Japanese whaling ship and protest boat collide at sea

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2011407,00.html

Japanese whaling ship and protest boat collide at sea


Associated Press
Monday February 12, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

An anti-whaling group's boat and a Japanese whale-spotting vessel collided twice in Antarctic waters today during clashes over a pod of whales, conservationists and Japanese officials said.

The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said a one-metre (three-foot) gash was torn in the hull of its ship, the Robert Hunter, by the Japanese ship Kaiko Maru during the clashes in iceberg-strewn waters far south of New Zealand.

Japanese officials accused the group of attacking the whaling ship like pirates.


Article continues..

[cboy4]

1. "...accused the group of attacking the whaling ship like pirates."

You go pirates!!! :applause:

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. I don't know about that. They may be setting a foundation.

Do we still have laws on the books on how to deal with pirates on the high seas?

[leftchick]

2. The Japanese are behaving like pirates

they are illegally hunting these whales. :(

http://www.seashepherd.org/

[G_j]

3. exactly

plundering the seas


:hi:

[jollyreaper2112]

4. taking bets

How long until somoene posts a link to the lazytown pirate song?

[leftchick]

8. hi ya G j!

:hi:

miss you!

:)

[The Stranger]

5. Then the Japanese can simply stop their illegal whaling, killing intelligent animals hunted already

to extinction.

[Coventina]

6. Fuck the whaling nations!

Just trying to be politically correct.

Not calling out anyone in particular......

[Bonobo]

7. That was better than politically correct. It was thoughtful!

:yourock:

[flvegan]

9. There's likely a serious ramming coming up.

"For this reason it has been decided to stop the operations of the Japanese floating slaughterhouse, the Nisshin Maru, by ramming one of the ships up the slipway of that foul, sadistic piece of killing machinery."

Cripple the ship, and send them back to Japan. Taking out the processing ship is an excellent idea.

[wuushew]

10. I have a real problem with the supposed justification for these actions

When we come to debating the use of Amerikan military force most of us on DU always extol the possibility that diplomatic means can resolve most conflicts between parties. How have opponents of illegal whaling exhausted all peaceful means of protest to end this practice?

Deliberately endangering a ship in arctic waters is not a laughing matter. Those initiating the collision have no idea of the cargo or passengers on the vehicle they strike. Since I assume they share the same failings as all humans, they are consciously taking actions which may result in great unforeseen tragedy.

In addition I see no coherent set of ethics by which to judge similar actions against all protected species. Is the endangerment of human life in the name the survival of a species open to interpretation by the subjective ranking of said spieces to human whim?




Disclaimer: I in no way am supportive of whaling, either legally or illegally, but believe that its abolishment must been sought through public opinion and dialog.

[Bonobo]

11. Yes. Please read and follow links, everyone on this thread.

Unless you are really opposed to learning.

There is strong indication that Japan was getting ready to give up whaling in '85, but now it is being used in Japan as a political football among politicians who want to assert their nationalism.

Most Japanese don't want to eat whale. But the pushy attitude and demands of some, notably the US, have wrinkled some feathers. Sound familiar? That's cause that's how our country acts around the world. How many people here knew that Perry's ship that forced open Japan in 1853 was actually on a whaling expedition! How's that for irony?

Here's a pretty decent student's article on the subject of the disagreements between US and Japan on whaling that I thought was pretty helpful in understanding:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/9189/whaligcon.html

Here are 3 really informative articles from Japan Times about the subject for those who would like to understand, rather than spew one-line statements of wrath. The articles are by no means Pro-Japan by the way. Just trying to explain, I think you will all learn a lot.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070211x1.html

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070211x2.html

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070211x3.html

[The Stranger]

15. When the illegal whalers do ramming of other vessels, the ethics become paintfully clear.

The empowered exploit the need for "public opinion and dialog" and the taboo against violence to perpetuate their unjustified power and to continue to do violence.

They just dress it up with other language, such as "terrorism," "eco-terrorism," "piratism."

