Erwin Vermeulen Ordered to be Released

Sea Shepherd activist and Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen, who was arrested for allegedly pushing a Japanese fisherman in Taiji, has been afforded a release order by a Japanese judge. This is great news for Sea Shepherd but primarily awesome for Erwin and his family. Congratulations, Erwin!

Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace Go Toe-to-Toe

Things have never been cordial between Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace (at least I can’t recall a time). But the fire is super hot right now. Greenpeace is accusing Sea Shepherd of being disgraceful for calling out Japan on spending Tsunami relief funds on whaling.

Executive Director of Greenpeace Japan, Junichi Sato, had some words for Japan’s inexcusable dispersion of relief funds to the whaling industry:

Not only is the whaling industry unable to survive without large increases in government handouts, now it’s siphoning money away from the victims of the March 11 triple disaster—at a time when they need it most. This is a new low for the shameful whaling industry and the callous politicians who support it.

Shortly thereafter he said Sea Shepherd’s same position was “really disgraceful.” Is that disgraceful like when Greenpeace tried whale meat in the name of their campaign? Or disgraceful like when Greenpeace protected whalers from Sea Shepherd?

All I know is that Sea Shepherd puts their lives on the line every winter in a true venture to save whales and, in turn, the human race. Greenpeace, as Paul Watson puts it:

They raise some $40 million dollars a year on their anti-whaling campaigns and all they do is produce mail-outs asking for funds. They have not sent a ship to the Southern Ocean to hang banners for years.

And So It Begins. Again!

Today, Japanese whalers have left harbor for another winter of slaughter in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. And therefore Operation Devine Wind begins.

But there is more to this story. A new element which makes it infinitely more disgusting than the whaling itself. The Japanese government is issuing $28 million in earthquake recovery funds to the whalers! Yes, you heard me right. The money people around the world shared with Japan to help them get back on their feet is being used for whaling.

ABC news reports:

The Japan Fisheries Agency says the trip’s use of $28 million from the earthquake recovery fund is legitimate, because one of the towns devastated by the March earthquake and tsunami was a whaling port.

Legitimate? Because one of the towns hit was a whaling port? FUCK! YOU!

I am one of the millions of people who donated their hard-earned money to help Japanese citizens rebuild their lives. And now, as it turns out, I have inadvertently helped to fund this winter’s whaling campaign.

I am beyond words to express how absolutely absurd this is. Let’s examine the enormity of this decision:

1. That’s $28 million that won’t be used to rebuild schools, hospitals, and homes; to help rebuild the Japanese economy; or even to research, improve, and build new electricity solutions that can withstand future natural disasters.
2. This is a huge “fuck you very much” to everyone who donated to disaster funds. “While we appreciate your money to help rebuild our country, we’re going to go ahead and use it to continue our whaling industry which is disapproved by most of you who donated money.”
3. Japan’s whaling industry has no funding because there’s little support and few who care about its survival. So while this thievery enables them to have a campaign this winter, it’s but a desperate attempt to keep a dying industry alive. Come next winter they will again be scrambling for funding. Especially because this winter Sea Shepherd will most definitely again kill their quota.
4. When the next natural disaster hits Japan, many will be reluctant to donate money, concerned about how it will be spent. This will screw Japanese citizens in their time of need next time around like they’re being screwed right now.

So thank you, Japan. You have officially cheated your citizens out of trust, money, and support. Disgusting.

Blood in Taiji

Through no fault of their own—and certainly for no lack of effort—it appears that Sea Shepherd is unable to successfully protect dolphins in Taiji. Cove Guardian leader Rosie Kunneke reports:

This week was a brutal, cruel, and saddening week in the horrible little town of Taiji. Three pods, approximately 28-31 dolphins in total, of beautiful Risso’s dolphins were senselessly murdered in the Cove. Two of the pods had babies and juveniles amongst them. After killing the pod members, the dolphin killers took the babies way out to sea likely wanting us to believe that they were releasing them while they were probably murdering them out of sight. Either way, the babies will die without their mothers and pod members because they will succumb to a slow death by starvation or fall victim to predators.

In Antarctic waters Sea Shepherd has some authority to disrupt the murderous plans of Japanese whalers. However, in Taiji they have no jurisdiction to act aggressively.

Their presence there is a thorn in the side of those in the dolphin-captivity industry and their reports back to the world are invaluable. Moreover, while present there is pressure on the Japanese government while the world watches over their shoulder as they hideously slaughter pod after pod of cetaceans.

