Shrkb8 comments

Posted in: Abe vows efforts to resume commercial whale hunt See in context

What an embarrassment for the people of Japan. With huge stockpiles of whale meat already in warehouses, there is no need to resume the antarctic hunt. And to try to justify it yet again by labeling it "research" is even more embarrassing in light of the World Court ruling. Certainly if the PM's aim was really to gather data to justify roll back fo the whaling moratorium, non-lethal research methods could certainly be used. And then to add insult to injury, the need to educate Japanese people their whale eating culture is an oxymoron as others have pointed out so well.

The consumption rate does not justify the hunt. My heart goes out to the people of Japan whose national reputation will be besmirched by such arrogance and ignorance.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan says it will abide by court ruling on whaling See in context

A lot of egg on Japan's face now. The judges ripped apart Japan's claim that their whale hunting was for the purpose of scientific study.

Shame on Japan. Applause to the World Court. Applause to Australia and New Zealand. And hat's off to Sea Shepherd for protecting the whales from this illegal hunt.

10 ( +21 / -11 )

Posted in: Anti-whalers claim aggressive ramming by Japanese fleet See in context

@ Heda_Madness - you are twisting the words of the Australian court. Australia recognizes groups that provide short-term direct care to animals as a tax exempt charity.

"Taking steps to interrupt or prevent others harming animals in the wild, as Sea Shepherd does, is not the provision of 'short-term direct care to animals'"..."What Sea Shepherd attempts to do is to prevent the killing of whales. The object of its campaigns is the Japanese whaling fleet. It does not provide care to any animal."

The court recognized that Sea Shepherd attempts to prevent the killing of whales. However that does not qualify as a tax exempt charity under Australia tax law.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Posted in: Anti-whalers claim aggressive ramming by Japanese fleet See in context

@House Atreides - The Japanese whalers, ICR, filed suit in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court to find Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in violation of the Court Ordered injunction to remain 5oo yards from Japanese whaling ships. The Court found that SSCS had separated themselves from the anti-whaling activities, that these activities were carried out by non-US Sea Shepherd organizations, and that SSCS and its board members honored the injunction.

Note that the original case that led to the injunction has still not been determined.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: U.S. envoy Kennedy tweets concern over Taiji dolphin hunt See in context

@gokai_wo_manekuJ - Dolphins would never die from "detoxification" of water. They don't have gills. They get their oxygen from the air, not water. You do know they are air berating mammals, don't you????? So once again inaccurate statements are used to justify a cruel practice.

@CH3CHO - The US has prohibited drive kills and capture of all cetaceans because it is inhumane.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Posted in: Activist says his arrest focused world attention on dolphin hunt town See in context

Iowan - watch the latest video from Save Japan Dolphins and Sea Shepherd. Watch the partially paralyzed dolphin flounder around trying breath for ten minutes before the dolphin butchers pull him under the tarp again. That's efficient? Maybe, but it is also inhumane and cruel. Ignore that a protester was imprisoned under false charges for two months. Deny the video evidence. You are only fooling yourself. The world sees it for what it is, just like Erwin says. It made worldwide press and brought attention back on this issue. His statements are right on.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: U.S. judge turns down whalers' appeal to restrain Sea Shepherd's activities See in context

Arrest paul,

The judge took the ICR lawyers to task for trying to characterize the Sea Shepherd efforts as "terrorism". He likened it more to vandalism.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: U.S. judge turns down whalers' appeal to restrain Sea Shepherd's activities See in context

ArrestPaul,

While the ICR is trying to prevent the trial from addressing the whole "research" farce, the judge did indicatethat his opinion will be based in part on the fact that the whalers were hunting whales in a whale sanctuary and had violated the Australian whale sanctuary, and that killing the whales in the sanctuaries was against international and Australian law. In other words he is looking at the "dirty hands" of both sides. He refused to impose an immediate injunction in part because it would increase the killing of whales in the sanctuary.

You seem to conveniently ignore the parts of the transcripts that contradict your position.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: U.S. judge turns down whalers' appeal to restrain Sea Shepherd's activities See in context

It's clear the judge isn't buying the whole "research whaling" smokescreen that the ICR uses.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Posted in: Do you consider the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd to be eco-terrorists? See in context

KariHaruka - you mut not have read the incident investigation of the New Zealand Coast Guard. Despite the fact that the Japanese government refused to cooperate with the official investigation of the incident (telling in and of itself, isn't it?) The New Zealand officials were able to put together position and time activities based on GPS and radar data. Their findings:

The Ady Gil was nearly dead in the water in the time before the collision. The Japanese vessel had radar and spotters active at the time, so there can be no claim of the Japanese skipper that he was unaware of the position of the Ady Gil. The Japanese vessel violated navigation rules when it steered toward the Ady Gil and closed on it with too much speed for the close quarters situation the Japanese skipper created. The Ady Gil skipper was found to have not kept an adequate watch. This is obviously not an aggressive action on the Sea Shepherd part.

So regardless of the conflicting claims of both parties, the New Zealand investigation reveals the Japanese whaling skipper created the situation that led to the collision in violation of the rules of navigation. I am betting he still has his Japanese Captain's license.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Do you consider the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd to be eco-terrorists? See in context

ArrestPaul... there you go again. Ignoring the official investigation findings.

The harpoon boat skipper was found at fault for altering course toward the Ady Gil, creating the hazardous situation in violation of the rules of navigation, and for maintaining too much speed in a close quarters situation. The Ady Gil skipper was merely found to have not kept a proper watch.

Quite different from your spin on the event.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Do you consider the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd to be eco-terrorists? See in context

I don't think SSCS care what any of us call them as long as they continue to get donations and they continue to have an impact on the whales poached in a sanctuary. And as long as they get press they will get donations. There are a lot of people who believe all sea mammals should be protected.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

arrestpaul... Unbelievable and self deluded. Read the independent report. The New Zealand investigation did NOT find that the action of the Ady Gil helmsman caused the incident. It found that the Japanese turn toward the Ady Gil just 130 meters from the Ady Gil and the speed of the Japanese approach combined created the situation. The report cited the Ady Gil Helmsman for not keeping a proper watch and trying to avoid the collision too late.

At any rate, the Sea Shepherds have already found the factory whaling ship. Hopefully, this will drastically cut down on the illegal Japanese whale poaching in the Southern Sanctuary.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

arrestpaul - you are in denial, just like the whalers about the will of the ICW with respect their farcical research program.

The New Zealand report states that is indeteminable whether the collision would have occured had the Ady Gil not tried to take evasive action.

The Shepherd actions against the Japanese Whalers in the Southern Sanctuary have not risked sinking the Japanese vessels or the lives of their crew.

Both you and the whalers know the helicopter has ONLY been used for spotting and filming. The American pilot would not jeopardize his license doing something illegal like dropping anything on the sip. The LRADS could only be aimed at the helicopter when it was not directly over the Japanese vessel. So they hit it with LRADs when it could not do anything even if it wanted or intended to.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

arrestpaul - No spin - the whaler had the responsibility to steer clear - it did the opposite:

The activation of the water monitors, the posting of lookouts, the sounding of cautionary warning, the sounding of the LRAD and comments on the video commentary all suggest those on board Shonan Maru No. 2 were well aware of Ady Gil’s presence. This suggests that the course adopted by Shonan Maru No. 2 was not taken without consideration.

There is no apparent safety basis for Shonan Maru No. 2 approaching Ady Gil in response to previous protest action.

The obligation for the overtaking vessel to take action at an early stage lay with Shonan Maru No. 2. The master of Shonan Maru No. 2 did not take action in good time, creating the development of a close quarters situation. Good practice would have seen Shonan Maru No. 2 stay well clear of Ady Gil while overtaking.

In the absence of an explanation from the Shonan Maru No. 2 master, the evidence obtained suggests that the master intentionally chose to take a close approach to Ady Gil and not to take early and substantial action to avoid the close quarters situation.

Investigators were unable to find any evidence of circumstances that would have prevented Shonan Maru No. 2 from reducing her speed or taking any other action, such as a substantial alteration of course, to pass Ady Gil at a safe distance.

Shonan Maru No. 2 was an overtaking vessel within the meaning of the International Collision Regulations and, as such, the master of Shonan Maru No. 2 had an obligation to keep clear of Ady Gil.

It was considered likely that Shonan Maru No. 2 was aware of Ady Gil and its location.

Shonan Maru No. 2 had ample opportunity to avoid creating the close quarters situation that developed and the subsequent collision.

Shonan Maru No. 2 failed to keep well clear of Ady Gil.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

arrestpaul - yes, as I clearly said, the New Zealand report cites that the Ady Gil did not keep a proper watch. It also shows that the whaling vessel altered its course TOWARD the Ady Gil at just 130 meters distance. The report also clearly states that prior to the incident the Ady Gil had cut power and was drifting under the influence of the currents and winds. It was the whaling vessel that closed on the Ady Gil and then altered course towards it in the last moments before the collision. I am not altering my story. I am telling the sequence as documented in video and confirmed in the New Zealand report.

