Operation Leviathan - Radical Activists? Nisshin Maru Confrontation Videos

Hey people,

Have you heard of an ecologically motivated anti-whaling operation called 'Operation Levaithan'? When i did some research on whaling, I found videos taken by the the groups members or their opponents, the Nisshin Maru Whaling Factory ship's (officially: 'research ship') crew.

I know here already is a lot of controversies regarding whaling, so I would like to talk about how far those people go. I'm really not shure what to think, because on the one hand I'm glad some people defend nature's right where international law fails to do so, on the other hand radicalism that leads to events like the collision of the ships doesn't solve anything.

Anyway, just watch and tell me what You think.

Video 1: Activists Confront the Nissin Maru and try to tangle it's props.
I was suprised how well equipped those activists are - helicopters etc.

Video 2: Robert Hunter - Nisshin Maru Collision - This video has been in our media a lot recently.


Video 3: buttanoic acid attack

It's been in the U.S. news about anti-whaling ships trying to sabotage the Japanese whalers. I don't know really what I think about whether it's right or not to try to sabotage an operation this way, but I feel reassured that there are people who care enough to try to stop whales and dolphins being slaughtered. I don't think it's right to slaughter any live animals painfully when we know they feel pain and when there have to be other ways to do it so no living being suffers the way no human would want to suffer.

People appearing in a video are a pirate or terrorists.

Sarapva said:

It's been in the U.S. news about anti-whaling ships trying to sabotage the Japanese whalers. I don't know really what I think about whether it's right or not to try to sabotage an operation this way, but I feel reassured that there are people who care enough to try to stop whales and dolphins being slaughtered. I don't think it's right to slaughter any live animals painfully when we know they feel pain and when there have to be other ways to do it so no living being suffers the way no human would want to suffer.

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I feel the same way.

Especially if there's no demand that justifies large-scale whale killing. I've seen a documentation where it has been said that Tokyo has huge supplies of whale meat, whereas the number of whale-eaters is constantly declining. In general, most of them seem to be conservative, traditional, elder people.

Nevertheless they are radicals, and their love for nature shouldn't turn into a hazard for human lifes.

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:

People appearing in a video are a pirate or terrorists.

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Indeed they are pirates, Tokyo forced the Australian government to cancel the ship's registration. The vessel hasn't got a flag.

Interesting thing that the Japanese aborted this years whaling effort.

Does anybody know what caused the fire on the Nisshin Maru in the first place?

No, I've wondered that myself. There was oil on the ship, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. Maybe there's a higher power also trying to sabotage the Japanese hunts??

I've also heard, heliobacter, that the whaling industry in Japan is very small and of the older, traditional generation. It sounds like it might die out with the younger generation. This is a petition against whaling and the Taiji dolphin hunts to be sent to the Japanese prime minister:

www.petitiononline.com/golfinho

About 400,000 signatures so far!!

Sarapva said:

I've also heard, heliobacter, that the whaling industry in Japan is very small and of the older, traditional generation. It sounds like it might die out with the younger generation. This is a petition against whaling and the Taiji dolphin hunts to be sent to the Japanese prime minister:
www.petitiononline.com/golfinho
About 400,000 signatures so far!!

Click to expand...

I doubt it will die out in the near future, because usually (and I think especially in Japan), people who hold those conservative powers are the top dogs.

Anyway, I agree that it's up to the Japanese Youth to change the country's way of thinking.

The M/V "Farley Mowat" was registered in Belize, the registration was withdrawn due to diplomatic pressure from Japan.

go to the SSCS site and check the news release "Pirates of Compassion" for further details.Need to go to the news archive section.

Operation Leviathan, is the operation na for the campaign of Seashepherd.
I was a the IWC 58 in St.Kitts, the rhetoric and behavior I witnessed was incredible, half truths etc and spin and delaying tactics to wait for the vital support that the St.Kitts declaration demanded. A couple of nations where not there in the first two days and St.Kitts asked for it to be pushed down the agenda, supposedly for private discussion. Fees paid on the spot in cash etc. IT STINKS

As to the allegations of terrorists, go get a job with the George Bush. Technically pirates, reality activists who are hard lined, like the IRA and now there is peace in Northern Ireland and a process that is running it's course with seeming success on the horizon.

While Paul Watson is controversial, he and his volunteers are committed people, prepared to give their all. They seem well equipped as they are resourceful folk. And with out them no one would be aware of the goings on. Face it, they are acting what many folks would like to do, bourne out of frustration more than anything else.

While many say they are irresponsible and violent, I can say from experience that every event that may seem irresponsible has been thought out and agreed before hand. You will find on board a surprising number of very capable and qualified folks.

If there was a true intent to really ram any of the Japanese vessels it would have happened. what you see on the videos are just kisses and glancing blows, designed to be intimidating rather than fatal.