Campaigners say they spotted vessels in Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
Images of whale carcasses on bloodied ship deck captured from a helicopter
Another minke whale was being butchered on board, says Sea Shepherd
Commercial whale hunting outlawed in 1994
Japanese whaling vessels allowed ‘for research purposes’
Sea Shepherd said they had spotted the Japanese fleet today and captured evidence that four whales had been slaughtered, alleging the ships were found inside the sanctuary MURDERERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Militant anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says it spotted the Nisshin Maru sailing through the protected Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary during the annual whaling season.
As the Sea Shepherd’s helicopter flew above the Japanese ship, campaigners shot footage of the blood-streaked deck and the carcasses of three dead minke whales lying on the ship as another creature was butchered.
This photograph of three dead minke whales was taken by anti-whaling campaigners after they allegedly caught the Japanese vessel inside an internationally-recognised sanctuary. MURDERERS!!!!!
Sea Shepherd said it had spotted the Japanese fleet yesterday and captured evidence that four whales had been slaughtered this morning, alleging the ships were found inside the sanctuary.
Campaigners said they had located all five Japanese vessels and were now in pursuit, forcing the harpooners to cut short their operation and retreat.
Sea Shepherd said that another whale, also believed to be a minke, was being butchered on board. MURDERING BXXXXXD’S
‘That’s just a gruesome, bloody, medieval scene which has no place in this modern world.’
When the Nisshin Maru was first spotted from the air, Dr Brown said it was in Antarctica’s Ross Dependency, within New Zealand’s territorial waters and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, which he described as a ‘gross breach of international law’.
The commercial hunting of whales is prohibited in the sanctuary, which was designated by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1994, but Japan catches the animals there under a ‘scientific research’ loophole in the moratorium on whaling.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully denied whaling was taking place within his country’s maritime jurisdiction, saying the site was considered international waters, as he condemned the ‘pointless and offensive’ practice.
Peter Hammarstedt, captain of the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker, said Japan had shown ‘flagrant disregard for international law’ by continuing whaling
‘The New Zealand government has repeatedly called on Japan to end its whaling programme. We reiterate this message today,’ he said.
‘There is nothing scientific about this, it is butchery,’ Mr Brown said.
‘The one thing that’s missing here is gumption – a bit of spine in Canberra and in Wellington to put an end to it.’
Australia has taken Japan to the International Court of Justice seeking to have its research whaling programme declared illegal, with a ruling due this year.
Peter Hammarstedt, captain of the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker, said Japan had shown ‘flagrant disregard for international law by continuing their illegal whale hunt while the world patiently awaits a decision from the International Court of Justice’.
Japan’s fisheries agency said its programme was being conducted ‘in line with a research plan submitted to the IWC’
Sea Shepherd left Australia for their 10th annual harassment campaign of the Japanese fleet last month, sending three ships to tail and run interference against the harpooners.
High-seas clashes between the two groups are common, resulting in the 2010 sinking of the Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil.
Australia will be monitoring confrontations between the pair from a government jet which is due to fly surveillance missions over the Southern Ocean between January and March.
However, Dr Brown said there had so far been no sign of the aircraft.
“Perhaps more people need to see the documentary film ‘BlackFish’; for only then, can one begin to understand why it is so wrong to keep these magnificent creatures captive! I don’t blame Tilikum for the injuries or deaths of any trainers (although of course I am sorry, they were put in that situation in the first place) I blame Tilikum’s captors & jailers for keeping him as a sperm donor & keeping him in the equivalent of a bath tub for kids! After 30 years wouldn’t you be pissed off?? As far as I am concerned anyone who performs there as an artist or pays to see the captive sea life shows (who haven’t seen ‘Blackfish; so perhaps don’t know any better); are just as bad as those keeping Orcas & other sea mammals captive”
“Take a look at the following – Just one piece of evidence as to why Orcas should not be held Captive!!”
As an animal activist, who recently viewed Blackfish, I feel it’s important to make sure each of the performers SeaWorld has scheduled are made aware of what is truly happening to the amazing animals that are trapped there. Please join me in telling Martina McBride you do not want her to support SeaWorld’s animal cruelty.
