The Government is to send a New Zealand Air Force Orion to keep tabs on Japanese whalers this season.
On Thursday Greenpeace called on the Government to say how it intended to put pressure on Japan as the whalers will operate mainly in waters in which New Zealand has search and rescue obligations under international law.
Greenpeace is not sending a fleet to confront the whalers this year, but Sea Shepherd is sending its vessel the Steve Irwin.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Wayne Mapp issued a joint statement today urging parties to show restraint after clashes last season involving stink bombs, the detaining of activists and allegations that whalers fired live ammunition.
Dr Mapp said the Defence Force did not intend to station craft in the Ross Sea to monitor developments but there would be regular Orion surveillance flights.
Last season Australia sent a Customs ship to gather evidence as part of its threat to take Japan to the International Court of Justice. The Australian government has been criticised for not advancing that action or sending a vessel this year.
New Zealand was "firmly opposed" to the Japanese whaling programme and Mr McCully said he gave that message to Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone at the recent Apec summit in Peru.
"We are actively engaged in a diplomatic process including through the International Whaling Commission to try to find a resolution to the problem," Mr McCully said.
New Zealand had to co-ordinate responses to maritime incidents in the Ross Sea area and usually the nearest vessels were called on to help.
If whalers or protesters got into difficulty it could take a while to get help to them.
Searching in the isolated and treacherous Southern Ocean was difficult and rescue capability limited.
"We're urging all parties to refrain from any actions that may put their lives, or the lives of others at risk."
The whaling fleet left Japan earlier this month and is expected to focus its hunt for about 1000 whales in the Ross Sea.
In February 2007, the Japanese government asked New Zealand to help a crewman who fell gravely ill near the Ross Sea. A New Zealand rescue helicopter airlifted him to a hospital. Then Conservation Minister Chris Carter said New Zealand had a humanitarian obligation to help when a life was at risk.
In the same month, a Japanese whaling ship and Sea Shepherd's vessel collided twice in Antarctic waters.
Separately, two protesters were lost in sea mist and snow for several hours, and a Japanese whaler died in a fire aboard a whaling vessel. In the latter incident, the Japanese vessel declined an offer of assistance from a ship belonging to the environmental group Greenpeace.
Comments
If they Jap Whalers come
If they Jap Whalers come into Waters under NZ watch the blow them the hell up!
The Whaling Silly Season begins again
Another media Barrage of Green mumble jumble propagating emotive myths about Whaling. Not even the Chinese media produces such one eyed reports and certainly has less …”non truths”(what do you call them these days?)
I buy whale meat literally in contempt of the lies and poor ethics of the Hypocritical media and numb minded illogical pawns of the enviro-lies there in NZ.
Grow up!! For Truths Sake!!
Aussie and New Zealand with some of the Hugest responsibility for raping this resource with their hypocritical about face, mock countries that on their whaling watch have overseen the replenishment of stocks to levels only seen in the earlier years of NZ and Aussies Ra-pe of the resource.
Shame on NZ and such emotive puppy dogs.
The Whales they hunt are NOT endangered and as a species use more fisheries than the entire worlds fishing fleet annually.
It is an operation in environmental sustainability as much as anything to keep this species in check.
Sea Shepherd still have not explained the fire that Killed the Japanese Sailor yet..... those Blood-y minded fanatics.
Mmmm
No ethics, science, or sense; just emotive enviro babble that so often is against nature in fact.
Enjoy your Eels and Puha.
Did you know eels that only breed when they are up to 100 years old are at risk of extinction in NZ?
And Kiwis and and and
Clean up your own back Yard!
Japan's environmental record is a marvel per head of population.
It is a country greener and more environmentally friendly than NZ by a hundred country miles with an almost identical carbon foot print while NZ gets its car fleet from there reducing its own carbon at the cost of Japans levels.
There is Far Far Far more bush land in Japan than NZ in total (about double NZ) and by % of land (about 75%) and per head of population of course (60 x NZ per head in Japan).
Dirty Grey NZ should learn a few lessons from Truly Clean Green Japan.
