Japanese Whale Killers Destroy Sea Shepherd Ship Ady Gil

The Japanese ship Shonan Maru No. 2 rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd trimaran Ady Gil.

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

Six crew crew members, four from New Zealand, one from Australia, and one from the Netherlands were immediately rescued by the crew of the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker. None of the crew Ady Gil crew were injured.

Sea Shepherd believes the Japanese are trying to lure it's flagship vessel the Steve Irwin into range so they can again begin trailing it.

Since December, Japanese researchers have prevented Sea Shepherd conservationists from locating the whaling fleet by tailing the Steve Irwin and sending coordinates on its whereabouts to the whalers.

The Steve Irwin to continue tracking the whaling ships.

The conservation group now plan to pay a salvage vessel to tow its wreck to shore.

(Via Amir Gur)

Is Japan whaling just for spite?

The murderous Japanese fleet has been on its way for about two weeks now. Their proclaimed purpose is scientific research, but we all know they are simply out to hunt and kill as many whales as they can.

Four vessels, including the factory whaler Nisshin Maru, are in the South Pacific. Their declared aim is to kill 935 minke whales as well as 50 fin whales under a loophole in the 1986 global ban on commercial whaling that allows countries a hunt of an undefined size, provided the dead whales are used for scientific purposes.

The Japanese claim that whale meat is an integral part of their markets and diet. Interesting claim, because I just read in Peter Heller's article in the LA Times, that most Japanese don't eat whale meat at all. Here are the stats from Heller's article:

"Only 1% of Japanese regularly eat whale meat. Only 11% support whaling at all. More than 4,800 tons of surplus whale meat is being stockpiled in freezers..."

So it's not about food. It sure as hell isn't about science. So what are the Japanese really trying to do here? Enrage the world? Kill for fun? For tradition? For spite? Heller is trying to explain: "The Japanese depend on seafood for 40% of their protein. If they accept international regulation on whaling, strict controls on fisheries may follow...". So, basically, they are afraid the international community will cause them to STARVE?

This entire issue is puzzling and horrible. It seems the Japanese have no real reason for whaling, except for some stupid form of national pride, a way to show the rest of the world: "We don't give a shit about you".

Most amazing of all, is that they are getting away with it. Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd are on their way to stop the murder of whales, but that seems the extent of it. Aside for some weak protest, no country has really stood up against this senseless killing.

Here is what Sea Shepherd says on the matter: "We are obsessed with stopping the Cetacean Death Star, that viciously cruel killing machine otherwise known as the Nisshin Maru, and her ruthless fleet of hunter/killer boats armed with their explosive deadly blunt harpoons...".

All the best, guys. I hope you can stop those killers.

Japan Sets Out to Murder 1,000 Whales

Japan's whaling fleet set sail for the Antarctic, where it plans to capture and kill around 1,000 whales for "scientific" purposes - despite international protests.

For the first time, it plans to include around 50 humpback whales, which environmentalists say are still endangered.

It is feared that the Japanese will target the only White Humpback Whale in the world, named Migaloo.

A hard-line environmental group, Sea Shepherd, said Tuesday it planned to intercept Japan's whaling fleet in Antarctic waters as soon as possible.

An official with the group said its ship, Robert Hunter, was in dry dock preparing for a voyage to the Antarctic, and would sail from Melbourne on December 1st.

Japan argues that whale populations have recovered enough to allow a managed catch for scientific purposes - but much of the whale meat hauled in ultimately ends up on Japanese supermarket shelves.

There's no doubt about it - Japan is setting out for a voyage of murder. Fancy words won't change the facts.

I really hope they will be stopped. If you want to help out, you can donate to Sea Shepherd, or spread the word and don't let this atrocity pass you by.

>> Video coverage and updates of Japanese whaling