Environmentalists pursue Japan's whalers

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Japanese PM says he hates whale meat...

...he just likes killing whales!

[IkemenTommy]

Whale meat tastes like shit. I don't know why anyone wants to eat that crap. I guess it was a cheap source of food back in the old days but I wouldn't go out harpooning those things just to fill my appetite.

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Whale meat tastes like shit. I don't know why anyone wants to eat that crap. I guess it was a cheap source of food back in the old days but I wouldn't go out harpooning those things just to fill my appetite.

They don't want to eat it. I hardly know a Japanese who likes whale meat and the ones that do are now all in their 70s or 80s.
They only whale because they want to antagonize tree-hugging gaijin. It's a matter of national pride more than anything else.

[Behan]

It's a matter of national pride more than anything else.

I suspect that's the real reason behind their continued whaling.

[IkemenTommy]

I suspect that's the real reason behind their continued whaling.

You gotta watch the latest South Park episode (S13E11) to understand why the Japanese want to kill whales and dolphins.

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Whalers facing budget cutbacks....

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Wail for whales: stealth boat to blast Japanese

[Takechanpoo]

[Mike Oxlong]

Yeah, what with keeping poachers out of the Galapagos, filming Newfies clubbing baby seals, trying to stop shark-finning, and opposing those who cry "fuck you dolphin!", they'll be ready for their rocking chairs on the porch...

[Greji]

[Mike Oxlong]

THE anti-whale hunting group the Sea Shepherd said a Japanese security ship has illegally followed them into French Antarctic waters and fired "a military class weapon" at their helicopter.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru No 2 had been following its vessel, the Steve Irwin, for nine of the 10 days it had been sailing since leaving Fremantle.

Sea Shepherd said the Shonan Maru had been constantly reporting the Steve Irwin's location, preventing it from closing in on the Japanese whaling fleet.

A Sea Shepherd spokeswoman said the Steve Irwin entered French Antarctic territorial waters, with permission from the French Base at Dumont Durville, in a bid to lose the Shonan Maru.

But, the Shonan Maru No 2 followed the Steve Irwin without the French's permission, Sea Shepherd said.

The Sea Shepherd group said the French base had confirmed that the Japanese ship neither requested nor received permission to enter French waters.

The spokeswoman said the Steve Irwin helicopter then flew back to film the Shonan Maru in its pursuit.

"In response, the crew of the Japanese ship activated their Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at the Sea Shepherd helicopter," she said.

"LRAD is a military class weapon."

Helicopter pilot Chris Aultman said activating the weapon was extremely irresponsible.

"That device can cause nausea and disorientation and the use of it against an aircraft is extremely dangerous," he said.

The Sea Shepherd helicopter returned to the Steve Irwin for safety, at which point the Shonan Maru increased speed and aimed their water canons at the helicopter on the landing pad, the spokeswoman said.

Steve Irwin Captain Paul Watson said the situation was now very dangerous.

"We have deliberately led the Japanese ship into thick ice in order to lose them in the ice," he said.

"The icebergs could easily damage either vessel."...

[Takechanpoo]

they too used green laser gun, though.

[sublight]

Aww, poor babies.

Kind of interesting that the SS is based out of Washington State, right next door to where the Inuit are hunting whales, yet they never seem to have anything to say about that.

[Mike Oxlong]

they too used green laser gun, though.

Dear god! Those batshit crazy eco-terrorists are armed!

[yt]ED1dMz_LUOQ[/yt]

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Dear god! Those batshit crazy eco-terrorists are armed!

[yt]ED1dMz_LUOQ[/yt]

Hey, these are powerful weapons....the SS people can use these to light the whalers' cigarettes for them, and we all know what tobacco does to people.

[Mike Oxlong]

[Takechanpoo]

And uncivilized Aussie media didnt report about Sea Sepherd's laser gun.

[Mulboyne]

And uncivilized Aussie media didnt report about Sea Sepherd's laser gun.

Untrue

...After an exchange of spray from water cannon, Japan's Shonan Maru No.2 is said to have used a long-range acoustic device to fire an intense sonic burst at a Sea Shepherd helicopter, threatening its pilot. In turn, the Japanese said that the activists directed a high-powered laser at the whaling ship's crew from the Steve Irwin, risking eye damage, and trailed a line that threatened to entangle in Shonan Maru No.2's propeller and rudder...

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[SIZE="4"]Sea Shepherd Receives French Support[/SIZE]

With apologies to the likes of Coligny, receiving "French Support" has proved in the past to be something of a mixed blessing...

[Mike Oxlong]

At least it's not this kind of "support"...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

At least it's not this kind of "support"...

Nique ta mere!! Nous nous rendons!

[Mike Oxlong]

You're stressing my high school French. Did you know Cap'n Watson's first wife was a Green Peace director from la belle province, and he was married to a former Playboy model before wifey numero tres?:o

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

You're stressing my high school French. Did you know Cap'n Watson's first wife was a Green Peace director from la belle province, and he was married to a former Playboy model before wifey numero tres?:o

Actually, I only looked up the French on the Internet. I haven't got a clue. I'm assuming it means "F**k your mother, we surrender!"

I didn't know about Watson....rich as hell, three wives (including ex-Playboy model) and a life spent harassing people. Sounds like my kinda guy!!!! (or, to be more correct, the kinda guy I'd like to be....)

[Mike Oxlong]

Yeah, I'd have to check with Henri from "Cheers" to be sure, but I think in colloquial English we'd say "Muthafucka", "Fuck off!", "Fuck you!". Directly translating the French does give it a bit of zazz though, doesn't it! When I learned French in high school the teacher said there wasn't a word for "surrender" in their language.

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[quote="Mike Oxlong"]When I learned French in high school the teacher said there wasn't a word for "surrender" in their language.]



Maybe "bonjour" would suffice?

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Ouch! Sea Shepherd boat cut in half by "scientific research" ship.....

[Number11]

That's one down, two more to go.

[GuyJean]

Ouch! Sea Shepherd boat cut in half by "scientific research" ship.....

FACTS ON THE ADY GIL

Top speed: 40 knots (74 kmh)
Cruising speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)
Range: Halfway around the world - 20,000 km
Cost: Estimated $1 million
Length: 24 metres
Weight: 16 tonnes
Construction: Carbon fibre foam sandwich with kevlar armour.

I was wondering what that 'foam' little 'boat' was going to do to a whale ship.. Why don't they just use a souped-up tug boat?

GJ

[Samurai_Jerk]

Ouch! Sea Shepherd boat cut in half by "scientific research" ship.....

Captain Watson said the Ady Gil was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay when it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship Shonan Maru, which has been detailed to provide security to the fleet.

Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly how it went down.

[GuyJean]

Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly how it went down.

From the video, it looked like Styrofoamobile cut in front of the whale ship.. But I couldn't tell if that's when contact was made.

GJ