Pirates operating in Southern Ocean........

[micah719]

Over 150,000 people die every day, quite a few of them for lack of food, clean water, basic medical care or outright murder. Many more are living lives of horrible suffering. Priorities...and I'm a hypocrite. Any more out there?

The Japanese are currently playing footsies with China...they are also amending the stupid constitution forced on them a couple of generations ago, to the tune of taking the handcuffs off their navy. If things really hot up in the South China Sea it will mean big problems for resources for the Japanese, and they've never taken that threat lightly. They may in future need to hunt whales to survive. In that case, the adventurers of Seashepherd would be well advised to find someone else to bully. Or, find honest work. Me, I'd laugh a hernia if some Japanese marines boarded those "shepherds" and dished out a caning or two. And then listen to the whining.

[Jimbo485]

What international ban? The Japanese are legally allowed to kill 1000 whales per year.

Morally, it is fine because the whale population is increasing so well. No danger of extinction with a booming population.

If the perceived IQ of the animal is some sort of argument for not killing it (oh, such beautiful intelligent creatures, how can we let them be murdered?), is the reverse also true. Cows are dumb, so it's ok to kill them? Same for animals without the genetic luck to have a permanent smile? The same logic applies to CF posters and we protect the smart ones and allow the stupid ones to be killed off?

Hey! That's a good idea!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by DennisM

You're right, Coltex. Neither party is innocent. But in my view, Sea Shepherd is clearly right, and the whalers are clearly wrong. Your thought about sanctioning Sea Shepherd as eco-enforcement is a good one, but the likelihood of that happening is below zero. And waiting for the long arm of the law to reach the whalers may take longer than the whales will last. Sea Shepherd does not intend to set itself up as judge or jury, and certainly not executioner. They wish merely to enforce the international ban. They would be greatly satisfied to simply escort the whalers out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The Sea Shepherd operating in the Southern Ocean Goat Sanctuary are in violation of the WGC ban that restricts activities in the area to commercial transit, recreational use, scientific investigation and oil exploration .

The ban is already respected by every UN Member country - who will enforce the ban? and how? Remember, think of the Goats .

[micah719]

The same logic applies to CF posters and we protect the smart ones and allow the stupid ones to be killed off?

Hey! That's a good idea!

Uh oh.....I'm outta here.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

So, there is already strong precedent in the US legal system that would agree with the court in this case.

No, the UNCLOS definition of piracy requires that the acts in question must be committed for private ends, while Sea Shepard is acting for public ends. This is the error in the judge's ruling.

[micah719]

Cool....this precedent means I can come up with some harebrained plot, call it public and get off scot free. Oh, wait, I was supposed to be gone before the cull starts. Tata...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by micah719

Cool....this precedent means I can come up with some harebrained plot, call it public and get off scot free. Oh, wait, I was supposed to be gone before the cull starts. Tata...

To enforce their ban the World Goat Council are considering the issuing of "Goatwahs" (kinda like a Fatwah, except without any religous mutterings ).

I am sure they will be in the Public interest .

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

The same logic applies to CF posters and we protect the smart ones and allow the stupid ones to be killed off?

Hey! That's a good idea!

I claim a committee membership for determining who falls into which category! Therefore I'm all for this idea!

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

What international ban? The Japanese are legally allowed to kill 1000 whales per year.

Have you a link to the legislation or law proving this comment?
And where it says they can be hunted for food?

[Jimbo485]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Have you a link to the legislation or law proving this comment?
And where it says they can be hunted for food?

For science, not food.
http://iwc.int/permits

Not all countries are part of the IWC.

[goboatingnow]

In reality the IWC is a toothless wonder, the1986 moratorium on the commercial killing of whales has never been lifted , yet Japan and others have exploited loopholes or just ignored rulings.

I applaud Sea Shepherds efforts to highlight and stop this cynical action by Japan's ICR. The Japanese do not need such numbers to do scientific research and all investigations have shown this is thinly disguised commercial whaling.

Should George Washington have stop merely because the British regarded him as a terrorist , I think not.

Dave

[travisD]

Last year I watched a special on the killing of sharks for there fins for soup. I was sickened from what I saw. How could we as humans do such things to other creatures and this planet. There is still a few indian bands up here in the PNW that try and use the cultural thing to make killing whales ok. We live in modern times. Do we still need to hunt whales for cultural reasons? We almost killed them off at one time . Should we as humans not learned from this? There are several species that need protecting. Whales, sharks, grizzlies etc. If not for us . Atleast for our future generations.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

For science, not food.
Scientific Permit Whaling

Right, so they ARE breaking the law despite what you said earlier.

Not all countries are part of the IWC.

And of those that are, the Japanese buy many of their votes.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/conte...0/s2930189.htm

Originally Posted by Jimbo485
What international ban? The Japanese are legally allowed to kill 1000 whales per year.

For scientific NOT food purposes.

[ElGatoGordo]

I scrolled back through to look at some of the names supporting the Sea Sheppards and then looked at a few gun threads. It's interesting to note that some of those who believe Sea Shepherds are just fine enforcing the "law" with violence to save whales, also feel a person who chooses to use a gun to protect their family and property is a criminal "vigilanty".

Just sayin...

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by ElGatoGordo

I scrolled back through to look at some of the names supporting the Sea Sheppards and then looked at a few gun threads. It's interesting to note that some of those who believe Sea Shepherds are just fine enforcing the "law" with violence to save whales, also feel a person who chooses to use a gun to protect their family and property is a criminal "vigilanty".

Just sayin...

It's interesting to note that some of those that support the Japanese and think its OK to kill whales have guns.

Just sayin...