Japanese 'fired' (acoustics weapon) on Sea Shepherd chopper, inflatables

[Annces]

Source: Perth Now

February 05, 2009

ANTI-WHALING protesters in the Southern Ocean claim they have been "attacked'' by Japanese whalers who fired a 'long range accoustical device' at them. The military-grade noise weapon can cause deafness and vomiting. According to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, three Japanese whalers converged on the anti-whaling ship Steve Irwin, which launched two inflatables to prevent an attack on a fin whale just after midday. The Sea Shepherd vessel also launched its helicopter to film the whale "blocking'' operation. According to the Sea Shepherd, the Japanese, frustrated after five consecutive days of disruption by conservationists, reacted violently.

This is how Sea Shepherd related the conflict:

"A Fin whale was spotted at 12.11 hours. The Steve Irwin launched two fast inflatable boats to head off any attempt to harpoon the whale. "The helicopter was launched to film the blocking action. All three harpoon vessels, the Yushin Maru #1, Yushin Maru #2 and Yushin Maru #3 attacked the Steve Irwin in dangerous passes to foul the Steve Irwin’s propeller. "At 12.20pm the Yushin Maru #1 was a quarter mile away on the port side and heading directly towards the Steve Irwin.

"A 2nd harpoon vessel the Yushin Maru #2 was moving in a full speed from the Starboard side. The Yushin Maru # 3 approached rapidly from the stern. "At 12.30pm, the Nisshin Maru aimed the Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at helicopter pilot Chris Aultman of California and Discovery Animal Planet cameraman Ashley Dunn of Tasmania. “At first it was just a loud noise,” said Chris Aultman, “then they turned up the volume and we could feel it in our legs and chest.” Aultman retreated out of range of the device but was shocked they used it. “It was extremely irresponsible for the whalers to aim that device at the helicopter,” said Steve Irwin Captain Paul Watson. “They were doing nothing but filming and presented absolutely no threat to the ships. They demonstrated absolutely no regard for human life.” " At this point the harpoon vessels turned on their LRAD and aimed at the small boats and the Steve Irwin. "This sonic attack was followed by the Nisshin Maru turning into the Steve Irwin and attempting to actually ram the Sea Shepherd vessel at full speed.''

Captain Watson ordered the small boats to act like fighter planes in a dog fight. “You’ve got to keep those hunter killer boats off our bow. If they cripple us down here we will be helpless,” he said. The small boats retaliated by threatening to foul the props of the harpoon vessel. Steve Roest of the United Kingdom was injured when he became disoriented, dizzy and was knocked down cutting open his head.

Ship’s doctor David Miller from Perth sutured the wound with five stitches. Captain Watson received rope burns when he fired a speed line in front of the Yushin Maru #1 to force them to retreat from an attempt to cross the bow with a fouling line. The whalers jammed the Steve Irwin’s radio’s and navigational instruments and kept a steady bombardment of the Sea Shepherd crew with the LRAD’s.

Captain Watson spent four hours undertaking zigzag and circular maneuver to avoid the prop fouling. “The attacks by the three ships became so aggressive we had to fire flares and speed lines over their head to force them to back off,” Capt Watson said. The small boats also retaliated with rotten butter bombs. The Steve Irwin retrieved both boats and the helicopter by going in tight circles with the three harpoon vessels circling on the outside blasting the crew with LRAD’s and towing fouling lines.“

The crew are tired and a little dizzy from the LRADs” said Dr Miller, “But everyone is in good spirits and Steve Roest is resting comfortably. Capt. Watson described the LRAD equipment as a ``military-grade weapon''. ``It is being used against civilians in the Antarctic treaty zone, and that is highly illegal,'' he said.
After clashing with the Japanese whalers late last year, Sea Shepherd activists recently returned to the Southern Ocean after refuelling. The Japanese fleet plans to kill about 1,000 whales this summer, using a loophole in a 1986 global whaling moratorium that allows ``lethal research'' on the marine mammals.




Read more: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25012851-948,00.html

[Coventina]

1. Go Sea Shepherd!

:yourock:

[BeGoodDoGood]

12. The Whale Wars Show is Great

I love love watching them on NatGeo.

