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www.whalesrevenge.com

As we speak, the Japanese are en route to international waters in their attempt to cull 1000 whales including several of the endangered hump backs! Green Peace and other 'save the whales' organisations are on standby to prevent this whaling but something needs to be done on a much broader scale. They will also "fish" in Australian Waters. The Australian Govt. is clearly concerned that they not offend the Japanese, by complaining.

Public concern from around the world, can make a difference. Perhaps the Australian Govt. might legally force the slaugher fleet out of Australian waters.


Please help by signing the petition at the above site!

We could complain all we like, short of sinking the ship there isn't much that will change their mind.

And it is not Australian waters as such. It isn't like they are rocking up and harpooning things in the harbour without anyone batting an eyelid. The "Australian waters" that the stories refer is is an area in the Antarctic that Australia has claimed as its own. It is not the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) which is the internationally recognised section of Antarctica under the rule of Australian law, but an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is an area that we supposedly are allowed sole rights to exploit the natural rescourses of. As far as I'm aware, this area is not recognised by Japan as being under Australian control, so we can kick and scream all we like but they see us as having no authority over the area. In fact, internationally I believe that there would be very few countries, if any, that would see Australia as having any jurisdiction to force whaling vessels out of the EEZ. I'm fairly certain that they are legally regarded as international waters and as such Australia has about as much hope of being able to force another country out of there as any other.

it is most annoying that we have attempted to set something up to help protect the whales in antarctic waters and then get blasted for not enforcing it. What about the other countries that have set nothing up in the way of sanctuaries? How about petitioning Japan directly to stop them in other places? It seems like a lousy way to go to pick the softer target when it isn't really the Australian government that is the problem.

The government has lodged formal protests in the past, for what little good they achieved. Every time it happens there are strong words said publicly. Realistically, there isn't much more that can be done IMO. We can't go down there with guns blazing and drive them out of some arbitrary area of water, and the legalities of trying to enforce it through the courts seem incredibly complicated. EEZs in general seem OK, but the whole Antarctica thing appears to add another layer of complexity.

If an Australian company or an Australian branch of an international company went down there and started harpooning whales, they'd be up to their eyeballs in trouble, but as far as international companies go, all we can do is huff and puff a bit. Our whale sanctuary is nothing more than a strong suggestion to other countries, and only law to our own.

And yes, I'd bet that there would be a different reaction should the breaches have been made by a tiny nation with no economic impact on our economy, but it is hard to say. The amount of damage that could be caused by kicking up a major stink would not be worth it. As much as I like whales and think that Japan should move on or only fish their own waters if they must, to me it is not worth damaging our economy and getting off-side with our Asian neighbours on an issue that appears to be technically legal. Gifven that whaling vessels have direct permission of the Japanese government, they would probably be the ones we'd need to chase. When one government tries to stop another government from doing something they feel they are legally entitled to do... well it isn't a happy ending. It is an ethical issue, for sure, but it isn't *just* an ethical issue. Much more needs to be taken into account.

Read a few less sensational stories before going for name calling, yeah? Going on guts alone would not be wise. It is a very emotive issue, I do understand that, but it is far far more complicated than just telling Japan to rack off.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6548.html
http://www.whales.org.au/news/antarctic.html
http://www.austlii.edu.au/nz/journals/VUWLRev/2005/34.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/env/2005/mr20may205.html

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I take offense at your calling us gutless. I don't see the Royal Navy anywhere, after all, we are still technically under British rule...

If you think after all the international pressure, a puny little online petition is going to solve it then I think you may be better off jumping on a greenpeace boat and heading down here yourself.

I hate online petitions.

</end transmission>

I could not have said it any better or added any more with out being banned for life from FP.
You have no idea of the whole situation and the size of the Southern ocean and what goes on down there other than reading a one sided view.
No one wants the whales killed, when they come into our little bay every year and have done since who known when many locals can get within a stones through from land to see them feeding with their calves.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I take offense at your calling us gutless. I don't see the Royal Navy anywhere, after all, we are still technically under British rule...

My apologies - I've deleted it - as for the Royal Navy they're too busy doing George W's bidding ...................

http://www.seashepherd.org/

Those guys would probably do a better job than your petition site anyway.

as for the Royal Navy they're too busy doing George W's bidding

Wow, you're angry today, ain't ya?

Besides, it's not like you can head down there with a couple of frigates and destroyers and starting bullying ships of a decidedly non-military nature that belong to a sovereign nation while they are in international waters. That's a decent way to start a whole mess of trouble.

Wow, you're angry today, ain't ya?

