GREENPEACE ONCE AGAIN RISKS LIVES WITH ITS PUBLICITY STUNTS
2008/01/22
The President of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Mr. Minoru Morimoto once again urged Greenpeace to keep a safe distance from Japan's whaling vessels in order to ensure no lives are lost as a result of their protest activities.
The warning comes after Greenpeace tried unsuccessfully to interfere with the refueling of the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Despite warnings from the crew of the Nisshin Maru to stay away, Greenpeace placed one of their inflatable boats between the Nisshin Maru and the refueling vessel and in the process entangled themselves with ships cables. "This was a very dangerous stunt that put lives at risk and did nothing for their cause" Mr. Morimoto said. "Refueling operations are ongoing following which our research will continue" he added.
Mr. Morimoto said that the whale research vessels were aware that the Sea Shepherd vessel was also approaching the area where the refueling is being undertaken based on the coordinates provided by the Greenpeace, and issued the same warning to them. "For the past week, we have been trying to avoid confrontation with these protest vessels in order to ensure the safety of all involved but we are concerned that these protest groups seem intent on continuing their unlawful actions at the risk to human life" Mr. Morimoto said.
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