Japan seeks to arrest anti-whaling activists

Unless the IWC rules which permit hunting whales for scientific research also state that the whales taken for this purpose must not be sold or consumed (ie; left to rot) I don't see Japan breaking any rules. Japan is really silly in even remaining in the IWC and making the effort to comply with the IWC moratorium. They should leave and do what Norway and Iceland, just ignore the IWC and do what they want.

"According to IWC figures, Japanese ships killed 866 whales in the 2006-2007 season, a haul that included minke, fin, sei, and sperm whales—the most of any nation. Norway placed second with a total catch of 545 whales."

"It never ceases to amuse me how many people care more about animal rights than human rights, in the West and in particularly USA." by PKG I completely agree, its great they want to do something for animal rights but why don't we concentrate on human rights first? for example the genocide we are causing for this 'beneficial', 'necessary' war in Iraq; or should I say bullshit war started for money and power? i do respect their movement for animal rights but I think 1,000 whales being killed is a rather small problem compared to killing hundreds and thousands of people in Iraq and U.S Soldiers.

It never ceases to amuse me how many people care more about animal rights than human rights, in the West and in particularly USA.

well said Voxman

Ossan,

I think you’ve just posted an example of what is truly the problem in this dispute. IWC says that Whale hunting can only be performed for the strict purpose of scientific research. Japan says they are sending a huge whale meat processing ship to the Antarctic for the purpose of studying whales. They try to catch 1000 whales if possible entangling a few whale calves with mothers as well. Then they manage to do god only knows what with the captured now frozen whales enroute back to Japan. But when the ship arrives in port Japan the crew carts off 100’s of pounds each in pre-processed boxes of Guess what? Whale meat as gifts. Later the police report the increase of whale meat being served on restaurant menus and how strange it’s sudden appearance. Must be from China, they say. Months and months go by and no scientific papers from the study of these captured whales of any significance that any scientific or academic body would recognize as meaningful is produced. Smelling foul play demonstrators will protest and world governments object. Meanwhile Japan, rather than proving they are following the rules of the IWC by producing evidence of their scientific studies, says it doesn’t matter what they use the whales for its their right to hunt them and eat them. Thereby proving how historically, Japan has never really wanted to comply with the wishes of the rest of the world. Japan can justifiably say, they have a right to eat Whales, but they don’t have the right to eat all of them. And historically speaking, left to their own devices they will hunt a species to death. Hence the problem with finding any whales around Japan.

This is kind of funny!!!Go at them! Demonstrators should demonstrate not damage property, when they damage property they are now criminals.

"Japan is like China, trying to punish demonstrators. It has no right to arrest the anti whalers, especially when they are illegally dealing in whales caught for food, pretending it is for science. The world can see how facist you are Japan."

No, Japan does not have Demonstration Parks to protest which require permits but applying for a permit can get you arrested. So it's not like China at all. And Japan isn't illegally whaling at all. They are doing it legally and within the IWC's rules. That's why the anti-whalers call it a loophole. Whether they're caught for food, for science or to become massive paperweights is irrelevant if they're caught legally.

Japan is like China, trying to punish demonstrators. It has no right to arrest the anti whalers, especially when they are illegally dealing in whales caught for food, pretending it is for science. The world can see how facist you are Japan.

Or perhaps the paranoic who believes everyone but he is crazy?

As has been said already, in reasoned argument you may win the day. But I dont think you will win this one.

ihope2eatwhales - "crazy this, crazy that, cowardly dog". In some ways you represent yourself well, making your point clear. Unfortunately as soon as insults entered the debate you lost credibility.

