Japanese sail in to back anti-whaling (Peace Boat with 1000 Japanese environmentalists)

[Barrett808]

Source: The Australian

Japanese sail in to back anti-whaling
Matthew Knott | December 28, 2007

AS Japanese ships continue to hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean, an ocean liner packed with Japanese activists opposed to "scientific" whaling has docked in Australia.

The Peace Boat - a vessel carrying 1000 Japanese passengers on a 110-day voyage to promote human rights and environmental issues - is demanding that Japan end its scientific whaling program.

Japan has abandoned plans to harpoon 50 threatened humpbacks, but still intends to kill 50 endangered fin whales and 935 minke whales in the Southern Ocean this summer.

"The fact our Government is killing whales in the name of so-called scientific research is very hard for us to accept and believe," Peace Boat voyage director Inoue Nao said after arriving at Circular Quay in Sydney yesterday.

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22978731-30417,00.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. They are putting their bodies on the line. Good for them. Hope their actions will stir the

consciences of the nation, and a grassroots movement will follow to dump this barbaric, unwholesome practise.

The whalers' entire livelihood is based upon a lie: pretending this is done for "scientific research" when everyone in the world knows differently.

The article sounds promising, indicating the younger generation in Japan is much more concerned in living WITH the rest of the world, and values its place therein, and that most young Japanese haven't ever eaten the stuff, anyway. Looks like they aren't about to, either, and more power to them.

[starroute]

8. Young Japanese seem very environmentally aware

Any familiarity with Japanese anime or even video games makes it clear how acute an issue environmental degradation is for them. I suspect they may be more aware of what they've done to crap up their own country than of the whaling issue. But Shinto is, after all, fundamentally a nature religion -- and that has got to tell in the long run.

[tchunter]

9. i've played some japanese made rpg's and video games and i definately agree

for example Final Fantasy VII is all about corporate power, energy consumption and demand and the destruction of the environment.



by the way, i guess i'm a huge geek

[Bonobo]

2. Do "Anti-Whalers(TM)" think these Japanese should be killed as well?

[AndyTiedye]

3. Kicked and Recommended

[nebula]

4. What a great symbolic act of protest.

The more pressure put on the Japanese gov't, the better.

[Raine]

5. Two Thumbs Up

to them :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[xchrom]

6. recommend

:applause:

[DinahMoeHum]

7. PeaceBoat has been around for quite a few years. . .

having "peace education" programs for their 3-month voyages as well as featured speakers. Several members of the 9/11 organization September 11 Families For Peaceful Tomorrows have been aboard the vessel for such programs.

For further info, visit their website:
http://www.peaceboat.org/english/index.html

:thumbsup: