Japan Uses $28.5m in Disaster Funds for Whaling , page 1

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Topic started on 6-12-2011 @ 08:41 PM by Skywatcher2011

Japan uses $28.5m in disaster funds for whaling

Date: December 7, 2011
Article Link: Japan Funds Whaling Using Disaster Relief Money

The government recently gave the whalers 2.28 billion yen ($28.5 million) as part of a special budget for recovery from the March 11 triple disaster.

Much of the extra funding will go towards security forces for the whaling fleet...

Greenpeace Japan distributed the letter, because, according to executive director, Junichi Sato: “This is a new low for the shameful whaling industry and the callous politicians that support it..."

Now I can understand that money used to support those affected in the Japan quake/tsunami/radiation disaster, I am not quite supportive of the fact that this money has been diverted into funding activities which are harmful for the ecological environment that we need to preserve.

The issue here is the fact that taxpayer's money is going toward commercial fishing activities that was not supported by the taxpayers themselves.

In another recent article about whaling activities Overfishing dramatically depleting ocean stocks published by the University of British Columbia in Canada, stated that "predator species in north Pacific and Atlantic waters have dropped by more than 90 per cent since the 1950s". This is a major publication which deserves more attention in the media.

As oceanic species migrate around the globe, each colony is directly affected by the species of another colony. At the current rate of human population growth and over fishing occurring every day, there is no way that our oceans can recover if whaling continues to be supported whereas alternatives to fishing are being ignored.

I thought this should should be a wake up call to inform everyone that your disaster funds which you would expect to help someone in needs, is going to businesses which really don't have your kind heart in mind, let alone, your government sees fund distributions in a way different view point.

I want to hear your thoughts on this ATS.

reply posted on 6-12-2011 @ 08:51 PM by Backbiter

Sea Shepherd already knew about this and reported it on their website...www.seashepherd.org...

edit on 6-12-2011 by Backbiter because: (no reason given)

reply posted on 6-12-2011 @ 08:55 PM by Shirak

I want all the money I donated back. I donated to help earthquake victims not pay mercenaries for a whaling fleet!
Class Action on the Japanese Government! Misappropriation of Aid funds

reply posted on 6-12-2011 @ 09:07 PM by Skywatcher2011

Originally posted by Backbiter
Sea Shepherd already knew about this and reported it on their website...www.seashepherd.org...
edit on 6-12-2011 by Backbiter because: (no reason given)

This is a power excerpt from the article above...and moving indeed:

When people the world over sent their donations to Japan, it was with the innocent understanding that their contributions would be used by the Japanese government for the purpose of actually helping the Japanese victims of the disasters.

What they did not anticipate or imagine is that some of these funds would be used to subsidize the illegal slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. But that is what the Japanese Fisheries Agency has done with a large amount of the relief funds. It is a complete disgrace and the Japanese government is displaying blatant contempt in response to the world’s generosity by this shameful behavior.

On October 21st, 2011, the Japanese cabinet agreed to set aside 2.28 billion yen (over $29 million USD) in tax revenue to help those in the worst affected regions. Since then, it has been discovered that the Japanese Fisheries Agency submitted a request entitled “measures to stabilize the scientific whaling research programme” that actually requested and received this full amount for security to defend the so-called Japanese scientific whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean....

So illegal activities have turned in a scientific research program??? WTF!? That money was not intended for research, it was intended to help those innocent civilians affected by the disaster!

If Japan used the money to save ocean animals affected by the disaster (not for commercial fishing) then I think the story would be totally different!

reply posted on 6-12-2011 @ 09:21 PM by gibbajabba

They kill over 20,000 dolphins a year too,i have one word for them. Karma

reply posted on 6-12-2011 @ 09:21 PM by Shirak

It appears with more research there is a conspiracy involving elements of the Japanese Government Australia's own immigration department under the Gillard government seems to be doing everything it can to support the Japanese whaling fleet raping our waters.

Blow to whaling campaign: Sea Shepherd pilot denied visa Andrew Darby in Hobart December 6, 2011 Refused entry ... Chris Aultman. Refused entry ... Chris Aultman. Photo: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society * Whalers set for Antarctic conflict A former US Marine helicopter pilot, who finds the whaling fleet so Sea Shepherd protesters can stop the hunt, says he has been denied a visa to join the activists in Australia. Chris Aultman, who won official praise for his work on a polar search last summer, has been held up in Los Angeles as the countdown begins to this year's conflict. Advertisement: Story continues below Mr Aultman said by email that he had come to Australia for the past six years on an electronic travel authority visa, but this time was placed on hold, and then declined. "I have not received any information about why it was denied or when it will be issued," he said. "I wish I knew." Read more: www.smh.com.au...

Source

The question is why is the Gillard Government not protecting our tourism industry by supporting the efforts of the Sea Shepard? Instead they are throwing up barriers to honorable servicemen who can provide arial support.