Oh and youre wrong. There may be some increasing support for　Japans position from small nations bought with ODA but youre fooling yourself if you believe this represents a change of heart by the people.

ihope2eatwhales - opposition to whaling is decreasing? Really! I don't know what planet you live on, but you are clearly not conversant with the relevant facts. I am afraid that I cannot continue this dialogue with you, as you clearly are unable to conduct yourself in a civil manner.....crazy Japanese, crazy Australians, crazy westerners, crazy Japanese. You should re-read your posts, it sounds as if the whole world is crazy, but you! I wish you well in your pursuits.

ihope2eatwhales - opposition to whaling is decreasing? Really! I don't know what planet you live on, but you are clearly not conversant with the relevant facts. I am afraid that I cannot continue this dialogue with you, as you clearly are unable to conduct yourself in a civil manner.....crazy Japanese, crazy Australians, crazy westerners, crazy Japanese. You should re-read your posts, it sounds as if the whole world is crazy, but you! I wish you well in your pursuits.

It is crazy things to disturb the other vessel in the middle of the cold south ocean. If Sea Shepherd do not like to be called crazy, they should stop behaving like such. To complain of this makes one seem like "the most cowardly dog that howls the loudest".

ihope2eatwhales: You might like to refrain from labeling anyone who disagrees with your point of view "crazy". It lowers the level of discussion and only makes you look childish.

It is true there are some crazy Japanese as well.

I thank you for recognising our rights to desire and eat whale meat. I feel there is decreasing opposition in Japan, thanks to the crazy people of Sea Shepherd, whaling has much support. People do not understand why it is "right to eat cows and wrong to eat whales".

Opposition to us is decreasing, really, in and out of Japan. We have good friends in many places in the world, and as we see in our whale restaurants, more foreigners are enjoying whale with us than ever. Many foreigners are now learning that the whales we eat are not endangered. This is the important fact.

ihope2eatwhales - I do listen to arguments by pro-whaling people, but even they have changed their minds on whaling it appears. Shigeko Misaki, a former advisor to the Japan Whaling Association and the former counsel for the Institute for Cetacean Research, has recently called for an end to whaling, "whaling as a business hardly justifies the environmental costs." Also, city councilmen of Taiji have raised environmental and food safety concerns over the consumption of whale and dolphin meat, because of heavy metal contamination. Department of Fisheries own survey on whaling found that the majority of Japanese oppose whaling. So it appears that the Japanese do not speak with one voice on the issue of whaling, and that it's not just "crazy westerners" who oppose whaling. I do not deny you your right to desire and eat whale meat. But it seems that you have increasing opposition, in and out of Japan. I fervently hope that the environmental and economic costs of whaling will soon out-weigh any perceived benefits, real or imagined. I will continue to lend material, financial and moral support to those who can help make it happen sooner, rather than later.

cooeecobber, it is a fine joke! If you desire the fruitful discussion, you must first keenly listen and understand to the statements of we who eat whales.

OssanULTRA - I never said Interpol issued warrants. I perhaps used the wrong article - maybe I should have said the warrant listed with Interpol. But the fact remains that there is no warrant for the three activists with Interpol at this time.

Interesting article about Sea Sheperd's activities: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080819p2a00m0na006000c.html

"Wait until Whales start hunting Japanese, then lets see how Japanese like it. Moby Dick shall return!"

That would actually be pretty cool. But let's add the Kangaroos that attack the Aussies, the Cows that attack the Americans and the Dogs that attack the Koreans...and everything that lives attack the Chinese.

"The Japanese authorities have yet to succeed in their request to have a warrant issued with Interpol"

Interpol doesn't issue warrants. They are not a Court of Law.

Kill whales and save Krill. Many people are not aware of the environmental damage whales have for our planet. They eat tons of krill and they eat 9 times as much fish as humans do. Whales simply should be culled with a harpoon. And let useful animals and fish live in the ocean instead.

thedeath - I would suggest that unless ihope2eatwhales stops calling everyone who has a different opinion to him "crazy", stop replying to him. He obviously has fixed views on the subject, and is indifferent, if not hostile, to anything else. It hardly makes for fruitful discussion.

No, it is nothing to do with your English, it is a very common nature of the hard-right(wherever on this planet) which will never admit that you-yourself is making a childish non-sense augment.

You clearly said it many time in may post with so many confusing argument (even to your self) and gave out a lot of contradicted reason which come back and oppose at your own earlier argument!