Yes Joe Potato I am and so are most folks who live in the UK - we are fed up of having to pay extortionate money for insurance and fuel etc just because your Dollar is so weak because your president is a useless idiot and also fed up with having to go to war over things that ain't our business in the first place, then being left to clean up the mess when US troops are withdrawn and leave us there..................
At the moment we're having to pay over a Pound a litre for diesel fuel which is the equivalent of 2 USD a litre and all I hear on the US news channels is bit**ing about paying a few cents on a gallon - maybe if the US government changed over to distributing your fuel to litres then you may realise just how much the world is really being shafted by a few greedy oil barons - 1 of whom is running your country.............

End of rant and sorry if I offend anyone

Well, if it makes you feel any better, you didn't offend me. I'm more amused than anything. Can't speak for the others.

If I were you, I'd start another online petition with all of your grievances, like for GWB to be removed, for the dollar to become stronger, for Americans to stop whining, for greedy oil barons to stop shafting the world, and for ending the war in Iraq. Let me know how it goes.

On online petition couldn't hurt, it might not help your cause, although I don't think it would hurt to try one.

Also, I agree. George W Bush is the biggest idiot in our nation's history. The only reason he went into Iraq was because he wanted their oil.

er.
i agree with the others, sorry mate.
edit: just seen this and have to quote it:

If you think after all the international pressure, a puny little online petition is going to solve it then I think you may be better off jumping on a greenpeace boat and heading down here yourself.

I hate online petitions.

Oh, and Cichlid Crazy, I forgot to mention that since you just aired all your problems with my country (actually, I take that back. I bet you have a LOT more, probably saved in some sort of computer document as you think them up daily), I'll give my opinion on yours: how can an island so freaking small have so many freaking accents? Answer me that!

Here's a unicorn for your troubles:

eeeheem

Lets try and keep personal attacks to a minimum.


accidents joe ?????


Nice unicorn.

^_^

I'd say keep it up

this is the most traffic Ive seen here for a while

It is something hey?! Where'd all the people come from!?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Unicorns are a global currency, Babel. If not, they definitely should be. Can you think of a rarer commodity? Well, maybe whale oil.

Regardless, I'm sorry if I seem to be getting a little out of hand. I'm just and causing trouble as I am wont to do. I'll behave from now on.

"I'll behave from now on."

Oh now that I want to see


Back on topic. For those not in Aussieland, it is a fairly frequent topic on the evening news. People here do care, but as was said, there's really nothing we can do about it.

Pressure has to come from the political level, and if you think you can get someone like "W" interested in whales ("I believe humans and fish can coexist peacefully" -yes I know whales aren't fish) you have a bad shock coming.


^_^

Oh, and Cichlid Crazy, I forgot to mention that since you just aired all your problems with my country (actually, I take that back. I bet you have a LOT more, probably saved in some sort of computer document as you think them up daily), I'll give my opinion on yours: how can an island so freaking small have so many freaking accents? Answer me that!

Actually I don't have problems with your country other than it seems to intefere with soooooooo much that's none of its business and our dumb government lets itself get dragged along with it.

I'm NOT anti-USA and don't sit around thinking up bad things about your country all day as I have a life but if I'm feeling bad all I need do to make myself feel better is sit and watch Jerry Springer - all those different freaks, mutants and trailer park trash inbreds with freaking accents are also akward to understand so y'all go and have a nice day.

Just for the record - I go on other fish forums and even moderate on one and this is the only site that this petition has been mocked on - if you think its a waste of time then that's fine, don't sign but to take the p**s out of something like this is wrong - OK so we might not get anything done in the reality of it all but at least we care enough to try.

as I have a life but if I'm feeling bad all I need do to make myself feel better is sit and watch Jerry Springer - all those different freaks, mutants and trailer park trash inbreds with freaking accents are also akward to understand so y'all go and have a nice day.

Ok, firstly, if you have a life you wouldnt sit in and watch jerry springer all day to get a laugh - ever.
Secondly, people are not "freaks", regardless of their behaviour, habbits or looks. Mutants, well not only are you embarassing me but also yourself now. Trailer park trash? where abouts in the uk do you live mate? get yourself down to longsight and levensume, or up to Rhyl and see their trailer park trash people. Or, go to a goth concert and see some uk "freaks" and "mutants"? Freakish accents?! mate, i cant understand people froms south wales, newcastle, scotland or plymouth.
Please, learn to curve your childish comments that are entirely not needed.

I promised I'd behave, so I can't keep pushing your buttons, but I just want to say this thread has been fun. Hope we can do it again some time.