By the Way, you really ought to re ignite the Kiwi Taste buds to Whale.
It is delicious. And means only a single animal suffers to provide meat that normally a thousand animals suffer to feed Emotional Kiwi Enviro- Lies.
It would also make tourism Sky Rocket …’eat pure southern seas delicacies and protect the seas fisheries’ or ‘Whale hunt and riding excursions’.
This Traditional Maori resource could be harvested to benefit people and the oceans again.
Japan is running low on Whale and had to import from Iceland where whale meat is still plentiful. Too bad! :-(
But at about NZ$1.50 a tiny tin it is worth it to save other fisheries.
Whaling
To "Whale Lover Kiwi in Japan":
How you possibly be purchasing whale meat when the whales are taken only for 'scienfic' purposes?
Typical Anti Whaler; Knows Nothing & Thinks Less.
Jeff the Aussie, NZ, US, UK and every other government on the whaling commission demand that the meat be used according to the Whaling commissions rules.
The Whaling Commission Rules and main principle are theses
-The Commissions purpose is to manage sustainable Whaling.
(Not Ban It)
-In the interim only research whaling is considered responsible and sustainable. (by vote, not by fact of population count).
A third point is
-That no Whale taken is to be taken and wasted.
So Japan must by this ruling sell/use all meat.
They actually use 99+ % of the whale productively or in research.
Facts are quite different from the enviro fanatiacal Religious freaks fantasy that lie from Woe to Go to fund their environmental money spinning Pseudo Religion.
The Australisian and a few other media sources are an absolute Joke in terms of their accuracy.
Completely Stunningly warped reports.
As I say even China would not try that level of easily transparent propoganda on Xinhua.
Japan is pretty patient with the nutters. With a Military power and reach to dwarf the UK and the capacity (though selectively not used) to be nuclear armed at 3 months notice they are a very patient country to not Blow protest boats out of the water or at least seize them all.
TO: Semi-literate WhaleLoverKiwi-in Japan...
It appears that YOU should consider it time well spent searching the Internet for a spell-checker; and, I--for one--would hazard that you'd most likely benefit from a "Check-yer-necker" as well...
How FULL of it(!)--pride, I mean-- you MUST be to know that somehow it's so easy for you to feel this opinionated (and sure of it!) rather than just being over-propagandized like the rest of us...As they say, Japan is pretty patient with the NUTTERS!
On behalf of all us, the millions, we--the ignorant cretins who have all read the same info and saw it so drastically different--let us say it's been "our pleasure" to let your pitiful cry in the wilderness fall on deaf taste-buds...
Mention 'Spelling' or 'Hitler' and you loose!
Rather Pathetic rebuttal based on nothing better than the non logic of attacking some missed Key strokes rather than the Clearly available Logic.
You who consider spell checking blogs time well spent ought to maybe review your time use values system a little before making such childish suggestions.
I merely point out hypocrisy of a fanatic driven media and nation.
NOT consistant at all with its own appetite for meat of what ever type nor its primary industries.
Grow up there.
I don't spend my life grammar checking and I reckon you too should find better parts of society to save in a day when we have degenerated to texts etc.
I leave my worrying about grammar checking to academic papers and international conference and forumn presentations I work on... for as you suggest prides sake. Or at least self respect when my work will be quoted and published in scientific journals.
I don't consider a few comments on a news article a source of major professional pride worth scanning my writing or copying it into a spell checker as if I need to do that to check my spelling.
What is you grammar/spelling error count there?
I find almost a dozen errors above...and you?
TO: Barely-Literate Whale Lover Kiwi-in Japan
I still maintain that your biggest mistake is in your perception of reality...
Maybe your ideas would be better received by some caring audience(?)if you tried, let's say-- watercolors? Interpretive dance?
That being said, there's always BabelFish.org, which might help if you happen to be (hopefully!?!) translating from Japanese. Sorry, but i doubt it'll be able to translate English to English for ya.
Good luck on that...
Again All Assumptions Wrong and Mocking is Your Only Logic.
