Germanicus
02-24-2014, 10:47 AM
The annual Whale War between Japan and Australia is a conflict that is an embarrassment to both sides. The Whale Wars are fought because Australia believes that Japan hunts for whales in Australian waters. The Australian Government has encouraged activists in the past and the crusade to save the whales has gained recent support due to a cable television show dedicated to fighting Japanese whalers called 'Whale Wars' and due to celebrity activists and backers. Last year the Australian Government escalated the issue by taking Japan to International Court to try to stop Japans whaling.
Both Australia and Japan seem unwilling to compromise. The anti-whaling vessels are out again this year to harass the Japanese whalers and a tragedy at sea is bound to happen some time soon if the Whale Wars continue. In the latest incident two Japanese harpoon ships crossed the bow of an anti-whaling ship and trailed cables in an attempt to disable the rudder and propellor. This was a very dangerous action for the Japanese to take. It was also reported that the Japanese whalers blinded the crew of the anti-whaling ship with bright lights. The Australian anti-whaling activists are provoking the Japanese by their actions and both sides are embarrassing their nations.
The Australian Governments case against Japan at the International Court of Justice claims that Japan is a liar and that their whaling is not for scientific purposes and in breach of international law. It seems clear that international law on whaling is more than open to creative interpretation and japan has argued confidently that they have broken no laws and and they are not liars like the Australian Government claims. Japan is unapologetic in relation to their whaling activities and consider whaling to be their cultural right. I agree with them. I also believe that Australias many claims to international waters are shaky at best. Australia does not own all the whales in the ocean just because some happen to swim into our economic zone at a certain time of year.
The case between Australia and Japan at The Hague is bad diplomacy from the Australian side. Conflict like this should be able to be solved without such hysterics.
Australia should not have encouraged the anti-whalers in the past and the time has come to condemn the activists as extemists in my opinion. Their actions are akin to piracy and will lead to tragedy. The actions of the anti-whalers are also a good example of western imperialism disguised as activism. The west encourages these issues to give the illusion that the west has the moral high ground and represents good and right. This type of thinking belongs in the Cold War era. The west has no moral or ethical authority to speak down to eastern nations. Modern thinking is to encourage the east and west to understand each other and for both sides to have cultural humility and respect for each other.
Japans Deputy Foriegn Minister, Koji Tsuruoka articulated the point better than I could hope to during the hearing at The Hague when he said - "I can understand the emotional background to this position but fail to see how it can be translated to a legal position, We do not criticize other cultures. Were it necessary to establish the superiority of one culture over another, the world would never be at peace."
edit- Hey America. Can you stop sending Bob Brown money? Thanks. Can you also stop funding the Greens and trying to destroy the Australian economy? Thanks again.
"You only have to go back and read the Church Report in the 1970s and to read the reports to the US Congress which sets up the Rockefeller Foundation as a conduit of CIA funding," he said.
"You only have to look at their secret budget which was passed by Congress last year, bigger than our whole national economy, which the CIA's got to ensure that.
"You only have to read the reports to US Congress when the CIA reported to the president that their role was to ensure the US competitive advantage and economic advantages.
"That's how you know it's funded by the CIA."
Mr Palmer says Greenpeace should be under far greater scrutiny.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920
Why is the CIA attacking the Australian economy? What the fuck?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920
Should Americans start to pay attention to foreign policy since it is in your name? Like its in your name. Like you wear the scarlet livery of the Iron Heel. Why are you attacking Australia America? I thought we were friends. What about ANZUS? Are we going to break that? Should we? Whats the point of it if you are going to attack our economy with the CIA?
Whale Wars is CIA bullcrap. Normal people dont give a fuck about whales. And how stupid. Arent Australia and Japan meant to be best buddies and against China? (: Whale Wars are the so stupid. What is the point? To make China seem calm, reasonable and sensible? ((:
Both Australia and Japan seem unwilling to compromise. The anti-whaling vessels are out again this year to harass the Japanese whalers and a tragedy at sea is bound to happen some time soon if the Whale Wars continue. In the latest incident two Japanese harpoon ships crossed the bow of an anti-whaling ship and trailed cables in an attempt to disable the rudder and propellor. This was a very dangerous action for the Japanese to take. It was also reported that the Japanese whalers blinded the crew of the anti-whaling ship with bright lights. The Australian anti-whaling activists are provoking the Japanese by their actions and both sides are embarrassing their nations.
The Australian Governments case against Japan at the International Court of Justice claims that Japan is a liar and that their whaling is not for scientific purposes and in breach of international law. It seems clear that international law on whaling is more than open to creative interpretation and japan has argued confidently that they have broken no laws and and they are not liars like the Australian Government claims. Japan is unapologetic in relation to their whaling activities and consider whaling to be their cultural right. I agree with them. I also believe that Australias many claims to international waters are shaky at best. Australia does not own all the whales in the ocean just because some happen to swim into our economic zone at a certain time of year.
The case between Australia and Japan at The Hague is bad diplomacy from the Australian side. Conflict like this should be able to be solved without such hysterics.
Australia should not have encouraged the anti-whalers in the past and the time has come to condemn the activists as extemists in my opinion. Their actions are akin to piracy and will lead to tragedy. The actions of the anti-whalers are also a good example of western imperialism disguised as activism. The west encourages these issues to give the illusion that the west has the moral high ground and represents good and right. This type of thinking belongs in the Cold War era. The west has no moral or ethical authority to speak down to eastern nations. Modern thinking is to encourage the east and west to understand each other and for both sides to have cultural humility and respect for each other.
Japans Deputy Foriegn Minister, Koji Tsuruoka articulated the point better than I could hope to during the hearing at The Hague when he said - "I can understand the emotional background to this position but fail to see how it can be translated to a legal position, We do not criticize other cultures. Were it necessary to establish the superiority of one culture over another, the world would never be at peace."
edit- Hey America. Can you stop sending Bob Brown money? Thanks. Can you also stop funding the Greens and trying to destroy the Australian economy? Thanks again.
"You only have to go back and read the Church Report in the 1970s and to read the reports to the US Congress which sets up the Rockefeller Foundation as a conduit of CIA funding," he said.
"You only have to look at their secret budget which was passed by Congress last year, bigger than our whole national economy, which the CIA's got to ensure that.
"You only have to read the reports to US Congress when the CIA reported to the president that their role was to ensure the US competitive advantage and economic advantages.
"That's how you know it's funded by the CIA."
Mr Palmer says Greenpeace should be under far greater scrutiny.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920
Why is the CIA attacking the Australian economy? What the fuck?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-20/palmer-says-green-groups-funded-by-cia/3901920
Should Americans start to pay attention to foreign policy since it is in your name? Like its in your name. Like you wear the scarlet livery of the Iron Heel. Why are you attacking Australia America? I thought we were friends. What about ANZUS? Are we going to break that? Should we? Whats the point of it if you are going to attack our economy with the CIA?
Whale Wars is CIA bullcrap. Normal people dont give a fuck about whales. And how stupid. Arent Australia and Japan meant to be best buddies and against China? (: Whale Wars are the so stupid. What is the point? To make China seem calm, reasonable and sensible? ((: