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Japanese Whalers Accused of 'Military-Grade' Weapons Againt Protesters
Japan's whaling authorities have denied claims by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that whalers have used "military-grade" concussion grenades, acoustic weapons and solid brass and lead balls against the environmental group.
TOKYO - Two of the crew of the Steve Irwin have sustained injuries in the clashes in poor weather in Antarctic waters, according to Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd and captain of the ship. One campaigner was injured after being struck by a water cannon, the other hit in the face by a metal ball.
File image shows two whales (front and partly seen at right) being dragged on board a Japanese whaling ship after being harpooned in Antarctic waters. Japanese whalers were accused Monday of injuring two anti-whaling activists in a high seas clash in the Antarctic and of deploying a new "military grade" acoustic weapon against protesters. (AFP/Australian Customs Service/Ho) "Our research whaling fleet only used water cannons and did not use any other weapons," said Toshinori Uoya, a spokesman for the Far Seas Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo.
"The fleet did use water canons, but only to prevent them from approaching their own vessels in inflatable craft," he said. "They did not target the crew and only fired at the boats."
The agency's claims are in stark contrast to Sea Shepherd's reports of the clashes.
"It is a very dramatic scene out here as ships zig zag back and forth in thick ice and heavy swells," said Watson. "The whalers are deploying water cannons, concussion grenades, acoustic weapons, and throwing solid brass and lead balls at Sea Shepherd crewmembers.
"If we were to do any of the things these thugs are doing, we would be denounced as eco-terrorists," he said. "There certainly is a double standard where whale killers can use violence without fear of condemnation from their government and we can't even defend ourselves without condemnation from our governments."
The fisheries agency denied that the whaling fleet is equipped with long-range acoustic equipment that enables it to emit high-frequency sound waves that cause disorientation and nausea.
"What is important however is that despite the violence from the whalers, no whales are being killed," he added. "They can't get away from us and if we keep on their tail they can't kill whales."
The agancy's Uoya confirmed that the fleet had been forced to halt its whaling operations but declined to give a figure on how many whales the fleet have already harpooned.
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7 Comments so far
Show AllSea Shepherd is one of the only well known eco groups worth donating to.
Greenpeace has too many double standards. WWF and Sierra Club are partly fronts for hunting and fishing interests. Nature Conservancy hires hunters to kill "nuisance" wildlife.
"To be humane is to be cruel, vicious and unrestrained, like humans.
To be inhumane is to be compassionate, restrained, moderate, like non humans."
Support all real environmental groups, particularly Sea Shepherd.
http://www.seashepherd.org/
Ezeflyer, I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly. I'm happy to be a supporter of the Sea Shepherd, her brave crew, and Captain Watson. From the moment I discovered these committed environmentalists, their courageous actions against the callous, needless whaling interests impressed and compelled me. Years of pointless appeals via committees, hearings and petitions to nations such as Japan and Norway have yielded no meaningful progress in the battle to end the barbaric and unnecessary "industry" of commercial whaling. Sea Shepherd simply acknowledges the regrettable fact that there will always be brutes in this world with whom you cannot reason or negotiate. I wish them all the best and hope that these recent attacks on anti-whaling activists will bring even more shame upon the despicable whalers. I encourage any readers tired of talk and empty promises and eager to support bold, direct action to send whatever you can to Sea Shepherd.
Anyone who watched the series on Sea Shepard last Fall on the Discovery Channel must agree that the leadership of the organization is made up of overgrown juvenile deliquents who are willing to endanger the lives of the volunteer crew with impunity. Watson is no hero,nor are the 2 others in "command" of the ship.I agree the whales should be protected but not for the sake of the "captains" ego.
Convenient for some couch potato to make harsh critique of people who have dedicated their lives, and risk their lives, to save whales and other fellow sentients. You're post expresses the complacent laziness inherent in far too many humans these days: you just sit back and pass judgment on the basis of nothing but a "reality" television show. You've never been out there, you don't know what it's like. So hold back your judgments for something you actually know something about - if there is, indeed, anything that qualifies.
Paul Watson is one of the most intelligent, knowledgeable, and educated people I have ever met. And Peter Hammerstead is likewise intelligent and very capable - I'm proud to call him my friend. I have never met Peter Brown, but I'm not going to pass judgment on a man who's served for more than a decade with SSCS simply on the basis of a television show.
Pathetic.
"Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the shadow"
If the "reality" television program shows those jerks at there best I would not want to see their worst. By the way, you don't know me so don't pass judgement on how I think or who I am. Grow up and stop the hypocrisy.