Then you start it over again at the point that you had already said that it is not the point! man! Just don’t teach your kid the way you act!!! now I kinda understand why manytime I see japanese speak japanese language to another japanese but both japanese find that it so hard to understand what is another japanese is talking about! Crap!

That is a shame for anyone doing that publicly! same thing go to the japanese whaling association and your government. People out here will just laugh!

thedeath > I suppose my English is quite bad.

Japanese came to catch whales in the south ocean because Japanese have the tradition of eating whales. There are lots of whales in south ocean, so of course people with tradition and culture of whale eating wish to catch those whales. It means we whale eaters can enjoy to eat whale more often, and more cheaply, and gives the jobs to more Japanese. There is no problem, Australians do not watch the minke whales or fin whales that Japan catches recently. But crazy people including some Australians imagine a problem.

It is not to "preserve the culture". There are enough whales near Japan for this. But crazy western nations deny Japan even this right to preserve Japanese food cuisine (coastal whaling), not only the right to enjoy whale from south ocean and pacific.

You should not confuse the different issues.

so you try to preserve your tradition by using a non-traditional tool going to a non-traditional area and come back to complain why foreigner in the other place complain about your tradition?

and go back to see your own post, who said>> tradition was not why Japan started catching whales in the south ocean.”

then who said >>"Whale meat is the traditional food for many Japanese. That is why Japan started to catch whales in the south ocean,"

no wonder adult Japanese can not do a common communicantion in daily life!

thedeath > Whale meat is the traditional food for many Japanese. That is why Japan started to catch whales in the south ocean, as there are many whales there. If Japanese had no tradition of whale eating, Japanese would not have started to catch whales in the south ocean. Maybe some foreign people have the trouble to understand such a thing, but even elementary students in Japan could imagine this.

no that is what your people try to say. whenever you can not find a good reason on research, you go back to tradition food! that make me wonder!

thedeath,

"Then why the want to eat whale folk even mention about tradition when we talk about whaling in south ocean?"

Do you think it is because whaling in the south ocean is traditional?

ihopetoeatwhales: re Japan's stockpile of whalemeat, and its attempt to raise whale meat consumption in Japan (even by turning it into dog food.)

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22959881-601,00.html

ihope2eatwhales - Your personal attacks on this forum are quite amusing - you cannot just call everyone crazy because they have a view different to your own! It's hardly a debate if you do and it weakens your credibility. I am happy to debate the topic of whaling, and I disagree with you entirely; it's up to you to convince me using reasoned argument and relevant facts, that the views I hold are wrong and worthy of change. I am quite conversant with the facts about whaling, and I draw my facts from a wide variety of sources. I remain to be convinced that you position is one I should adopt, but keep trying!

“tradition was not why Japan started catching whales in the south ocean.” “This(south ocean) whaling started because there are much whale resources in the south ocean.”

Then why the want to eat whale folk even mention about tradition when we talk about whaling in south ocean? Is that another lied?

The thing that stinks about this is that Japan is lying about their intentions. I wish they would just be honest about it all. You are commercially whaling and you should say so.

As for the war between whalers and environmentalists. I look at it this way. If you want to whale then this is one of the risk factors. Don't expect people who strongly disagree with whaling to stop their efforts to prevent whaling if you won't stop your efforts to conduct whaling.

And in the end the dangers exist for both sides. I say the side with the most tenacity should win in the end. And if Japan continues to lie about whaling, then they should not be able to argue the moral high ground against people trying to prevent them from whaling.

"do not hunt whales in the south ocean for reason of tradition." but you eat the south ocean whales and say that it the part of your ... what? tradition?

do not go back to research thing, because that will come back to why people think you lied just to hunt the whales for tradition food, then people will ask why not use tradition way to hunt then you go back to research reason again.

