KEY POINTS:
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.
>> Read the story
This forum is now closed. Here is a selection of your views.
Hannah
Being half Japanese, and brought up in NZ, I have never been one to shy away from my culture, I do agree with the readers that whaling is indeed cruel and wrong, I am happy to say that, but please do not lump all Japanese in the same boat as these Whalers, I support Greenpeace and any other organisation that would like to ban Whaling whether it be for research or otherwise, but please understand that not all Japanese support the Japanese ships out there whaling and calling it research.Not all Japanese are like these people, just like not everyone is like their next door neighbour so if you are going to make a generalisation then please make it against the Japanese whalers not all Japanese people alike.
Chris
I dont know about in NZ, but in America we call people who take the law into their own vigilantes. Who made these eco-terrorists the police of the whale sanctuaries? Sounds a little arrogant. Funny that an American has to point that out.
Mantis
The Japanese are illegally whaling protected animals and once more they are not even in their own waters. We as New Zealanders need the Government to hear our voices on this very important issue. We need to be more pro active in doing so. In the past Greenpeace has staged peaceful protests that hasnt done much for the whales at all. I support Greenpeace but believe the time has passed for "pussy footing" around. If we dont do something now more whales are going to be killed for "scientific research". Are you as New Zealanders prepared to get bullied by other countries, this is the time to make a stand, or be ready to have more resources taken by other countries that cant manage their own. Kia Kaha
Celia
I really think that NZ should be actively helping fight against illegal whaling in the southern ocean sanctuary. What is the point of having the sanctuary if there is no one actively participating in the policing of this sanctuary. If these people are out there trying to help fight against it good for them, and our government needs to take that stance against whaling ships doing so and we also need to become more active in it, I mean what is the point in having a whale sanctuary if we are not going to police it and make sure that no illegal whaling is happening?
Ian Wilson
Good on Sea Shepherd for taking on the Whalers; the Japanese whalers are a disgrace
Matt C
Everybody should watch Sea Shepherd on Youtube to find out that they are nothing more than self rightous wealthy peacenik hippy terrorists who dont give a toss about the poor whalers who have in fact been relying on whales for their livelihood for centuries. They deserve to be shot at sunk under normal rules of engagement.
David
For anyone who still has doubts about Japanese Whaling, they should read "Echoes in the Blue" by kiwi author C. George Muller. Although a novel this book accurately predicts the events which are presently unfolding and sets out the issues as a gripping story.
Michael
The Japanese Whalers can do what ever they like because they know that NZ or Aust govts will do nothing. One day we will see a National leader who will do something but unfortunately the whales will all be dead by then. It would not hurt for a few whaling ships to go to the bottom of the sea. People might think twice about coming down here whaling. The protestors down there now deserve a pat on the back. Nobody else is doing anything.
Rooster
An eye for an eye. If you attack a ship at sea you should expect the same in return. If the Japanese opened fire on the attacking ships navigational array and destroyed it every time they attacked. It would cost the attacking ships millions a year to keep replacing their equipment. This would bankrupt the terrorist bastards. Problem solved! Let me also say that if the worlds governments would make illegal whaling more of a priority these incidence would not be happening in the first place.
Kaye Sharp
We dont really need to discuss this issue. There is a clear voice in each of us that says what is honest and decent. Killing whales is a thing that must be rationalized. Not killing whales stands as a decent truth for which no rationalizing is required.
Julie
The Japanese are killing whales illegally in a whale sanctuary. It is against international law and they know it. The usual arrogance of the Japanese is not acceptable and is no excuse for what they are doing. It is one more reason why the nations of the world don't trust them. They are thought of as "sneaky" along with brutal and cruel. They will turn on a friend in a flash. Captain Watson is right about them. They should be watched and when they start threatening the whales, they should be arrested and their ship confiscated. The Sea Shepherd people would not have to be there if the New Zealand authorities were not so lame.
