Special Idiots

(Artist credit: junefeier @ Deviant Art)

Yesterday was another dark day in Taiji, Japan.  25 striped dolphins were slaughtered mercilessly and without remorse.  While global awareness of this has increased at an amazing rate over the last few years, there are moments when I wonder if we'll ever see the end of this.  Not just in Taiji, but in the killing of pilot whales in Denmark, whaling in Japan, Norway, Iceland, etal, and other places too numerous to mention.

I recently learned about Diana Reiss, the author of The Dolphin in the Mirror and one of the founders of the website Act for Dolphins.  I've requested The Dolphin in the Mirror from my local library and based on what I've heard, it comes highly recommended among several of my dolphin friends.

I also found an article about her here:  Studying the Big-Brained Dolphin

I find it highly encouraging that more scientists are jumping on board in support of cetaceans and even supporting the notion that these mammals deserve human rights recognition. One such opinion piece I found is here:  Whales are People Too

Even some notable experts in Japan are speaking up more against whaling and one such example is this pdf pamphlet now available in English online that was published last June 2011.  You can find that here:  Research Whaling? 

One highly suspected culprit in why so many whales and dolphins around the world are stranding themselves lies in the military use of sonar.  Will suing the military make a difference?  I don't know.  But I'm heartened by the efforts of so many compassionate souls out there bringing this to every one's attention:  Groups Sue Over Navy Sonar Impacts on Marine Mammals

Another example of people coming together to speak up and to protect these mammals is A Voice of the Orcas.  This site was put together by a group of former Sea World trainers who are now making their voices heard on what really goes on at Sea World.  Please help spread the word on this.

Here's some good news!  As you know, Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has not only been active in helping to protect whales, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins, he's also been instrumental in making people aware of the harp seal cull up in Canada.  Many other organizations and people who've been involved in this deserve all the kudos and credit in the world as well.  It's been a battle that's raged for over 40 years.  According to this article by Paul Watson, it appears these slaughters are finally coming to an end.  You can read his commentary on this here:  The Canadian Seal Hunt is Dead! 

It takes a special class and level of idiocy to not give a shit about what you're doing when you're out on the water in a boat or on a jet ski.  Some people thought it would be a great deal of fun to terrorize a pod of dolphins (with babies) with their jet skis down in Hobart, Australia.   Their self proclaimed ignorance that they were bothering a pod of dolphins is no excuse.  Boating requires one to be mindful and watchful of where you're going and to be careful to not disturb the wildlife.  That's just common sense.

Here's an interesting site that has a page full of varying whale and dolphin links dating back a few years.  Dolphin and Whale News

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." ~ Ansel Adams ~

Focus on Sea Shepherd

(Artist credit: Jim Warren)

Whew! A lot happened in this past week in our beloved marine world. I'll get right to it.

Last week, Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd fame, was allegedly shot at by the Japan Coast Guard while Watson and his crew were attempting to interfere with the whale culling. Crew members threw rancid butter on the Japan fleet and in retaliation, the Japan Coast Guard threw flash grenades at the Steve Irwin.

A bullet struck Captain Watson, who had the foresight to wear a Kevlar bullet proof vest. In pictures shown on the Sea Shepherd site, Watson holds up the bullet and the mangled badge where the bullet also struck.

Two other crew members were also injured when attempting to get away from the flash grenades. One suffered a hip injury and the other suffered from back bruises when falling on the deck. Both are okay and their injuries were not life threatening.

In the aftermath of this incident, Japan made attempts to spin this story and to deny the shooting ever took place.

Excerpt:

First, they admitted that warning shots were fired, then they corrected themselves and said that only flash grenades were fired at the crew of the Steve Irwin. Then they changed the story again and described the flash grenades as “warning balls.” By tomorrow morning, they may have it spun it again and may be describing them as “marshmallows.”

The Japanese Coast Guard and the Japanese Fisheries Agency have stated to the media that the devices were flash grenades and that warning shots were fired. Only the Institute for Cetacean Research is denying that warning shots were fired and describing the flash grenades as “warning balls.”

The Animal Planet has been on the Steve Irwin and claim to have this incident on videotape and Watson states "it tells the story." The Animal Planet was aboard because they are filming a documentary titled "Whale Wars."

You can read more here: Japanese Scramble to Spin Shooting Story

There is only about a week or so left in the whaling season and the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin has returned to Australia due to low fuel. They are now heading home and are calling this whale season a "success" for them and the whales and an utter failure for the Japan whalers.

The International Whaling Commission has criticized the Sea Shepherd organization for their "tactics" and interference with the whale culling. But Watson pays them no mind, as would I. He and his crew were down there for months busting ass to prevent as many whales from being killed as is possible while the IWC was recently in London, sitting indoors, and spouting off about conservation and whaling.

My personal kudos, respect, admiration, and congratulations to the Sea Shepherd organization for having basically caused the Japanese whalers to only meet maybe half of their culling quota for this season.

Is there a solution to ending the whale slaughter in the Southern Oceans?

Excerpt:

Discussions are taking place within the IWC on a deal put forward by the United States that would end Japanese “research” whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The plans were drawn up at a meeting in February by the governments of Argentina and the Netherlands, but given support in-principle only last week in London at a closed door three-day meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

The plans call for the IWC to give Japan a legal commercial hunt in the North Pacific in waters close to Japan.

This would mean a legal kill of 150 Minke or what we call Piked whales.

In exchange the Japanese would abandon their so called “research” in the waters of the Southern Ocean.

More here: Keeping the Focus

No rest for the weary. Sea Shepherd will now head to Bermuda to board the Farley Mowat ship and head north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to attempt to prevent as much killing of the harp seal pups as they can.

Canada has set this year's kill quota of harp seals at a whopping 325,000.

:: sigh ::

These seals are another species that are NOT killed in a humane manner. Usually, they are clubbed to death. What dark evil lies in the hearts of certain men who get such perverse pleasure from standing over a helpless and innocent seal and clubbing it to death? I truly do not understand people like this.

They claim there is a new rule now called "bash and slash" instead of just "bash." Gee, that sounds so much better.

"To say that this makes the seal slaughter more humane is to say that a psychopath is a better person if he slashes the throat of his victim after bashing in his or her skull." (Paul Watson)

Ironically, the sealers are protected by law:

The sealers are protected by the Seal Protection Regulations that make it a Federal offense to witness or document a seal pup being killed. In Canada if you see a sealer club a seal pup and you don’t have a permit to witness the slaughter you can be arrested, jailed and fined up to $100,000 or sent to jail for a year.

Read more here: Sea Shepherd to Tackle Baby Killers of Canada

There's much more to write about, including the aerial shooting of wolves in Alaska and the continued saga of the Polar Bears being ignored by the government for protection. But this will do for today.

Before I sign off, I'd like to once again spotlight the Dolphin Smile. Scott Olson wrote a book called "Messages From the Dolphins." I received this book from him yesterday and have not yet started to read it other than skimming through it quickly. It looks like a wonderful book and I'm quite excited to hear what the dolphins have to say to us, via Scott's voice.

Please consider supporting Scott's important work and order the book for yourself. I have created a banner for this purpose in the right side bar and am including it here in this post as well.

You can either click on this link -> Messages From the Dolphins

Or, click the banner below.




Mahalo,

Dolphin

Bush Gives Whales the Bird

(Artist credit: David Penfound)

Captain Paul Watson, of the Sea Shepherd organization, certainly has a flair for the dramatic when writing commentaries.

Nevertheless, it's an interesting read so I'm going to lead you directly to his updated post:

The Cold War at the Bottom of the Planet to Save the Whales

Meanwhile, in London yesterday, a group of people demonstrated outside the Japanese Embassy for the release of the two Sea Shepherd crew members.

If you are interested in expressing your concern regarding this situation, Sea Shepherd has set up a page listing full addresses, phone numbers, and email address for the people you can contact directly:

-->> Take Action Now <<--


In other news, President Bush has trumped the Central California District Court's decision a few weeks ago ordering the Navy to cease with the usage of sonar off the California coast. Bush has decided to exempt the Navy and basically flipped the middle finger to the court's ruling.

Excerpts:

As California gray whales swam past San Diego County's shores, President Bush announced that he would allow the Navy to continue using sonar in anti-submarine warfare training off Southern California.

Environmental groups vowed to block the waivers that Bush signed Tuesday to overrule a judge's restriction on sonar testing off California's coast, saying the powerful underwater sound waves threaten marine mammals such as whales.

==

The White House announced Bush signed the exemption Tuesday while traveling in the Middle East. In his memorandum, Bush said the Navy training exercises "are in the paramount interest of the United States" and national security.

Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, which had joined the lawsuit to provide the mammals greater protections from sonar, called the exemption unprecedented in California.

"I'm not surprised at all," he said. "It's typical for this Republican administration to ignore environmental protections under the banner of fear."

==

The Navy likes to train in Southern California's shallow waters and underwater canyons, as they teach sailors how to detect submarines in an environment where enemies love to hide. Because of the canyons and shallow ground, and because of the thick concentration of animals, there are many sounds and they tend to ricochet in all directions, Navy officials say. It is much easier for a submarine to blend in there than in the open sea.

Read the full article here: Bush Grants Navy Waiver

While Bush and the so-called Military are spouting off their bullshit about national security and all that crap, things like this ensure that not too far into the future, we're going to be a planet devoid of beautiful creatures, such as whales, dolphins, polar bears, etc. All in the name of national security or economic feasibility (IE: oil drilling in Alaska.)

Someday into the future, and may it not ever happen, the whole world is going to wake up, look around their lands ... dive into their oceans ... hike their mountain trails ... and find nothing. Landscapes and seascapes devoid of life. Everything raped and pillaged in the name of power and greed. People are going to ask "What the hell happened? Why didn't anyone do something about this?"

Dramatic perhaps, but let's not kid ourselves. This could very well become a reality in the future if we don't start respecting our planet and every living thing on it.

People like Bush need to be subjected to the sonar testing the Military uses and see how he likes blood coming out of his ears, internal bleeding, and his brain turning to mush from disorientation (never mind that his brain has been mush forever.)

Blech. What a world we live in with the priorities governments like ours have.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Legal Ruling on Whaling

(Artist credit: Jeff Wilkie)

The Humane Society International sought, and won, a landmark injunction in Australia's Federal Court against the Japanese whalers. More specifically, the injunction names the company that owns the whaling ships such as the Nisshin Maru and the Yushin Maru (among others in its fleet) Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd.. The ruling defines the whaling as being illegal within Australia's economic zone, "which extends 200 nautical miles from Australian-declared territory in Antarctica and in the southern Pacific Ocean." (source: Herald Tribune)

Of course, in their continued arrogant fashion, Japan has stated they will ignore any injunction granted against them.

Excerpt from the legal ruling:

"The court orders that the respondent be restrained from killing, injuring, taking or interfering with any Antarctic minke whale, fin whale or humpback whale in the Australian whale sanctuary, or treating or possessing any such whale killed or taken in the Australian whale sanctuary," Federal Court judge James Allsop said in his ruling.

Link to article: Judge Grants Anti-Whaling Ban Against Japan

The Australian Whale Sanctuary is not recognized by Japan. Enforcement will be a challenge, but one that Australia will now be legally bound by.

The Humane Society has become another organization at the forefront in speaking up against the whale culling and calling upon the Rudd Administration in Australia to "live up to their campaign promises." The pressure is continuing to mount.

This ruling is good news, and comes after a three year battle in the courts on this between Humane Society Int'l and Japan. It's now incumbent upon Australian government to ensure this law is immediately enforced. Under this law, Australia can now legally intercept these whaling ships and order them to stop the killing. Will the Rudd Admin. finally prove it's commitment to end the whaling? Now's their chance.

Another good article on this issue: Humane Society Tells Rudd Government: Fullfill Election Promise on Whaling

Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd is almost caught up with both Greenpeace and the whalers. Greenpeace claims they have chased the whalers from the sanctuary and have gotten them to stop the whale culling, at least for now. It is believed that the Japan fleets were steaming north to rendezvous with their tanker, the Oriental Bluebird to refuel, restock, and to offload the whale meat they have processed so far.

On the Sea Shepherd website:

“As long as the Japanese whalers are running, they will not be killing whales. If they stop to kill whales, we will catch up with them,” said Steve Irwin’s 2nd Officer Peter Hammarstedt of Sweden. “And when we do catch them, we won’t be sitting down to tea with them - we intend to make this a season for them to remember.”

Glen Inwood, the official New Zealand spokesperson on the issue of Japanese whaling states:

Greenpeace claims of a victory in the Southern Ocean are false. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research says the fleet has simply moved to prevent injuries.

According to a New Zealand radio spokesperson, Glenn Inwood says the real trouble will begin when a ship from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society catches up with the whalers.

Read more here: Whalers Admit They Are Running From Sea Shepherd

Elsewhere, in South Korea, more than 50 tons of whale meat was seized on the black market.

