Why Japan can do this in the name of 'research' Source > http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=3129132
May 16, 2005 MORE than 400 whales have been slaughtered in Australian waters since a sanctuary was established in 2000 to protect them because of a decision by the Federal Government not to intercept whaling vessels. Documents submitted to the Federal Court by the Government reveal that it has deliberately not attempted to stop Japanese whalers in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for reasons including a conclusion they were too fast. Instead, it has set out a list of instructions to Australian Antarctic Division leaders on what to do when they encounter a Japanese vessel. The instructions include videotaping a whaler's activities, trying to contact it, identifying it and obtaining any other information that could be used as legal evidence in possible future proceedings. However, the documents reveal that the Australian laws established to protect the EEZ around Antarctica -- now a whale sanctuary -- which provide for two-year jail penalties for killing whales, were never meant to be enforced. "For the reasons ... [diplomatic problems] the Commonwealth has not sought to intercept, board and arrest Japanese vessels engaged in whaling activities in the EEZ adjacent to the Australian Antarctic territory," according to a submission to the Federal Court from Attorney-General Philip Ruddock. "This is apart from the significant practical and logistical difficulties of intercepting and then successfully boarding fast and well-equipped vessels in the remote, vast and hostile Southern Ocean environment." The submission was made earlier this year in an attempt to prevent a case being brought by Humane Society International, which sought to force the Government into enforcing its laws. The Daily Telegraph learned last night, however, that the Australian Government had successfully lobbied the US and the UK to join a high-level diplomatic mission to Tokyo to seek a backdown from Japan. Environment Minister Ian Campbell said the Prime Minister had yesterday given his support to a "demarsh" -- which is the highest level of diplomatic representation usually involving an admonishment of a country's activities. It is likely that this will take place in the next three weeks before the International Whaling Commission meets in Korea to decide on Japan's proposal to increase its whale harvest. "Australia is dealing with a number of other countries to co-ordinate a high-level representation to Japan," Mr Campbell said. Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown said Australia should suspend trade talks with Japan if the Japanese go ahead with plans to kill humpback whales in Antarctic waters. "This great mammal was almost sent to extinction," he said. Click on the Have Your Say icon below to include your e-mail. We will forward your letters to Hideaki Ueda, the Japanese ambassador to Australia Click here for have your say > http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=3129132 To protest directly to the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, write to: 112 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Or ring: (02) 6273 3244, Or fax: (02) 6273 1848 Or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Ever feel sad or cry for no reason at all? Depression. Narrated by Kate Hudson. http://us.click.yahoo.com/LLQ_sC/esnJAA/E2hLAA/08NolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> contact owner: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mail list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] no flaming arguing or denigration of others allowed contact owner with complaints regarding posting/list or anything else. Thank you. please share/comment/inform and mostly enjoy this list Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quick_vegetarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
