"KIDNAPPED" in "Australia" by Japanese Whalers

[rechoboam]

I have no opinion on the "kidnapping" - I do however have an opinion on the whaling fleet. This fleet is illegal and I would have no issues with any action that anyone took to prevent the whaling from continuing - including active attempts to sink the fleet whilst at sea.

Whaling is a disgraceful blight on the Japanese nation and the more I see of it the more I am inclined to minimise any contribution I make to the Japanese economy.

I do not however want Gillard to get involved as that might lead to an increase in her popularity (given anti-whaling sentiment) without her actually doing anything useful.

I am in awe when I see a whale. However I don't understand why Japan is considered almost a pariah for their treatment of whales while another country kills thousands of its own citizens agitating for democracy, another assassinates its journalists, another executes the mentally ill, and our own country allows thousands people in outback communities to go blind and die of diseases that we in the cities never see...what about the measles epidemic killing children right now in Africa? Is this ever in the paper? How many millions of dollars are being spent on high-tech ships to save whales which could be spent supporting http://www.msf.org.auMSF buying and providing measles vaccines? Arent children even more important than whales?

EDIT: am i the only person on the forum who think Sea Shepherd and the whalers deserve each other and spend the rest of eternity boarding each others' ships a long way from me?

 

[NM]

Appears the Japanese are going to release them.

Perhaps install a "plank" over the side and instruct them to "walk" may be an appropriate "release" process.

 

[Moopere]

Appears the Japanese are going to release them.

To prove the moron point further, two of them have medical issues and require medication. Of course they didn't bring their meds with them...

That will be part of the strategy.

If the medical issues are real and if they are life threatening its a risk to the Whaling ship to not take them immediately to seek medical assistance. Again, maritime law prohibits taking sick sailors on a world wide cruise simply because its inconvenient to let them go ashore and seek treatment. A way has to be found to provide safe passage to shore for sick seafarers. Helicopter, ship-to-ship transfer, etc, etc would all be acceptable of course, but difficult.

Its a dangerous game for everyone. SS uses maritime law as a weapon and creates situations which have to be solved. Its in line with their own strategy of financially breaking the Whaling operations.

 

[drron]

Today Captain Paul Watson really showed himself up.he has written a letter to JG explaining why he wont pay for the retrieval of the protestors.he claimed previously they boarded in austalian territorial waters but in his letter says the were "taken"16 miles of the WA coast.

 

[Mal]

Today Captain Paul Watson really showed himself up.he has written a letter to JG explaining why he wont pay for the retrieval of the protestors.he claimed previously they boarded in austalian territorial waters but in his letter says the were "taken"16 miles of the WA coast.

yep "taken". Amazing isn't it. And yeah right it was 16 miles off the WA coast... Sea Stupid really need to try harder.

 

[Moopere]

It really doesn't matter. This is a legal argument with both sides using their own perception of maritime law to batter the other. "Taken" or not wouldn't have made any difference. The protesters could have used any number of alternative arrangements to gain a similar conclusion, for instance, they could have simply pulled up next to the Japanese ship, drilled a hole in the bottom of their boat and made a distress call. The Japanese vessel, as the closest vessel to the stricken boat is compelled to pick them up and if it then transpires that urgent medical assistance is required they simply _must_ take the sailors ashore, and to the nearest port likely to provide medical assistance.

There is every sort of ethical question around tactics like this I agree, but mariners are loathe to break the law of the sea.

As for who should pay later. Its pretty well established that sailors in trouble don't usually pay. There may have been cases where the sailors themselves volunteer a payment but I can't think of any off the top of my head. In any event, this becomes a civil legal matter which is outside of the question of who should pick up the sailors and what should happen with them. I don't believe payment can be extorted from the rescued though as this might be viewed as a form of kidnapping.

 

[awilcockson]

Most Japanese find it more disturbing we eat Kangaroo. Which of course we do because it tastes so good.

And isn't that ironic, considering my understanding is that the general consensus is that whale meat is pretty awful, and that the Japanese actually find it difficult to offload all the whale meat they harvest?