Only research Whaling is subsidized, this is common sense. The industry scientific data can not be trusted, so the government takes responsibility. Cost to taxpayers is minimized through sale of whale meat. It is the best system, but we hope for commercial whaling and more meat and lower prices.

thedeath > Japanese do not hunt whales in the south ocean for reason of tradition. Hunting started there by Japan in 1930's because it is highly productive ocean with many whales, and of tasty varieties. These are valuable resources for whale eating nations.

ihope2eatwhales - I noticed that you ignored the point about whaling in Japan being a tax-subsidized loss-making business. How is it fair for Japanese tax-payers to subsidize this mess? No matter, the loss will be repeated this year, and with it more negative publicity, in an election year!

"ProudKoreanGuy" no one complain japan of eatting whales!!!

people complain the way japan lied so that she can hunt the whiles.

if you want to eat it and say that it is part of your tradition, then why not hunt it in traditional way? too chicken to do that? don't tell me that your great great grand-pa got big ships capable of went down to the south ocean 3-4 months to hunt 1000 of animals at a time since 500 or 1000 years ago!

Hey, those protesters were throwing flaming objects at the whaling ship. That's dangerous and against the law. Arrest 'em!

Who cares about Australians. They can watch whales, if they wish. So what. Eating whales is our wish. People who do not wish to enjoy with us should go eat cows or kangaroos.

It is recently reported that humpback whales, are no longer considered by IUCN as "endangered". They are "least concern", and plenty in number. Watch them.

We whale eaters prefer minke and fin whale for eating.

There is no problem, just crazy anti-whaling people create one.

Patrick Smash - I think you'll find that Sea Shepherd (and other conservation groups) will agree with you to a point. Traditional whaling in nearby waters is not something they object to, a quick check of their website will confirm this. I like your point about the distance travelled - what the Brits call "food miles". I'd like to see that info on whale meat packaging! Also, Aussies don't like the idea of whaling in their backyard for cultural and economic reasons: whaling watching is now part of Australian culture. It's also a multi-million dollar industry with a rosy future. Unlike the tax-subsidized loss-making disaster that is Japan's "research" whaling.

taiko666 > There seems not to be a "huge stockpile of unwanted whalemeat"? Whale is quite rare and not cheap. We long for the days before research whaling, when whale meat was more easily obtained. Japan does hunt whales in it's "backyard". The lies come from the crazy westerners, you should remember it.

Japanese police had identified the three men via video footage of them throwing flaming projectiles that damaged a Japanese whaling ship in February 2007, NHK said.

If that's legal on the high seas, japan would be within its rights to sink the sea shepard.

ihope2eatwhales: Then why not tuck into Japan's huge stockpile of unwanted whalemeat (instead of feeding it to dogs), and then hunt in your own back yard (as per 'tradition') and stop lying ?

ihope2eatwhales: Then why not tuck into Japan's huge stockpile of unwanted whalemeat (instead of feeding it to dogs), and then hunt in your own back yard (as per 'tradition') and stop lying ?

desmosedici,

"Supermarkets sell more "tainted" Chinese eal than whale meat."

This is sadly true. There is enough whale in the sea for more to be taken.

So, is Japan trying to have these people extradited to Japan or have them tried in their respective countries? Boarding a vessel might constitute entering the soil of the country where said ship is registered. Just harrasing in international waters seems a (very) long shot to bother Interpol with. Interpol issued two warrants for the arrest of El Cino, accused of far more serious crimes and the Japanese government flatly ignored Interpol. Maybe they haven't forgotten. As for whaling, consumption of whale meat nowadays is negligable as compared to the lean post war years. Favourite food? Supermarkets sell more "tainted" Chinese eal than whale meat. Actually, chances are your super doesn't even carry it. Whaling is bad business. It costs loads of tax payer's money to support only a hand full of people. It seems more a matter of saving one's pride and the "world against us" mentality.

taiko666 > You are badly informed. We who hope to eat whales hope to do so because they taste lovely, mostly. This is the reason. Do not forget it.

