japan b4 i die . me n my buddies understand some of us yank’s fear of japan . your stuff is all built to exacting spec’s here in USA union guys kill time 4 O Time n cant wait 2 leave work its ur work ethic some of us fear “not me” whaling has to stop along with dogs as food instead of feeding dogs . They can sense cancer,seizure’s,seeing eye ,dogs 4 handicapped folk assist., drug n bomb dogs ect…

Tomeitom2

im a car n boat tech.its how ive come to love japanese motors Got 2 ’85 rx7 the 12a is an engineering wonder . pride shows in the part designs and Q.C.

Rob A

“captain of the high tech Sea Shepherd speedboat that placed itself in the path of a Japanese ship and was heavily damaged as a result”

Oh, I assume you mean the Ady Gil?

“captain of the high tech Sea Shepherd speedboat that was rammed by a Japanese harpoon ship, sprayed with water hoses after being damaged beyond repair, and then had oil dumped around it by the Japanese whalers to make it look environmentally unfriendly in an attempt to smear the Sea Shepherds”

Fixed that for ya.

Fat Tony

You mean the highly maneuverable speed boat in the way of a lumbering industrial floating warehouse that is pretty much set in its tracks in comparison?

Fixed that for ya!

Lizasmark

you are a total waste of flesh, where is your heart? oh, japan

http://www.essential-japan-guide.com/ Shane

Wasn’t there a South Park episode that parodied this guy?

Dandridge

Yeah, Whale Whores. But I think a lot of people missed the message that Trey Parker and Matt Stone were presenting.

Dandridge

I wonder what would happen if the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force escorted whaling ships? Or if Japanese crews stop treating with kid gloves?
Fat Tony

I’m surprised no one has commented on the line by the “Japanese protest group” at the beginning of that clip:

“Protect Japanese cuisine (shokubunka) from the discrimination of the white man (hakujin)!”

I’d send this group a message, but I don’t have their email address, or their name, for that matter. I know that whaling is a national identity issue in Japan, but we should discourage this kind of white/yellow dichotomy. I think Caucasian readers of Japan Probe should head, stomachs rumbling, to Taiji and Kujira-ya in Shibuya to show our Japanese friends that whitey can be pretty heterogeneous in his tastes.

SamuraiBob

This whitey’s had a fat chick, wouldn’t have called her a whale. She was fun. Wasn’t from Shibuya though.
Oshiri

“that whitey can be pretty heterogeneous in his tastes.”

Whatchu talking aboot, Willis?

Mike

Well, this is a real can of worms for Japan.

If they put him to trial, it gives more media exposure to Sea Shepherd. If they drop charges and let him go, it gives SS more incentives to harass Japanese whalers. So either way, it’s a hell of a Catch 22.

Plus, the whaling-Sea Shepherd issue is already compounding relations between Japan and Australia. The Cove hasn’t helped. And now, New Zealand’s relation with Japan is being tested over this development.

Oshiri

I believe the media coverage is the plan, in fact, to expose the reality of the situation, that the Japanese trawlers were, in fact, operating under international law within legal waters for research purposes, and that the Ady Gil attacked the trawler, and then this Bethune guy trespassed with intent to do harm.

Sea Sheps may be in a Catch-22. All this screaming and yelling and doing damage, acting like pirates chasing around boats with their own high-tech high-speed boats that they can’t even drive. As I mentioned in other posts, to top it off, the NZ government is hands-off with Bethune, saying they won’t do anything in his stead.

Not a big deal. We’re about to see the details. So lets not speculate. The world’s courts will be tested, along with everybody’s patience. If Japan is made an example in this matter – just you wait – you’ll see other countries brought to the fore, and I guarantee you, those other countries will do their mightiest to quash it. Especially the illegal manoeuvres by certain military patrols all over the world (who, miraculously, do not lend a hand, even though they are right there looking at the whole thing happen).

Brad K

A maritime incident occurred, by accident or other. I believe at this point, Sea shepards are hurting their cause. I would love to see a debate being done by both sides , but the fact remains these animals are on the extinction list. There is no debate, about the fate of these mammals. Within my lifetime, there will be no humpback whales on this planet. This is a fact,why would any one kill one at this point.

I can understand the sea shepards point of view of immediate action.I can understand the Japanese government utilizing all parts of the harvested animals. If a commercial profit is being made and back room deals being done, those people should be jailed for crimes against society. No one person or nation has the right to accelerate the annihilation of a species.