While it is illegal to kill whales in Korea, whales that are "accidentally killed" have their meat processed and sold. Unfortunately, there's a huge incentive for people to "accidentally kill" whales because, for example, piked whales are worth up to $37.000 each. It is estimated about 200 whales are killed every year via nets

Excerpt:

Illegal whaling is very primitive in Korea utilizing small boat and harpoons. The whales drag the boats around for hours before bleeding to death. The whales are butchered at sea and the meat smuggled ashore.

Read more here: Black Market Whale Meat Seized in South Korea

So .. some good news today! A legal ruling and Japan whalers chased away from the whaling grounds. Hopefully the Australian government will start becoming more vigilante now that there is a legal ruling on this matter. The next few days will tell the tale.

Meanwhile ... :: shameless plug on :: Happy Birthday to me! :: shameless plug off ::

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Less Talk, More Action Needed

(Artist credit: Jim Warren)

Want to know who is behind the financing of those Japanese whalers? Want to know who "has the blood of 10,000 whales on his hands?"

Kazuo Yamamura is his name, and eating and killing whales is his game.

His firm claims it's a non-profit organization that funds the "scientific research" into whales. However, documents indicate that " balance sheets show profits from the sale of whale have nearly quadrupled in the past 10 years."

Read more here: Firm Dines Out on Slaughter

Could the end of whaling occur via a private military? Australian artist Anthony White hopes so, and is striving for that.

He has contacted Blackwater Worldwide, the same company that the USA contracts with for security services in Iraq.

Mr. White is still awaiting a response. But one thing disturbs me. He states he wants Blackwater to sink these illegal whaling ships.

Okay. Sinking them while they're in port with no one on board is one thing. But out in the middle of the Southern Ocean is quite another.

If Blackwater agrees to do this, I can only hope that this is done without casualties. I am not a believer in solutions being achieved via violence.

I am a believer that if it takes extreme measures to end the whaling when it's obvious, to my knowledge, that everything else has been done, then I'm all for it.

It'll be interesting to hear further on this. Meanwhile, you can read more on this here: Private Military to End Japanese Whaling

The Australian government continues to defend it's stance on how it's handling the whaling issue. They claim the spies have been or will be sent out to observe and record the whaling, but their spy ship has yet to leave port and their spy plane has yet to be registered for use.

The whale cull is apparently by this time, around mid-way through. Uh huh. Way to go Kevin Rudd. His administration claims they've increased diplomatic pressure. :: yawn :: Isn't it so shocking how politicians seem to forget their campaign promises?

Time for some good news. A judge in California has ruled that the Navy must cut their use of sonar off the California coast.

The Navy meanwhile, is basically whining and crying and worried about how they're going to protect our country now. Yeah right. :: eye roll ::

Hooray for the judge for imposing much tougher rules for the military to abide by. If our sea friends could talk, I'm sure they'd each say "Thank you, your Honor." Let's hope this lasts.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Whaling Protests

(Photo credit: The Australian)

The anti-whaling protests against Japan continue, most notably in Australia where a gathering of about 250+ people converged outside the Japanese consulate.

A spokesperson from Animal Liberation Victoria told the media that people had gathered "to send a strong message to Japan to stop whaling". One person was engaged in beating a gong 985 times symbolically for the whales Japan intends to slaughter this season.

The crowd was invited to sign the flag to send messages from Australia to Japan on the whaling issue. While people signed, the crowd chanted "Japan's bloodbath, ban whaling", "Boats of death, ban whaling", and "Japan's shame, ban whaling".

"It took about 40 minutes to strike the gong 985 times, the time it can take for a whale to die" said a spokesperson.

In other news, the government of Australia refuses to divulge the location of the Japanese whalers.

Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd calls it a "betrayal."

Greenpeace says they "understand the Australian government's position."

I'm with Sea Shepherd on this. All Australia plans to do is basically sit by and watch the whalers in action, recording their activities and taking pictures and/or video. Their goal is to potentially use the footage and other evidence against Japan in a court of law.

But that doesn't stop the whaling and obviously there will be no attempts by Australia to intervene with the killing.

As I've stated before, it seems to me that PM Rudd is basically putting on a dramatic show of being anti-whaling, blowing smoke up every one's butts, while being more concerned about continuing a mutually beneficial economic relationship with Japan.

