Finally it Begins- In 2007, the government of Australia decided to take Japan to court to put an end to illegal Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Finally that day has come. Australia’s case against Japan’s whaling operations in the Southern Ocean begins tomorrow before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Sea Shepherd Netherlands will be monitoring the trial. Australia has an excellent case against Japan. The trial is expected to last three weeks with a decision to be made by the end of the year. Sea Shepherd Australia is hopeful that a decision in Australia’s favor will finally put an end to the slaughter in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Nevertheless, Sea Shepherd Australia is preparing the Sea Shepherd fleet for a return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in December 2012. If Japan abides by an ICJ verdict to not return to the Southern Ocean the Sea Shepherd ships will not be deployed. If Japan does not abide by an ICJ verdict to not return to the Southern Ocean, the Sea Shepherd ships will be deployed to help Australia uphold the verdict. If illegal whaling is ended in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary it will free up the Sea Shepherd ships to move to the other side of the planet to oppose the illegal slaughter of endangered Fin whales by Iceland.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 23:42:14 +0000