Greenpeace confronts whalers in Southern Ocean whales sanctuary

Sunday, January 13, 2008
Posted in Whales | Tagged Whales

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Southern Ocean, Antarctica - Following a 10 day search in Antarctic waters, the Greenpeace ship Esperanza today located Japan’s whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.�The whaling fleet immediately took flight from the Esperanza, which is now in high-speed pursuit. While the fleet is on the run, the whalers are unable to hunt.

Greenpeace whales campaigner Rob Nicoll said, “It’s good news that the whaling fleet are on the run, as it means they are unable to hunt whales as they flee. If they try to start whaling, the Esperanza’s international crew of activists will take non-violent direct action to defend the whales.”

Greenpeace Japan whales campaigner Sakyo Noda said in a statement radioed to the whaling fleet, “Our vessel and crew are here in the Southern Ocean to condemn your hunt, which includes endangered species, and to insist that you return to port immediately. Your so-called scientific whaling is a hoax, and has been dismissed as unwanted and unnecessary by the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee. Modern scientific research on whales does not require killing them.”

When the whaling fleet left its home port of Shimonoseki last November, the government of Japan confirmed the sole purpose behind its so-called science programme: to bring about a return to commercial whaling.

Junichi Sato, whales project leader for Greenpeace Japan said, “The Japanese people clearly do not support the whaling [1] that is being carried out in their name and with their tax money. It’s time for Prime Minister Fukuda to put an end to Japan’s whaling scandal and recall the fleet home to Japan.”

This is Greenpeace’s 9th expedition to the Southern Ocean to defend the whales, and the second in the last twelve months. In February 2007, the Esperanza assisted and then escorted the Nisshin Maru out of Antarctic waters, following a fire that left the whaling factory ship disabled and one crewman dead. �

�http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/news-and-events/media/releases/whales/greenpeace-confronts-whalers-i

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