Martina McBride is an amazing artist who works diligently to end domestic violence.
SeaWorld Orlandois where the orca Tilikum is kept. He was caught in the wild about 30 years ago and has since been involved in three human deaths including that of SeaWorld trainerDawn Brancheau right there in Orlando.
The orcas at SeaWorld’s theme parks (if they cared about animals, they would be non-profit sanctuaries or rehabilitation centres) are kept in tiny tanks where they become stressed, lack proper exercise, and are a risk to other animals and people.
SeaWorld also has also been fighting to import even more wild animals, beluga whales, into the United States, so it can make money off their captivity. And they’re fighting to get trainers back into the water for performances even though they’ve been fined tens of thousands of dollars because it’s already been proven to be a huge risk to the workers.
Please join me in politely asking Martina McBride to drop plans to perform at SeaWorld. To do so would be promoting cruelty to orcas and other animals.
“We persuaded other artists not to play at Seaworld, so lets pursued Martina McBride also; please tweet & share to all; lets show Seaworld how a small group of misinformed individuals can act!” (Read last but one paragraph)
Dec 9th – Big Name Musicians Cancel SeaWorld Gig, Question Whales In Captivity
ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) – Top rock and country music acts are canceling plans to perform at SeaWorld Orlando because of questions raised in a new documentary about the effects of captivity on whales.
The rock bands Heart , Barenaked Ladies, along with country crooner Willie Nelson have cancelled their planned performances at SeaWorld in Florida for the Brew & Barbecue music series in February.
A posting on Heart’s official Twitter page said the decision was influenced by the recently released documentary “Blackfish.” The documentary raises questions about the effects of captivity on killer whales at marine parks such as SeaWorld.
Nelson and Barenaked Ladies made their decisions after fans launched Change.org petitions urging them not to perform at SeaWorld.
SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said they were disappointed that “a small group of misinformed individuals” was able to influence the performers. “Cheeky Bxxxxxd!”
“The bands and artists have a standing invitation to visit any of our parks to see firsthand or to speak to any of our animal experts to learn for themselves how we care for animals and how little truth there is to the allegations made by animal extremist groups opposed to the zoological display of marine mammals,” Gollattscheck said. “Oh bla bla bla bla, of course it would be a small group of misinformed individuals; able to influence performers…so get over yourself….beware the wrath of animal activists….we are not that small a group; as you have clearly found out!!”
It’s simple: Animals exist for their own reasons—they don’t want to be trapped in the wild, torn away from their families, confined to cages or small tanks, beaten, neglected, abused, or killed. You can relate, right?
The only reason why people eat, wear, confine, and kill animals is because animals can’t fight back. Industries that exploit animals may not listen to the voices of the animals who are crying out for help, but they will listen to yours!
Viewer Discretion Advised
Whether it’s making sure always to adopt animals from shelters instead of buying from a breeder or a pet store, telling local stores to ditch glue traps, speaking out against dissection or cruel events like “donkey basketball” at school, reporting chained dogs or dogfighting in the local neighborhood, or volunteering at a local animal shelter, we all can make simple decisions that help animals every single day.
This April 20, 2010 photo released by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration shows a North Atlantic right whale feeding in Block Island Sound off the coast of Rhode Island.
Deepwater Wind, in consultation with the environmental groupConservation Law Foundation, has voluntarily opted to avoid any pile driving in April due to data suggesting that the migratory whales tend to inhabit Rhode Island waters at that time of year.
“It is probably the most important environment concern that needs to be addressed for offshore wind in this part of the country,” said CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “CLF is one of the leading organizations advocating for the right whale so we have been working closely with them.”
Translated text:-The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, USA, is under fire because of the plan to import 18 beluga whales, captured in Russia, submitting them to a life in captivity and exploit them as if they were machines that have more to play and more pups, which are then utilized in marine parks around the country.
In a National Geographic article entitled ” We import belugas for display ? “Virginia Morell disagrees with the idea that aquariums need more beluga whales in captivity. “Those who are in captivity now go stale, perhaps alone, and die. Replacing them will cause damage and distress to otherwhales, which are torn from their families, who live very well in the natural environment, “said Virginia.
She describes for readers the life that belugas lead in their natural homes:
“Whales are highly sociable and gregarious. They make long journeys of migration, they have an impressive range of communication and, as the Dolphins (distant relatives), are able to use this feature in a variety of ways, including imitation of each other (a newly published study shows that the belugas can even mimic human). They like to hang out in the summer, shallow coastal waters, in large groups (sometimes gather in thousands) formed by close relatives – mothers, fathers, babies, aunts, uncles and cousins. Sometimes they travel alone to visit other members of the clan apart.
If we compare this to a life where their droppings are diluted in a water tank of a cement where the belugas and other marine mammals spend their days swimming in circles, deprived of everything they like, even the ability to vocalize.
Visitors come from aquariums, spend a few hours in the park, buy some souvenirs and then return home to continue with their lives. The animals aquarium tanks remain the same until the day they die.
Mobilization
Your voice is needed! Help stop the cruel plans of the Georgia Aquarium. Please contact the National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States and inform employees why they should deny permission for the import new aquarium whales.
Please use this link , there is a suggestion message to be sent to the agency.
I am asking you for your help. On or around Sept. 1, please head to your local Japanese embassy or consulate to voice your concern about the dolphin slaughters!
This time of year always makes my heart heavy. September 1 marks the official beginning of the dolphin drive hunting season in Taiji, Japan, as I helped to show the world in the Oscar-winning movie The Cove. Every year, thousands of dolphins are brutally killed; some are then sold into a lifetime of slavery in captive facilities around the globe, and the rest are used for their flesh – which is highly contaminated with mercury and other toxins, rendering in dangerous for human consumption.
We absolutely must keep the international spotlight on Taiji in order to stop these senseless murders once and for all. This is why I am asking you to lend your voice to the cause and join or organize a Japan Dolphins Day event in your area.
The good news is that we already have many events in countries around the world, put together by dedicated people like you. We have created a map which allows you to find one in your area:
If you don’t see an event in your area, I STRONGLY encourage you to organize your own! Please contact laurab@earthisland.orgfor more information on how to get started.
This year, September 1 falls on a Saturday. Organizers have the option of holding their event on August 31, but only for the purpose of attempting contact with the embassy staff. The most important thing to keep in mind is that these events should be focused around MEDIA – try to get as many newspapers, journalists, and television stations there as possible – because these are the people who will make sure our message gets heard around the world.
Please keep in mind that we are not speaking out against the Japanese people – we are opposing the handful of corrupt government officials who allow and even encourage the hunts to continue. I do not condone any racial slurs or anti-Japanese sentiments of any kind. We are also speaking out against any captive facility that keeps dolphins and small whales. These places, such as aquariums, marine parks and dolphinariums, are abusing animals purely for their profit. This should come to an end. Remember – don’t buy a ticket to a dolphin show!
Also, it is important to note that most Japanese do not eat whale or dolphin meat, and the market for such meat is drying up — so much so that dolphin hunters in Taiji last season killed fewer dolphins than ever. Our efforts to convince the Japanese people to stop eating whale and dolphin meat are working! Keep up the pressure by emphasizing the human rights that are being violated by the Japan government’s silence on mercury contamination of dolphin and whale meat!
Throughout last year’s hunting season, our Cove Monitors reported regularly on the hunts, to the consternation of the dolphin hunters and the Japanese government alike. See our blog postsand be sure to regularly check our Facebook page for this year’s updates.
I hope you will join me and participate in a Japan Dolphins Day event near you. Together, we can get this stopped!
Following revelations by theWhale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) of the wide-spread commercial sale ofwhale meat in Greenlandto tourists, concernedInternational Whaling Commission (IWC) Members States reacted today by refusing to grant Greenland any increase in its hunt of large whales for so-called aboriginal subsistence needs. Indeed, in a procedural failure,Denmarkfailed to get any quota approved at all.
Greenland (a Danish overseas territory) was seeking to increase the number of endangered fin and humpback whales it kills for the subsistence needs of its native people for the next six years, but the undercover operation conducted by WDCS exposed how Greenland has been actively undermining the IWC’s ban on commercial whaling by openly selling whale meat in the vast majority of its restaurants and also in supermarkets.
The EU offered to amend Denmark’s proposal, but Denmark refused, demanding that its original proposal was voted on.
The IWC vote was 25 in favour, and 34 against, 3 abstained.
Criticism of Greenland was led by the Latin block of countries who pointed out their was little difference between what Greenland was doing in feeding whales to tourists and that practiced by commercial whaling operations.
Claims by Denmark on behalf of Greenland that they would not stop selling whale meat to tourists and that Greenland’s whalers could use baseball bats to kill whales if they wanted to, did little to endear Greenland to the rest of the IWC.
The European Union struggled to come to a position due to ongoing confusion over its internal decision making processes. WDCS worked extensively with the EU Commission to give guidance to the EU Member States and eventually, EU Members who shared WDCS’s concern that Greenland’s whaling as not in fact properly regulated aboriginal subsistence whaling, forced an internal vote on the Danish proposal.
The EU tried to amend the proposal from the floor, but their offer was rejected by Denmark.
WDCS CEO, Chris Butler-Stroud stated: “The EU finally sent its own signal to Denmark that it needs to clean up the mess that is Greenlandic whaling, and that commercial sales to non-aboriginal peoples will not be tolerated.”
In response to the revelations of these ASW abuses in Greenland, several European tour operators to Greenland have responded by pledging to WDCS and the Animal Welfare Institute that they will not promote whale meat consumption to their customers (1)
Blurring the lines – An open invitation to South Korea
WDCS has been warning for some time that the ongoing blurring of the lines between ASW and commercial whaling was causing confusion at the IWC.
South Korea had taken advantage out the double standards of the IWC in granting St Vincent an ‘ASW’ quota despite commercial sales being highlighted and noted that its fishermen have abided by the 1982 ban on whaling.
Butler-Stroud said, “Whether South Korea’s threat to resume commercial whaling through the loophole of so-called ‘scientific whaling’ will come to fruition remains to be seen, but the IWC stance on Greenland may well give it pause for thought.”
Butler-Stroud concluded: “The IWC now needs to clean up its act. It needs to stop pretending that it will tolerate commercial whaling in any form and get on with saving whales, and not the few remaining subsidized elements of industrial whaling in a few rich countries.”
“This video is very upsetting, viewer discretion is advised. Many many years ago, perhaps the whales had to be slaughtered for food, but this is 2012, the people on that Island will not starve if the killings stop. You can help, please sign the following petitions, take action to stop the heinous slaughter of pilot whales, no longer needed to sustain the Island.”
Every year hundred of pilot whales are slaughtered in the Faroes Island. Though the images are very powerful please don’t turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. This happens every year around the Spring and Summer months. The Tourism Board of the Faroes Island does not advertise this. It is a hidden truth amongst the Faroese people. Please write a letter or send an email politely explaining that this ancient hunt has to stop. Thank you.
Please show the Faroe Islands that the international community is strongly opposed to this cruel slaughter by signing this petition to the Faroe Islands Prime Minister.
On World Environment Day, when pledges to save the earth and its ecosystem were being taken across the world, a gruesome ancient tradition, in the Faroe Islands, off the coast of Denmark, saw the mass killing ofwhales.
Inhabitants of Faroe Islands catch and slaughter pilot whales during the traditional ‘Grindadrap’ near Sandur on Sandoy island on 5 June, 2012.
The sea of Sandur, located off the coast of SandoyIsland in the north of Europe, turned blood red as the islanders slaughtered hundreds of whales on 5 June, to mark their whale-hunting culture. The custom was also observed near the Faroe Islands’ capital of Torshavn, in November last year. Apparently, the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands catch and slaughter pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) every year during the whale hunt tradition known as Grindadrap.
The Faroe Islands is an autonomous province of Denmark and therefore the parent country’s ban on whaling is not enforceable by the Islands’ laws. Every year, therefore, pilot whales, beaked whales and dolphins are slaughtered in the name of the annual tradition.