Patrick Smash: even as a staunch veggie I agree with your logic. However, Japan doesn't hunt whales in 'Australia's back yard' because of its 'tradition'. It does so because its politicians like to whip up 'Poor Little Japan v The Big Nasty Outside World' fervour amongst the populace, and thus stay in power. And people such as 'ihope2eatwhales' are hooked as easily as a minke in a whale sanctuary. If Japan did something reasonably sensible as you suggest, there'd be much fewer protests and therefore much fewer votes for the politicians.

Paddy, you're wrong.

I agree with your post. (Well, apart from the second and third sentences, anyway.)

And the last bit, of course.

OssanULTRA: Hate to break it to you but Japan has extradition treaties with most countries

I think you'll find that Japan has extradition treaties with only the USA and South Korea.

cooeecobber, who are your contacts?

ihope2eatwhales - contacts, dear boy, contacts!

cooeecobber, how may we check the status with Interpol?

Altria > SUA Convention: "Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation". Japan's law abiding allies abroad will definitely help to reel in the nasty crazy people.

cleo > It is true that research whaling is financed by sales of whale meat, which is a favorite of many Japanese. Only a child would think such logic is proof that research whaling does not involve the research activity.

The Japanese authorities have yet to succeed in their request to have a warrant issued with Interpol, so comments about arrest, etc, are moot. Historically, there don't seem to be any convictions of anything the Sea Shepherd's crew have done, and they do not appear on any watch list, so it is a little odd to be calling them terrorists or criminals. However, there are a number of things the whalers get up to: violating CITIES, by killing and targetting endangered species; violating IWC regulations, by killing whales in a whale sanctuary; violating the Antarctic Treaty, by refuelling in Antarctic waters. While these are all contestable in court, if only any country had the guts to bring it on, they all seem to me to be rather more serious than throwing rotten butter, which is the substance of the Japanese warrant.

cooeecobber, Watson was on the telly this morning asking the very same thing. I think he was a bit miffed at not being targeted...

youhope2eatwhales - Oh come on let's not drag out that old potato again. Everyone knows that Japan is not taking whales 'for purposes of scientific research', they're taking them for the table. If they were allowed to take as many as they liked for research but then all the 'research material' had to be burned, for example, or disposed of as hazardous biological waste, I guarantee you there would be NO 'research whaling'. No point.

soldave -

it would be an abhorrence to go fishing in a river for anything

Some of us think it is. But fish being cold-blooded creatures with unchanging facial expressions, most people find it a lot harder to empathise with a trout than with a cute furry bundle that fetches your slippers and licks your hand.

Why would there be an outrage if killing dogs was done in an abattoir?

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I didn't mean there would be an outrage if dogs were killed humanely in an abattoir (personally I'd be pretty outraged, but maybe that's just me). What I meant was that there would be outrage if cows, pigs, sheep etc were routinely subjected to the same kind of torture and slow painful death that is inflicted on dogs and whales. Apparently dog meat tastes 'better' if the dog dies in agony - some rubbish to do with the hormones. And even the pro-whalers cannot claim an average time-to-death of less than about 2 minutes; it's probably much longer since 'not moving' doesn't mean 'dead' or even 'unconscious' and no one is in the water with a stethoscope checking heartbeats. Some animals can take up to an hour to die, finally drowning in their own blood as their tails are pulled out of the water, leaving them unable to raise their heads to breathe. That is what I meant about outrage if it happened in the abattoirs.

http://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2001/korea.htm

How can they be charged by a Japanese court when the incident happened in international (or Australian) waters?

Can a country claim damage against it's vessels and have people arrested? Cos that sounds open to abuse.

These guys have committed piracy, which is known as terrorism these days.

Japan's 'allies' are going to have to stand up and hand over these terrorists if they don't want to look like hypocrites and desire to retain any credibility whatsoever.

It is time for them to be punished for their actions.

And noborito is right, whale meat is on sale everywhere. Let's keep it that way!

Our culture, not theirs!

"As for the arrest warrants, what a waste of time. Like any country in the world is going to extradite them. In addition I don't see them coming to Japan on vacation seeing Japan is not sensitive to their views. So keep trying to make the rest of the world believe you Japan, but the people who matter know ever thing. What a bunch of liars."

Hate to break it to you but Japan has extradition treaties with most countries. And the crimes that the Sea Sheperd peoplke comitted is a crime in every country, amnd they were widely publicized globally. It isn't going to be hard to get them extradited if they are found and captured. What opinions other nations may have regarding whaling is completely irrelevant to the issue.

"While still on the menu in a few upscale Tokyo restaurants" talk about PR. Whale meat is everywhere. They are chain restaurants that are focused around it. The world will believe this BS but what about people who live here. As for the arrest warrants, what a waste of time. Like any country in the world is going to extradite them. In addition I don't see them coming to Japan on vacation seeing Japan is not sensitive to their views. So keep trying to make the rest of the world believe you Japan, but the people who matter know ever thing. What a bunch of liars.

If there's a company who has business practices with which you happen to disagree, is it legal or acceptable for you to intercept its commercial vehicles on public roads, crash your car into them, slash their tires and vandalize them so that they can't be operated? No it isn't. When this kind of sabotage is carried out on the high seas it's called piracy. The people of Sea Shepherd, who are merely civilians with no legal authority (sorry, arguable moral authority doesn't cut it) do not have the right to endanger free commerce and transport anywhere let alone in international waters. You may feel sympathetic to their anti-whaling sentiments, but having sympathy and excusing illegal activity are two different things. These vigilantes are criminals, nothing more. Rationalizing and excusing their actions is simply not logical.

This is a political stunt in response to the Sea Shepherd's recent issue of an arrest warrant of the whaling fleet. It's unlikely that Interpol will issue a warrant for such politically-motivated reasons. In any case, why is the warrant not for the captain, whose orders the others were following? Could it be that the Japanese authorities do not really want a court-room showdown with such an experienced media player?

Well, if there is an arrest warrant out for individuals and if they ever try to board a Japanese flagged vessel out in the open seas, wouldn't that give grounds for the captain of the Japanese vessels to detain them and turn them over to the Japanese authorities?

If so, at least its deterrent enough to keep the criminals from boarding ANY Japanese vessel/aircraft (including ANA and JAL flights).

cleo > I understood that you are the anti-whaling person. The damage inflicted on the Kaiko Maru's screw, and throwing glass bottles of chemicals on to another vessel is an act of piracy. You should remember it. Or, you may be arrested yourself.

"Some folk would say that stealing the world's resources in an International Whale Sanctuary was a lot closer to piracy"

See the IWC convention: http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm "any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention".

Remember this also. It is not a childrens game.

But in that case cleo, it would be an abhorrence to go fishing in a river for anything. It would be shocking to drive anywhere (the carbon dioxide fumes undoubtedly cause suffering to animals and people).

Why would there be an outrage if killing dogs was done in an abattoir? Whales would probably have died by the time they reach one, but that's beside the point.

ProudKoreanGuy > For the statistical studies such as normal countries conduct, the appropriate sample size is required. Japanese scientist calculate the appropriate size sample as per IWC standards to gain necessary confidence, and use such a sample size. This is simple fact which is agreed at the IWC.

Korea is also a friendly whale eating nation, it seems. We often heard of Korean fishermen having a JACKPOT when they catch whale.

Terrikus > Japan hunts whales in the so-called "backyard". Japan's whaling abides by all the international agreement.

I didn't overlook the first couple of words. The definition doesn't refer to any and all crime, but specifically to crime on a level of seriousness with hijacking.

Some folk would say that stealing the world's resources in an International Whale Sanctuary was a lot closer to piracy - a crime on a level with hijacking - than throwing stink-bombs.

Cleo;

Personally, I dont think it should be a crime to kill/eat ANY animal that is not endangered. Whales, dogs, cats, monkeys, whatever.

Throwing stink bombs is not hijacking, true. It is assault, attempted property damage, and the like. IF the environmentalists had any balls, they would face the whalers man to man. Apparently the best they can do is whine in the media and do childish stunts to endanger the lives and welfare of other men doing legal work.