Your application of the Navigation Rules is inaccurate. When a collision is imminent, as it was here, the skipper of the stand on vessel is REQUIRED to attempt evasive action. Which is what the Ady Gil helmsman did, but he did it too late.

Any objective analysis of the data would come to the same conclusion. It is also interesting to note that the Japanese did NOT cooperate with the investigation. And conveniently did not interview the Japanese whaling crew. Pretty telling.

The helicopter has never taken any active action against the whaling vessels. The whalers know it and you know it, but you insist on twisting the facts. If you think the LRAD is defensive in this use, fire one at a helicopter and see how the authorities treat it. Any defensive weapon can just as easily be an offensive weapon.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

@Arrestpaul

Here is the statement of findings from the NZ report incident summary: "6. As the overtaking vessel, Shonan Maru No. 2 failed to take early and substantial action to keep well clear of Ady Gil. This resulted in the development of a close quarters situation, during which Shonan Maru No. 2 failed to take positive and ample action to avoid colliding with Ady Gil.

The stand-on vessel, Ady Gil, failed to maintain an effective lookout and to take early and substantial action when it became apparent that a close quarters situation had arisen and the risk of collision existed."

Here is the part of the NZ report that demonstrates the whaler clearly steered toward the Ady Gil: "The information available suggests that, when Shonan Maru No. 2 was approximately 130 metres away from Ady Gil, Shonan Maru No. 2 steered so as to alter her track line some 13o degrees starboard (that is, from about 350o(T) to 014o(T). This alteration of course by Shonan Maru No. 2 rendered a close quarters situation inevitable in the absence of either a further change of course by Shonan Maru No. 2 or a change of course by Ady Gil."

Hmmmmmm......

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

@arrest paul..... What I reported is accurate and verifiable on tape and in the New Zealand incident report. The whale boat skipper IS cited for altering course toward the Ady Gil.

You've obviously never piloted a boat. There is not instantaneous velocity. it is not like a tire on the road. The props cavitate if you gun them too hard from a stand still. From the point the pilot saw the whaler's collision course and took action, he was going to get hit no matter what he did. The New Zealand officials cited that he failed to keep sufficient watch ... so he did not react early enough. the New Zealand report did not cite the Ady Gil skipper for the direction he chose after noticing that the whaler had changed course toward the Ady Gil. Read the report. And since the whaler altered course for a collision, how could the skipper of the Ady Gil know what the Whaler's next action would be - regardless of the course of action he chose. Clearly, the Ady Gil was at rest and had right of way by international maritime navigation rules.... and the whaling boat was the aggressor steering toward collision rather than away. You conveniently ignore and distort the facts.

Sure cruise ships carry LRADs...they do not aim that at passing helicopters. The helicopter NEVER attempted any actions other than circling the vessel and filming. When they aimed the LRAD the helicopter was not even over the ship. In fact, the way the LRADS are mounted they would have difficulty aiming at the helicopter at any point it is directly over the ship. The pilot is licensed in the US and I believe the helicopter is as well. he would forfeit his license if he dropped anything on the ship. Again, you don't seem to care about the facts.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

@arrestpaul - Read the New Zealand report on the incident. They cite the whalers for violating maritime rules of navigation by altering course toward the Ady Gil. They cite the skipper of the Ady Gil for not keeping a proper watch and not taking evasive action early enough to avoid the collision too late. If you really watch all the video, you would see 1) the whalers alter course toward the Ady Gil. 2) You would then see the Ady Gil go from dead in the water into reverse. And then 3) you see the Ady Gil shift into forward. This all jives with the New Zealand review of the incident. The Ady Gil did not drive into the path of the whaters, the whalers altered course toward the Ady Gil.

And your justification for aiming an LRAD at the helicopter is laughable. Simply flying around the whale killers is perfectly legal. Had the helicopter pilot dropped anything out of the helicopter he would not have his license today. Go outside your house or to a public beach or go anywhere and aim an LRAD at a helicopter. See what that police do.