Sea Shepherd's Executive Director Kim McCoy says it best:

"It is obvious that Japan is exerting intense pressure on Australia to do very little. For the Rudd government it appears that the policy is to present the appearance of aggressively opposing illegal whaling to satisfy the domestic pressure to end whaling but at the same to do very little in order to maintain a cordial trade relationship with Japan,"

What happened to everyone working together for a common goal? It doesn't matter who prevents the killing or who does what. What matters is that these whales do not meet with a cruel and inhumanely slow death by harpoon.

I mentioned in a previous post about one lone man who is on his own mission to participate in preventing whale culling and protesting against the Japanese government on this matter.

He's out there now in his 10-metre boat, battling the elements and hopes to get between a harpoon and a whale, much like Greenpeace plans to do, given the opportunity.

You can read more about this at: On a mission to battle whaling Goliath

Let's all hope and pray for his safety, and give props for his courage. Some might think it's foolhardy, but personally, I admire him. We should all follow our passions and stand up for what we feel is right, no matter the cost.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Flip Flops and Indecision on Whaling

(Artist Credit: Sachi's Dolphin Art)

Picture this. You walk into a shop that specializes in whale related products. Like stuffed toys, key chains, posters, t-shirts, etc., all sharing one thing in common - the whale. Kinda like walking into a Disney store and feeling like a kid surrounded by the happy faces of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and the rest of their friends.

Happiest place on Earth? You might think so. That is, until you catch sight of a chiller at the back of the store. Curious, you walk over expecting maybe juices or sodas to be for sale. Instead, it's stocked full of whale meat.

Not feeling so warm and fuzzy any more, huh?

There is such a place in the middle of Tokyo's tourist district.

Back in Tokyo, despite claims of traditionalism, Japanese shoppers didn't appear very keen to buy the whale meat on offer.

If whale meat was in great demand, you'd expect diners in this city of 12 million to be queuing up by the thousands.

Full article here: Want to buy whale toys, whale posters, and whale meat?

One individual from Tauranga is so passionate about preventing Japanese whaling, that he's heading out solo - on his own yacht - to the Southern Oceans.

His boat is a "self-made, 10 metre labour of love." Personally, I admire his courage. If I had my own boat, I'd want to do the same thing. At the same time, I hope and pray he will be safe out there and I urge everyone to send positive and protective energies his way.

Read more here: Solo Yachtie Takes on Whalers

Greenpeace and I are in agreement with how weak the Prime Minister of Australia's statement is regarding it's diplomatic relationship with Japan. He basically feels that the Australian and Japanese government's relationship with one another is strong enough to withstand this disagreement over whaling and that we can all basically just "agree to disagree."

Weak man, very weak.

At least Greenpeace is speaking up about it and challenging Kevin Rudd on this matter.

Greenpeace Rebukes PM on Diplomacy

Mr. Rudd continues to be put under pressure to confront Japan over it's whaling activities and continues to seemingly straddle the fence, trying to appease both sides diplomatically. Take a stand man. There's nothing diplomatic about Japan's stance on whaling. Their argument that it's all for scientific research continues to be bullshit and you know it.

In addition, as has been stated before, Japan has plans to build a new "super whaling" ship.

Mr Shallhorn also claimed Japan was planning to build a new whaling factory ship, with three times the capacity of its current ship, the Nisshin Maru.

"Greenpeace has discovered that the Fisheries Agency of Japan plans to replace the aged and ailing Nisshin Maru factory ship with a proposed `super' whaling factory ship," he said.

The new ship, with a 6,000kg whale meat payload, committed Japan to whaling for another 40 years, he said.

PM Pressured to Confront Japan Over Whaling

Sea Shepherd is taking a more blunt approach and is calling Kevin Rudd out on his "gutless" stance against Japan. Good for them. Mr. Rudd made a campaign promise to do something about the whaling and so far, he's attempting to put on a typical politician show that in the end, only makes him look like a bigger asshole.

Read more here: Anti-whalers last 'gutless' government

Continue to make your voices heard on this subject please. Continue to email, fax, and send letters to the Japanese embassy and government. It's been well proven that the international outrage on this matter has started to get under the skin of Japanese officials and they are feeling the pressure globally. Now is not the time to back down .. this fight will continue until ALL whaling is stopped.


Mahalo,

Dolphin

Humpbacks Spared - But Not Minkes or Fins

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

Eh, seems the news releases are causing a little confusion about Japan suspending the whale hunt this season.

