Quote:
Japanese whaler harpoon in near-miss with protesters
Sun Jan 15, 10:28 AM ET
CANBERRA (Reuters) - A Japanese whaling harpoon narrowly missed an inflatable boat carrying environmental protesters, causing one to fall into the freezing sea, as both sides warn their face-off is becoming increasingly dangerous.
The Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise has been shadowing the Japanese whaling fleet for several weeks in an attempt to disrupt Japan's annual whale hunt, prompting a heated exchange on January 8 when the Greenpeace ship and a Japanese ship collided.
In the latest incident on Saturday, the harpoon came within a meter of the inflatable boat as it tried to shield a minke whale, the environmental group said.
The harpoon's trailing line knocked one activist into the sea. He scrambled back aboard the boat without injury.
Greenpeace expedition leader Shane Rattenbury said the whalers were taking more risks to fill their catch in Antarctic waters south of Australia.
"There is definitely an increasing level of tensions down here and the harpooners are certainly starting to take shots that perhaps a week or two weeks ago they would not have taken," Rattenbury told Sky television.
"Yesterday took it to a new level -- we are very concerned about that," he said, adding the incident might force Greenpeace to review its tactics.
But Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo said it was Greenpeace that was taking more risks to remain in the media spotlight.
Institute chief Hiroshi Hatanaka said in a statement Greenpeace put its inflatable boat dangerously close to the bow of the whaling vessel when the harpooner fired.
"Our harpooner had a clear shot and took it. The strike was perfect and the whale was killed instantly," he said.
"The fact that the rope fell onto their inflatable and one of the activists fell into the water is entirely their fault. We are also concerned that they tried to cut the line because it makes it more dangerous for them."
Australia, a strong opponent of Japan's whaling program, has refused to intervene by sending navy ships to monitor the whaling and protests.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week Australia sympathized with the protesters, but said they had to make sure their protest was peaceful and did not endanger anyone.
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I got a better one. Why don't we dress them up in red and send them to the Running of the bulls in Spain. Just picture it....protestors sitting down in the middle street while a stampede of bulls is coming their way. The story would certainly give Greenpeace the spotlight.
hey, international law is international law. I think the crews of whaling ships should be arrested and their boats torpedoed.
__________________ Land of the free, home of the brave...
Do you think we will ever be saved?
In this land of dreams find myself sober...
Wonder when will it'll all be over...
Living in a void when the void grows colder...
Wonder when it'll all be over?
Will you be laughing when it's over?
every country except norway and japan signed a treating against whaling. I interpret that as a majority ruling, not as a participation thing.
__________________ Land of the free, home of the brave...
Do you think we will ever be saved?
In this land of dreams find myself sober...
Wonder when will it'll all be over...
Living in a void when the void grows colder...
Wonder when it'll all be over?
Will you be laughing when it's over?
__________________ Land of the free, home of the brave...
Do you think we will ever be saved?
In this land of dreams find myself sober...
Wonder when will it'll all be over...
Living in a void when the void grows colder...
Wonder when it'll all be over?
Will you be laughing when it's over?
I'm just trying to picture this whole harpooning thing in my head. First it misses the posterboard-waving people on an inflatable raft, only to strike a whale, killing it instantly?
Has Spielberg acquired the rights to use this as a scene yet?
The international treating against whaling has been established for a good reason, to protect endangered species. We have finally come to an age in which there appears to be some wisdom and understanding dripping in to the minds of governments concerning the need to protect nature, or what's left of it after centuries of demolishing it.
And as all ways, some still choose to ignore the greater good for their own benefit, in this case Norway and Japan still hunting whales under the motto of 'scientific research'. While it is of-course just to fill restaurants to satisfy their ignorant inhabitants, so they can thrive of the money that comes with it. They don't give a crap about the possible total extinction of the animals, it won't happen in their lifetime anyway is the major idea, 'so f#ck it if my granddaughter will be born in a world without them, as long as I get filthy rich in my lifetime'.
Now, despite the nations upholding the no-whaling-treating disagree greatly with Norway's and Japan's acts, all they do in an attempt to put a hold to it is voting futile protests, anything else might endanger the international relationships, which are again just all about money.
Just to be clear, I do agree that Greenpeace is an attention-whore and pulls off a bit to much desperate actions to get in the picture. But at least they dare to go beyond the rules and stubborn politics to fight for the cause to preserve wildlife. I greatly respect those people willing to put themselves between a harpoon and a animal they wish to survive mankind's stupidity. Sure, it's desperate and maybe even stupid, but they do display the balls that most international relationship and environmental politicians wish they had.
And for all those here who would be amused if one of these people was to be injured or even killed while that person is waging all to protect defenseless animals because nobody else will, take a look at your own life and the contribution you make to this planet and ask yourself this; 'If I want this guy to die, how much right do I have to live myself?'
Stupid, dumbass whalers almost harpoon a protestor.
__________________ Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
KMC Community Forums
Jan 19th, 2006 10:44 PM
