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IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Fish fingers (Japanese style)
- Thread starter Liverpool
- Start date
Liverpool said:
Not a trade deal as questioned-
International law states that a country has control over the waters to a radius of 200 nautical miles from any point of land that country has ownership of, so Australia has control of a lot of territorial waters given offshore islands like lord howe and christams islands. The problem with the whaling issue is that ownership of Antarctic islands is not regonised by every nation on earth due to the overlap, so although Australia claims ownership of quite a few islands down there, countries like Japan consider those waters to be international waters, where they have rights to conduct scientific research.
This is why the issue is condemed in the Australian court system, but is less so in international courts. A problem of course is that 'territorial' waters do not have any markers on them indicating the position you are in, and although a whaling vessel would be fully aware of it's position in realtion to territorial waters at all times, it is not going to abandon a hunt just because a pod of whales shows up in a patch of water that is almost impossible to patrol.
Sad picture of a Mum and her baby. :'(
Peter Garrett distressed by Southern Ocean whaling
February 07, 2008 10:20am
ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett has described as "distressing" photos showing the Japanese whaling fleet dragging aboard a dead mother whale and her calf.
He says the photos would help build up global opposition to whaling.
The images show a minke whale and her calf being harpooned and then winched onto the Japanese vessel Yushin Maru.
"I guess when I saw the photos I just felt a bit of a sick feeling as well as a sense of sadness,'' Mr Garrett told the Nine Network today.
"It's very disappointing. It's distressing when you think that it can take up to 15 minutes after a harpoon actually hits a whale for the whale to die.
"It's even sadder when you consider there's a calf involved.''
Mr Garrett says the photos reinforce Australia's view that killing whales in the Southern Ocean is wrong.
"Images like this, that have been captured in the past, have been very powerful forces in building up global and world opinion on this issue,'' he said.
"This isn't about science. It isn't about research ... they're calling it science but really it's killing whales.''
The Federal Government was determined to continue its campaign against the slaughter, he said.
"The full repertory that a government can bring to this issue, the Rudd Government is bringing to it.''
Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus says the Government now has legal evidence to back its fight to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean.
Mr Debus declared the Australian Customs monitoring of the whaling a success, and also announced it would be extended for an unspecified period of time.
A special whaling envoy would be appointed to talk with the Japanese and legal action had not been ruled out.
"We have got evidence of whaling being carried out in circumstances that we believe it should not be done,'' Mr Debus told reporters in Sydney.
"These photographs show the reality of the slaughter of these animals.
"They will help us to back up the Australian Government's argument in an international court case, the details of which are still to be worked out, that suggest that whaling should be stopped.''
Mr Debus refused to say how long the Oceanic Viking's mission would be extended, citing operational reasons.
The mission had been due to finish this week, he said.
"We have to consider the options on legal action because it's a big step to be taken,'' Mr Garrett said.
"But we're going to look at that very closely and some of the images that have been captured will inform that decision.
"We're in for the long haul and we'll continue the surveillance activities as long as necessary.''
In the exclusive photo shown here, taken in the past week, a minke mother is winched aboard the Japanese chaser vessel in the Southern Ocean.
Scientists say the calf was less than a year old.
Exhausted and disoriented after a pursuit from high-speed ships, both mammals were shot with harpoons packed with explosives.
Evidence of the injuries can be seen on the side of the calf.
The shocking images were captured by Australian Customs crew aboard the Oceanic Viking just metres away, sent to monitor whaling by the Federal Government, which intends to mount a legal challenge to the hunt.
They are the first images from the surveillance operation.
Scientists say the calf looks to be suckling age.
It is not known if the animals were alive when dragged aboard the Yushin Maru.
The Japanese had hunted away from the world's eyes after independent protest ships from Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society were forced back to Tasmania by low fuel supplies.
Japan wants to kill almost 1000 minkes and endangered fin whales.
If this report is accurate, looks like things have escalated in the Southern Ocean. Be interesting to see how Japan defend this (assuming its right)
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat--ady-gill-20100106-ltp4.html
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat--ady-gill-20100106-ltp4.html