[Barrett808]

17. This will all look great on HD...and make the whale poachers look even worse. n/t

[The Traveler]

2. Things are escalating down there

I guess the Steve Irwin is more of a thorn in their side than they were willing to admit earlier. LRAD ... bad stuff. Aiming that at a small helicopter ... that could have easily killed pilot and camerman.

This is going to get worse, I fear. The Samurai Whalers are losing it!

Trav

**edited to add something**

[underseasurveyor]

10. Samurai were honorable

These assholes have no honor. Just sayin' :-)

[ensho]

15. true

and the Samurai's companion and fighting dog was the Akita!

the best and most loyal friends I've ever had.

[Chulanowa]

63. Depends on your standards of honor

Samurai defined honor by thoughtless loyalty to their superiors. Militaristic Zen - do not think, just do.

I think these whalers epitomize the concept pretty well

[underseasurveyor]

64. Depends on the perspective where one is coming from

If Samurai believed what they were doing was right what ever their reasons for doing so, even to the death, that is honor.

If these whalers know for a fact what they are doing is wrong (and they do), for all the wrong reasons, and it's illegal... then they know as well as many other outsiders and onlookers that they have no honor. Therein lies the difference. And I wouldn't say that a Samurai was 'thoughtless.' These whalers aren't slaughtering whales for honor they have no other agenda except personal gain and greed. Not the qualities of a Samurai.

[ensho]

79. agree, Samurai were very honorable in their job/life

all citizins knew the boundaries of the Samurai life.

[ensho]

78. I was praising the Akita not the Sumurai who would have you killed

if you disturbed their Wa.

[The Traveler]

74. Peace

I was being a little sarcastic ... ;)

[anonymous171]

83. No, they were tyrannical nobles who could slay a peasant just for kicks. nt

[Scairp]

82. It very much is

But they are non-violent and doing something so heroic that is also very dangerous. Last year, one of those whaling vessels took three crew members from the Steve Irwin prisoner for about three days I think. I saw that episode. The Japanese actually lashed them to the ship, and at one point tried to push one of them overboard. It was very hairy. Whaling makes me so angry, if I had the skills I would join up with them.

[The Stranger]

3. GO SEA SHEPHERD!

Carry on the fight, my brothers and sisters.

[ZombieHorde]

4. The Sea Sheperd folk were calling them cowards when the whalers did nothing.

[The Stranger]

47. Firing high powered cannon into massive, slow-moving, endangered marine mammals --

I think that is what they were saying is cowardly.

Get it straight.

[ZombieHorde]

55. The Sea Shepard story I am refering to called them cowards for running away.

eta: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2912397">link

“I can’t think of a place I would rather be right now,” said Jeff Hansen from Fremantle, Western Australia. “Seeing the Japanese whalers running like cowards from the Steve Irwin is a very satisfying experience.”

I should have been more clear.

[The Stranger]

70. I think the proposition still stands.

Nothing could be more cowardly than firing a high powered cannon into the back of a slow moving, massive marine mammal that can in no way defend itself.

That act in itself is reprehensible. The only justification for doing something like that would be if you and others were literally starving to death, and there was no other food available anywhere.

Given that such a justification is inconsistent with reality, it is an act of extraordinary cowardice, and should be ended, as Sea Shepherd is attempting to do.

[ZombieHorde]

76. I eat cow meat, so I guess I am a coward too.

[jberryhill]

5. Whatever happened to that gee-whiz custom bullet thing from last year?

There was some sort of amazing one-off ammunition that was fired at this guy last year, which was going to be analyzed.

Whatever happened to that?

[NorCalDem]

19. it was probably never true

these sea shephard people lie through their own teeth to the complete detriment to their cause...

[INDIA]

28. Yeah, total bullshit most likely. Which is unfortunate.

I like what they do.

[Barrett808]

32. I found the footage quite convincing, and Animal Planet confirmed he was shot

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-081121-2.html

SSCS responds to ICR claims:
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-081106-1.html

[ipfilter]

53. That shooting incident

looked rather contrived. A bullet just happened to hit him on a badge right over his heart. I've been on an aircraft carrier when alongside a supply ship. Two pitching and rolling ships alongside each other would make hitting a badge over a guys heart the luckiest shot ever.