Your arguments do not stand up to scrutiny.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S. See in context

@arrestpaul, Sure ramming an idling Ady Gil is "defense" and is not an attack at all. Let's see you throw a 2 inch metal nut at a kid who threw an egg at your house, and let's see who goes to jail. Aim an LRAD at a helicopter at your local airport and see what the authoritiesdo to you. Your warped logic for defending the whalers actions is laughable.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: Japan protests over Chinese chopper that neared warship See in context

Aim an LRAD at it, like the whalers do at the Sea Shepherd helicopter.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Michael Moore rallies pro-union protesters in Wisconsin See in context

I have first hand witnessed how American unions are only serving to drive jobs out of the US. The issue here though is that this is a government union. It's the largest union and puts significant $$$$ into supporting political candidates. The retirement benefits of government employees is out of whack and is unaffordable. The biggest single line item in my hometown's budget is paying the retirement accounts of retire employees, many of whom retired in their forties or early fifties and who padded their last year of revenue by building up leave and working overtime. These guys are getting 90% of their last year's revenue which is more than their annual salary....for the rest of their life with cost of living increases and healthcare. It is unsustainable. Let them have a 401K like the rest of us. The days of retirement salaries are over.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Nigelboy

Dolphin females take about 5 years to reach sexual maturity. They then give birth to one calf every two to three years with a gestation period from 11 to 17 months depending on the type of dolphin. They suckle their young for at least two years. It does not take a rocketscientist to figure that if you take whole pods out without regard to sex and age, you will decimate a breeding population in no time. It also removes diversity from the breeding stock. So taking out entire pods is not a responsible management practice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Mr. Dog,

In zoological taxonomy dolphins are a separate distinct family from sperm whales and from Baleen Whales, just as humans are separate from monkeys and apes under Primates. So my statement and arguments are accurate. Drive killing of dolphins is the focus of the Cove. To avoid the drive kill is to avoid the focus of the movie and is to be off target on the article. The Cove is about the drive kills in the Cove. The distribution of the DVDs is to try to get the people to realize how cruel and heinous these drive kills are.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Sorry, fat fingered an enter somehow

Of those who do act, in some way, shape or form, I am fairly sure of where the majority will lie on this issue.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Zenny11,

You are right. When compared to the world population, the percentage of those who have been exposed to these atrocities is small. But of those who have been exposed, it has obviously hit a nerve. And how many silently support those who are vocal? We will never know. But there is at least some evidence...the funding of Sea Shepherd. The number of organizations lining up against the dolphin kills and captivity. The constant presence of volunteers. The movie itself. The acclaim it received. The number of emails and calls to Japanese officials and the hotel where Misty was isolated. The growing number of countries that have outlawed importation of captured dolphins.

The more people are exposed to the videos, it seems the more the resistance grows. So just like democracy, you will never account for everyone. But of those who

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Hikozaemon,

I am not asking you to trust Sea Shepherd. The video speaks for itself. Do you think they faked it? It is clear there is a faction that just refuses to honestly and reasonably assess the evidence that is available. Discussion with those in denial is futile.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Hikozaemon,

Both studies and video evidence show that it takes the dolphins 10 minutes to die. Autopsies show most drowned. You must not have watched the recent Sea Shepherd video. It shows the stabbed dolphin struggling for minutes after it is stabbed multiple times. It also shows these animals struggling tobe free of the ropes while they await their death. This is not like hunting by any stretch of the imagination. And video evidence shows the length of the suffering of the dolphins. Stacking up already dead dolphins is not the measure. It is how long each animal takes to die. Some of the video shows them dragging still struggling dolphins to the gutting barge...they are clearly not dead yet. Other video shows the handlers drowning dolphins they are trying to take for captivity. They hold them underwater in an attempt to exhaust them into submission. several drown by this method.

You are turning a blind eye to the real evidence of cruelty.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Hikozaemon,

The drive kills are not a hunt. These animals are herded, tied up by their tails and then stabbed and left to die. It takes an average of 10 minutes for them to die after the trauma of the herding and the towing around by their tails. Most of them die by drowning. I know of no other herded animal that is killed in such an inhumane method. The death as evidenced by Sea Shepherd video is hardly instantaneous which is the fishing ministry and the fishermen claim.

Perhaps in your OPINION it is not cruel. I believe however, your opinion is in the minority as evidenced by the outrage expressed by the world. Why a country would expose itself to worldwide opposition, disgust and ridicule for 26 fishermen is beyond me. Other Japanese communities that used to practice this barbaric practice have abandoned it, why put up with the arrogance of 26 bullheadedness fishermen. The actions and antics of Private Space alone is a sad representation of the Japanese people.

I get that the Japanese citizens do not like foreigners to force their opinion on Japan. But rational thought should prevail. I believe most reasonable people would find the drive kills cruel. The Japanese people should watch the videos - the cove and more recent SSCS video- make up their minds and then pressure their government to do what is right. Why Japanese nationalists protest showings of the The Cove is fascinating to me. If that happened in the states, it would make more people want to see it to see what they are trying to hide. Japan should end this national embarrassment.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 'Cove' director gives free DVDs to Taiji residents See in context

Zenny11 and Mr Japanese,

You are both welcome.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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