Originally Posted by PulpMind

I'm kind of shocked by the ignorance being displayed in this thread. It's been shown time and time again that the Japanese "research vessels" are whaling ships. They are conducting illegal whaling. YouTube it. New York Times it. Google it.
Even if you don't like how the Sea Shepherds are going about trying to stop it (I'll grant that they have the failings of most grassroots human and animal rights groups), they are the ONLY ones doing it. No government body has dared to take action against these ships, because Japan is such a crucial economic partner for anyone that has the power to stop them.

There is tons of evidence out there that these japanese ships are responsible for massive, illegal slaughtering of whales - many species of which are endangered. While the rest of the world is too busy fighting wars, defending their borders, etc, with their ships, the Sea Shepherds have one boat that they do their damndest to try and stop these other boats with.
It may not be safe, but given the means, can you think of a better way to stop the illegal whaling? If not, you should probably consider doing something to support the people that *are* doing something, even if that's just writing them a letter, explaining how this Animal Planet show makes them looks like total asses and sensationalizes their downfalls.

The Sea Shepherds rarely conduct any illegal activity. In International waters, if you observe (and can prove... which they usually can, thanks to hand held video cameras) illegal activity, you're allowed to stop it. This includes boarding the offending ship, blocking its path, etc.

PETA sucks. They're idiots. The Sea Shepherds are fighting a necessary and nearly impossible battle, but, from my perspective, are doing a damn fine job with their resources.

Originally Posted by Japan

Q 1. How does Japan respond to the characterization of its research as “commercial whaling in disguise”?

A. 1. This characterization is part of the anti-whaling rhetoric. In fact, the purpose of Japan’s research is science – science that will ensure that when commercial whaling is resumed it will be sustainable. From 1987 to 2006, Japanese scientists presented 182 scientific documents to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and had 91 papers published in peer-reviewed journals. The most recent review of JARPA by the IWC’s Scientific Committee in December 20062 made a number of recommendations for additional data analysis and concluded that“the dataset provides a valuable resource to allow investigation of some aspects of the role of whales within the marine ecosystem and that this has the potential to makeimportant contribution to the Scientific Committee’s work in this regard as well as the work of other relevant bodies such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources”. The Scientific Committee also agreed to its earlier (1997) conclusion that the results from the research program “have the potential to improve management of minke whales in the Southern Hemisphere”.

Q 2. How does Japan respond to accusations that it is using a “loophole” in the Convention to conduct its research?

A. 2. Research whaling is a fundamental right of every member of the IWC according to Article VIII of the ICRW. It is not a “loophole” in the Convention – rather it is a critical element of the Convention that requires that its decisions be based on scientific findings. Japan’s whale research programs are therefore perfectly legal. Further, Article VIII. 2 requires that research by-products (meat) be processed and sold under the Governments direction. This is a legally binding obligation on all IWC members who undertake research.