[Codeine]

65. I love Sea Shepherd,

but that "shooting" was complete bullshit.

[glitch]

6. God Bless the Sea Shepherd and her crew.

They make humans look good.

[roody]

7. Thank you Sea Shepherd.

[robinlynne]

8. those are some brave, wonderful people!!!!!

[Dukkha]

9. Stay the course Sea Shepherds!

The Japanese Whalers are one fuck up away from having the whole international community come down hard on them and end the hunt once and for all

[underseasurveyor]

11. I know it's negative energy

But I loath, hate, and dispise whalers and sealers with every fiber of my being:mad:

Good always wins. Good always wins. Good always wins. Good always wins.

[groundloop]

13. But...

It's all research, right?


:sarcasm:

[ensho]

14. where did they get the noise device? the Japanese govt.?

our CIA?

or can you order one up over the internet?

[Orrex]

16. They used something like it against King Ghidorah back in the 70s

[Bonobo]

49. DUzy nomination!

[WriteDown]

50. I'm dying laughing....

had the exact same thought. Next up are those lightning firing satellite dishes.

[ZombieHorde]

56. Awesome!

[Xithras]

51. Anyone with the $$ can buy one.

If you've got a hundred grand laying around unused, you too can mount an LRAD on your roof. The whole neighborhood will be talking about it!

FYI, the LRAD's are made by a company called American Tech Corp. Their sales offices are listed on their website. Because LRAD's are new and don't "fire" a projectile, there's really no regulation on them at all.

[ensho]

80. you really can order one over the net - cluster bombs delivered to

your door. if you are rich enough.

[NorCalDem]

18. See, and herein lies my problem with the Sea Shepherd...

I support their cause to some extent but I hate that they use misinformation and the media to play silly games. I have 100% absolutely ZERO REASON to believe this report is anything but falsified, fabricated, fake...

I have watched Whale Wars and have seen these people jump onto ships, then call up the media and say they were "taken hostage" or "have been shot at," etc. etc. They lie to the media to make the whalers sound like thugs, but the problem is now I don't believe anything they say anymore...

I liked their idea, but their execution is shameful...

[Jaundice James]

22. I agree. When you're in the right you don't have to lie.

[NorCalDem]

34. Bingo n/t

[Barrett808]

24. Not lies, spin.

And brilliantly executed. Need to send SSCS another check soon.

[NorCalDem]

35. Some of what i've seen are out-and-out, blatant lies...

They do themselves a disservice. They're idiots fighting for a good cause.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

36. to be fair, most of us who arent a little crazy would hardly do this.

[NorCalDem]

37. true. n/t

[underseasurveyor]

40. I'd do it in a second, have a friend that knows Paul personally

and I do have a greater than average chance to have the opportunity to join up and help out. Probably not on an anti-whaling campaign but there are others. My friend did mention going up north to the yearly seal slaughter.

Oh yea.. I'd do it!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. are you a little crazy?

:)

[underseasurveyor]

52. Perhaps just a wee bit

My sister is completely aghast that I would even consider doing something like this much less actually do it. I have a few sponsors already that have pledged to help with gear and clothes.

It's my niche.

[XemaSab]

45. Word

The thing that I was really, really, really underwhelmed by is the number of injuries and near misses due to poor training.

It's one thing to say you'll die to save the life of a whale, but dying because your crewmates were poorly trained? There's no excuse for that.

They capsized a boat while launching it, a guy broke his thumb launching a boat, there were repeated problems with people not radioing in, and a girl got very badly hurt because she was sitting in the boat in an unsafe manner? All preventable accidents and near misses.

Someday someone's going to eat it and Watson is going to get sued, bigtime.

[The Stranger]

48. If you support their cause, then cut them a break.

The object is to save the whales from being illegally hunted, not critique media relations. Besides, I don't see you down there risking everything for endangered species.

Support the cause and let the rest of it go.

[ZombieHorde]

57. "Support the cause and let the rest of it go."

The end does not justify the means.

The object is to save the whales from being illegally hunted

The whales are not being illegally hunted.

