US court brands whale activists Sea Shepherd 'pirates'
Judge Alex Kozinski said the group's "aggressive and high-profile attacks" on Japan's whaling fleet endangered lives, ordering them to stop. US-based Sea Shepherd has for many years chased the Japanese whalers, attempting to disrupt the annual hunt. The two sides have frequently clashed at sea, blaming each other for collisions and damage. Sea Shepherd has also accused the whalers of using water cannon and stun grenades against them, and says Japan has deployed a military icebreaker, the Shirase, to intimidate them - something Japan rejects.
The Star: Who owns Diaoyu Islands?
John V. Walsh: U.S. Goading Japan into Confrontation with China
[Editor:] So, in return for doing Washington's bidding in East Asia, Japan apparently has asked that Obama order the United States Department of Justice (sic) to go after the Sea Shepherd and her valiant crew of warriors. Japan could at least have demanded that their Lord & Master punish the soldiers who rape Japanese women all the time...But even this would have been a very small thing to ask in return for the belligerence vis-à vis China that the US now demands of its pathetic client state. War with China is a very dangerous proposition. There may be worse ahead for Japan than insignificant clashes at sea. There's no way for Japan to benefit from this.
ABC News: We'll never stop eating whales, declares Japanese minister