You Don't Have to Kill a Snake to Get a Sample of Its Venom - You Do Have To Kill a Whale to Get a Sample of Its Tissue

Photo Credit: iNewsCatcher

Commercial whaling was banned worldwide in 1986.
Soon after Japan set up a non-profit Institute of Cetacean Research and has since slaughtered hundreds of ocean mammals in the name of science.

If you've ever seen an episode of Whale Wars on Animal Planet you'll notice these Japanese ships will have 'RESEARCH' painted along its side. The crewmen will often times hold up large signs to helicopters flying over head that explain to the viewer that they are, 'collecting tissue samples.' (See photo below.)

The Japanese 'researchers' seem to learn more about a whale when it is dead then observing it when it is alive.

But they are not fooling anyone.

Two years ago, a veteran Japanese whaler (not 

named) was frightened by what he knew; his fellow crewmen were receiving boxes of whale meat, purposely mislabelled as personal belongings, at their homes after they returned from their Antarctic hunts. The whaler then contacted Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki and told them what he had experienced.
In 2008, the two activists (pictured below) stole a 50 lb box of whale meat labelled 'cardboard and vinyl' to prove the embezzlement of the state run research program. They then handed the box over to prosecutors and called in a press conference to publicise what they saw as evidence of corruption.
But officials explained the crew members were receiving boxes of whale meat as 'souvenirs'.

On June 20, police arrested Sato and Suzuki and raided Greenpeace's Tokyo office while the charges of embezzlement against the state were being dropped. Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki were detained and held for 26 days. The two activists were strapped to chairs and interrogated up three times a day without their lawyers present, Greenpeace says.
"Activists are not criminals and to treat them as such has a chilling effect in society, undermining the quality of democracy," Greenpeace executive director Kumi Naidoo had said.

The two men, nicknamed the Tokyo Two, were each sentenced to serve a year in jail.

Sato states: "The verdict is unfair in that it violates our rights to let people know, and the people's right to know." Whales Ahoy

Photo credit: Greenpeace.org

Greenpeace Ships Don't Run on Determination & Justice?!

Greenpeace environmentalists have seese and desisted (yeah, I wrote desisted) their chase on Japenese Whalers. The militants for ocean justice were forced to return to shore because they were running out of fuel. Damn those Japanese whalers and their ginormous fuel tanks.
"We need to make every effort to keep the pressure on the Japanese whaling fleet, to keep them on the move and to keep them from killing whales. Given the fuel, we can keep up the pressure," Sea Shepherd's founder, Paul Watson, said in a statement.
No word yet on when, or if, they'll return the persuit.

Ho, Ho, oH Hell Yeah

Giving in to recent threats, Japan has announced that they will not continue with their efforts to hunt the vulnerable Humpback Whale for 'scientific research.' Although, the Humpback is just one species of whale on Japans' Government funded hunt.
Japans chief government spokesman, Nobutaka Machimura said in announcing the halt, “Whaling issues tend to become emotional, but we hope that the discussion will be carried out calmly on the basis of scientific evidence.”
But as the World is relieved of Japans announcement, Australia remains unfazed. In a statement by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, “The Australian government welcomes the announcement by Japan that it will suspend its plan to kill humpback whales this season. While this is a welcome move, the Australian government strongly believes that there is no credible justification for the hunting of any whales.”
And Greenpeace agrees, “This is good news indeed, but it must be the first step towards ending all whaling in the Southern Ocean, not just one species for one season,” said Karli Thomas, who is leading a Greenpeace expedition to follow the Japanese whalers.
While I am grateful that the Humpbacks are safe this holiday season, I do feel just as concerned as Australia does. I would really appreciate it if any one of my readers can send me an E-Mail with the details of how killing over 1,000 whales will help us to further understand them. I mean, that is one act that we, the world, have been doing for over a century. The scientific research the world would now benefit from, would be the knowledge learned from the whales behavior while they're alive like where they go to mate, eating habits, migration paths & social interaction. Source.

The Steve Irwin of Australia May Kill Japan Whalers With The Help of An Oceanic Viking

Japanese Whalers and Australian Environmentalists are headed into a showdown in the middle of the ocean where activists warn:
"We are dealing here with an area of water that is thousands of miles away from mainland Australia, if there is an adverse incident on those seas, the capacity for rescue is very low. The capacity for adverse injury or fatality is very high." states Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. Oh Snap!
Smith also said that the Australian vessel, Oceanic Viking (pictured behind Steve Irwin in my photo), would set out for the killing waters in the next few days. The ship, along with an A319 jet, has a hull capable of cutting through ice and is equip with two 0.50 calibre machine guns on each deck. The Foreign Minister said that the machine guns, along with the other fire arms, are going to be stored below deck while they monitor the Japanese Whalers. The operation is to be carried out by the governments Australian Antarctic Division.
While the organisation Greenpeace vows to continue with their non-violent approach, one of their founders, Paul Watson in his newly renamed ship: The Steve Irwin, has threatened to ram it into his enemies.
Despite threats from both the starboard and port, Japan continues their hunt for the whales of scientific research. Even though most of them end up on dinner plates. Source.

Australia Sets Out to Save The Whales

Japanese whaling vessels have traveled into the wrong ocean. It was announced today that Australia could start using its military power to track, monitor and drive out 'scientific whaling' in Australian waters.
"What is important is getting evidence, getting information, getting the facts," foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland said.
It was also stated that Japan has asked for protection for its whaling vessels from the activities of anti-whaling protesters, but McClelland said a Labor government would have little sympathy for such requests.. HA!
This month Japan's whaling fleet is to leave for the Southern Ocean to kill 1,000 whales, including for the first time 50 humpback whales.
Join my Great Whale Trail Team with GreenPeace.
I'm following the journey of the whales as they migrate to the Southern Ocean including the endangered Humpback Whale.
Save and Protect, Heroes! Source.

America Invades Japan!

What I meant for the title to read: American Bluegill Fish Invades Japans Waters. Oops.


The fairly aggressive American native, Bluegill fish, has caused some grief to Japan's Emperor Akihito after he introduced the species of fish to Japan over 50 years ago. The Emporer received several Bluegills as a gift during a visit to the U.S. He was hoping to breed the fish as a substantial food source but some have broken free from the research centers, wiped out the Japanese royal bitterling and are now currently reducing the number of some other native fish. Many marine experts in Japan are working to bring the Bluegill fish back into captivity. Source.