[The Stranger]

69. So let me see if I've got this straight.

You are on a Progressive web site defending the Japanese whaling fleet's right to kill members of an endangered species and claiming that the whaling fleet's doing so is not legally proscribed in any way?

[ZombieHorde]

77. You would do better to attack my logic, as opposed to attacking me.

I am not happy about the whaling, but they are acting legally, so the SS are stalking them and are engaged in constant harassment. If people were treating abortion doctors this way, there would be a major outcry here on DU, and I would join that outcry. I would feel hypocritical to not extend this to all groups who act within the law.

[psquare]

61. I'm with you totally on this

It's not that I think that the Sea Shepherd people aren't making things worse for the people trying to end the whale hunting through peaceful and legal means (which in this case includes (gulp!) Greenpeace) I think they probably are making the eventual elimination of whale hunting more difficult.

BUT they are saving whales in any particular year from being killed.

So are the Japanese companies hiring more boats, arming them with LRAD, noise grenades, etc. so they keep the Steve Irwin distracted while they go around killing whales elsewhere in the Antarctic?

Watching them board the whaling ship last year, and then claiming they were abducted, is simply lying. Maybe good publicity, but it really undermines their moral standing. If you can't trust them to tell the truth when their own cameras are rolling, when can you trust them?

I feel the same way about the shooting incident. The impact of a bullet should have really knocked the captain back and would have been unmistakeable, instead of the "Hey, I think I've been shot!" remark after the fact. No other evidence of bullets impacting the ship, seeing the rifle, sounds, etc. I really think they did a lousy job of "selling" the shooting incident, and frankly after watching the entire series, I am not sure that they didn't stage it.

Still I don't think that all this noise is doing any good to the final goal, which is not going to come from the Steve Irwin making life tough for the Maru #49. Just my opinion.

[The Traveler]

75. They do push it

As I recall, specifically, they boarded the ship to deliver a warrant (legally not very valid, though some validity extends from wording of UN documents) and a letter of demand.

The Japanese viewed this as a hostile move. Of course, most people being sued view the sheriff delivering the paperwork in a hostile light, too. The whalers detained and restrained the boarders ... and there is some legal validity to that action, 'cause they were certainly not invited aboard. But only some legal validity. The Sea Shepherd people were released not out of good will but because that legal validity simply won't stretch very far, and pretty much runs out when hostile intent is eliminated. The purpose of the border (to serve papers) was pretty clearly established and continued retention and restraint of the Sea Shepherd delivery boys could well have been legally construed as abduction on the high seas.

Certainly it was in Sea Shepherd's interests to take that interpretation, if only to apply pressure on the Japanese to return the delivery boys.

Both sides push into the legal gray area. One of Sea Shepherd's objectives, actually, is to goad the international legal system into taking a stand.

Sea Shepherd's legal advice comes primarily from a high powered lawyer whose name begins with "The Honorable Lord" and the rest I can't remember but he's listed on their website.

So ... you see ... the matter is not so clear cut as you describe.

Trav

[raysr]

20. Purchased from that

wonderful ally of ours ISRAEL. Is that what they used when they ATTACKED Jordan? Fucking pigs.

[Number9Dream]

21. Long range acoustic device info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_range_acoustic_device

snip> "At maximum volume, it can emit a warning tone that is 146 dBSPL (1,000 W/m²) at 1 metre, a level that is capable of permanently damaging hearing, and higher than the normal human threshold of pain (120 – 140 dB)."

snip> "the device is powerful enough to cause permanent auditory damage"

snip> "The LRAD device was also used by police in New York City during protests of the 2004 Republican National Convention"

[Barrett808]

23. We saw the LRAD in front of MSG at the 2004 RNC protest

Fortunately never saw it used.

[Brother Buzz]

25. The LRAD device was deployed to the 2004 GOP Convention but not used

I followed the story closely and I can find no mention of it actually being used. Wikipedia® cited an ABC news article dated before the convention of the device being deployed - NOT used.

[HopeHoops]

26. "AAAH, MY EARS - Its, its, WAYNE NEWTON!!!! AAAARRRGGHHH!!!"

[NoodleyAppendage]

27. Maybe this is a good thing? LRAD might scare away whales...

Given the known sensitivity of whales to acoustic noise, the Japanese use of LRADs might be counterproductive to their aims of killing whales...maybe?

