Report From Capt Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd. (Regarding Whaling)

[Guest guest]

Report from the Farley Mowat

 

Source > www.seashepherd.com

 

December 30, 2006

 

Three ships continue to chase the Japanese whaling

fleet along the coast of Antarctica

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is the fastest

vessel and is keeping on the tail of the Nisshin Maru.

The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and the Sea

Shepherd ship Farley Mowat are running flanking

positions in an effort to spot the Japanese harpoon

vessels which have been out of sight for days.

The conservation ships are sweeping the along the

coast corridor with radar and helicopter

reconnaissance flights with the objective of ferreting

out the positions of the illegal harpoon vessels.

There is no question but that the Japanese fleet

is on the run, speeding westward and there is no

evidence of any whaling activity taking place since

Christmas day.

" We have certainly made an impact down here

against these pirate whalers, " said Captain Paul

Watson. " They are being harassed and they know they

are being harassed. "

Meanwhile Australian Environment Minister Ian

Campbell is accusing Sea Shepherd of endangering the

factory ship Nisshin Maru on Christmas Day.

" The video clearly shows that it was the Farley

Mowat that had the right of way and the Nisshin Maru

attempted to ram our ship, " said Captain Watson.

" Despite the evidence, when the Japanese complain,

Campbell goes running to appease Tokyo. Is there no

limit to how low these politicians will go to kow tow

to Japan over trade agreements? " He said.

Captain Watson has informed Ian Campbell that if

he has charges against Sea Shepherd or himself, he

will return to Australia to face whateever charges

Australia can concoct.

" Stop threatening us and charge us if you believe

we are acting unlawfully. Stop posing for the

Japanese. Show us you have authority down here in

these waters Mr. Campbell, charge us, and then explain

how you have authority over me as a Canadian on a

Canadian ship but not the Japanese who are in blatant

violation of international conservation and Australian

laws in Australian territorial waters? "

Sea Shepherd has officially requested the presence

of an Australian Naval vessel to monitor the

activities in the Southern Ocean.

Ian Campbell has refused to send a naval vessel on

the grounds that Japan does not recognize the

Australian Antarctic Territory.

The question must be asked : Does Australia claim

the Australian Antarctic Territory or not? If not

then the name should be taken off the maps and charts

and the area surrendered to Japanese exploitation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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