Showdown in Taiji— High Speed Chase Between Cove Guardians and Japanese Nationalists

On March 12th, at 2:16 A.M. central time, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society released a tweet sharing the news that the Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians on the ground in Taiji were currently involved in a high speed chase with Right Wing Japanese Nationalists. This was the tweet:

“@SeaShepherd: Breaking News! Taiji Cove Guardians under attack by Right Wing Japanese Nationalists. Cove Guardians are now involved in a high speed chase. (2:16am)”

It was wrote by Cove Guardian Scott West that the nationalists showed up at the cove and become angry at the Cove Guardians, which wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was that the police revealed the reasons behind their please for the Cove Guardians to stay away from the Cove—They were afraid nationalists! When the Cove Guardians returned to the cove parking lot they learned the nationalists had began a search for them it seemed, starting at the hotel.

The nationalists showed up at the cove and got violent, causing police to force Cove Guardians into their vehicles, escorting them out of Taiji. The nationalists, with no shock, also got into their vehicles and chased the police and the Cove Guardians, with numbers reaching up to 10 cars at a time. This made it blatantly clear who was in total control of the situation—the nationalists. When Scott West told them to do their job, they had no words to defend themselves.

The convoy soon pulled into the police compound located in Kushimoto, where the Cove Guardians got locked in the gates and the nationalists fled and are nowhere to be seen. At this time Sea Shepherd sent out the following tweet:

“@SeaShepherd: The high speed chase ended at Kushimoto police station Cove Guardians are safe for now and filing reports (2:26am central)”

News went quiet after this tweet until 6:53am central time when this was tol:

“@SeaShepherd: Taiji: All Cove Guardians safe. We’re being advised by Wakayama City police for our safety and protection. #tweet4taiji”

The Sea Shepherd has expressed their appreciation in this incident to the police for their help and protection from the nationalists.

Japanese Right Wing Nationalists Accost Cove Guardians

 

 

Related articles:

Sea Shepherd – A Bizarre Display of Police Authority in Taiji, Japan

Japanese Whale Hunt Ends For Season—Sanctuary At Peace Again

On March 8, 2012 it was reported by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that the Japanese Whaling Fleet has returned home leaving the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary at peace, for now and hopefully forever.

 

The hunt for whales virtually ended on March 5th, 2012 when Peter Hammarstedt, the new captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel the ‘Bob Barker‘, and his crew locked on to the Nisshin Maru (factory vessel) eliminating any  chances of whale deaths from then on by the fleet. The Bob Barker began following this floating death machine on March 1st  but did not close in until March 5th. Following this event the harpoon ships (Yushin Maru(s)) discontinued the tailing of the Bob Barker and the fleet left the waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, restoring justice to the exact definition of a sanctuary.

“The kill figures will not be released by Japan until April, but in my opinion they will not get over 50% for certain and my prediction is it will not be above 30%. Not as good as last season, but much better than all the previous years.”  Said Captain Paul Watson. “It has been a successful campaign. There are hundreds of whales swimming free in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary that would now be dead if we had not been down there for the last three months. That makes us very happy indeed.”  Capt’n Watson was correct in this estimation… the save number was not as high as last years campaign but still very effective and much better than the previous years. The official figures (provided by Save Misty The Dolphin) are below.

 

Of course while we strive for that ever so near end to this blood shed against these gentle giants, there is always that lurking chance that these hunters will return next year and continue this reign of terror.  But, as always, Sea Shepherd will be there too stopping it to the best of their abilities in the 2012-2013 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign ‘Cetacean Justice’. Sea Shepherd will return down to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in December 2012 with 4 vessels, 2 helicopters, 4 drones, and 120 passionate volunteers.

 

“If the Japanese whalers return, Sea Shepherd will return. We are committed to the defense of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.” Said Captain Paul Watson. “No matter how long it takes, no matter how risky or expensive. The word “sanctuary” actually means something to us and that something is worth fighting for.”

 

 

Related Articles:

Sea Shepherd:: The Whalers Head Home!