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British explorer Ranulph Fiennes leaves Antarctic expedition after frostbite

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:03:42 GMT

Thursday, February 28, 2013

United Kingdom

Sister links [edit]

The Coldest Journey

Sources [edit]

"Ranulph Fiennes evacuated from Antarctic base" — BBC News Online, February 27, 2013
"Ranulph Fiennes pulls out of Antarctic challenge" — BBC News Online, February 25, 2013
"Explorer Fiennes Forced Out Of Antarctic Trip" — Sky News, February 25, 2013
@IanPrickett. "Sir Ran is leaving but we will carry on. Keep following for further news and updates as we attempt to cross in winter. #pressonregardless" — Twitter, February 25, 2013

External links [edit]

The Coldest Journey

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Wikinews Shorts: April 14, 2012

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:08:28 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Saturday, April 14, 2012 .

1 Yemen al-Qaeda attack leaves twelve dead
2 Iran nuclear negotiations continue
3 US Secret Service agents relieved in light of alleged misconduct
4 Severe 'life-threatening' weather forecast for Midwestern US
5 Antarctic emperor penguin population approximated from space

Yemen al-Qaeda attack leaves twelve dead [edit]

Twelve people were killed in an al-Qaeda militant attack on a security checkpoint yesterday in Aden, Yemen, according to the country's Defense Ministry. Four Yemeni security force members and eight al-Qaeda militants are among the dead. Four additional people were wounded, including two al-Qaeda fighters and two members of the security force.

Al-Qaeda has been present in Yemen for several years, but gained traction last year when movements across the country called for the ouster of leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. Officials, who were unauthorized to speak to the press, spoke of the attack on the condition of anonymity.

Sources

Ahmed Al-Haj. "Yemen: 12 killed in militant attack in south" — Associated Press, April 14, 2012
Mohammed Hatem. "Yemen Says 12 Killed in Latest Fighting Between Al-Qaeda, Army" — Bloomberg News, April 14, 2012

Iran nuclear negotiations continue [edit]

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and six other nations continued yesterday and have made progress, according to diplomats. The meeting is the first time Iran has met with world powers in over a year. When the meeting broke for lunch, a diplomat warned of premature optimism, however. The diplomat also mentioned the possibility of reaching common ground in the future.

Iran continues to insist that the development of a nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a preemptive strike, saying that his country would be threatened by Iran achieving nuclear capability. Although U.S. President Barack Obama has not eliminated the possibility of using military force against Iran, he has expressed desire for a diplomatic solution instead.

Sources

Associated Press. "Iran nuclear negotiations: Talks 'progressing well'" — The Times of India, April 14, 2012
Roy Gutman. "After 'constructive' talks on Iran nuclear program, hopes rise for diplomacy" — The Miami Herald, April 14, 2012

US Secret Service agents relieved in light of alleged misconduct [edit]

Approximately twelve members of the United States Secret Service, including agents, were relieved from their duties after allegations of misconduct, reportedly involving prostitution. The agents were serving in Colombia preceding a visit by President Barack Obama. Despite the incident, however, the agency claims that security for the President was never compromised.

All questions directed to the White House pertaining to the matter have been redirected to the Secret Service. President Obama is visiting Colombia to participate in the Summit of the Americas, where he plans to discuss issues including trade policy.

Sources

"Secret Service agents relieved of duty in Colombia amid alleged misconduct" — CNN, April 14, 2012
Donovan Slack, Josh Gerstein, Carrie Budoff Brown. "Secret Service scandal rocks Obama trip" — Politico, April 14, 2012

Severe 'life-threatening' weather forecast for Midwestern US [edit]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk warning on Friday for parts of several U.S. states, with Oklahoma and Kansas expected to be the most impacted by severe weather. Accuweather meteorologist Paul Walker told ABC News that the weekend "should be particularly dangerous" and that the issuance of a warning two days prior to severe weather is unusual.

Officials in Kansas and Oklahoma are urging residents to watch the situation and make emergency plans with their families.

Sources

Alyssa Newcomb. "Forecasters Warn of Violent,' Life-Threatening' Storms for Midwest" — ABC News, April 14, 2012
Sean Murphy. "'Life-threatening' storms feared for Midwest" — The Sacramento Bee, April 14, 2012

Antarctic emperor penguin population approximated from space [edit]

Scientists from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia used satellite imagery to approximate the Antarctic population of emperor penguins at approximately 600,000, nearly double that of previous estimates. The scientists used high resolution imagery to ensure the ability to distinguish between shadows, excrement and the penguins themselves. They also found approximately 238,000 breeding pairs of penguins in Antarctica. Two-decade-old studies estimated this number to be between 135,000 and 175,000.