But in the end this is the extent of what Sea Shepherd can do without significant repercussions to those watching over the cove. It must be devastatingly heartbreaking for the Cove Guardians. They are forced to fight through what they’re seeing every day.

Be brave, Cove Guardians. We’re behind you.

Japan Strengthens Fleet for Whaling Season

So as I mentioned a couple weeks back Japan is preparing to head to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary once again this winter, even though it was anticipated they would be ending whaling permanently. I continue to find Japan’s dedication to whaling bizarre for two reasons:

1. CBS reported that Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Makoto Inoue noted “The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has revoked all permits for whaling research…There is no longer any economic need for Japan to obtain protein from the whales, so it would be irrational and pointless to continue catching whales.”
2. The IMO has banned use of heavy oils below 60º South, which is exactly the type of fuel the Nisshin Maru uses.

But apparently threats from Japanese regulators and IMO bans, Japan is en route to continue whaling. And this time they’ve heavily invested in additional security measures to counteract the efforts of Sea Shepherd.

According to Fisheries Minister, Michihiko Kano, (who as I just noted “revoked whaling permits”):

We intend to carry out the [whale] research after enhancing measures to assure that the fleet is not obstructed.

So basically everything they said was a lie. They don’t intend to walk away from whaling. Rather, they intend to put forth as many resources and dollars as possible to continue whaling in a military fashion in anticipation of clashes with Sea Shepherd, defenders of the animals they slaughter.

I feel bad for Japanese whalers. They’ve lost but won’t concede. Instead of investing in other more viable industries, they continue to allow whaling to hemorrhage money and resources out of complete stubbornness of “culture.”

Japan Gets Green Light for Whaling This Winter

Damn! Though it was expected (but not assumed) that Japan would cease whaling this winter because of their epic failure against Sea Shepherd last season, they are indeed moving forward with a new hunt. With that, Operation Devine Wind is in effect.

Australia Network News notes:

…the Asahi newspaper is reporting that it will go ahead, saying the government decided it would be against the national interest to give in to Sea Shepherd’s obstruction. It’s also being reported that about $US27-million dollars will be injected into the program to improve safety for the whaling crews.

So they quit last year’s hunt prematurely because of Sea Shepherd. I posted about their announcement which included the following statement from them:

It has become increasingly difficult to secure the safety of the crew on research whaling vessels due to repeated interference from the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd.

But now Japan is investing $27 million US for new protection. What will this protection comprise? Who knows. We only know that Sea Shepherd is in for a rough winter in the Antarctic Ocean.

All said, how is Japan going to avoid breaking the law while whaling this winter? The IMO banned heavy oils south of 60º South. The Nisshin Maru’s presence in the Southern Ocean is a direct violation of that ban. I’d keep my eyes on that one. It could be the very thing to bring down Japanese whalers, like Al Capone and his tax evasion.

Report From Taiji, Week 1

A report by Cove Guardians leader Rosie Kunneke after their first week in Taiji for Operation Infinite begins “if only all weeks were this good.” She sums up the week quite nicely:

The killers stayed in the harbor on four out of seven days due to bad weather and sea conditions. They went out searching for dolphins to hunt on two days only to come back emptyhanded on both occasions, and on Sunday, they all left the harbor but turned around about a kilometer out and came back in.

Now that is a good week. I just hope the bad weather doesn’t spell more catastrophical disasters for the people of Japan. Just enough bad weather to keep the Taiji hunters at bay will suffice, thank you very much.

Iceland Halts Fin-Whale Hunting

Hello, Sea Shepherd Advocate readers! It has been some time since my last post because I have been super busy on a very special, personal project (which I’ll explain later). Now for the news on Iceland…

Apparently Japan not only sells their own whale meat, they’re also a chief consumer of whales harvested by Icelandic fisheries. And the (dare I say) sliver lining in their recent natural disaster has basically suspended their consumption of whale meat. Consequently Iceland has ceased their hunting of Fin whales due to the said lack of demand.

Photo: Nancy Heise

But America has had a play in this scenario, thanks to the attention of U.S. Commerce Secretary of State Gary Locke. Secretary Locke approached president Barack Obama about Iceland’s disregard for the international ban on commercial whaling, noting:

Iceland’s disregard for the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) global moratorium on commercial whaling is unacceptable. Its harvest of whales and export of fin whale meat threaten an endangered species and undermine worldwide efforts to protect whales. It’s critical that the government of Iceland take immediate action to comply with the moratorium.

President Obama is reviewing a proposal by Secretary Locke to intervene and call for action against Iceland for their actions. The U.S. could impose trade bans.