Once the whales are gone, they will not be back ( ever ).If the Japanese are truly doing research other than , “what does that one taste like”, they should bring forth this research and share with the world, ” this is our research and this is how it benefits the whales”. If they cannot do that, cease and desist all whaling activity period.The sea shepards as well should not be boarding foreign vessels in international waters, let alone engaging them. And Bethune, poor guy , just got railroaded by sea shepards.How can I say that. I have no doubt Bethune loves whales and believed in the cause , but you better believe he loved that boat just as much and when the boat was thrown into forward and not reverse cause someone panic ed. There went a dream. I agree , he should have never been that close to another vessel in international waters.He is also very lucky he was not shot when boarding the vessel, which shows the whalers are everyday people just doing a job and not blood thirsty fisherman. This problem lies in upper management and very shady dealings which need to be addressed and anyone receiving kick backs, be tried in an international media circus and then jailed and all whaling vessels turned into artificial reefs so we can close the chapter on whaling a hundred years to late.

LB

the fact remains these animals are on the extinction list
No, Minke whales are not on any “extinction list”. They are not even “endangered” or “threatened”. Some whales are endangered, true – Japan does not hunt them because of that status or if it does take any it takes only very limited numbers in compliance with quotas pre-approved by the IWC.

Within my lifetime, there will be no humpback whales on this planet.
Doubtful, Humpback stocks have recovered quite well, the available data suggests there are 80,000 of them now and the US is considering removing them from the US endangered list. In any event, Japan does not currently hunt Humpbacks and so their alleged imminent extinction is not germane to any discussion of Japanese whaling program.

If the Japanese are truly doing research …, they should bring forth this research and share with the world
They do, Japan’s research data is given to the IWC, as is required under the rules governing granting of quotas for research whaling.

Did you do any fact-checking at all on whaling? Because you are batting .000 with all your claims.

Miamioolite

Ok I’m sorry I was going to skip this comment thread but….. I hate poorly researched “facts’ parading as science.

1. You are correct that Minke whales are not endangered, Some populations (north pacific) are threatened, and all populations are protected by international law. These animals do not reproduce quickly, thus recovery from any hunting (subsistance, “research”, hunting) is very slow and harvesting for science (or for food on any significant scale i.e. more than a few individuals) is generally unsustainable.

2. The estimated population of Humpback whales in the Pacific is around 45,000 including the northern and southern populations http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/humpbackwhale.htm. The U.S. is NOT considering taking them off the endangered list and probably will not unless there is a significant positive shift (400-500% increase) in the current populations. The populations are struggling to recover to historic levels (1960′s -1970′s). The Japanese “research” fleet is proposing to collect 50 humpbacks for research. Thus their addition in any discussion is germane.

3. Research discoveries in science are presented to the scientific community for peer-review and publication. to this point, this publication record of the results of the Japanese “research” fleet research is poor to non-existent. stats and theory presented directly to the IWC with nothing but internal review is not advancing science or justifying this collection method.

Some how thousands of very good researchers all over the world manage to get excellent data and present excellent research without killing a single whale. In fact killing a research subject will yield you very little data on behavior, movement, or ecology. Killing up to 900 minke whales cannot be justified as research. you are significantly altering anything about the whales or their ecosystem you are trying to study by removing that many individuals. Want population statistics?, tag them, want an understanding of their diet, take non-lethal tissue samples and run isotopes. Want movement? Tag them with GPS. Want behavioral studies observe them. there is no scientific basis for collecting that many whales.

Ok on the subjective level I don’t like agree how paul watson behaves. I can understand his view of the issue, I can also understand the stance of the Japanese “research” fleet. I also don’t believe for one moment that the Japanese “research” fleet is doing research. It is hunting for food. Call it what it is and present it to the world and see the reaction. As for the attack on Japanese culture. There is a desire to eat a declining species (whale, bluefin tuna, dolphin), however the oceans cannot sustain this activity. I believe in sustaining cultural values, but people who love whale meat may just love it until it is gone forever. Similar arguments can be made for any commercial production of meat (beef, chicken) that degrade the environment. Whaling is just an example of a direct extraction of from much much much smaller population that reproduces much slower. SO if your going to use science as a defense for your argument. Work on your science.

As for this incident. No one looks good.
Miamioolite

Ok I’m sorry I was going to skip this comment thread but….. I hate poorly researched “facts’ parading as science.

