Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Whaling Protester Says He Was Shot

Japanese vessel denies using bullets against activists

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2008 10:03 AM CST

(Newser) – An anti-whaling activist says he was shot during a clash with a Japanese ship on the high seas, the Guardian reports. Japanese officials deny the allegations from the captain of the Sea Shepherd and say they fired only flash grenades, not bullets. Paul Watson, though, says he pulled one from his Kevlar vest.

"It bruised my shoulder but it would have hit my heart if I didn't have the vest," said Watson. In recent days, activists have raised tensions by tossing stink bombs onto the Japanese vessel as it hunts whales in the Southern Ocean. The Australian prime minister appealed for calm on both sides.

In this photo released by The Institute of Cetacean Research, anti-whaling activists aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship throw glass bottles purportedly containing butyric acid and other... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson holds a bullet and a bent badge aboard his anti-whaling vessel, Friday, March 7, 2008, in Antarctic Waters. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a member of the Japanese coast guard throws sound-emitting "warning balls" at the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society anti-whaling vessel, aboard... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Activists Tangle With Japanese Whaler

Sea Shepherd up to its usual tricks; Japan not amused

(NEWSER) - It's whaling season in the Antarctic Ocean, which means the rotten-butter-wielding activists at Sea Shepherd were busy making life miserable for the Japanese whaler Yushin Maru No. 2 today. Activists hurled paint and butyric acid—found in the aforementioned rotten butter—at the ship, as well as ropes designed to foul its rudder and propellers. Japanese authorities, who run the quasi-scientific group formed to dodge the ban on international whaling, were not amused, notes the AFP . More»

Rogue Wave Damages Anti-Whaling Vessel

Steve Irwin racing to help stricken Brigitte Bardot

(NEWSER) - A rogue wave off Antarctica has dealt a major setback to conservationists' efforts to thwart Japan's annual whale hunt. The wave hit the Sea Shepherd Society's Brigitte Bardot as it chased the Nisshin Maru factory ship, badly damaging one of its pontoons, the BBC reports. Another boat, the Steve Irwin, is racing to help the stricken vessel. The group says the Bardot's 10 crew members were not injured, and the boat is in no danger of sinking in the icy water, reports AP . It will be towed to Australia for repairs, leaving a third boat, the Bob Barker, to hunt Japan's whaling fleet alone. More»

Japan Uses Disaster Budget to Fund Whaling Hunt

Official defends the controversial move

(NEWSER) - Of Japan's $230 billion in supplementary budgets meant for tsunami reconstruction, $29 million will be used for … a whaling hunt. An official confirmed the move today, and simultaneously defended it, noting that some whaling towns were hit badly by the March 11 tsunami, and the funding will help to support the country's whaling industry. The money will increase security and maintain operations for the annual Antarctic Ocean hunt, as whaling boats have been increasingly interfered with by conservationists. More»

Japan: We Will Hunt Whales This Year

Activist group will again try to disrupt them in the Antarctic

(NEWSER) - It could be a nasty December in the Antarctic: Japan says it will go ahead with its annual whale hunt and promises to ramp up security to protects its boats from activists, reports AP . The leading activist group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, promises to be back in full force. Last year, one of its ships sank after colliding with a Japanese vessel, and its constant harassment forced Japan's fleet to return home with only about a fifth of its quota, notes the Australian Broadcast Corporation . More»

US Threatens Sanctions on Iceland Over Whaling

Obama administration will consider trade and diplomatic penalties

(AP) - The US is set to announce possible trade and diplomatic sanctions against Iceland for ramping up its whale hunts despite an international moratorium on commercial whaling. The Obama administration will cite Iceland under a domestic law that allows the president to act against foreign nationals or countries who flout international animal conservation rules, say US officials. After today's announcement, the president has 60 days to decide on sanctions. Sometimes, the threat alone is enough to make targeted countries change their practices. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Whaling Protester Says He Was Shot

Japanese vessel denies using bullets against activists

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Greenpeace • Australia • Japan • Sea Shepherd Conservation Society • Paul Watson • whaling • anti-whaling activists • International Whaling Commission

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Activists Tangle With Japanese Whaler

Sea Shepherd up to its usual tricks; Japan not amused

Rogue Wave Damages Anti-Whaling Vessel

Steve Irwin racing to help stricken Brigitte Bardot

Japan Uses Disaster Budget to Fund Whaling Hunt

Official defends the controversial move

Japan: We Will Hunt Whales This Year

Activist group will again try to disrupt them in the Antarctic

US Threatens Sanctions on Iceland Over Whaling

Obama administration will consider trade and diplomatic penalties

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Whaling Protester Says He Was Shot

Japanese vessel denies using bullets against activists

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Greenpeace • Australia • Japan • Sea Shepherd Conservation Society • Paul Watson • whaling • anti-whaling activists • International Whaling Commission

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Activists Tangle With Japanese Whaler

Sea Shepherd up to its usual tricks; Japan not amused

Rogue Wave Damages Anti-Whaling Vessel

Steve Irwin racing to help stricken Brigitte Bardot

Japan Uses Disaster Budget to Fund Whaling Hunt

Official defends the controversial move

Japan: We Will Hunt Whales This Year

Activist group will again try to disrupt them in the Antarctic

US Threatens Sanctions on Iceland Over Whaling

Obama administration will consider trade and diplomatic penalties

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?