A Japanese Painted Dancer

In a recent AFP press article, written by Shingo Ito, it has been reported that the whaling town of Ayukawa has been “gutted” in the aftermath of the tsunami that recently hit Japan.

However, the whaling residents still wish to continue whaling:

“Japan has continued to hunt whales under a loophole that allows killing of the sea mammals for what it calls “scientific research”, although the meat is later sold openly in shops and restaurants.

“Japan’s argument that whaling is an integral part of the island nation’s culture finds some of its strongest voices among the residents of Ayukawa, for whom the prospect of stopping hunting is inconceivable.

Read the rest of this entry »

A Gray Whale Juvenile looking out from the water at the boat

As a few of you may have already read about my trip, I have been promising (and been asked) for more pictures and more video.

So here is my first “crack” at a video (call it more a teaser trailer) of an overview of my trip:

The Whales of Baja from Jon Soeder on Vimeo.

To reiterate, in was an incredibly profound adventure and specifically for two reasons.

The first is that the whales came to us in the boat. We had no food, nothing of value that they wanted. But they still came and gently played beneath our boat and throughout the short visit, lift their huge head to look at us and to be touched by a human hand. That is profound in itself, simply because I don’t know where on earth a 40 ton mammal will do that!

I don’t believe any mammal except man that comes close. I don’t even think man does that with other races, much less his own. These mammoth beings could turn the boat over and wreak havoc on the participants. Instead, they lounge and play about the boat. They are gentle and peaceful. And for those skeptics, well, you will have to see for yourselves. Eight people on a boat witnessed this.

And that is not all.

The females with their calves (children) brought them (2 months old – 3 tons) to the boat. In two separate instances and on two separate days, with two different females, the females PUSHED their babies to our boats. They each lifted their children up to the surface! You could look through the clear water and watch this phenomena.

Suddenly you had a “baby” looking at you. And it was looking at YOU! The instinct was to reach out and touch it. And the baby allowed you, responding to your touch by letting you continue to touch it!

There are those of you who call these creatures wild animals. Well, I have to tell you, you are quite mistaken. We treat them as caged animals in Seaworld. BTW, Seaworld has nothing on this – wild whales that let you come up and touch them!

But these whales are free.

A friend of mine asked my why would a whale do this. Well I will tell you what I know.

Gray Whales know that man is now responsible for their ultimate survival.

And so the logical solution is to demonstrate their peacefulness to us – that they wish us no harm. And so they even bring their children to us to touch and possibly bond. And maybe, just maybe, some men and women will take that idea back and help give them a chance at life and living free.

I would love to call myself a romanticist. That would be easy and it would be the end of my story and my experience. Probably some of my readers (more astute and learned) will scoff at my statements. But when a whale comes to you, looks at YOU, and lets you touch it, for me there is no other explanation.

We owe whales a chance at being free, just like we are free. We need to cease the harvesting and hunting of whales.

map of baja

Yes, believe it or not, a whale did that!

This past week I took a trip down to Baja, California with the intent purpose of experiencing Pacific Gray Whales up close.

What I did not realize is that these whales had the same idea about me!

I happened to find a very modest tour to Guerro Negro, a small city two-thirds of the way down Baja. Guerro Negro is known for two things: table salt and whales. That’s right, table salt and whales.

This small town is responsible for pretty much all the salt you find on your table. And as far as whales, well, next to Guerro Negro are huge lagoons where Pacific Gray Whales come to mate and have their calves.

When we finally arrived at the small boat dock, each boat only held 8 people. The drive to the center of the lagoon takes you past sand dunes, until you begin seeing 10-15 water spouts, and aroused 40 ton males jumping clean out of the water! Read the rest of this entry »

Masayuki Komatsu, former member of the IWC

In a recent article written by ABC news correspondent, Mark Willacy, whaling supporters consider Japan’s whaling  ship retreat from Antarctic a cowardly move.

Masayuki Komatsu, a former delegate to the International Whaling commission made the above comment.

“I really regret that they [the Japanese whaling "research" vessel] decided to come back saying that it’s a matter of safety of the life,” Masayuki Komatsu said.

But that’s not all.

Komatsu went on to further say, “I think Australia’s position is very much disappointing, and perhaps lots of Japanese [are] really not happy with the action taken by Australia.”

As you may know, Australia is taking Japan to task in International Court, later this year. The reason? Specifically Japan has used (and abused) the word “research” to cover up their whaling in the Antarctic whale sanctuary.

Now there are those of you out there who continue to comment that Japan is doing nothing wrong under the laws established by the IWC. If that were so, why are so many people upset about the Japanese hunting whales in Antarctica? Why is Australia taking Japan to court? And for those “dyed in the wool” whaling supporters, they should start reading Japanese newspapers. Their own correspondents and writers openly admit that the Japanese Cetacean Institute’s Research vessel is an excuse for whaling in Antarctica. The other fact is that the area is actually a sanctuary.

A whale sanctuary is a safe haven. But this point is rigorously ignored by the Japanese.

It really boils down to semantics. In this case, semantics are being used to justify killing whales in a protected sanctuary. And as far as research goes, I see no scientific papers published that actually provide any meaningful data about the dissection of whales. And the papers that have been, show nothing new:

“After studying the genetics, biology, and body shape of minkes, ICR concluded there are two large stocks in the research area in the Antarctic, where there were originally believed to be six. ICR says it needs to therefore monitor changes in the Antarctic ecosystem to understand how the whales adapt to shifts in the ecosystem, “to provide scientific basis for comprehensive management of whale resources.”

“However, some marine biologists doubt the connection between the lethal research ICR is carrying out, and its stated research goals.

“Dr. Phillip Clapham, who heads the Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, says only a small portion of the ICR’s research is relevant to whale population management.”

If you notice I highlighted the Japanese comment. Monitoring changes does not say “harvesting” or “collecting specimens”. Look at the verbal banter going on!

And with over 6,000 tons of frozen whale meat in Japanese food lockers, what additional research is needed?

In fact, if ANY research was being done, Japan would discover the currently dangerous mercury levels in whales and dolphins. The point is, the research is coming from elsewhere and NOT Japan!

It is quite easy for Mr Komatsu to state, “We are following the rules of the International Whaling Commission, Sea Shepherd is not,” when in fact pure semantics are at play here, or verbal banter.

I am sorry if I disappoint you, Mr. Komatsu. I guess you are disappointed because I will not, as many others agree with the smoke screen of “research” when in fact it is only a justification for slaughter.

It is always best to call a “spade a spade”.

But the key point to all of this is to bear in mind the rhetoric. With 6,000 tons of frozen whale meat and no where to sell it (except on Yahoo! Japan and under various surnames) I think the real reason is that it is a tremendous cost to the Japanese to continue whaling efforts in Antarctica, plus the fact that only a small percentage of Japan (less than 1 1/2%) eat it.

And that is no tall tale.