http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/30/asia/sea-shepherd-japan-whales-new-ship/ The Sea Shepherds Australia have recently vowed to take a more aggressive standpoint against Japanese whalers this upcoming season. The United States were forced to reach an agreement with Japan where US Sea Shepherds can no longer physically intervene with Japanese whalers. Previously, the US Sea Shepherds would throw stink bombs onto whalers' ships causing the meat to go bad and the ship to become unpleasant. The Sea Shepherds even boarded the Japanese whaling vessels in order to stop whaling from happening. At one point, the Sea Shepherds even sacrificed their own boat in order to stop whaling. Whaling was actually outlawed in the 80's but Japan and a few other countries have taken advantage of a loop hole. This loop hole is that a country can hunt whales for scientific research. A resent study has confirmed that the claim Japan is making "whaling for research" is completely false and that they do indeed hunt to sell. Because of the recent setback the US has suffered, many deemed the Japanese the victors of the "Whale Wars." The Sea Shepherd community then proceeded to acquire Ocean Warrior, their fastest vessel yet. It was built for these missions of stopping whaling. Because the new agreement reached and applies to the United States, the Australian Sea Shepherd fully intend to physically intervene with Japanese Whalers.
This new agreement reached between Japan and the United States seems to heavily aid the Japanese in their whaling efforts. I have to say, I am disappointed that the US would reach this type of agreement. It seems to me that the United States would have only accepted these terms if the Japanese agreed to stop whaling. The fact the the Japanese are still whaling is repulsive as the majority of the rest of the world, including those with more extensive whaling history, have stopped the hunts. I am though excited about the Australia's strong position against whaling. Considering their ideal global positioning. The Ocean Warrior also makes me feel like a little kid on Christmas Morning. It can reach up to 25 knots compared to their previous ships that could only go 15 knots. The Japanese whaling ships can reach up to 22 knots so this upgrade is vital to stopping them.
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