Although the population estimate is higher than before, their numbers may decline in the coming years if current climate trends continue, according to researchers. Researcher Phil Trathan said "Current research suggests that emperor penguin colonies will be seriously affected by climate change." The species, which only occupies Antarctica, is currently listed as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Sources

Alex Morales. "Penguin Count Doubles as Satellite Sees Birds" — Bloomberg News, April 14, 2012
Jonathan Amos. "Emperor penguins counted from space" — BBC News, April 13, 2012

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Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:40:45 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Friday, February 10, 2012 .

1 Russian scientists contact Lake Vostok
2 New U.S. airport program provides speedy security check
3 Somalia's rebels align with Al-Qaeda

Contribute to Wikinews by expanding these briefs or add a new one.

Russian scientists contact Lake Vostok [edit]

Lake Vostok cross-section.
Image: U.S. National Science Foundation.

Russian scientists say they have made first contact with Lake Vostok, one of several hundred subglacial lakes beneath the solid ice surface of Antarctica. It is estimated the lake has been separate from outside conditions for about 20 million years. Its size is comparable to Lake Ontario. The lake is located in the East Antarctic Ice Sheet with one of the lowest recorded temperatures on Earth.

Scientists believe the study of such subglacial lakes can provide them with an in-depth look into the White Continent’s history, as well as the possibility of finding live microorganisms that can live under extremely cold conditions.

Sources

"Russians drill into Lake Vostok, begin search for life under Antartica’s surface" — The Washington Post, February 9, 2012

Jonathan Amos. "Lake Vostok drilling team claims breakthrough" — BBC News Online, February 8, 2012

New U.S. airport program provides speedy security check [edit]

The Transportation Security Administration is to allow 35 U.S. airports to operate a faster way to get through airport security screeing.

The new Pre-Check program allows air passengers to keep on their shoes, carry-on their computers, and wear a light jacket. Passengers participating in the Pre-Check program are screened before reaching the security point on their way to the plane. To participate in the program, travelers are required to be citizens of the U.S. and pass a background check.

The program is already in place at seven national airports, such as Atlanta, but is to expand to 28 more large city airports like New York's three airports, Chicago, and Boston this year.

Sources

Hugo Martín and Ian Duncan. "TSA to expand PreCheck program to speed up airport security lines" — LA Times, February 9, 2012

Jason Ryan. "New Airport Security Rules: Keep Your Shoes, Belt and Shampoo" — ABC News, February 8, 2012

Somalia's rebels align with Al-Qaeda [edit]

Somalia's Al-Shabaab formally allied itself with Al-Qaeda in separate audio and video announcements.

Rebel leader Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair praised Al-Qaeda's leader and congratulated the organization on its victories in its wars with the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of Al-Qaeda, acknowledged the development and said, "The Arab region is slipping from America's grip".

UK defense think tank Royal United Services Institute, and US House committee on homeland security chairman Peter King, warn that Somali terrorists may try to strike inside both countries.

Sources

"Al-Shabaab joining al Qaeda, monitor group says" — CNN, February 9, 2012

Martin Daly. "Britain, US concern over Somali militants" — The Sydney Morning Herald, February 9, 2012

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Russian geographer Andrey Kapitsa dies aged 80

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:09:45 GMT

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Russia

Sources [edit]

"Renowned Antarctic explorer dies" — RT News, 3 August 2011
"Andrey Kapitsa dies in Moscow" — Russian Geographic Society, 3 August 2011

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Remains of 1912 expedition plane found in Antarctica

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:17:03 GMT

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Antarctica

Other stories from Antarctica

28 February 2013: British explorer Ranulph Fiennes leaves Antarctic expedition after frostbite
15 April 2012: Wikinews Shorts: April 14, 2012
10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
3 August 2011: Russian geographer Andrey Kapitsa dies aged 80
2 January 2010: Remains of 1912 expedition plane found in Antarctica

...More articles here

Location of Antarctica

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Antarctica, see the Antarctica Portal

A team of expeditioners from Australia has found the remains of the first airplane ever taken to the Antarctic. The find was made at Camp Denison.

