Death in the Ferocious Isles: Sea Shepherd under Escort by the Danish Navy
What can be more horrific than the cruel and senseless slaughter of beautiful and intelligent dolphins in Taiji, Japan?
The Academy Award winning film The Cove turned the international spotlight on the bloody carnage of dolphins screaming in pools of their own blood as Japanese fishermen speared them in the shallows of the cove.
What can be more obscenely monstrous than the pitiful screams of impaled dolphins slaughtered without mercy for profit?
There is something worse, far more cruel and wasteful, and it takes place in Europe.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s undercover ship, the Golfo Azzurro, is presently under pursuit by the Danish Navy after a month of covert surveillance operations in the Danish Protectorate of the Faeroe Islands.
It is in these islands, halfway between Scotland and Iceland, that the slaughter of entire pods of pilot whales takes place. Not for profit, but because it is considered by the islanders to be fun to kill them.
They do eat some whale meat but the flesh is so contaminated with mercury that Faeroese children have higher levels of mercury in their bodies than any other people on the planet. But the majority of the whales are killed and dumped at sea, and Sea Shepherd was able to secure evidence of this waste.
The images are nightmarish with fetuses torn from the bodies of mothers, and bodies mutilated with clubs, knives and spears as the islanders drive the defenseless whales up onto rocky beaches killing every one, wiping out entire pods.
In Taiji, experienced fishermen do the killing, but in the Faeroes, even the children are encouraged by men to spear and stab the whales to death; many of these men are drunk and laughing, in what they consider to be a traditional festival of slaughter.
The killing is a violation of the Berne Convention of which Denmark is a signatory, but Denmark claims that the Faeroese are not subject to the law as a protectorate despite receiving all benefits from the European Community.
Sea Shepherd, in partnership with the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, worked earlier this summer with an on-the-ground undercover operative and continues to work at sea onboard the Golfo Azzurro to expose the slaughter and investigate ways to defend the pilot whales from the vicious and lethal assaults by the Faeroese.
Yesterday the Golfo Azzurro’s cover was compromised, and the ship was boarded and searched by police. The vessel was released because no laws had been broken, and it is presently being escorted by the Danish Navy.
Sea Shepherd crew members are continuing their patrol, but this time under the watchful eyes and guns of the Danish Navy.
Source: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100818-1.html
Peter Garrett’s You Tube Video - a welcome backflip!
WHALES UNDER THREAT!
The International Whaling Commission has just unveiled a proposal to legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in 24 years.
Now, countries are deciding whether to support it — or push back. Already, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister has described some provisions as “unacceptable,” “inflammatory,” and “offensive.”
A massive global outcry is needed now, as other key countries choose how to react. Avaaz will deliver this petition to the Commission delegates each time it adds another 100,000 signatures — sign below and spread the word!
Sign the Petition Iceland’s whaling season began recently, kicking off a bloody whale hunt that could lead to the death of 100 minke whales. Iceland is one of only two countries (the other Japan) worldwide that still authorizes commercial whaling. About half of the whale meat from this year’s hunt is intended for domestic sales in Iceland, while the rest of the quota will be sold to Japan. Sign the petition and tell the Icelandic government to reduce this year’s whale hunt quotas immediately – and to ban whaling forever.
Bob Barker on Saving Whales
the only mounted whale in the world!
submitted and photographed by mieke
sighted at göteborgs naturhistoriska museum
Operation Waltzing Matilda Benefit
Fremantle, Western Australia
Wed, 2 Dec, 2009 6:45 PM - 11:45 PM
The evening will be entertaining and provide information on Sea Shepherd’s forthcoming Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign. The MC for the evening will be the Hon. Ian Campbell who is a member of the Sea Shepherd Advisory Board. Special guests include Brad Pettit, the new Mayor of Fremantle, Senator Rachel Siewart, Greens Spokesperson for Whaling, along with current Sea Shepherd crew. There will also be a silent auction and various raffles! Music for the night will be provided by Aiden Varro.
The primary purpose of this event is to raise much needed funds for Operation Waltzing Matilda - Sea Shepherd’s 6th Whale Defense Campaign which is being launched from Fremantle on Monday 7th December. This year, Sea Shepherd’s flagship Steve Irwin, will be accompanied to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by the Ady Gil. The Ady Gil is a futuristic trimaran which recently set the world powerboat record for circumnavigation. Due to its speed capabilities (up to 50 knots) Captain Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd President and Founder) intends to use the Ady Gil to intercept and physically block the harpoon ships from illegally slaughtering whales.
The Japanese whaling fleet will be targeting 935 Piked (Minke) whales and another 50 Fin whales, and has threatened to add Humpback Whales* to their quota as well. Sea Shepherd will once again attempt to block the whaling fleet’s efforts to kill these innocent animals and in doing so negate their illicit profits from the so called lethal research.
* Sources suggest Humpback Whales are not being targeted but all whales are beautiful and deserve defending!
Wed, 2 Dec, 2009 6:45 PM - 11:45 PM
Location: Fremantle Town Hall, William Street, Fremantle, Western Australia
Fees: $20 per person, tickets available at the door
Contact: jeff@seashepherd.org
http://my.seashepherd.org/
Heath Ledger directs music video King Rat by Modest Mouse.
Adding your tail helps create posters, TV ads and photographic petitions to encourage Governments everywhere to do all they can to protect whales around the world.
