Sea Shepherd’s Efforts Provide Assistance to Earthquake Victims in Japan
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sea Shepherd’s Efforts Provide Assistance to Earthquake Victims in Japan
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has contributed humanitarian aid to
the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in a rather ironic
and indirect way. Due to the interventions of Sea Shepherd against the
illegal Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean, Sea Shepherd
forced the retreat of the Japanese whaling fleet a month earlier than
their whaling season was to end.
Due to the whalers’ early retreat, the Japanese Nisshin Maru factory
ship arrived in Tokyo Bay a month earlier than normal on March 21,
2011. Japanese authorities immediately commandeered the ship to deliver
aid supplies to northern Japan.
ship arrived in Tokyo Bay a month earlier than normal on March 21,
2011. Japanese authorities immediately commandeered the ship to deliver
aid supplies to northern Japan.
The Nisshin Maru will be taking kerosene, charcoal, instant
noodles, rice, and other supplies to the northern coastal communities
hit hardest by the tsunami. Bringing aid and comfort to the victims of
this disaster is a far more positive role for the Nisshin Maru than
slaughtering whales in the Southern Ocean, which is where the fleet
still would have been if not for Sea Shepherd shutting down their
unlawful activities in mid-February.
noodles, rice, and other supplies to the northern coastal communities
hit hardest by the tsunami. Bringing aid and comfort to the victims of
this disaster is a far more positive role for the Nisshin Maru than
slaughtering whales in the Southern Ocean, which is where the fleet
still would have been if not for Sea Shepherd shutting down their
unlawful activities in mid-February.
Sea Shepherd believes that the Nisshin Maru should be
permanently converted into a humanitarian aid vessel. Sea Shepherd is
happy that in this small way, they were able to make it possible for the
Nisshin Maru to bring aid supplies to the Japanese people whose lives have been so tragically interrupted by these recent disasters.
permanently converted into a humanitarian aid vessel. Sea Shepherd is
happy that in this small way, they were able to make it possible for the
Nisshin Maru to bring aid supplies to the Japanese people whose lives have been so tragically interrupted by these recent disasters.