An End to Japanese Whaling?

I seriously doubt it, despite the Greenpeace report in Wildlife Extra News.. It's too much a matter of international pride. (I know, I know, I'm always a pessimist....but I'm so good at it!)

A major review of Japanese government spending could spell the end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, according to Greenpeace, after the review committee proposed massive cuts in subsidies to a body which funds the so-called scientific research programme.

The Spending Review Committee recommended that the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Fund (OFCF), which gives loans to the Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) to run the discredited science programme, have all of its funding revoked, except monies needed for loans in 2010.

Greenpeace Appropriates Martha's Vineyard Times to Deliver Message to Obama

Greenpeace issued a document in Martha's Vineyard calling itself the "Martha's Vineyard Future Times" and distributed it on the streets there. It was made to look like the real Martha Vineyard Times, which was not too happy about it. You can read about their reaction here.

And, here are photos of them handing the flyers out (via Greenpeace I might add).

Greenpeace Drops Boulders in Fishing Grounds to Halt Trawling

Very action oriented for them. Are they trying for their own Animal Planet show?

Where the Hell is Greenpeace?

So what's up with Greenpeace and this whole whaling thing? The Japanese are trying to kill whales right now, but you would hardly know it from the Greenpeace web site. Yes they have a few links to stories about it, but it hardly seems to be of much importance. This is what they are all about isn't it? Yes, I know they do other things, but don't you think they should be raising hell during whaling season. Am I missing something here?

I'll be honest, I'm more partial to Sea Shepherd's aggressive tactics. And not just because of the bad-ass t-shirt I bought. But, aside from the aggressive tactics, Sea Shepherd is trying to stop the whaling

Greenpeace raised a stink, chased them for a bit with the Esperanza and then went home while patting themselves on the back for delaying them for two whole weeks. Pah! What kind of crap is that? Use whatever tactics you want, but at least have some fire in the belly. A two week reprieve is all they're willing to give the whales? That hardly seems like much of a return on investment for anyone donating to save the whales. Paul Watson may be controversial, but at least you know if you give him money it will go to where the rubber hits the road so to speak.

Again, I don't ask that they adopt Sea Shepherd's tactics. But I do think they owe it to the whales to do more then delay a death sentence.

Sea Shepherd Blasts Greenpeace for Not Releaseing Whaler Coordinates

I've said it many times, but I'll say it again. I think it's lame that Greenpeace won't cooperate by giving out the position of the Japanese whale killers.

Sea Shepherd is accusing Greenpeace of "protecting" them.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has stopped chasing the Japanese whaling factory ship the Nisshin Maru and is heading back to New Zealand.

Sea Shepherd 2nd Officer Peter Hammarstedt called Greenpeace Campaign Leader Karli Thomas on the Esperanza to request the position of the Nisshin Maru. She responded by saying that it was not necessary for Sea Shepherd to have the coordinates for the Nisshin Maru because the Oceanic Viking would continue documenting the activities of the factory ship to carry on the work that Greenpeace has been doing.

In other words, asked Mr. Hammarstedt, “You aren't interested in Sea Shepherd preventing the killing of whales now that you've left?” Ms. Thomas responded by saying that Greenpeace had no intention of cooperating with Sea Shepherd and then hung up.

They would rather have whales die while the Oceanic Viking "bears witness" to the slaughter then cooperate.

Greenpeace Tries and Fails to Block Japanese Whalers From Refueling

Pretty exciting video, but I understand they only delayed it.



Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd is furious that they failed.

The Japanese whaling fleet has moved one step closer to the resumption of killing the whales with the failure by Greenpeace to prevent the refueling of the Nisshin Maru by the Panamanian registered Oriental Bluebird.

"Greenpeace had the opportunity to prevent the refueling. They were there and they allowed the refueling to proceed," said Captain Paul Watson. "That is unforgivable. The reason they gave for backing off was that is was too dangerous. Of course it's dangerous. Stopping the whaling fleet is not a game. If Greenpeace is not willing to take the risks they should at least cooperate with those who are willing to take such risks."

Twice before the Oriental Bluebird has broken off refueling just at the approach of a Sea Shepherd ship.

"We could have been there to stop the refueling but Greenpeace refused to supply the coordinates. This caused us to fall behind a day. We could have had them and we could have stopped them," said Captain Watson. "This refusal by Greenpeace to cooperate with Sea Shepherd is going to get a lot of whales killed and that is unconscionable. It's a disgrace."

Ouch. I don't think that will convince Greenpeace to copperate.

Greenpeace Still Refuses to Cooperate with Sea Shepherd

OK, I suppose Sea Shepherd has managed to get most of the publicity despite Greenpeace being the first to find the whaling fleet, but I still think they ought to say where the fleet is.

But, they won't.

After picking up the two Sea Shepherd crewmembers from the Yushin Maru No. 2 the Oceanic Viking notified the Steve Irwin to head for a rendezvous point a few hours away. This was unusual considering that the Yushin Maru No. 2 was only about ten miles away at the time. The Steve Irwin was forced to stop tailing the Yushin Maru No. 2 to meet up with the Oceanic Viking. This allowed the whaler to head off in an unknown direction to rejoin the factory ship Nisshin Maru.

After dropping off Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane, the Oceanic Viking headed off in a direction away from the Japanese fleet. The fleet then apparently changed course and has now been lost from Sea Shepherd. Greenpeace tagging along with the Nishin Maru has reported that the catcher boats have met back up with the main fleet.

Although Sea Shepherd has been relaying the position of the catcher boats to the Greenpeace ship Esperanza for the last three days, Greenpeace refuses reciprocate and refuses to reveal the present location of the fleet.

“With “allies” like the Australian government and Greenpeace, it is becoming increasing difficult to keep the Japanese fleet from killing whales,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Australian Customs deliberately led us away from the fleet and Greenpeace is guarding the coordinates like the crown jewels to prevent us re-locating the fleet.”

Whalers Found!

Greenpeace has found the Japanese Whaling Fleet. Good for them. Let's hope they share the information with the world about where they are.

A GREENPEACE protest ship is in pursuit of a fleet of Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean after finding the vessels early this morning.

Expedition leader aboard the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza Karli Thomas said the six Japanese ships fled when Greenpeace located them shortly after midnight (AEDT).

"The first thing they did when we approached them was to scatter and run," Ms Thomas said.

"We stayed with the factory ship the Nisshin Maru, which is always the major target," she said.

Here is a post from Irene on the Esperanza crew blog.

Here is a link to the Mast cam aboard the Esperanza. It updates every minute.

Photo courtesy of Greenpeace