Sea Shepherd prepare for the whaling season
My hero, Captain Paul Watson has landed in Brisbane and will start preparing the Steve Irwin for the 2008/09 whaling season. He has also said that the current Australian government is weaker than the previous on the grounds of whaling in Australian and International waters.
I'm really upset with this government because they have reneged on every single promise they have made to protect the whales
Japan has reduced is whaling target this year by 20 percent and includes 700 southern Minke whales and 50 Fin whales. Apparently thats 'an encouraging sign' to Peter Garrett.
My first disappointment with our new Government
For years now the Japanese have been whaling in Australian waters and for a long time our government has not done anything about it. Until Now. Kevin Rudd has threatened to take the Japanese to court over whaling issues. Or should I say ‘had’.
Kevin Rudd today has announced that he and Japan’s leader, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, have “agreed to disagree” on the topic of whaling and no further action will be taken. What the hell kind of action is that?
I have to admit to you that I am not sold by economic promises by politicians. Money is not a big drive for me. But animal welfare and environmental issues do drive me and this was a campaign promise and was one of many contributing factors for me voting for the guy.
Now, before you start chuckling at me believing campaign promises, you have to admit that Kevin Rudd has seriously made a difference since coming to power. He has ratified Kyoto, he has said sorry to our indigenous people. He has made a difference. But now he has stalled.
While I am very happy about our relationship with Japan, there has been a lot of history about other countries’ relationships with japan going sour. (Not that I am expecting this to happen, just that diplomatic relationships are not all they are hyped up to be).
I know that the last Japanese whale hunt killed only two thirds of their targeted Minke whales and that the Minke Whales are not endangered, but thats only due to the direct action of some fantastic activists from Sea Shepherd (my heroes) and Greenpeace. Not because of our $1m surveillance ship that spent most of its time in port.
I think this is my first let down by our new Government. I am disappointed in you, Mr Rudd. I am sorry to say it because I do defend you a lot, but I am now afraid of what other issues you’l simply ‘agree to disagree’ on.