Three points
1 Make a point or be quiet. You demonstrate perfectly the reson for my title in my second post. From end to end of your posts you establish no point at all.
Such people and media are usually quick to use words like "Vitriol" "Diatribe" and "Tirade" to write off people passionately proposing often logical conclusions that defy so many of our current societal unchallanged guiding myths in favour of their own loved presupposition.
2. Don't use mocking, unsubstantiated, adjectives, presuppositions and elitisim to try to prove logic.
The status or even grammar of a speaker does not determine the validity of the argument. Though such mocking of logic on the basis of its presentation does show the pride and poor understanding of the mocker.
3. 'People living in glass houses should not throw stones'. Until now (capital) I have not argued with you based on spelling/grammar. You too have shown yourself also to be 'literally' challanged if you get the pun. We all are likely to make a few key stroke errors from time to time and I dispise childish arguments that drivel on about it. NBR is pretty good but try Stuff if you enjoy grammar checking for a hobby. It is pretty bad.
BTW What is your line of work?
To: Whale-Chompin' Kiwi in Japan
My points were: (1) To belittle your quaint 18th Century "Manifest Destiny/Dominion over the animals" mindset and let you know that I--PERSONALLY-- think your critical reasoning & reading comprehension skills are sub-par!
Begrudgingly I'd admit you made one decent point about a whale feeding a group; true enough--but so would a squash-vine or banana tree, for that matter! Is that Hippy-Dippy enough for ya? Remember, i'm just the amateur here tonight, you're the conference pro...
(2) To call your kettle BLACK on the fact that your flamebaiting & proselytizing about your taste for whale-meat, etc. was the worst attempted propagandizing I'd seen in months so it makes wonder what it is YOU'VE been reading. Plus it was almost begging me to remind you to check your sunblock & goad you at-the-very-least to attempt to balance your random musings with the need to speak coherently if you expect anyone to care, especially since this is a comment page, not your blog. Finally, i was attempting to (3) remind you not to let your whaling cronies down by making the activists embarrassed to acknowledge your point for fear of validating it, you. I at least feel better now about picking at your semantics realizing that you do have English as your own language--None of that guilt over worrying you were actually translating...
P.S. The choice of "handle" here is merely your railing adjectives thrown back as if by mirror reflection.I've never used those words myself until this comment forum, so you be the judge...
Almost your first argument in too many empty words
Well you still are irrational and only rely on unreasoned abuse and presuppositions. I have not claimed dominion over the earth though maybe equal rights to survive as the fittest, or equal rights to be the top predator.
If I held the dominion point of view I may care more for what species were left after my feast of meat.
But you did almost hit on some reason that is consistant with the anti whaling position.
Pure Vegitarianisim.
Without asking about carnivorous animals and all that, I will give you credit for your first argument in thousands of empty words of mocking and irational abuse
Now you have got to your first point and a damned good one which is worth arguing I am happy that I have finally drawn out some reason from you.
A true hippy Veggie is actually qualified to argue against whaling being non hypocritical.
My excat point in what.?....my very first post re the hypocrisy of meat eaters criticising killing a sustainable species for meat.
That said i will let you spill out a little more abuse and have the last word.
Think of something that will make you look smart if no one challanges the thought.
Now your last word...???
Redneck trash
Comments like these from redneck trash dont deserve the light of day...the Japanese whalers never blamed Sea Shepherd for the fire on Nissin Maru, what does a clown like you know that everybody else does'nt?
Stay in your loungeroom apeman and start all the stupid rumours you want, the facts are quite different.
TO: WhaleLoverKiwi-InJapan
Welllll,
Since i perceive a hint of crevice in your philosophical Speedos, maybe i should thank you for the compliments, har har...
There was no subterfuge here, I was simply trying to make you feel bad for a moment or two. I was poking the rattler with a stick, antidote and whip in hand. Plus it's true, you need to reach up to that spell-check button once in awhile. No big whoop, all the cool kids are doin' it!
The only thing i don't understand is why you insist that by taunting you I'm taking an elitist position! How can i be elitist--even if we take into account your mistaken presuppositions about my meaning and intentions, since i too can truly see the issue from both sides!
