No Dirty Tactics, Whalers Warned

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday January 15, 2007

Andrew Darby

WITH conflict over whaling looming in the Antarctic, the Federal Government will today take a stand against Japan's use of water cannon against activists, which it says is dangerous and heavy-handed.

Ships belonging to the conservation organisation Sea Shepherd will begin shadowing the Japanese fleet this week and Greenpeace will join them later.

The Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, will use an emergency vessel in Fremantle to illustrate the damaging power of the cannon aboard Japan's whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru.

"Even in Port Phillip or Sydney Harbour this would be regarded as an aggressive action," Senator Campbell said. "But in the Antarctic there is also the ever present danger of hypothermia, or of protesters falling out of their inflatables and under their propellers, or under ships. This is dangerous. It's not in compliance with international law that requires the avoidance of danger and the threat of injury."

A Greenpeace activist Luke Cordingley, who felt the force of the cannon last summer, said the weapons were "massively over the top for non-violent protest".

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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