Japanese Whalers Battle 'Sea Shepherd' Activists Off Antarctica

[demmiblue]

SYDNEY — Japanese whalers shot water cannons at anti-whaling activists on Saturday, the conservationist group's founder claimed, hours after the activists tracked down the hunting fleet in the remote and icy seas off Antarctica.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is chasing the fleet in the hopes of interrupting Japan's annual whale hunt, which kills up to 1,000 whales a year. The two sides have clashed violently in the past, including last year, when a Sea Shepherd boat was sunk after its bow was sheared off in a collision with a whaling ship.

On Saturday, Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson was talking to The Associated Press by telephone from his ship when he said the whalers suddenly began blasting one of his group's inflatable boats with a water cannon.

"They just turned their cannons on our Zodiac," Watson told The AP. "Right at this moment."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/01/sea-shepherd-japan-whalers-battle_n_803161.html?ref=tw

[BeFree]

1. well

The Japanese are not looking good. Too bad, they seem like great people. These whalers are a huge PR problem. I mean there are people who refuse to do buy any Japanese products because of this whale slaughter. It is a shame.

[Larkspur]

2. Great job Sea Shepherd

I hope 2011 is the end of the Japanese whaling fleet and industry.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

3. before i make any condemnations on the attack

i'd love to know if that zodiac had an rope for snagging the ships propellers, or alternativly some of that stinky butter acid they sometimes throw on the ships.

If any of the two(or similar bad behavior) was happening or had happened I'll support the right of the Japanese to defend themselves.

If not then the Japanese should have had more self control and not fired water on em.

[xchrom]

4. Good on ya sea shepherd. Nt