I repeat: "How can i be taking the elitist position?" when your presumed pro-whaling stance actually pays off for your belly/soul, since whaling feeds you whether the activists LIKE IT OR NOT. That means their group, including the neutral to non-whalers AND including the anti-whalers--are in the minority, not you, and deserve at least a listening, from those in the elite position, the international whaling community and their $upporter$! (Especially at a buck fifty a tin NZ, maybe wasting a mere 1%/whale of TON$ of profitable $ale flesh.)
You will, however, upon re-reading my posts, notice that i have managed to rightfully give you some grief for what was about the most "emotive puppy"-like flame-baiting, to mirror your words again, that i have witnessed this side of, say 6 months.
In case you don't recall that to which i am referring, or perhaps this is being read by another reader, it was in the 1st of your comment posts from this article's forum.
By that, specifically, i mean the taunts where you tell those likely-duped-yet-compassionate people how you buy whale meat literally in contempt of the lies of numb-minded illogical pawns. Okay you mentioned the media also, and maybe the Media deserves the brunt of that one... But, to THEN try to convert by proselytizing to the whole nation of NZ the re-ignition of the Kiwi taste buds to whale meat, HOLY CRAP< BATMAN! If i am over presumptuous about your intended victims, then you must have been railing at NZPA, or the writer of the article itself, maybe even NBR-- who knows(?)--who cares--just a scatter-gun tornado of helpless little man.
You said you literally buy whale meat in contempt of the lies, media, and we IGNORANT PAWNS, Japanese citizens and their transplant-guests presumably not included!
I'm afraid that you've mistaken my taunts as the drivel of an ignorant bleeding-heart, when in fact i was attempting to get your goat for lashing out at the poor fellow who asked you how you could possibly be purchasing whale meat, one Mr. Jeff B i recall.
With his simple enough question, what makes you so he's his "position" is anti-whaler, or even typical?
Are you going to hold it against him (plus me and the rest of the populace too) for not getting accurate Major media coverage? There are more options, please. I thought it was your position that we, the everyman outside of GreenJapan, were all SOOO brainwashed that we'd have that very same excuse (if needed) in our defense!
I too think the majority of the media in many countries is pablum at best. So just on the fact that i could have asked Jeff's same question, i take insult, and so should he. Notice he was too polite, not mind-numbed as you put it. BTW, do you still consider me mind-numbed, after all these, and this-- my last parting shot post?
In part three of the last post of mine, i mentioned a "point"--the one you were puzzled about. I meant your point that Minkie whales eat even more than the combined fisheries produce. That's your best arguement here, bar none! Now you know why i brought it up. Until the fisheries are properly managed, we're all in jeopardy, and whaling for REASEARCH is probably needed for an honest assesment, but your flamebaiting isn't. I, at least, was just picking specifically on you. Don't waste progress on the pro-side, don't insult the genuine do-gooders on the anti, nor all us pawns in the middle, 'aight homes?
I don't happen to share your fondness for meat, but i'm not a vegan either. I eat meat occasionally, but am mainly vegitarian. So thanks, almost, for at least coming around to admitting that potentially some group might not be acting hypocritically when questioning. And yes, i did make a great point, about the squash-vine/banana tree feeding a group from the loss of one single living organism, though these mustn't even die. Variations on that theme are ideas which could be better utilised throughout the world, but in my geo-neighborhood, most of the available landspace is taken for cattle, wheat, grass seed. The cows eat the grain, wasting 90% of the sun's energy in growing the grain. Then people eat that cow and waste 90% of it's energy. If only the people ate the grain, but oh well--the ranchers here'd trade ya a hunk of ol' Bessie for a flensed blubberchunk 8 days a week. Parting shot complete, and it there's anybody else pro or con, join in after me in helping his one good point not get lost in the fray.
I wish you Peace, whatever happens, especially you, KIWI, and that goes for the writer of the original article and Jeff too...may you, we, find it before it's too late.
Post new comment