To clarify, it appears they will sign off on suspending the hunt for the 50+ humpback whales they had planned to kill. They still continue with their plans to hunt down and kill over 900 Minke and Fin whales.

Japan on verge of dropping humpback kill - but will still pursue Minkes

So it's a semi-victory at this point in time. Still something to celebrate, but yet more work needs to be done and the protests need to continue to be heard.

Screw this. Japan relationship still good

Excerpt:

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Mr Garrett on Wednesday announced the federal government would send a formal diplomatic protest to Tokyo and send a Customs vessel into the Southern Ocean to monitor the Japanese whale hunt.

and

"We think the relationship is robust enough and there's enough good relationships between us ... to have a difference of opinion on this issue," Mr Garrett told the Nine Network.

A difference of opinion? Pbbbllltttt It's still about politics and greed.


Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reminds me of Bill Clinton's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell" regarding gays in the military. Mr. Rudd is playing both sides of the fence and trying to please everyone. The problem with that is, he's not taking a very strong stand on the issue of whale hunting because he cares more about his country's economic relationship with Japan.

Read more here: Japan put on notice

Another news release: Japan seen halting humpback whale hunt

Excerpt:

Japan has apparently agreed not to kill humpback whales during its current Antarctic hunt, the U.S. ambassador to Tokyo said on Wednesday, a move that could help ease criticism of its controversial whaling programme.

Sorry, that's bullshit. I do not see this easing criticism and it shouldn't. Japan's claims that killing over 900 minke and fin whales is for scientific research is completely bogus. There are so many other ways to do scientific research on these mammals without harming or killing them. This continues to be, in my opinion, a serious outrage.


United States pushes Japan to Halt Whale Hunt

A Japanese official said there was no written agreement to halt the hunt, but acknowledged that Tokyo could be considering changes to its whaling program in light of the fierce international opposition to the hunt.

and

Critics say the program is a shield for Japan to keep its whaling industry alive until it can overturn a 1986 ban on commercial whaling.

One step forward, two steps back. I see this as a very slight improvement and it comes across to me as sort of a temporary means of appeasing people and to get them to back off a bit.

I don't think so.

Late addition due to a new press release:

Japan Denies Agreement on Humpback Whale Kill

Excerpt:

A spokesman for Japan's Foreign Ministry says there is no formal agreement yet on abandoning his country's plans to kill up to 50 humpback whales in the Southern Ocean this summer.

Last night, the US Ambassador to Tokyo revealed that Japan may agree to abandon the humpback kill because of international concerns.

The ABC has been told that an agreement could be finalised later this week.

Tomohiko Taniguchi from Japan's Foreign Ministry says he is not aware of an agreement at this stage.

Someone needs to get their stories straight and stop screwing around on this issue.

Mahalo,

Dolphin

Whales Spared!

(Artist credit: Christian Lassen)

The Prime Minister of Australia backs the anti-whaling campaign to stop Japanese whaling near Antartica.

The pressure is on internationally, with over 2100 signatures coming in via an online petition, as of last night.

Excerpt:

By last night, more than 2100 people had signed an online petition urging the Japanese Government "to abandon its abhorrent whaling programme", including actress Lucy Lawless, singer Hollie Smith and radio and television presenter Marcus Lush.

Signatures had come from Papua New Guinea, France, the United States - and Japan.

According to the email alert I just received from Blue Voice, Japan has basically buckled from the pressure and has now suspended their whale hunt!

Email in full from Blue Voice:

JAPAN TO SUSPEND HUMPBACK HUNT

Reports from Tokyo indicate the Japanese have told the American Ambassador they will not hunt humpbacks this season.

Australia has indicated she will send an armed vessel and aircraft to monitor the Japanese fleet and bring back evidence to support Australia's legal action against Japan in the World Court.

BLUE VOICE BARRAGE JAPANESE EMBASSIES

Your phone calls and faxes protesting Japan's whale hunt sent a strong message to Japanese embassies around the world. Faxes and phone calls forced them to pay attention. Thanks for the reports you sent us of your interactions with embassy officials. Your voices were heard.

:: happy dance ::

In doing an internet news search on this press release, I have not yet found this update. So I hope it is a valid update as it did come directly from the Blue Voice organization.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the online campaigns, who sent emails, letters, and faxes to the Japanese government voicing their displeasure and disgust over the slaughter of these beautiful mammals.

It's a good feeling to know that so many people all over the globe banded together to stop this.

It's a great day!

Mahalo,

Dolphin