“It is unacceptable for the Faroe Islands to preserve separate laws that allow inhabitants to continue the whale slaughter,” PETA mentioned in its action alert Stop the Bloody Whale Slaughter, urging the government to stop the massacre.
The hunters crowd the whales into a bay and then cut into their spines, leaving the animals to bleed to death slowly. According to PETA, some whales swim around in their family members’ blood for hours.
“Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and feel pain and fear every bit as much as we do. They are forced to watch their families die while swimming around in the bloody water, waiting to be slaughtered themselves,” PETA said in the action alert.
However, despite criticism from animal rights groups and the International Whaling Commission, the whale hunting custom has continued on the Faroe Islands for thousands of years.
Pilot whales have been an important part of the culinary tradition of the Faroese, claimed as the descendents of Vikings, for over a thousand years. The whale mass hunting tradition is meant solely for consumption within the local community and is totally non-commercial in nature. After slaughtering, the whales’ meat is distributed equally among the islanders.
Check out below the photographs of this age-old Grindadrap tradition of Faroe Islands, showing the shocking slaughtering of whales carried out near Sandur on Sandoy Island on World Environment Day
Internet giant urged to ban all sales of whale and dolphin products
Hundreds ofwhale products for sale on the Japanese website of Internet search engine company Yahoo! show how the California-based company profits from the venture, according to a new report released today that can be found by clickinghere.
“Yahoo! continues to ignore international outrage over the sale of whale and dolphin products via its Japanese website, even as it continues to profit from the slaughter of whales and dolphins,” said EIA President Allan Thornton.
Although Yahoo! has banned the sale of endangered and protected species from all other Yahoo! sites, EIA, HSI and NRDC are deeply concerned that the company has made no significant effort to persuade its Japanese subsidiary to end the sale of whale and dolphin products.
The report shows how in March, Yahoo! Japan was found offering 249 whale products, including sashimi, bacon and canned whale meat, for sale on its fee-based sales and auction sites. That’s around 100 more listings of individual products than Amazon’s Japanese website was found to be selling when it was exposed earlier this year. In response to pressure from around the world, Amazon swiftly announced a ban on all such sales.
The report also confirms that many of the products are from internationally protected great whale species including fin, sei, minke, sperm and Bryde’s whale – all of whom are protected under the moratorium on commercial whaling established by the International Whaling Commission in 1986 and have the highest level of protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In one example, despite the international trade ban, seven companies on Yahoo! Japan’s website were selling endangered fin whale imported from Iceland.
“Yahoo! should respect international laws rather than offering market access to those who want to profit from flouting these protective agreements,” said Kitty Block, vice president of HSI.
Moreover, whale products sold via the Japanese website have been found harmful to human health. EIA commissioned laboratory tests on 10 products purchased from the website and found that five exceeded Japan’s guidelines for mercury levels in food for human consumption. One product was 16 times the “safe” limit.
“We appeal to Yahoo! to follow Amazon’s lead and stop the sale of all whale and dolphin products,” said Taryn Kiekow, staff attorney for NRDC. “By selling these products, Yahoo! Japan is condoning the slaughter of internationally recognized endangered and protected species. Whale meat is not only unsafe for human consumption; it is a travesty for the biological diversity of our oceans.”
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
You can find out more about me & this blog by reading "ABOUT THIS BLOG" on the menu (when i finish it) lol
PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!
If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!
Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!
ABOUT THESE POSTS
I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
Please note....all people mentioned in this blog, are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, in a court of law.
Error: Please make sure the Twitter account is public.
Flag Counter Added May 2012
Face Book – Please Take Notice
For anyone wishing to connect to me via my Facebook page...PLEASE NOTE, ONLY PEOPLE I ADD AS ANIMAL ADVOCATES CAN SEE MY WHOLE PAGE...I do this out of respect for those friends I have who do not wish to see graphic images, videos or links of animal abuse!
As 99% of my page is animal related; anyone not in the above group of friends; will only see a limited amount of posts!!
DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
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DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
STOP ANIMAL ABUSE 
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