We roll over
What a Pity
New Zealand Surrenders to the Whalers; Australia Likely to Follow Sea
Shepherd Will Fight On!
New Zealand is backing down on the promise to take the Japanese
government to the international court in the Hague, and Australia
appears likely to back down as well with the decision put on hold.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society predicted a year ago that the
posturing of the Rudd government in Australia to take “action” against
illegal Japanese whaling would be all smoke and mirrors, and a
political gimmick to capture the votes of the whale-loving Australian
public.
Australia has spent more than a million dollars gathering “evidence”
of illegal Japanese whaling activities inside the Australian Antarctic
Territorial waters. However, yesterday The Australian reported that
according to Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, the Government would
make a final decision on whether to pursue Japan in an international
court "at an appropriate time" based on legal advice and the evidence
gathered by the Customs vessel Oceanic Viking.
“It appears we may be on our own,” said Captain Paul Watson of the Sea
Shepherd ship Steve Irwin. “It’s just us and the Australian people
now, but we have demonstrated that we can shut down these whaling
activities and given the support we can be 100% effective instead of
being 50% effective this last season. The secret is to keep the
whalers on the run and we intend to do just that.”
The Steve Irwin is presently being refitted in Melbourne with a new
helicopter deck and hanger and new fast boats.
“We have no intention of surrendering to these whale killing thugs,”
said Captain Watson. “Every year we have been more effective than the
year before and we intend to make the 2008/2009 whaling season into
the most spectacular display of direct action intervention yet.”
Sea Shepherd hopes the Australian public will pressure the government
and it won’t abandon its $1 million attempt to take Japan to the
international court. However, the Society is moving forward with
plans and preparations for the Steve Irwin to return and defend whales
in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary next season.
“Politicians rarely solve problems,” said Captain Paul Watson.
“Usually they are the problem, because the role of government is to
serve corporate interests first, people second and the environment
third, if at all. Trade considerations usually trump human rights and
environmental concerns. It’s rights for the humans only if the price
is right and concern for the environment if it does not involve
anything more serious than better light bulbs and replacing plastic
bags with a reusable sack.”
“I wish I could say I’m disappointed with both Australia and New
Zealand,” continued Captain Watson. “The fact is that I expected them
to renege on their promises and I expected them to surrender to Japan.
After all money does talk louder than political promises and Japan has
the money to buy what it wants.”
Captain Paul Watson will attend the International Whaling Commission
Meeting in Santiago, Chile in June and the Sea Shepherd ship Steve
Irwin will return to the Southern Ocean to once again engage the
Japanese fleet in December 2008.
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