[Barrett808]

29. Unfortunately, the whale poachers just follow the newborn calves, who get exhausted...

...their mothers won't abandon them, so it's easy to slaughter both mother and calf.

[Barrett808]

30. Brief footage of the encounter:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/video.html

[Joanne98]

31. Who gave them that?

[jeff30997]

33. They don't even eat the meat dammit!

"The Japanese fleet plans to kill about 1,000 whales this summer" For what reason?


"Whale meat is only served in a few specialist restaurants, and occasionally appears on supermarket shelves. Younger people almost never eat it."

"Whale meat was especially widespread in the difficult years after the Second World War, when it was seen as a cheap source of protein.

But as incomes rose, people switched to imported beef, or fish like tuna and salmon. With such an abundance of high-quality protein available these days, few Japanese see the point in eating whale, which doesn't taste that special."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4106688.stm

I remember reading an article saying that most of the meat is left to rot in

warehouses because there is no real demand for it.:puke:

[godai]

38. Yes they definitely do.

The real purpose of the whaling is to have a supply of whale meat t eat. Mainly older Japanese eat the whale meat.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-01-10-japan-whale-meat_N.htm

[jeff30997]

67. Does the Japanese want to eat whale meat?

"Of course, we can suspect as follows: "Don't the Japanese reluctantly eat pork, chicken, or beef, since whale meat is not supplied any more? But the reality is different. In 1999, Greenpeace International and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) jointly asked a British independent research agency, MORI (Market & Opinion Research International), to carry out a survey of the attitudes of the Japanese toward whaling. The survey was carried out targeting 1,185 Japanese in Japan who were over 17 years old. The targets for sampling were nationwide representatives of general Japanese, and the target people for the questionnaire were chosen to reflect the acknowledged population profile of the Japanese in the aspects of age, gender, and social background. The survey covers all areas in Japan, regardless of the opinions in each area whether they are against whaling or for whaling, to grasp the opinions of general Japanese people as a whole.

According to the survey, 61% of the Japanese ate whale meat, if ever, for the last time when they were children, and only 1% of them answered that they eat whale meat about once a month. And no one answered that he/she eats whale meat more frequently than about once a month."


Graph: The daily amount of meat supplied per person per day:



http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/oceans/factsheet/2_en_html


Article from: Chicago Sun-Times Author: Hiroko Tabuchi.

TOKYO - Japan has enticed children with whale burger school lunches, sung the praises of the red meat in colorful pamphlets and declared whale hunting "a national heritage."

But Tokyo has a dilemma: By rapidly expanding its whale hunt, Japan kills more of the giant mammals than its consumers care to eat.

The result is an unprecedented glut of whale meat. Prices - once about $15 a pound -- are plunging, inventories are bursting and promoters are scrambling to get Japanese to eat more whale.

It's a tough sell.

"To put it simply, whale meat tastes horrible," said 30-year-old Kosuke Nakamura, one of the diners at a Hana No Mai restaurant in Tokyo who turned their noses up at whale meat.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1608344.html

[Doremus]

71. There is so much surplus in frozen storage the gov't mandates that it be served in school lunches.

Doesn't sound like it's flying off the shelves to me.

There may be a small market for it, but they are killing more whales than they need to fill that market. Why?

I have been told here on DU by various posters that the slaughter continues because the Japanese are "saving face," and they have not been asked to stop "politely enough."

Those reasons, combined with the small commercial market, are probably at the crux of it from what I can gather.

I fully support the efforts to bring this barbaric, cruel, UNNECESSARY slaughter to a stop.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

39. Apparently the only Japanese cultural hatred that is more powerful than that for China

is that for whales.

[Bonobo]

42. Most incredibly stupid statement of the year award (MISS)! Congratulations!

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

43. Thanks!

I didn't think I had to put a sarcasm tag, but I guess I do! (And I would go back, but apparently I can't!)

[Bonobo]

46. Whew!

[XemaSab]

44. Let me get this straight:

Throwing stuff at their ship: nonviolent.
Making a loud noise: violent.

I see....

[ZombieHorde]

58. In this story, The SS people throw thing at the whalers, and then

call them cowards for running away, as opposed to confronting them.