[LeftyMom]

16. and my personal favorite, "dangerous vegans"

:rofl:

[Barrett808]

13. Sea Shepherd Saves Whale Pod from Whalers

Sea Shepherd Saves Whale Pod from Whalers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2727007#2727486

[1monster]

14. It was the whaling ship that rammed the Robert Hunter, not the o

other way around.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said the Robert Hunter was hit twice by the Kaiko Maru after the conservationists tried to stop the Japanese ship from reaching a pod of whales.

"Robert Hunter was struck in the stern. We have a three-foot gash in the hull above the waterline," he said by telephone from the Farley Mowat, a second Sea Shepherd ship in the area.

No injuries were reported aboard the Robert Hunter. Captain Watson said the Sea Shepherd ships offered to respond to the Japanese ship's distress call, but it had not answered.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2011407,00.html

[Barrett808]

17. NZ investigating collision between whaling and protest ships

A collision between a Japanese whaling ship and an anti-whaling protest vessel in the Southern Ocean is being investigated by New Zealand rescue authorities.

Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) is trying to gather more information about an incident in the Southern Ocean after they received a distress call from the master of a Japanese vessel Kaiko Maru about 4pm today.

The master reported there had been a collision between his vessel and Robert Hunter, an anti-whaling protest vessel run by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Sea Shepherd leader Captain Paul Watson said the confrontation occurred when the conservation group's vessels, the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat, caught the Japanese ship bearing down on a pod of whales.

"At one point the Kaiko Maru turned to starboard and struck the Robert Hunter," Sea Shepherd said in a statement.

"The Kaiko Maru has issued a distress signal. We have acknowledged this distress signal but they refuse to say what distress they are in."


...

So far we understand that neither vessel is in danger of sinking and that there are no injuries but we need to find out the exact status of both vessels so we can work out our options."

(more)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423682

[The Stranger]

19. If New Zealand needs to investigate, Japan will have to call off the hunt.

[SayWhatYo]

18. Can the sea shepherd guys sue the whalers?

Can they sue them for causing damage to their ship?

[SemperEadem]

20. and conversely, can the whaling ships sue the sea shepard for damage to their ships?

what I'm concerned about is the sea shepard, while yes, doing a noble thing, does not know what weapons other ships have onboard to handle what can be termed 'pirate threats'. The Ss can be easily crippled and sunk, taking her crew down with her or picked off and shot dead in their lifeboats as they wait like sitting ducks for help, being that they are in international waters.

I think Japan needs to be dragged to the negotiation table over this and not allowed to leave until they honor a whaling ban... and I think deep economic restrictions should be put upon them til they do. Whaling is a horrible, unnecessary and obsolete event--and a country's hubris or nationalism is no excuse to keep on engaging in it.

[Barrett808]

21. Sea Shepherd should back off says Carter (NZ Conservation Minister)

Conservation Minister Chris Carter today flatly rejected threats from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society following a violent confrontation between protest ships and a Japanese Whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean.

"The Japanese whaling ship, the Kaiko Maru, issued a distress call this evening following a confrontation with two Sea Shepherd ships. I understand one Sea Shepherd vessel, the Robert Hunter, has been damaged in the confrontation, and the Kaiko Maru was temporarily immobilised when its propeller was entangled in a net," Mr Carter said.

"The Sea Shepherd's protest has gone too far. This is not the way to win an argument. Any further action on the part of Captain Paul Watson risks the loss of human life, and severe damage to the cause of whale conservation," Mr Carter said.

"The threat by Captain Watson to ram the Japanese ship tomorrow unless the New Zealand and Australian governments promise to halt Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, is appalling," Mr Carter said.

"New Zealand will not respond to threats. We are one of the most active anti-whaling nations in the world. We are proud of that fact and New Zealand will continue to determine its own foreign policy.

"I would remind Captain Watson that ramming the Japanese vessel would be a violent and repugnant act and directly contrary to the duty of all people on the high seas to act with due regard to the safety and wellbeing of others."

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00188.htm

[judaspriestess]

23. So how much of a conservationist is this carter dude?

doesn't sound like much to me. does New Zealand own the whales? No they do not. Assholes

[Patchuli]

30. In case the good minister didn't notice

I believe it was the Robert Hunter that actually was struck by the Japanese whaler, not just the Sea Shepards "threatening to ram" their boats.

"Conservative" has a whole new meaning with this guy.