Tait Dalrymple
I have been following The Sea Shepherd saga for the last few years now. Why is Sea Shepherd in the Antarctic waters, because the monkeys in goverment are so scared of possible Japanese economic retaliation that they do not want to get involved and fulfill their responsibility. This Japanese whaling operation is in violation of many international laws and regulations, including: They are violating the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; They are violating the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling; They are targeting endangered fin and humpback whales that are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. With regards to international law, Sea Shepherd are well within their right to defend the whales. The Japanese have tried every dirty trick in the book to stop the Sea Shepherd ships from interfering with their work.I fully support Sea Shepherd in what they are doing, Im not angry at the Japanese Whalers, Im angry at the wimps in goverment who try to turn a blind eye. Its about time they rolled their sleaves up and got their hands dirty. My Grandfather didnt go to fight for 4 years in the pacific to let the Japanese use economic sanctions to dictate what the New Zealand government can get involved in and what they cant..Im doing my bit by telling everyone and anyone that they should visit www.seashepherd.org website to get their facts straight and find out exactly why Sea shepherd takes the action it takes.
Imforthewhales
The Japanese continue to make up whatever spin they want to...they are trying to hoodwink the International community, first of all by calling their genocide of the great whales " research", buying the votes of poor countries in the IWC, and then trying to make everyone believe that they have been rammed and are in distress. How stupid do they really think we are? Do they think we will swallow their lies and deceptions? They tried the same thing when they lied about how many tuna they had taken from the Southern Ocean, dramatically undercutting the real figure and putting the future of Southern Ocean tuna fishing into grave doubt. Nowhere did I see any Greenpeace ship in the photos of the collision between the ships and the last time I read anything about them they have yet to be found within coo-ee of the whaling fleet and the sea Shepherd crew. As for the whalers just doing what they can to support their families...I could also make a few dollars smuggling cocaine or child pornography...killing whales is equally abhorrent. What about Australian families who rely on income derived from whale watching, does anyone spare a thought for them? I would gladly see the Japanese whalers families starve rather than let another whale cop another explosive tipped harpoon. The whales do not belong to Japan. The sooner that the governments of Australia, NZ etc do something to actually stop the whaling in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary, the better for all concerned and I can stop making my donations to the Sea Shepherd conservation society.
Tim
Illegal whaling must be stopped. Perhaps even legal whaling should be reconsidered. The issue is not the race of the whalers or why government is not enforcing the laws. At stake is the survival of an intelligent organism humans co-exist with on earth. I consider Capt.Watson a great man.
Dave Head
Lets get this straight , Paul Watson is trying to enforce the UN Charter for Nature and many multi-lateral environmental agreements [Antarctic treaty system etc]as well as some IWC regulations- all of which the Japs are in breach of. He has the power to take this action which is sanctioned by the UN. Its the Japs that are the terrorists. The NZ & Australian Governments can take legal direct action but wont. Why? Because it might hurt trade. In other words dollars count more than our brothers & sisters of the oceans. Some of you guys should do your homework before formulating an uninformed opinion.
www.stopwhaling.co.nz
Bill Forbes
Paul Watson. Good for you. The whales are grateful and so am I. Every good wish.
Snowflakebeach
Sea Sheperd has called it like it is, ban the illegal whalers from the refuge. Call out the NZ and AU marine forces and send the sons of Japan home empty harpooned.
M
The stupid Japanese should give up on whaling. Seriously scientific research they should just sink all their boats and go home. I never saw whale meat in sushi so why should they catch them.
Steve
With the New Zealand and Australian governments refusing to patrol the whale sanctuary and chase out those who are doing this dastardly deed, then I say good one Sea Shepherd. We have heard from Sea Shepherd, who have given us photographic evidence, we have heard the whalers side, and received no evidence. Plain to see who the truth is coming from. Chris Carter is saying that dialogue with the Japanese is the only way through this problem, dialogue that has been taking place for 20years. Who are the real Eco-terrorists? The activists or the Japanese whalers who are in a santuary killing whales? You may not like Sea Shepherds ways, but they are getting the job done, the are drawing attention to this problem more than GreenPeace or the government are doing.Go Sea Shepherd..
Jeanette
I totally oppose the Japs methods and they have no scruples, Good on the Sea shepherd and I hope they carry on their work and give the Japs a taste of what they dam well deserve.
