Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd has accused Japan of funding the killing of whales with money donated to victims of the earthquake and tsunami, a claim the Japanese consulate in Australia denies.
Japan's whaling fleet has set sail for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, with security measures beefed up amid international protests.
Sea Shepherd is preparing to confront the whalers in the Southern Ocean, in what is expected to be one of its most intense campaigns yet.
Whaling funding a disgrace: Sea Shepherd
December 7, 2011 - 3:48PM
Ads by Google
Self Managed Super (SMSF)
www.esuperfund.com.au
Take Control of Your Super Special Offer Ends Soon. Apply Now!
Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd has accused Japan of funding the killing of whales with money donated to victims of the earthquake and tsunami, a claim the Japanese consulate in Australia denies.
Japan's whaling fleet has set sail for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, with security measures beefed up amid international protests.
Sea Shepherd is preparing to confront the whalers in the Southern Ocean, in what is expected to be one of its most intense campaigns yet.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson said it looked as if the Japanese fleet had two security vessels with security and coast guard personnel aboard.
"We are hoping to deter their operations," he said.
"I assume the security vessels will try and dislodge us. I am assuming there will be some difficult confrontations," he said today.
"That is one of the reasons I asked Australia to send a vessel down to keep the peace, but they refused."
He said about an extra $28 million that Japan had given to the campaign was most likely behind the beefed-up security.
"That money did come from the earthquake relief fund," he said.
"I think that it's totally disgraceful. People from around the world sending money to help the victims of the tsunami-earthquake were not expecting their money to be used to fund killing whales in the Southern Ocean."
Three ships from the Sea Shepherd fleet will set sail in about eight days.
The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot will leave from Albany in Western Australia and the Bob Barker will depart from Hobart.
Mr Kaz Inadome from the Japanese Consulate said no money from the disaster relief funds collected in Australia had been used. All that money had gone to the Red Cross in Japan.
Source http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whaling-funding-a-disgrace-sea-shepherd-20111207-1oi21.html
Japan's whaling fleet has set sail for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, with security measures beefed up amid international protests.
Sea Shepherd is preparing to confront the whalers in the Southern Ocean, in what is expected to be one of its most intense campaigns yet.
Whaling funding a disgrace: Sea Shepherd
December 7, 2011 - 3:48PM
Ads by Google
Self Managed Super (SMSF)
www.esuperfund.com.au
Take Control of Your Super Special Offer Ends Soon. Apply Now!
Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd has accused Japan of funding the killing of whales with money donated to victims of the earthquake and tsunami, a claim the Japanese consulate in Australia denies.
Japan's whaling fleet has set sail for the country's annual hunt in Antarctica, with security measures beefed up amid international protests.
Sea Shepherd is preparing to confront the whalers in the Southern Ocean, in what is expected to be one of its most intense campaigns yet.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson said it looked as if the Japanese fleet had two security vessels with security and coast guard personnel aboard.
"We are hoping to deter their operations," he said.
"I assume the security vessels will try and dislodge us. I am assuming there will be some difficult confrontations," he said today.
"That is one of the reasons I asked Australia to send a vessel down to keep the peace, but they refused."
He said about an extra $28 million that Japan had given to the campaign was most likely behind the beefed-up security.
"That money did come from the earthquake relief fund," he said.
"I think that it's totally disgraceful. People from around the world sending money to help the victims of the tsunami-earthquake were not expecting their money to be used to fund killing whales in the Southern Ocean."
Three ships from the Sea Shepherd fleet will set sail in about eight days.
The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot will leave from Albany in Western Australia and the Bob Barker will depart from Hobart.
Mr Kaz Inadome from the Japanese Consulate said no money from the disaster relief funds collected in Australia had been used. All that money had gone to the Red Cross in Japan.
Source http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whaling-funding-a-disgrace-sea-shepherd-20111207-1oi21.html
0
comments