japan to continue to butcher whales

[Ken Gargett]

looks like giving japan the benefit of the doubt was pointless.

JAPAN’S INSTITUTE FOR CETACEAN RESEARCH (ICR) SHAMES THEMSELVES IN DEFIANCE OF WORLD COURT RULING
The ICR Today Filed Court Briefs Stating They Intend to Return to Antarctica to Hunt Whales in 2015-2016;
Will Seek to Enjoin Other Sea Shepherd Entities from Obstructing Their Operations

April 11, 2014 – FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington. — In a blatant show of defiance of the recent landmark ruling in The Hague by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has today filed court briefs stating they intend to return to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean for the 2015-2016 season with a newly designed "research" program and will seek a permanent injunction against Sea Shepherd USA, despite the fact the USA entity is no longer operating in the Southern Ocean, and will also seek to enjoin other Sea Shepherd entities.

The case of Australia vs. Japan was heard by the ICJ in July of last year to decide whether Japan was in breach of its international obligations in implementing their JARPA II “research” program in the Southern Ocean, and to demand that Japan cease implementation of JARPA II and revoke any related permits until Japan can make assurances that their operations conform with international law. In a vote of 12 to 4 handed down on March 31st, the ICJ ruled that Japan’s whaling program JARPA II was not conducted for the purposes of scientific research as defined under International Whaling Commission regulations. It ordered that Japan revoke the scientific permits given under JARPA II and refrain from granting any further permits under that program. Today, however, the ICR filed briefs in the U.S. District Court in Seattle clearly stating their intent to continue to hunt whales in defiance of this ruling.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Founder Captain Paul Watson had this to say in response to today’s filing: “When the ICJ verdict was issued, I knew that although it was a great victory that vindicated our opposition to illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean, I could see the potential for the ICR to re-write their program and to return. My prediction was they would return for the 2015-2016 season. It seems that this is exactly what they intend to do,” he said. “The statement that Japan issued that they would comply with the ICJ ruling was I believe insincere. Japan has a history of duplicity with regard to whaling. I fully expect that Sea Shepherd Global will be prepared to return to the Southern Ocean in December 2015 to once again defend the integrity of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary“, Captain Watson added.

Upon learning of ICR’s plans, Sea Shepherd USA’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations, Scott West stated: "The Japanese clearly intend to violate the intent, if not the letter, of the World Court’s judgment. They are making a mockery of the International Court of Justice and come before the US Courts with very unclean hands. They are the first to cry foul when someone dares to challenge their lies, yet they expect the world to respect the court’s decisions that are in their favor. They are poachers and operate without integrity.”
Clearly, the ICR is unsettled not only by the favorable ICJ ruling but also by Commissioner Peter Shaw’s recent recommendation to the Ninth Circuit Court that Sea Shepherd USA not be held in contempt. In their court brief, the ICR threatened: "If the Ninth Circuit finds it was not Defendants who committed contempt, then Plaintiffs may need to add to this action the parties who did commit the contempt." They also noted: "Plaintiffs expect additional parties they may seek to add to this action would include foreign parties." However, how they intend to bring foreign entities before a U.S. court has yet to be seen.

A status conference will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, Wash. 98101 to set the trial date for a permanent injunction case brought against Sea Shepherd USA from obstructing illegal whaling operations in the Southern Ocean. The meeting is open to the public.

[Isotonic]

Why are we as humans so attached to certain species. Conservationists push only the cute and cuddly animals into our living rooms with stories of habitat destruction and slaughtering/poaching. I always wonder how far these efforts would go if they sat out the front of Coles and placed billboards and tv ads up featuring rare cockroaches or almost extinct blood sucking vampire bats. Would they even drag up a raised eyebrow? Perish the thought of people clambering on board such a serious environmental issue and putting their hand in their pocket.

I simply raise this to outline the confused nature of humans. In the West (save for a few Viking states) we abhore whale hunting. Why? It's not really about whether they are endangered or not. We hate seeing beautiful creatures as Ken correctly states being butchered. 3 toed slug fish... right this way gentleman, bring the AK's. But the Japanese (who we all know are lying though their teeth) have eaten this mammal for god knows how many years. Aboriginals have eaten dugong's for probably just as long and I can assure you their deaths would be just as horrific. Yes i know... 40 dead dugong's is not the same thing. But are the whales they are hunting endangered? Are they not mostly minke's and the like who are in huge numbers?

BTW... I feel ill at the thought of witnessing our one these majestic creatures being harpooned and dragged out of the water by a giant cable. I also felt nautious seeing a lamb slaughtered and hung in my grandparents barn on a hook. I still ate it with a side of potato salad and a nice glass of shiraz

[El Presidente]

Simply it is not part of our culture and they are hunting in our back yard of Oz.

I have no problem with whale meat. I actually like it and have shared it with families in Japan. Hunt them in Japan but for the love of God don't hunt them here and wrap it up as if they are doing a universal service for the survival of a species.

[Guyman1966]

This is a must see video on Whales...

http://www.reshareworthy.com/humpback-whale-rescue/#E08cGsi5Awd6V8qs.01

[polarbear]

Am I the only one who is not surprised by this?

If Green peace rammin their boats didnt stop them whay makes people think a court order would

[Fosgate]

Not like they have the airable land space to raise beef/hogs and grow everything they need to feed 127 million people. Saving the cows will be next....oh wait.