Given the state of the world economy I don’t see this happening. But it’s nice to see someone in the States stepping up and taking a stand against commercial whaling.

Let me be clear that Japan’s recent tragedy has no true silver lining. The enormity of their natural disaster is unfathomable and I would not wish that agony on anyone. I have and do support all efforts to help them in their time of need. But it is also important to note that any decline in commercial whaling is inherently celebratory news.

Japan’s Response to Early Whaling-Season Termination

(Update: I prepared this post a couple of days ago and was about to publish it when I discovered the announcement that Japan is reportedly ending their whaling. Though I’m still feel it’s worth publishing because a lot of the information herein is relevant even if the said announcement is true.)

Sea Shepherd rocked the house this past winter, prematurely ending Japan’s whaling season with their aggressive onslaught in Antarctic waters. A devastating blow to the Japanese whaling industry such as this leaves them with only so many options.

According to the Daily Yomiuri, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano outlined the following possible courses of action for the dying (pun intended) industry:

• Have the whaling fleet escorted by Japan Coast Guard vessels or others.
• Build new whaling vessels capable of traveling at high speed.
• Replace research whaling with commercial whaling.
• Continue with the current whaling arrangements.
• End whaling in the Antarctic Ocean.

With only 800 million yen of their 6 billion yen budget originating with government subsidies, the rest stems from the sale of whale meat. And with a plethora of whale meat in freezers across Japan, it is apparent that supply significantly outweighs demand. A demand which has heavily declined in recent years. So the aforementioned list of options looks pretty grim for an industry which is hemorrhaging money.

Michihiko Kano commented on the magnitude of Sea Shepherd’s impact on the already dire financial situation:

About 170 minke whales were caught this season, which started in December. That is one-fifth of the target of 850. Only two fin whales were caught, 4 percent of a 50-catch goal, according to the agency. People concerned with whaling operations are racking their brains, saying they will barely be able to afford to fund the dispatch of the whaling fleet to the Antarctic Ocean next season.

Sea Shepherd’s goal of fighting whalers on a financial front has proved to be monumentally successful. And it appears that the war has been all but won. However, Japanese whalers are not giving up. Their efforts are focused on the political front, citing that countries who harbor them should be condemned.

The Daily Yomiuri reports that the IWC is calling for political actions:

Australia, which is an anchorage site for Sea Shepherd boats, is an antiwhaling nation and has been dragging its feet in monitoring the organization’s activities. However, one of the boats used for obstruction recently was reportedly Australian-registered. If that turns out to be so, Japan should demand the Australian government strictly control the boat’s activities.

Clearly, even though Japanese whalers are suffering severe financial losses, they aren’t conceding just yet. It appears they intend to fight to the death. But with the blows they’re enduring, I can’t imagine death is that far off. And with senators like Australia’s Bob Brown offering Sea Shepherd unyielding support, Japan isn’t likely to make strides with political offensives.

CBS Reports: JAPAN TO END WHALING

Whoa. No way. Seriously? Could it actually be true? Well according to CBS Breaking News, it is. They are reporting that Chief Cabinet Secretary Makoto Inoue speaking at a press conference in Tokyo said (emphasis mine):

Effective immediately, Japan will no longer conduct scientific research on whale populations which require capture and dissection. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has revoked all permits for whaling research.

The first thing I thought when I saw this headline was “why would they give up so hastily?” Not having permits is obviously quite a roadblock. But why would the permits be revoked? According to Secretary Inoue (emphasis mine):

It cannot be denied that that whaling severely and unnecessarily damages the image of Japan in the international community, due to the strong sentiment against whaling in many countries. There is no longer any economic need for Japan to obtain protein from the whales, so it would be irrational and pointless to continue catching whales.

As I have previously posted, Japan has a rich culture beyond whaling. It evokes ill thoughts in my head about the country as a whole, to which I have to respond by reminding myself that whalers are a minority there. It is apparent that Japan’s government is waking up to the realization that the world frowns upon whaling en masse, and because of Sea Shepherd the world is binding the country and the industry more tightly than Japan would like.

CBS also reports that a spokesperson for Sea Shepherd claims the organization remains vigilant just in case:

This is what we’ve been working for. But we will be watching closely to make sure this isn’t some kind of ploy. And we will need to keep up the pressure against Iceland.

Iceland. That brings to mind another thought to ponder. Would Whale Wars continue in Icelandic waters? We know Sea Shepherd will continue their efforts there, but would Animal Planet follow?

This is all a little overwhelming. I just hope it’s really happening.