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-080223-1.html

[Sancho]

54. Here's a link to my thread about the *%&$* appointed team to regulate whaling

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4984895&mesg_id=4984895

Bush is working with a group that allows killing whales as "research". The faculty at USF hate this guy with "washington contacts"; but he is on the commission to allow the slaughter. I can't believe they held the whaling meeting in St. Pete and we didn't even know about it!!

[Barrett808]

59. UPDATE: Confrontation in the Ross Sea Becoming Increasingly Dangerous

Confrontation in the Ross Sea Becoming Increasingly Dangerous
Sea Shepherd Operation Musashi
Update from the Ross Sea

February 6th, 2009
0830 Hours (Sydney Time)
1430 Hours (PST) (February 5th)
75 Degrees 44 Minutes South and 165 Degrees 39 Minutes West

The Nisshin Maru is blasting the crew on the Steve Irwin with high pressure water hoses and LRAD sonic weapons. The harpoon vessels are passing closer and closer before the bow of the Steve Irwin to block the Sea Shepherd ship from interfering with their whaling operations.

The crew are a little dazed and dizzy from the LRAD's and many of them have been drenched with freezing water.

"Saving whales is not easy," said Laura Dakin from Canberra. "I wish we had better equipment and that we could go fast enough to block the harpoon vessels. For now all we can do is disrupt their transfer operations."

Three whales have been killed so far today. The Japanese whalers have decided to up the ante knowing that their government will support any violence they undertake against conservation efforts.

"If the anti-whaling nations had the same resolve and determination to stop whaling that Japan has for slaughtering them, we could end their obscenity," said Captain Paul Watson. "These whales are dying because of the passive complacency of Australia, New Zealand, the USA and the other so called anti-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission."

###

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-090205-3.html

[Barrett808]

60. UPDATE: Whaling Opponents Collide at Sea

Whaling Opponents Collide at Sea
Update from the Ross Sea
Sea Shepherd's Operation Musashi

February 6th, 2009
0800 Hours (Sydney Time)
1300 Hours (PST) (February 5th)
75 Degrees 44 Minutes South and 165 Degrees 39 Minutes West




The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin collided with the Yushin Maru #2 this morning as the harpoon vessel moved in to block the Steve Irwin's attempt to prevent the transfer of a dead whale up the slipway of the Nisshin Maru.

"We were in the process of blocking the transfer from the Yushin Maru #2 when the Yushin Maru #1 moved directly in front of the bow to block us," said Captain Watson. "I could not turn to starboard without hitting the Yushin Maru #1. I tried to back down but the movement of the Yushin Maru #2 made the collision unavoidable."

The Yushin Maru #2 was transferring a 2nd whale killed this morning.

"The whalers have decided to test our resolve," said 1st Officer Peter Hammarstedt. "They have escalated this battle to see just how determined we are to protect these whales. We're shepherds and we will do what we can to protect our flock from these murderous poachers."

The Yushin Maru #3 has also killed a whale but is unable to approach the factory ship because the Steve Irwin is now guarding the slipway.

The Sea Shepherd crew intend to hold this position to prevent the transfer.

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-090205-2.html

[Bonobo]

62. Barrett, your pals are nuts. 100% nuts.

[Barrett808]

72. Yup. Sending them another check presently. n/t

[Pavulon]

68. In for a penny

in for a pound.. If you are willing to ram a ship in the middle of no where you should be willing to have the crew line up cross their ankles execute each one.

Ships sink quickly, remember the fishing vessel struck by a us sub. Sank so quickly many lives were lost. Even with rescue capability of a naval vessel and air rescue resources of the entire us navy.

Whaling is obviously wrong but violence is not going to help.

[lonestarnot]

66. If only people in the streets showed this much tenacious support for

economic recovery. Sea Shepherd, Captain Watson, Steve Roest :yourock:

[Barrett808]

73. UPDATE: Harpooners charge Steve Irwin, SSCS crew under continuous bombardment by LRAD weapon

Steve Irwin Suffers Second Collision with the Japanese Fleet
Operation Musashi
Update from the Ross Sea

February 6th, 2009, 1830 Hours (Sydney Time)
2330 Hours (PST) (February 5th)
75 Degrees 52 Minutes South and 165 Degrees 18 Minutes West

At 1800 Hours the harpoon vessels Yushin Maru No. 1 and the Yushin Maru No.3 decided to run the Sea Shepherd blockade to transfer two dead whales to the flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru. The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin was blocking the slipway to prevent the transfer in order to shut down the illegal Japanese whaling operations.