[Barrett808]

22. Greenpeace aids Japanese whaling ship after collision

An anti-whaling activist vessel collided with a Japanese whaling ship last night - and Greenpeace was first to the aid of the Japanese crew.

Whaling vessel the Kaiko Maru issued a distress call after colliding with the Robert Hunter, a boat owned by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson said the confrontation happened when the Robert Hunter caught the Japanese ship bearing down on a pod of whales.

As rescue services in New Zealand struggled to gather details of the incident, Greenpeace vessel Esperanza raced to help the whaling ship.

"We completely condemn any violent action by anyone. Potentially endangering lives in the middle of the Southern Ocean is unacceptable," said Karli Thomas, expedition leader on board the Esperanza.

The New Zealand-based Rescue Co-ordination Centre said last night that the ship was no longer in distress and was able to continue under its own power.

(more)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10423708

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FlaGranny]

25. Self deleted.

[flvegan]

26. Um, dude...the whalers rammed the activists.

Just sayin...

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flvegan]

28. Hey, Bonobo...

The whalers rammed the activists. And, that was the SSCS vessel, not the Greenpeace vessel.

So again...

[Bonobo]

29. Hey Fivegan... Where is that info from?

[slowry]

31. Ho boy.

Critical thinking skills? Lets see here:

So Sea Shepherd says they will ram the whalers and then a collision happens and you blame the whaling ship? Do you have any critical thinking skills? The Japanese govt. says it was the other way around.

That's some mighty critical thinking! It may be worth thinking critically about the fact that the Robert Hunter sustained damage port-side, at its stern, from one of the two times it was rammed. You can look up the meanings of those words at http://www.m-w.com">Merriam-Webster Online.

And even if the whaling ship did hit the greenpeace vessel, don't you think that it would be justifiable self-defense after being attacked with acid, grappling hooks, etc.?

First, Greenpeace had nothing to do with this incident, other than the fact that they, like the Robert Hunter, and the Farley Mowat, replied to the whaling scout ship's distress call -- a distress call with no merit, as they remained fully operational, after their attack. Here's to hoping we get to see the footage soon; should be fun!

Second, the Japanese "research" ships are killing whales for commercial purposes and have no justification for ramming anyone who is attempting to protect the whale sanctuary*.

Lets think now: why would they ram a SSCS ship and then send out a distress signal? There was an excellent thread earlier, in GD, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x189769">here, which points out, wonderfully, the benefit of loudly making absurd accusations -- namely that the MSM will report them uncritically, only to later retract the story with 1/100th the effort they put into spreading the propaganda in the first place. We're seeing that http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0702/S00202.htm">here.

So frustrating and sad. You all sound SO MUCH like Freepers. It's sick.

Aside from that accusation being against the rules (correct me if I'm wrong), it couldn't be more ass-backwards. You are toeing the line of the Japanese government's propaganda machine. It's amazing to me that you say:

Meanwhile we are committing genocide against entire countries with OUR tax money, selling weapons as the world's arms dealer every second so that more are killed.

Yet you reserve your most strident screaming for this.

There are plenty of worthy causes out there to scream about, or, better yet, to actively participate in. You suggest anti-whaling isn't a cause worth fighting for, yet here you are, in all these threads, fighting for the cause of ignorance, by defending illegal whaling.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not the bogeyman here. They aren't out to hurt anyone; they are just trying to protect whales in a whale sanctuary. Go figure.

[Bonobo]

32. Very nice! Good job!

[Judi Lynn]

33. You have a skillful touch in unpleasant situations. Great self-control!

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond calmly, reasonably. It's definitely a skill one has to work at diligently to master. Those points needed to be made.

Hope a lot of people read that post.
Welcome to D.U. :hi: :hi: :hi:

[flvegan]

34. Bonobo, your attacks on other DUers

including myself, are way out of line.

[Bonobo]

35. Send me an PM if you got something to say.

If you're just looking to score popularity points, I'm not interested. This isn't High School.

What's out of line is advocating injury to people.

On EDIT: I just had to laugh cause that's exactly what Hogwash Cheney said to Leslie Blitzer.

:rofl:

[flvegan]

36. Hmmm...

I look up, I see a deleted post.

That's enough for me, mark.