Tobias
So essentially by coming to the aid of the whalers, Greenpeace are inadvertently helping that shipment of dead whale-meat get back to Tokyo and onto the plate of some fat gourmet-eating businessman. Shot Greenpeace. They should have let the whaler sink, rescued all the crew from the icy seas, and then brainwashed them into being anti-whalers on the long voyage home.
Ipipiri
What the protesters are doing is highlighting the slaughter the Japs are doing. How else will the world see what this horrible race of people are doing? lets hope that the younger people of Japan are more informed.
Rick
The real victims of the actions of Sea Shepherd Conservation Societys behavior are the whales, as the Society has diverted the worlds attention away from saving the whales to an argument of whether or not Sea Shepherd is engaging in illegal activity. Pathetically, Sea Shepherd operates through deceit of the ignorant. Their claim to provide policing activities has no foundation, as it requires authority that Sea Shepherd does not have; they are by definition vigilantes. Moreover, Sea Shepherd has solicited funds through other misleading assertions as well. They have incited interest by asserting that the Japanese are murderous criminals, which also has no legal basis. Under treaty law, breaking a treaty is akin to a civil offense, not criminal, and killing an animal is not considered murder. Additionally, treaty law prohibits direct action against violators; rather, the allegations must be brought before the jurisdictional tribunal, which in this case would be the International Whaling Commission (IWC), who has dismissed the allegations. Sea Shepherd made no appearance to attempt to sway them. Under treaty law, taking direct action of violations without proper authorization (which Sea Shepherd does not have) is strictly prohibited. In 2006, the IWC changed the law to prohibit anyone from engaging in activities that risk human lives or vessels. Under Maritime law, no ship may sail without proper registry and/or commission from a designated country; Sea Shepherd has no registry and/or commission. With all of these serious violations under their belt coupled with their failure to even attempt to sway the appropriate authorities of their merits, it invites `the question of why they are accusing others of illegal acts. Their acts are causing injury to people and property. In the final analysis, there are many nations who are involved in legally trying to stop the Japanese slaughter of whales, done under the preposterous banner of research. These nations have been able to keep the moratorium despite stiff opposition. Sea Shepherds conduct is only making their job more difficult.
L
These whaling protestors are nothing more than terrorists. I disagree with the Japanese whaling policy but I disagree more with the Tactics of these terrorist ramming the Japanese ship or throwing acid at the crew members on these ship. The crew members on the Japanese ships are just doing their jobs and trying to support their families. If these so called eco terrorists have a problem then their are better ways to protest than trying to sink the Japanesse ships in the cold antarctic waters. The Japanese should refuse to help these people if they get in trouble but then again the Japanese whalers seem to have more compassion and civility than the anti whaling terrorists.
Raymond .G.Oliiver
This situation is hardly surprising. You have Japanese whalers horribly killing whales with exploding harpoons in an international whale sanctuary whilst at the same time we have Chris Carter (NZ Conservation Minister) and now Greenpeace condemning the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who are the only group of volunteers in the World today that have enough guts to actually stand up and protect whales. The job that Sea Shepherd are doing should be being done by the NZ and AUST Navy -that is chasing illegal whalers out of the Whale Sanctuary. Then you may ask according to statements by Hon Chris Carter - is NZ for Whaling or against whaling. Rhetoric does not save Whales because the whalers dont listen. The action of Sea Shepherd volunteers which includes some NZ citizens does save whales and is occurring because the Governments of Aust and NZ refuse to act. As Sea Shepherds Capt Watson said Whales are endangered ane its time to walk the walk to save them. Talking has failed.
Wayne
As a Kiwi now in oz, isnt the area of the incident a declared whale sanctuary. If so why isnt the government enforcing it.
Michael Ellis
Even Greenpeace are condemning Sea Shepherds actions - that shows how extreme they are.
Todd Swann
Haha. Serves the Japanese right! Hopefully next time they sink it and they drop to the bottom of the ocean.
Sam
I think you must have missed the conversation between John Campbell and the captain of the Sea Shepherd saying that the NZ call centre had got it round the wrong way and the Japanese whaling ship was the one that had hit the Sea Shepherd.