As the Nisshin Maru attempted to hook onto the dead whale, the Steve Irwin and the Yushin Maru No.3 collided with the forward starboard side of the Steve Irwin and the port stern side of the harpoon vessel coming together.

"We told them to not continue their illegal whaling operations and that we would be blocking the stern slipway of the factory ship," said Captain Paul Watson. "They decided to test our resolve and apparently expected us to retreat when they charged in ahead of us to make the transfer."

Captain Watson said that the Steve Irwin became difficult to control under a barrage of metal objects, blasts from the water cannons, and the disorientation caused by the LRAD acoustic weapons that the whalers were using on the conservationists.

"I was dazed by the sonic blasts being used on us at close range." said Captain Watson. "I have to admit it was difficult to concentrate with that devise being focused on us."

"I've never felt anything quite like it," said Emily Hunter from Toronto, Canada. "It penetrates the body and you can feel your muscles vibrating. It made me dizzy and left me somewhat dazed."

The Steve Irwin suffered no noticeable damage from the collision and no one was seriously injured. A few of the Sea Shepherd crew were struck by golf balls and pieces of metal. The crew of the Steve Irwin were unable to determine if there was any damage done to the harpoon hunter killer boat.

The two whales were transferred after the Steve Irwin shut down the operations of the fleet for twelve hours.

"We are trying to make this as difficult as possible for them to continue their illegal activities, "said Molly Kendall from Adelaide, South Australia. "It is difficult to see them murdering these whales and we are determined to do everything we possibly can to stop this horrific slaughter."

The Steve Irwin remains on the tail of the Nisshin Maru to attempt to obstruct any further transfers in an effort to stop the unlawful poaching of the whales by the Japanese whaling fleet.

"I wish we did not have to be down here in this dangerous situation," said Captain Watson. "I've said repeatedly that if Australia or New Zealand would agree to take Japan to the international court on this than we would back off. Because international law is not being enforced, we have no choice but to do what we can with the resources available to us to defend these endangered whales in this established international whale sanctuary."

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-090206-1.html

[Barrett808]

81. UPDATE: Sea Shepherd Crew Remain On Guard Behind the Nisshin Maru

Sea Shepherd Crew Remain On Guard Behind the Nisshin Maru
Sea Shepherd Operation Musashi
Update from the Ross Sea

February 7th, 2009
0700 Hours (Sydney Time)
1200 Hours (PST) (February 5th)
75 Degrees 57 Minutes South and 164 Degrees 53 Minutes West

Despite repeated assaults by frustrated and increasingly violent Japanese whalers, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin continues to stand guard behind the Japanese floating abattoir called the Nisshin Maru. The three Japanese harpoon boats are not in the area but the Sea Shepherd crew is prepared to obstruct them should they return.

The Japanese have been accusing Sea Shepherd of trying to obstruct their props with ropes yet the whalers have been trying to do the same thing to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin. They are accusing the Sea Shepherd crew of throwing rotten butter (which the Japanese refer to as "acid") at them yet the whalers are throwing golf balls and chunks of metal at the Steve Irwin crew. In addition, the Japanese are blasting the Sea Shepherd crew with water cannons and Long Range Acoustical weapons - a sonic gun that causes disorientation, nausea and deafness.

"I find it interesting that so called experts and politicians are quick to condemn Sea Shepherd's tactics for upholding conservation law yet say not a word about the escalating physical violence directed at us by the whalers who are breaking the law," said Captain Paul Watson. "Their position of siding with the poachers seems to be that if we did not put ourselves in this situation we would not be experiencing such violence. The same could be said for any policeman and Sea Shepherd is not down here to protest whaling, we are down here to obstruct illegal whaling as defined under international conservation law. We are down here to enforce the law, not to break it."

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http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-090206-2.html