You missed out the first couple of words when you read definition number 2. It says "A crime, such as hijacking...". The hijacking is simply given as an example of one such a crime that could take place aboard a ship or aircraft. It is not the only crime.

a crime, such as hijacking, committed aboard a ship or aircraft ....Yup, looks like it's number 2

So when did this 'hijacking' take place, then?

Throwing stink-bombs is not hijacking.

Climbing on board a boat and having tea with the captain may be trespassing, but it's not hijacking.

The 'they're not endangered so it's OK' argument holds no water. Dogs are certainly not endangered as a species, but no one with any moral rectitude would suggest that makes it OK to torture/kill Fido and Spot and serve them for dinner.

Good luck. I seriously doubt that they will be turned over to Japan. Just about all other countries, save Russia maybe, think that Japan is lying about the whole whaling thing anyway.

Japan should knock off the smoke and mirrors as they are not working. If you are going to commercially whale, do it openly. Then we can attack you openly. In the press, on the high seas and wherever possible to bring attention to your insipid behavior.

Apologies for the lack of formatting in that last comment.

piracy Noun pl -cies

Brit & NZ robbery on the seas a crime, such as hijacking, committed aboard a ship or aircraft the unauthorized use of patented or copyrighted material Source: Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

Yup, looks like it's number 2

I say bravo activists. There are no scientific studies going on by Japan here and it takes the International Community ages to get round to doing anything profound to stop Japan, so if these guys disrupt the Japanese, good on them. Those shouting 'piracy' here need to go and look the word up.

"Yes, but the Koreans don't go halfway across the world to butcher dogs either. Japan should hunt whales in its own backyard...if there were any left to hunt."

Neither the Minke Whale (estimated over 500,000) nor the Humpback Whale are on endangered list. The Blue Whale and Fin Whale are in fact endangered with estimates of 2000. Neither the Japanese, nor Icelanders and Norwegians hunt the endangered species. This wouldn't make any sense for any peoples who eat whales would it? The Koreans don't butcher dogs in other countries (at least not openly) because there are laws protecting the dogs. Whales are hunted in international waters, therefore the only protection they have is their classification and whatever is approved by the IWC. Of course countries like Iceland anmd Norway don't bother to use any "loopholes" in the IWC rules, they simply ignore them. Now, if you were aware of the dog issue, you wouldn't be even attempting to brush it off as not being as significant as whaling in any which way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lcZcEKMmzY The fact is that this article pertains to acts of Piracy (and I could reasonably charge terrorism) which endangered human life at sea, a crime recognized universally by all seafaring nations, and whaling really has been the perpetrator's "excuse" for this behavior. This is of course nonsense, since there are many of the anti-whaling persuasion who do not commit crimes for the cause.

Oh, but wait, that goes for ALL Japanese shipping vessels, doesn't it?

Fishing vessels, rather, I meant.

Yes, but the Koreans don't go halfway across the world to butcher dogs either. Japan should hunt whales in its own backyard...if there were any left to hunt.

Well, that's fine, except we get upset when Japanese whalers intrude into our Korean waters to hunt and catch whales. Oh, but wait, that goes for ALL Japanese shipping vessels, doesn't it?

Excuse me, I miswrote on that last post, when I said, "human rights activist" I meant to say animal rights.

"So, why does Japan need to kill so many, or kill any at all, to do these sort of "scientific studies"? I thought its so-called scientific research unavoidably required killing and dissecting these mammals, but none of these goals require such acts - certainly not 1000 every year. Come on, Japan! Just who are you trying to fool here?"

It's obvious. Whales have been hunted by Japanese for many years. This is the only way in which they can continue to do so. They are not trying to fool anyone, just using loopholes to get at what they are after. Everyone knows it. While in Hokkaido I unknowingly had some whale and you know what? It's not bad at all. As long as whaling is done in a sustainable manner, I don't have a problem with it. However, I believe that the human rights activists need to show the short end of the law. There is no excuse for endangering the lives of humans.

