LAST night in The Southern Ocean, anti-whaling campaigners aboard The Steve Irwin rammed the Kaiko Maru from the starboard rear side.
According to the Japanese whalers:
The incident occurred when the Kaiko Maru was undertaking a detour in the ice pack area after completing the day’s research activities. The weather had deteriorated and fog had reduced visibility conditions to about 500m.
The Steve Irwin approached the Kaiko Maru from the starboard rear side and within two minutes the protesters aboard started throwing bottles, approximately 15 bottles of butyric acid.
After the ramming, the Dutch vessel pursued, repeatedly overtook and menacingly turned around the Kaiko Maru for approximately three hours, and thereafter changed course to the east where it disappeared from the Kaiko Maru radar.
I recently critiqued some of the campaigns against whaling, in particular the campaign in Albany, Western Australia, in the late 1970s, in an article* entitled ‘Imposing our preferences on whaling cultures’. In the same article I ask whether the last whaling cultures will survive.
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Photos via the Institute of Cetacean Research, Tokyo
* ‘Imposing our preferences on whaling cultures’ by Jennifer Marohasy, IPA Review, Vol 60/5, November 2008, pgs 39-41. http://www.ipa.org.au/library/publication/1229552555_document_60_5-distro.pdf (after clicking on the link, scroll down to page 39).
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Nice and one-sided as usual, from a highly reliable source.
How interesting that the author supports the slaughter of whales when concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls , chlorinated pesticides, and heavy metals and other elements in whale and dolphin tissue is rampant. Not only is there an environmental issue here but one of obfuscation by countries who persist in the slaughter of large marine life for consumption, with the knowledge that they are poisoning their people. So where did I read that Japan has the highest emissions of dioxins on the planet?
Mind you some Scandanavian countries warn that pregnant women should not eat whale meat – but tough titties for the rest of their citizens.
Then of course it is well known that Jennifer also supports DDT for vector control. One could perhaps see the logic in this support if the manufacturers had shown any ethical endeavours towards new research to replace this heinous organochlorine for vector control but why destroy the goose that lays the golden egg?
The Arctic Inuits are reported to now have the highest body burden of organochlorines of any group on the planet, a result of their marine diet.
So let’s bomb and destroy our marine life. What an excellent strategy to reduce this planet’s greatest predators – homosapiens and troglodytes!
The high seas clashes have lost all their entertainment value and are as well totally counterproductive.
The important issue now is will the IWC have any future?
The Norwegian whalers had recently their annual meeting and urged Norway to quit the IWC.They said the ” compromise talks ” recently in the IWC’s Small Working Group as well indicate that the compromise talks are quite useless and 15 years talks about the RMS/ RMP package have been as well useless.
The Norwegian Gov’t has seen the Scientific Committee as an useful tool , but now for the first time , they indicate that a withdrawal from the IWC might be possible after next years IWC meeting.
Neocons-The New Pesticide:
You have not supplied any hard scientific evidence for your post, and I doubt you understand what the term “neocon” means, for if you did you would not use it as an appellation.
As Forest Gump said, stupid is as stupid does.
Japan needs to stop the needless slaughter of whales, there is no need for it in this day and age. That said, what the “Steve Irwin” did could be construed as an act of piracy. Any one that believes they got lost in the fog and low and behold were right next to the “Kaik Maru” either is an owner of the Brooklyn Bridge or has a growing nose. The crew of the “Steve Irwin” does the world a great service by letting the world know exactly what these killers are doing to our oceans, but ramming another ship is way above the call of duty. The captain should remove himself from command and apoligize to his crew for this reckless and very dangerous act.
ouch. i read over the “IPA review” paper that Jennifer linked. i have rarely seen that much garbage in print.
is “survival of the last whaling culture” really the most interesting aspect of fishing these days?
I don’t appreciate comments here from cowards but humans are omnivores and, for good or worse, we need to consume meat.
For reasons I do not understand, some humans need to eat whale-meat. I eat tuna, sardines, occasionally shark when it is presented as a more harder to eat cow, and other meats.
Could it be that the opposition to harvesting whales is based not on biological fact but from ignorance manipulated by those who would profit from this?
So who really are the useful idiots.
“Could it be that the opposition to harvesting whales is based not on biological fact but from ignorance manipulated by those who would profit from this?”
Not at all Louis Hissink. By the way, only “useful idiots” would eat shark which is also heavily contaminated with methyl mercury. Tsk tsk and you like to eat tuna too? Hmmmm….
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/09/exit-strategy-tuna-surprise.html?welcome=true
“As Forest Gump said, stupid is as stupid does.”
As a sailor who observes maritime rules, I believe Paul Watson and the “Steve Irwin” are violating the rules of the sea, and should be charged under international maritime law. Not for piracy, because they aren’t boarding the whaling vessels, but they are behaving as privateers operating outside maritime law.
As such, they should not be allowed entry to any port that observes international law, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, etc etc.
Watson is operating outside of all recognised maritime law, as are Somali pirates.
Let the law of the sea fail, we will lose international sea lanes.
Have to agree with you Sod. Thanks for the information Ann.
Re: Neocons (etc) comment –
“How interesting that the author supports the slaughter of whales when concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls , chlorinated pesticides, and heavy metals and other elements in whale and dolphin tissue is rampant.”
So let’s ram the whaling ship! Yeah right!That is the real problem with environmentalist acitivism – throw over the rule of law because I (I being the activist) am right. And if I am right, then I am justified in breaking the law.
What sort of upside down, inside out, back the front thinking is this?
Someone is doing something that I think is wrong, therefor I am entitled to do whatever I think is necessary to stop them.
That is precisely the thinking that promoted the Inquisition, or McCarthyism, or the dictatorship of the proletariat or…. etc etc. Once a society, any society, condones the overthrow of the principle of the rule of law (commonly exemplified by the fact that even the King is subject to the law), that society countenances its own destruction.
Why? Because EVERYONE has DIFFERENT ideas about what is the right thing to do – if JUST ONE person is entitled to act unilaterally to promote her/is own view, then EVERYONE is so entitled. The result is anarchy – by definition the destruction of the society.
Ramming another vessel on the high seas falls into that category – why not have the Japanese vessels ramming the “goodies”? What is the logical difference? None.
Camapaigns against whaling (and anything else) should be waged within the law or not at all.
Corporate twit,
Back up your fantasies with hard fact – not the unsubstantiated hypebole you seem to favour. And note from your changing name you might suffer from multiple personality disorder?
I notice that China has recently sent two advanced destroyers and a support vessel to patrol the Somalian coast and protect their interests in the region.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Japan does the same in Antarctica.
Sea Shepherd wouldn’t get my support if Japan stuck it to them and they came away bleating, which is what they would do.
My dear Louis Hissink
My humble apologies for offending you. I actually changed my pseudonym to please you – the title far more appropriate it appears when dealing with abusive rock apes who resort to ad hominens.
Oh yes……the evidence you requested – with pleasure Louis:
http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2145
http://inuitcircumpolar.indelta.ca/index.php?auto_slide=&ID=161&Lang=En&Parent_ID=¤t_slide_num=
http://www.tos.org/oceanography/issues/issue_archive/issue_pdfs/19_2/19.2_cs_dewailly.pdf
http://www.eia-international.org/files/reports84-1.pdf
http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/POPs_Inc/press_releases/pressrel-99/pr33.htm
Should you require more links, just let fly with another rant. I’m only too happy to oblige.
Kohl Pierson
Is that a Danish name, Kohl? If so, have you seen the pretty pictures from the Motherland?:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/denmark-whaling.shtml
Now Kohl, in regard to your innuendo, please show me where I have indicated support for the Steve Irwin’s alleged ramming of a Japanese vessel.
Jennifer suggests that we are “imposing our preferences on whaling cultures,” however, Japan’s whaling fleet is in the Antarctic region for an annual hunt aimed at catching about 900 whales, which Tokyo says is carried out for scientific research purposes. “Whaling cultures” indeed!
Japan officially stopped whaling under a 1986 global moratorium, but continues to take hundreds of whales under the “research” programme but much of the meat ends up on dinner tables or as dog food. So which is it Kohl? Research or culinary tastes? Is lying too unlawful? Or do you accept lying as a mere peccadillo?
The Australian Whale Sanctuary, which protects all whales and dolphins in Australian waters, was proclaimed in 2000. These waters include a 200-mile wide stretch adjacent to Australia’s Antarctic territory, in which an estimated 1300 whales were killed by Japanese company Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha between 2000 and 2006 which was unlawful but my how quick you are to condemn my fellow Australians on the Steve Irwin, eh?
mareeS,
spot on.
so for this year they haven’t boarded a japanese ship. but they did last year and two crew were able to place gps tracking devices aboard. and the two crew of the steve irwin were held on board for quite a while before being released. piracy on the high seas, plain and simple.
watson even said “when a vessel is boarded on the high seas its an act of piracy” this was when the canadians boarded and seized the farley mowat. but when he is doing it, it is all right?
and to even think that you could just come up on one of the other ships in the area unexpectedly. unlikily, the steve irwin has radar onboard. thats how they located the japanese fleet in the first place.
filling your bow with concrete and strapping a huge metal spike over the side is premediation. the japanese would be well within their rights to either seize the ship or sink it.
and another thing. last year the steve irwin needed assistance because two activists on board an inflatable craft were lost in dense fog. and the japanese actually responded to the distress call. When the missing men were found, Captain Watson sent a message to the Japanese captain thanking him for helping – then politely informed him that the Steve Irwin would “return to the business of upholding international conservation law against illegal Japanese whaling operations. boy doesn’t that suck.
Jennifer,
“Imposing our preferences on whaling cultures” – perhaps you could try using the Mabo judgement on the concept of Terra Nullius, sideways, as a precedent to support your argument.
My dear Louis Hissink
This post is now my third attempt to supply you with the evidence you requested. Somehow, more recent posts have been published here but alas, not mine. Perhaps I exceeded a word count so I have truncated my response this time. Should this post too not be published here, I shall transfer the details of your request (and this response) to your own blog site or another. You know the old adage: “If at first you don’t succeed…… never give up?”
And my humble apologies if I’ve offended you. I actually changed my pseudonym since you disapproved of the original and this title is far more appropriate it appears when dealing with abusive rock apes who resort to ad hominens.
Oh yes……the evidence you requested – with pleasure Louis:
http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2145
http://inuitcircumpolar.indelta.ca/index.php?auto_slide=&ID=161&Lang=En&Parent_ID=¤t_slide_num=
http://www.tos.org/oceanography/issues/issue_archive/issue_pdfs/19_2/19.2_cs_dewailly.pdf
http://www.eia-international.org/files/reports84-1.pdf
http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/POPs_Inc/press_releases/pressrel-99/pr33.htm
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/denmark-whaling.shtml
Should you require more links, just let fly with another rant. I’ll be only too happy to oblige.
Re comment from Corporate rogues..etc etc
“Now Kohl, in regard to your innuendo, please show me where I have indicated support for the Steve Irwin’s alleged ramming of a Japanese vessel.”
Eh?
As an aside, the IPA publication really does present a fairly bleak picture of the quality of conservative “thought” in this country. Page after page of angry, angst ridden contrarianism. Kevin Rudd is attacked for spending more nights overseas than JWH. No analysis of whether either of the two men used this time prudently, presumably the IPA is now hysterically isolationist having seen the pitfalls of globalisation. I didn’t get to the whaling article as the preceding 38 pages didn’t fill me with hope that the experience would be at all enlightening.
Anyway I girded my loins and made it to page 39. However as I mounted the summit I found myself gazing on very familiar terrain. The author displays the trademark conservative apologetic strategy of trying to keep her biases well concealed. Here the author employs a single obscure source to present her case for her. To wit: the Albany whaling operation was closed down by a group of religious zealots bent of saving whales for their own sake.
Little analysis is given over to the fact that the whaling industry in this country was represented by this single operation. The decline in the industry was such that Albany was the only station left and it was finding it hard to keep going well before the protests. Indeed the peak for the whaling industry was the 19th and early 20th centuries, by mid century the products from the Albany operation were being replaced by synthetics. The author disingenuously connects the decline of the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company with cultural oppression of other whaling nations. She waxes eloquent with regard to the respect with which some of these nations kill and use whales. How this is relevant to the Albany operation is never resolved. Is the author trying to convince us that Albany was the last outpost of an Australian whaling culture? If so it had rather less respect for its resources than did Japan. No whales killed at Albany were used in ritual meals or given burials in whale cemeteries. The author wants desperately to let her barely concealed hatred of the environmental movement have it’s head and is torn between that wanton desire and protecting her own self perception as some kind of sage who can only inform the debate.
In the end she fails both to present a cogent argument and disguise her rampant anti-green stance.
Hmmm, Patrick B says Jennifer hates the environmental movement. True , but she loves to make a buck .
I see that she has an ad for WSPA on her commercial site. The article she has written lacks all professionalism , knowledge and in depht analysis from coastal whaling communities .
What I want to point out is the lack of principles here Jen! On one hand you say that you’re a different NGO and next you post ads for those who you criticise! LOL!
Re Watson he tried to sink the Norwegian whaler ” Nybraena ” back in 1992. The Norwegians wanted to prosecute Watson for this , but the Netherlands refused to leave out Watson for the court.
The Animalplanet series called “Whale Wars” is an eye opener.
A test tube case of liberal government in action.
The Captian of the “Steve Irwin” (sort of weasel to name the ship that) is a ruthless autocrat without regard for morals, laws, or propriety. His crew are an assortment of layabouts, drifters, and airheads, most of whom seem to think they are on a “dress up and pretend we are pirates” theme cruise.
Most of the show focus is on the heavy ham handed attempts by the captain to assert absolute authority over this herd of children in adult bodies.
Their parents must get a chuckle.
Have to point out some errors from Jennifer’s Online piece about whaling. My Inglish is very bed , but as I have understood , Jennifer criticised that the Australian sperm whale industry ended???
For readers information , the Norwegian Gov’t states ( 2008) :
” The minke whale is the smallest of the baleen whales, and minke whaling is entirely different from the industrial, capital-intensive whaling of the past, which targeted the large whale species and where whale oil was the most important product. This form of whaling has long been consigned to the history books.”
Norwegian Gov’t whaling policy ( 2008) :
http://www.norway.org.uk/policy/environment/whaling/whaling.htm
You must also note that the Gov’t lowered this years whaling quota!
Re the moratorium, as far as I have understood there is only an Norwegian objection to minke whaling .Some people who also support minke whaling think it was good to introduce the moratorium. ( Actually I received an article from the whalers that stated this). You can see it on my blog.
Re the IWC, it was the first time at the annual whaler’s meeting that the Gov’t might discuss next year to leave the IWC. Drawbacks with NAMMCO is that it only consists of 4 member nations.
Hi Jen
I recently wrote a short article about whom I believe was Victoria’s first “conservationist” Born in Tassie he and his brother whaled from west Victorian beaches and the Henty’s incorporated their business when they established their “settlement”. Charles Mills passionatly argued for an end to the practise of lancing Southern Right Whale calves and cows “lest the great fish dissapear” at the first “International” whaling convention at Warnambool.
Charles advice was not heeded, and Charles survived to see the end of Victorian Whaling and the complete demise of the eastern pod of the Souther Right. Charles’s views were not the moral ones many Aussies have today about whales, rather he sought to preserve a resource for future generations.
Ironically almost all we know about the sustainability of southern whale species comes from Japans much deplored “scientific” whaling.
Kind Regards
Murray
“Ironically almost all we know about the sustainability of southern whale species comes from Japans much deplored “scientific” whaling.”
Sorry Murray, not sure what you mean by this. Australians caused the demise of SRWs in Australian waters and Japan has had basically zip to do with this species anywhere as far as I can recall.
Cheers Libby
I meant southern whale species in general not the southern right in particular
Apologies for the lack of clarity
Regards Murray
Hey Murray, my mistake. You wrote southern whales and I inserted the ‘right’ which was wrong! Thanks for your contribution, and apologies for my lack of attention to detail!
Your welcome Libby
For a somewhat romantic account of Charles whaling activities go here
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=NcczvZR3_-gC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=charles+mill+whaling&source=web&ots=xBIKdpRgK2&sig=odnfHIpE9hu4oFNwOaIZvrmmxlI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result
The story about the missing beef is verified but a different version given in Marnie Bassets book the Henty’s. ( Charles refused to have the men go about the task of cutting and rendering the whale once it had eventually been beached “untill the men had rum and beef, and a day to recover from their labours” (( to be supplied by FH )) There are also varying accounts of the reason for the naming of the “convincing ground” also. Marnie also wrote that the men often went days inland in search of “wives” and certainly the depredations the year after this account was written against the locals were carried out in same manner of efficiency as the hunt for the whale.
For his time Charles was an outstanding example of courage and colonial spirit.
I like to think this vier for Victoria’s first seasonal white occupier was also our first conservationist ( In spite of his donging a few seals on the head Lol )
Regards Murray
Thanks for the links Murray. It’s fascinating reading from a very different era.
I have watched this on TV. The Captain of the Steve Irwin should be arrested and charged with all applicable laws by the High Courts of Japan and International and Maritme Laws. He is a terrorist. Plane and simple. I understand he feels a cause for the whales. But that does not condone terrorism or piracy. His crew did board the Japanese vessels. They should all be tried at Pirates whether you agree with whaling or not. This is a civilized world. There are ways to deal with things you arent happy about.
Japanese Captains have shown great restraint in dealing with this. I would not be so gentle.