1. You are correct that Minke whales are not endangered, Some populations (north pacific) are threatened, and all populations are protected by international law. These animals do not reproduce quickly, thus recovery from any hunting (subsistance, “research”, hunting) is very slow and harvesting for science (or for food on any significant scale i.e. more than a few individuals) is generally unsustainable.

2. The estimated population of Humpback whales in the Pacific is around 45,000 including the northern and southern populations http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/humpbackwhale.htm. The U.S. is NOT considering taking them off the endangered list and probably will not unless there is a significant positive shift (400-500% increase) in the current populations. The populations are struggling to recover to historic levels (1960′s -1970′s). The Japanese “research” fleet is proposing to collect 50 humpbacks for research. Thus their addition in any discussion is germane.

3. Research discoveries in science are presented to the scientific community for peer-review and publication. to this point, this publication record of the results of the Japanese “research” fleet research is poor to non-existent. stats and theory presented directly to the IWC with nothing but internal review is not advancing science or justifying this collection method.

Some how thousands of very good researchers all over the world manage to get excellent data and present excellent research without killing a single whale. In fact killing a research subject will yield you very little data on behavior, movement, or ecology. Killing up to 900 minke whales cannot be justified as research. you are significantly altering anything about the whales or their ecosystem you are trying to study by removing that many individuals. Want population statistics?, tag them, want an understanding of their diet, take non-lethal tissue samples and run isotopes. Want movement? Tag them with GPS. Want behavioral studies observe them. there is no scientific basis for collecting that many whales.

Ok on the subjective level I don’t like agree how paul watson behaves. I can understand his view of the issue, I can also understand the stance of the Japanese “research” fleet. I also don’t believe for one moment that the Japanese “research” fleet is doing research. It is hunting for food. Call it what it is and present it to the world and see the reaction. As for the attack on Japanese culture. There is a desire to eat a declining species (whale, bluefin tuna, dolphin), however the oceans cannot sustain this activity. I believe in sustaining cultural values, but people who love whale meat may just love it until it is gone forever. Similar arguments can be made for any commercial production of meat (beef, chicken) that degrade the environment. Whaling is just an example of a direct extraction of from much much much smaller population that reproduces much slower. SO if your going to use science as a defense for your argument. Work on your science.

As for this incident. No one looks good.

Tomeitom2

well put dead on piont

thz223

I like Japan, but they make themselve look like idiots when they try to sell me that it’s necessary to poach hundreds of whales for scientific use, whales which then end up in restaurants. First, I thought it’s for scientific use? And second, why hundreds of them, what’s more to learn about them that you didn’t get with the first ten whales?

If the Japanese people need to shoot that many whales per year without any new groundbreaking studies about whales, then they must be by far the dumbest people in the world. Sorry but I can’t say it in any nicer way.
Tarken

LB

experst say every 4th whale and dolphin species is threatened. If you’re speaking of CITES as official backup on which species is endangered and which is not, I can tell you I can’t trust them anymore. They approved the ivory poaching for 4 south african countries, despite clear indicators that neither South Africa nor Namibia had an elephant overpopulation.Ivory which was then sold to Japan and China. So much for Japans dignity again …Kenya and Mali reported a massive boost fo illegal poaching … who would control the Chinese and the Japanese of all the ivory would be from “legal” sources? Noone, that’s right. They probably make little buckets from the ivory, to put the rhino horn powder in it, which they so desperately need to get their tiny weewees up.
Big Whale

Japanese whalers SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!

Sea Shepherd member arrested for illegally boarding Japanese ship

Recent Comments

Further Reading

Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship?

Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!)

Tabloid Reports About Yu Darvish’s Love Life: Kirara Asuka & Miho Koga?

Does K-Pop Group KARA Have Ties to North Korea?

Tokyo Gate Bridge

Sara Errani Admits She Avoided Tennis Tournament in Tokyo: Feared Radiation

Chinese Workers Who Survived March 11th Tsunami Return to Tohoku

Why’s Zippei So Quiet? TV Dog Had Vocal Cords Removed

UN: Fukushima Radiation Health Effects Will Be Relatively Small / Not At All Comparable to Chernobyl

Korean Ultra-Nationalists Lobby Virginia: Demand Textbooks Use Korea-centric Geography (“East Sea”) @SenDaveMarsden

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs