(Taken from the seashepherd newsletter) Japan is returning to Antarctica to illegally slaughter over 1,000 whales this next whaling season. Consequently, Sea Shepherd will also be returning: to stop them from doing so. Sea Shepherd is launching its 5th Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Musashi. Considering the Humpbacks may also be at risk, again, this campaign will be our most important to date... 2008-2009 Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Musashi Operation MusashiAt the 60th annual IWC conference in Santiago, Chile, Captain Watson announced Sea Shepherd's intention to return to Antarctica for our 5th campaign against illegal Japanese Whaling. This year's campaign will be called Operation Musashi in reference to the legendary Japanese strategist, Miyamoto Musashi. The name Operation Musashi was chosen to reflect Sea Shepherd's approach of aggressive, yet nonviolent, confrontation and the increasing global awareness of Japan's ongoing illegal whaling activities; thus the crossed feather pen and katana (sword) under the skull with the imbedded sperm whale and dolphin yin-yang symbol. The Banzai flag background gives reference to the ecological imperialism that Japan is committing against the whales of the Southern Ocean. Japanese Whalers Using Humpbacks to Blackmail the IWC Humpbacks in AntarcticaOnce again the Japanese whalers are threatening to slaughter Humpbacks unless they get permission to slaughter a thousand Piked whales and fifty endangered Fin whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary in December of 2008 and January through March of 2009. Sea Shepherd has the ability to shut down illegal Japanese whaling activities in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The laws are clear, the situation is clear; all that is needed is enforcement. Sea Shepherd can supply that enforcement. Read the full report here http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080704_2.html We have begun preparations for our next Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Musashi. There is no place for whaling in the 21st century, and we will not rest until there is a permanent end to the killing of whales. With your support, we can stop the senseless slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean. I thank-you for helping to make it possible. (Taken from the seashepherd newsletter)
Re: Sea Shepherd update What I don't get is that apparently there was a ton of whale meat left over from last year's season... Very, very few people in Japan eat whale and even fewer eat it with anything approaching regularity. I've had it a couple of times (and to be honest...it's pretty good) but after even a bit of cursory thinking I won't be doing that again. It really is senseless and contributing to that in even a little way is pretty unconscionable. And, amid all this, the Japanese news is all ablaze with how the rising cost of gas might cause the price of fish to rise and further hurt the industry. Wouldn't it be more economical to use the resources devoted to whaling and put them to use in a more economical (and politically friendly) form of fishing?
Re: Sea Shepherd update Thanks for the update Anton! When i was in Japan a few months back i came across this shop, a few blocks away form the Tokyo fish markets. I respect the whole native title and cultural fishing thing but the Japanese boats are sneaking into protected waters. Rules that currently allow the scientific whaling programme need to be changed within the International Whaling Commission. It's an utter bloodbath. For an animal they have such respect and a connection with, they don't show any remorse. Just slaughter and over-fish the waters til nothing is left. Another slab of high priced meat on the table for diners. My opinion is, there should be a worldwide ban in place and it needs to be enforced. Makes me very sad!
Re: Sea Shepherd update Me either. There's a couple of places you can get good FRESH Whalemeat in Shinjuku & Shibuya. The Whalemeat Association of Great Britain has a couple of recipes here too: http://www.geocities.com/pamawa.geo/whales.htm
Re: Sea Shepherd update That dude who created that incredibly witty page lives in Norway and works for the slavation army. wheres the shiver emoticon.
Re: Sea Shepherd update Yeah, that IS kinda creepy isn't it! To be honest, I'm confused & torn over this issue. I've tried Whalemeat a couple of times and was, frankly, disappointed. One cut is called 'Bacon', and though meaty rather than fishy in both taste & texture, it's nothing like the rashers I know & love. I've NEVER seen cans of Whalemeat like those pictured, and young Japanese hardly ever eat it at all nowadays. Fact is, there are only 9 boats still involved in the hunting of whales left in Japan, and they only hunt the smaller whales, mainly Minke, which are not protected. The factory ships of old are long-gone. Also, who says the Japanese whale-hunt is illegal? For all that they are bending the rules (I would be the first to admit that the 'scientific' argument is bollocks), as far as I know it takes place in international waters, and is licensed by the Japanese government, with the tacit approval of the IWC. Can you show me evidence to the contrary? It's not a challenge - I just can't find any myself ... only rabid claims by blatant criminals like the Sea Shepherd crew. Meanwhile Norway openly continues with COMMERCIAL whaling. Most rational quote I could find: "The three largest fishing companies in Japan recently issued a statement that they intended to have nothing to do with whale meat as it was a waste of their time and money because no one wanted to eat it. It's stuff like this that will eventually stop the whale fests in the S pacific. No amount of outside pressure will get the Japanese government to stop, as it's essentially a willy waving contest. Social change and business reality inside Japan will eventually stop it." Anyway, here's a thing you can do if you don't find yourself in a position to actually throw acid at Japanese fishermen: http://www.send-a-whale.com/sendawhale/landing.php Courtesy of Greenpeace, you can make a cool virtual origami whale to send the Japanese government!
Re: Sea Shepherd update If someone was hunting to kill your family. Wouldnt you do everything in your power to save each and every individual. Thats what they are doing. (I havnt hit the whale origami link) but, im pretty sure its the exact reason Paul Watson formed his organisation. Its a subtle way to get the message across, hopefully, eventually.(and I encourage anyone reading to do it) Untill then they we need people like Paul and his crew and their supporters.
Re: Sea Shepherd update It's strange, what meat we feel guilt free consuming, beef, chicken, tuna, pork, then to imagine a whale or dolphin being eaten and feel repulsed or at least I do. And when I think of whales, for some reason, maybe it's their size, I always kind of think of them as mythical, like true sea monsters. To me it shouldn't be done. Yes it's practical, you can harvest alot of meat, bone, oil from a single animal. But the gigantic creatures that still inhabit our planet, they should be treated with awe and wonder. Could you imagine if you were on a boat and looked down into the water and saw a whale the size of that boat below you, why would you want to kill it and consume it, you'd probably tell your kids and grand kids that story. Aside from that, I've seen the videos of the japanese killing dolphins, and there's nothing humane about it. It's torturous the way they kill those animals. If they ended their lifes quickly with a shot through the brain maybe I'd be more understanding. But to inflict that kind of pain on a living animal is barbaric, and they're lucky I still buy their toys after seeing it.
Re: Sea Shepherd update A lot of this is cultural and different aspects of culture. But cmon...I really don't think there is any difference from the way humans kill dolphins or cows. Neither is very humane. And..No offense but it's sounds a little bit ignorant when you say.."they're lucky I still buy "THEIR" toys."
Re: Sea Shepherd update I'll give you that. I shouldn't have said it like that, I still buy their toys. I just got caught up in the fury of the moment. I know the Japanese toy makers have nothing to do with the dolphin fishers. But still it's nasty and brutal the way they kill dolphins just look at a video. And the killing methods of cattle are from my understanding quick and much more humane.
Re: Sea Shepherd update Sure..killing any animal is disheartening but I guess...Norway, Japan and Iceland currently hunt whales in the so called "illegal" area and get most of the fury for it even though they use the meat, and hunt for practical purposes. However, the US, Canada, Indonesia, Philleapenes and Russia hunt whales as well as a few other countries...and we don't really discuss that. To me one of the worse acts of senseless killing comes from deer hunting, bear hunting or/and fox hunting..where it's more sport then for practical means (even though some hunters do eat deer meat.)
Re: Sea Shepherd update I didn't look at this thread before, but Sea Shepard's use of the rising sun symbol and the name Musashi pisses me off. It's essentially a mockery of Japanese culture. They even used the damn stereotypical "oriental" lettering. Did they find that on an A&F t-shirt? Ugh. Sorry. Something about it just doesn't sit well with me.
Re: Sea Shepherd update This is the link to the website on the ship. In the name of science, so they say! http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm
Re: Sea Shepherd update These guys arnt design geeks. Somehow that concerns seem trivial. Edit: I like how they have appropriated the Japanese military flag. I dont see how this is a mockery of Japanese culture. Why cant seashepard use Musashis theories as a guiding light? Yes the design is provocative in nature but it makes people think. It turns the iconogrophy on its head.
Re: Sea Shepherd update It's not an aesthetic concern. It just seems really presumptuous for them to appropriate names and icons of considerable Japanese cultural significance simply to promote their own aims. Especially when you consider that they're targeting Japanese whalers. Maybe it was meant to be ironic. I don't know. And, in conclusion, that is why whale hunting is bad. There we go, back on track.
Re: Sea Shepherd update i was editing/ adding to my response while you were responding to mine. So in response to your concerns please re read my comments above. Is this facetiousness? Akumen. I like you so pls dont take any of my ramblings personally.
Re: Sea Shepherd update I saw a dead baby porpoise on the beach above the Cliff House this weekend in SF. It was surreal. Especially since I make shirts that look like this: This is a theological statement rooted in irony. Have you seen dolphin heaven? I've only dreamt of it. I do not support the slaughter of dolphins or whales. And it's amazing this shit still happens in 2008.
Re: Sea Shepherd update So GERMS out of curiosity are you against whaling in general or just "illegal" whaling? I'm trying to understand more this thread and your point of view.
Re: Sea Shepherd update Hey Bryce, I think killing whales (legally or illegally) or any animals for food in this day and age is unnecessary and more than a little selfish. So I dont do it its easy. I have even bigger respect for vegans. Thats harder to accomplish (in my eyes). I suppose I too am a little selfish as I still eat eggs though free range, cheese, chocolate and bread, all containing byproducts from what amounts to an uncaring murderous human regime. But something is better than nothing right? The world is full of grey areas. But I consider abstaining from the practice of eating animals, a practice which causes so much harm, suffering, loss and fear, an infinitely easy and clear thing to do. I hope this gives you a little insight as to where I come from on this topic.
Re: Sea Shepherd update Ecological Reality Catches Up With Norwegian Whalers For all their talk about how whales are as numerous as cockroaches and so numerous that their numbers must be kept under control, the criminal whaling fleet of Norway will end its illegal whaling season with only about 50% of it’s quota. Out of a self set quota of 1,052 whales the Norwegians have killed 533 Piked (Minke) whales. "I don't think we will do it," said Bjoern-Hugo Bendiksen, chairman of the Norwegian Whalers' Union. This is the same Bjoern-Hugo Bendiksen who claimed that there are over 700,000 Piked whales in the North Atlantic and who claimed that the animals were far more numerous than what conservationists claim. “If they are so numerous, than why have they not caught them?” asked Captain Paul Watson, President and Founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “In years past they have blamed the weather. Now they are being forced to admit that they have no idea how many whales are left.” Norway is in blatant violation of the global moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. Japan uses the pretext of “scientific whaling” to justify their illegal activities whereas Norway simply ignores the moratorium. Norway's whale catches have been declining in recent years. In 2004 fishermen hunted 639 animals from a total quota of 796. Last year they caught just 597, out of a quota of 1,052 – the highest quota allowed since 1993. Around 30 ships were involved in this year's hunting season. “They never reach the quotas they set because their greed is dictating a take that the eco-system simply cannot deliver,” said Captain Watson. “The whales are in trouble and the Norwegian whalers are poachers hunting a species with unsustainable numbers.” The Piked or Minke whale is considered as "threatened with extinction" according to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which bans its international trade. The common Minke whale is viewed as "near threatened" according to the Red List of the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the second lowest step on its "Red List", its classification of endangered species. In August, the IUCN said common Minke whales, along with other big whales, were slowly recovering from the threat of extinction thanks to the 1986 moratorium. “What Norway is doing is criminal and immoral. The Norwegian government is allowing the poaching of a species that is listed as threatened. Yet Norway preaches conservation to the underdeveloped world in an arrogant ‘do as we say not as we do attitude’,” said Captain Watson. Taken from Seashepherd site http://www.seashepherd.org/