Japan kills about 1,000 whales a year under a scientific whaling program that Tokyo says provides crucial data for the International Whaling Commission on populations, feeding habits and distribution of the mammals in the seas near Antarctica.

So, why does Japan need to kill so many, or kill any at all, to do these sort of "scientific studies"? I thought its so-called scientific research unavoidably required killing and dissecting these mammals, but none of these goals require such acts - certainly not 1000 every year. Come on, Japan! Just who are you trying to fool here?

these whale humping fools should stop protesting.

"If this is such a big deal and Japan is in the RIGHT, then why doesn't the Japanese Navy send out one of their destroyers to escort the whaling ship?"

Because they don't have a Navy. What they have is a Self Defense Force that has to go through mountains of law passing to be able to do anything outside of Japanese waters. I think it would probaly be far easier to get the Japanese Coast Guard out there for law enforcement.

Whaling is not the issue here. Piracy on the high seas is. What the Sea Shepherd crew did amounts to nothing less than piracy. - USNinJapan2

If this is such a big deal and Japan is in the RIGHT, then why doesn't the Japanese Navy send out one of their destroyers to escort the whaling ship?

/me concours with USNinJapan2's statement. Not much to add, throw the book at them.

Their fingerprints may already be on file at immigration. Norway might have assisted Japan in gathering data about them. I hope these fellows don't have any desire to come to Japan!!

Whaling is not the issue here. Piracy on the high seas is. What the Sea Shepherd crew did amounts to nothing less than piracy. They should be prosecuted and punished accordingly.

so if these warrants are issued, does it mean that the next time the fools from Sea Shepard illegally board one of the Japanese flagged vessels, the boarders can be arrested and held and taken back to Japan for processing?

Cool!

Lock them up in the brig.

Bust their rear ends. Endangerment of life at sea is an international crime. This isn't about whaling.

Spudman;

IF you could define the "intent" of the law, as opposed to what the law actually says, I would be impressed.

Otherwise, the Sea Shephard and their ilk are nothing more than filthy hippy losers, breaking both local and international laws at their whim. I personally wish the whalers would return fire- perhaps a few hundred kilos of whale guts and feces dropped on the "activists" would make them take notice.

As long as Japan keeps fishing whatever in a sustainable way (and as humane as poss) then, no problem

The problem being that it is not possible to kill whales in a guaranteed humane way. The way most whales-for-the-table die would create a scandal if it happened even occasionally in abattoirs. It's not simply a disagreement in tastes.

“Regardless of a difference of opinion, it is unacceptable that those who are involved get injured" ..agree.

The world aint ever going to agree on a lot of things. period. arrest them!

As long as Japan keeps fishing whatever in a sustainable way (and as humane as poss) then, no problem, this disagreement in tastes can contiune and continue. I'm pretty sure the sources of these 3 peoples diets could esaily be critised if someone tried ( most people are pretty ignorant how their food gets to them). but attacking them.. not really a solution to anything.

Cleo- right on about the yawn factor. No way these respective governments would ever extradite their citizens to Japans banana court system. The backlash would see them ousted the next general election. Maybe if Japan actually respected the intent of international fishing and resource laws and not just the letter they would get more sympathy. Wonder how many Japanese poachers the Japanese police in Nemuro have sought warrants for? None. typical hypocrisy from the Japanese.

Yawn.

Sea Shepherd will be on your tail again the next time you set out to 'research' more whales. Hopefully Greenpeace & Australia will be with them again and they will cut your catch still further.

Tell ya what, why not sort out the problems on your own doorstep - random stabbings, money fraud etc. - before you wory about this kind of thing, eh?

...no sympathy for the whaling community, anyway. All talk of whaling for 'scientific data' is pure bollocks and shames Japan in the eyes of the world...like they give a toss.

Japan Police, Good Job! The crazy madmen will be arrested.

Info missing from above article:

According to the MPD, the three men attempted to jam the propeller of the Kaiko Maru with a rope on Feb. 12 last year.

More in other news sources.

Guess Interpol will be involved.

Good luck with that.