ID :
42003
Wed, 01/21/2009 - 22:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42003
The shortlink copeid
Anti-whalers may drop aggressive tactics
Hardline anti-whaling protesters have offered to abandon their aggressive tactics if Australia or New Zealand take legal action against Japan.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which annually confronts the Japanese whaling
fleet in the Southern Ocean, made the proposal in a media release.
"If Australia or New Zealand or both nations can agree to take legal action, Sea
Shepherd will agree to back off our aggressive tactics next year to allow a
different approach," said Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson.
"If the (Australian) government believes that our actions are overly aggressive, the
government can counter our aggressiveness with a viable legal option."
In the past, Sea Shepherd has chased Japanese whaling boats, fouling their
propellers with nets and pelting them with rancid butter.
Last year, two Sea Shepherd activists boarded a Japanese whaling ship to deliver a
protest letter, and Watson claimed he was shot by Japanese authorities but was saved
by a bullet-proof vest he was wearing.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Sea Shepherd protest vessel, the Steve Irwin, left
Hobart after refuelling to once more confront the Japanese whaling fleet.
Mr Watson said he remained confident the crew's tactics would halve the Japanese
whalers' catch on their next six-week operation in the Southern Ocean.
"We managed to keep them down to 500 whales last year and we think we can do it
again," Mr Watson told AAP.
"We have a lot of tactics but we have to uphold international law."
Before the 2007 federal election, Labor promised to take Japan to the International
Court of Justice to stop whaling, but is first trying diplomacy.
Although commercial whaling is banned, Japan uses a loophole in an international
moratorium allowing it to continue whaling in Antarctic waters for research.
The Japanese fleet in Antarctic waters this summer plans to kill about 1,000 whales.
Sea Shepherd's offer comes after Canberra academic Professor Don Rothwell suggested
a new legal avenue could be used to stop the whaling.
Prof Rothwell released a report on Tuesday suggesting Australia use the Antarctic
Treaty System which says most activities need environmental approval.
He said Japan did not obtain approval for its whaling activities, but might need to.
A spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research was unable to immediately
comment.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which annually confronts the Japanese whaling
fleet in the Southern Ocean, made the proposal in a media release.
"If Australia or New Zealand or both nations can agree to take legal action, Sea
Shepherd will agree to back off our aggressive tactics next year to allow a
different approach," said Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson.
"If the (Australian) government believes that our actions are overly aggressive, the
government can counter our aggressiveness with a viable legal option."
In the past, Sea Shepherd has chased Japanese whaling boats, fouling their
propellers with nets and pelting them with rancid butter.
Last year, two Sea Shepherd activists boarded a Japanese whaling ship to deliver a
protest letter, and Watson claimed he was shot by Japanese authorities but was saved
by a bullet-proof vest he was wearing.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Sea Shepherd protest vessel, the Steve Irwin, left
Hobart after refuelling to once more confront the Japanese whaling fleet.
Mr Watson said he remained confident the crew's tactics would halve the Japanese
whalers' catch on their next six-week operation in the Southern Ocean.
"We managed to keep them down to 500 whales last year and we think we can do it
again," Mr Watson told AAP.
"We have a lot of tactics but we have to uphold international law."
Before the 2007 federal election, Labor promised to take Japan to the International
Court of Justice to stop whaling, but is first trying diplomacy.
Although commercial whaling is banned, Japan uses a loophole in an international
moratorium allowing it to continue whaling in Antarctic waters for research.
The Japanese fleet in Antarctic waters this summer plans to kill about 1,000 whales.
Sea Shepherd's offer comes after Canberra academic Professor Don Rothwell suggested
a new legal avenue could be used to stop the whaling.
Prof Rothwell released a report on Tuesday suggesting Australia use the Antarctic
Treaty System which says most activities need environmental approval.
He said Japan did not obtain approval for its whaling activities, but might need to.
A spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research was unable to immediately
comment.
