talkpolitics | (no subject)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14132320

Despite continued international pressure and the acts of radical environmental groups Japan's whaling fleet will be shipping out again.

Frankly I wish Japan would just knock off the whaling. For one, if you've seen Star Trek IV you know why we want to keep whales around. Whales are cool and enjoy swimming with Vulcans. But mostly because the whole whaling thing in Japan is nothing but political theater to garner support for the LDP but looking as if they're "protecting traditional Japanese culture" from asshole Westerners who want to impose their values on Japan. Of course, the fact that only like seven villages in the whole of Japan ever did whaling and it was never more than a small scale thing has no bearing on the matter. "Anti-foreigners" is a song that never fails to pack the house in Japan so why would they stop just because good sense says so?

Not that a lack of sense is exclusive to the Japanese side of this.

Sea Shepherd activists have staged demonstrations outside the IWC meeting here - the organisation is barred from attending - and it is clear that it will send its fleet to the Southern Ocean again if Japan does return.

"Sea Shepherd will also return and will once again intercept and block their operations," the organisation's head Paul Watson wrote on his blog earlier this week.

"If they return, we will launch Operation Divine Wind, and our vessels the Bob Barker, the Steve Irwin, and the Brigitte Bardot will soon return to the remote and stormy seas of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to do what we do best - defend the whales!"

Bwhahaha! That guy couldn't have sounded more absurd if he'd posted "Kneel before Zod, whalers of Japan!" And I can't help but imagine they people on the Bob Barker shouting "The price is wrong, bitch!" as they try and ram a whaling boat or throw acid on its nets.

Honestly, on both sides there's so much absurdity it's amazing anyone is able to take either side seriously.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, 3 flares. Ooo it's a regular Gaza strip down there.

Considering that flares can start fires and HURT PEOPLE I think three is three too many.

But they didn't. Time to move on.

Sure, you can attack people with acid, flares and fire but as long as no one gets hurt it's all cool. It's not like someone could get hurt next time or that you committed crimes and damaged private property.

LOL @ acid. Oooo it's going to melt the ships. The acid is referring to the stinky stuff that makes vomit smell horrible. It's not like the creature's blood in Alien. They've shot three flares in how many years, and no one has been hurt.

Please, stop being an apologist for the Japanese whalers.

Considering the fact that, legally speaking, they are engaged in sabpotage and piracy against Japanese shipping, and the resulting fact the Japanese Navy could legally sink thier vessel. I think they need to step up thier game.

Then again the reason the Japanese Navy hasn't gotten involved (and by involved I mean sent a cruise missile thier way) is that the SS crew are more of a nuisance than a threat.

And on the other hand, the Japanese fleet is in clear violation of an Australian Federal Court order prohibiting whaling operations inside the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone.

Then perhapse the crew of the sea shepard's time and effort would be better spent petitioning the Aussie government to enforce those resolutions.

That's what Green Peace does.

and that's why I send cheques to Greenpeace and not the Sea Shepard.

(no subject)

telemann.livejournal.com - 2011-07-14 01:11 (UTC) - Expand

Saying that people shouldn't engage in violence, vandalism and ARSON to make a political point doesn't make me an apologist.

You could have fooled me since I haven't seen you mention any of the Japanese whalers actions yet (e.g. firing of guns at the Sea Shepherd, ramming of several of their ships, attempts to prevent their helicopter to launch by spraying water on its blades to freeze them, the use of sonic riot controls on a helicopter to disorient the pilot while flying it).

None of that is mentioned in the article and since that's what we're talking about here you're surprised that I'm focusing on the facts at hand?

I think it's pretty fair to say that conversations on these threads aren't strictly limited to a specific link given in the original post, or they can't be broadened to include other elements not covered originally. Several threads here show that to be true. But if you're against the significantly more aggressive acts the Japanese whalers have consistently shown towards the Sea Shepherd, well that's great!

Edited 2011-07-13 23:07 (UTC)

dv8nation.livejournal.com - 2011-07-13 23:32 (UTC) - Expand

telemann.livejournal.com - 2011-07-13 23:35 (UTC) - Expand

dv8nation.livejournal.com - 2011-07-13 23:36 (UTC) - Expand

telemann.livejournal.com - 2011-07-13 23:39 (UTC) - Expand

That's like saying they raped a guy but his asshole didn't bleed, time to move on.

Except it's not.

Firing flare shots at something where nothing catches fire is a crime regardless. Throwing acid at something is a crime regardless of if it causes damage or not. Killing someone is crime regardless if victim was an asshole or not. Rape is a crime regardless if asshole bleeds or not.

Your disregard because these criminal actions didn't result in damages or injury is frightening.

That's ok. I sleep just fine.

Yeah, not exactly an apt comparison.

And a pretty weird and off the wall comparison too; just saying.

It is odd, but unfortunately rape analogies are not all that rare.

btw, I've been meaning to tell you, I love the new Penguin books logo icon :)

Oh cool ; ) Thanks and glad you like it!

No.

(deleted comment)

Just don't hit a whale.