The expedition is in Antarctica to help conserve huts used by the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson in the early twentieth century. The team unsuccessfully searched for the aircraft for three summers. The plane, which was a single-engine Vickers built in 1911, has been lost in the Antarctic ices since 1975. It was the first aircraft produced by the Vickers plant in France.

Before Mawson's 1911–14 expedition, the aircraft was damaged due to a crash. Mawson had apparently decided to use the machine as a motorised sled instead; however, the engine wouldn't function properly under very low temperatures, and the plane was later abandoned.

"[We've used a] Magnetometer, ground-penetrating radar, metal detectors and all sorts of things to try and look for it, but in the end it was just a combination of a very low tide, good weather and a thin ice melt," commented Tony Stewart, a member of the team, as quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "Our carpenter was just taking a walk along the beach and just saw the metal in 10 centimetres of water, just right next to the ice."

"The ice melts back very quickly, it's on the edge of a harbour which is covered in sea ice most of the year and then as summer comes the edge of the ice gradually pulls off in huge chunks," he continued. "This is the first time those rocks have been exposed in that area for some time so we've been walking around that area above the air tractor not knowing it was there under our feet all this time."

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Sources [edit]

"Remains of early 1900s plane found in Antarctica" — Associated Press, January 2, 2009
"Remains of Antarctica's first plane found" — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, January 2, 2009

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Massive ice shelf expected to break away from Antarctica

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:01:52 GMT

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Antarctica

Other stories from Antarctica

28 February 2013: British explorer Ranulph Fiennes leaves Antarctic expedition after frostbite
15 April 2012: Wikinews Shorts: April 14, 2012
10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
3 August 2011: Russian geographer Andrey Kapitsa dies aged 80
2 January 2010: Remains of 1912 expedition plane found in Antarctica

...More articles here

Location of Antarctica

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Antarctica, see the Antarctica Portal

Illustrated map of the Wilkins Shelf in 2008
Image: National Snow and Ice Data Center/NASA.

The European Space Agency (ESA) reported on Friday that the Wilkins Shelf, an enormous Antarctic ice shelf half the size of Scotland, could break away from the continent very soon.

According to reports, only a thin strip of ice connects it to the Charcot Island, and cracks are expanding rapidly. This is the largest shelf of ice so far to have disintegrated in the Antarctic.

In February 2008, the shelf lost 425 square kilometres (164 square miles) of ice, followed by a loss of another 62 square miles in May 2008.

"During the last year the ice shelf has lost about 1800 square kilometers (694 square miles), or about 14 percent of its size," said Angelika Humbert from the Institute of Geophysics at University of Münster in Germany. Scientists say that the shelf, if it detaches from the mainland, won't cause an increase in sea levels, as it is already floating.

Most scientists believe that the incident is further evidence of global warming. Average temperatures in the Antarctic peninsula have increased by about 2.5 degrees Celsius (3.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the past fifty years.

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Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Wilkins Ice Shelf

Paul Harris. "Antarctic ice shelf half the size of Scotland on verge of collapse" — The Observer, April 5, 2009
"Ice shelf about to break away from Antarctic coast" — Associated Press, April 4, 2009
"Large ice shelf expected to break from Antarctica" — CNN, April 4, 2009

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Canadian trio claim South Pole record for trans-Antarctic trip

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:38:19 GMT

Saturday, January 10, 2009

MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite image of a portion of the West Antarctic coastline from about 60 degrees West (left) to about 20 degrees West (right). The image span (left to right) - The Ronne Ice Shelf and Filchner Ice Shelf (the two are separated by Berkner Island, whose outline is barely visible just left of the center of the image), and Coats Land.

Antarctica

Other stories from Antarctica

28 February 2013: British explorer Ranulph Fiennes leaves Antarctic expedition after frostbite
15 April 2012: Wikinews Shorts: April 14, 2012
10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
3 August 2011: Russian geographer Andrey Kapitsa dies aged 80
2 January 2010: Remains of 1912 expedition plane found in Antarctica

...More articles here

Location of Antarctica

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Antarctica, see the Antarctica Portal

A trio of Canadian trekkers said Friday they completed the fastest unaided on-foot trek using the traditional route from Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole in a record time of 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes. Ottawa ultra-runner Ray Zahab, age 39, adventure journalist and architect Kevin Vallely, age 44, of Lynn Valley, North Vancouver and North Pole expeditionist Richard Weber, age 49, said they completed the 700-mile (1,130-kilometer) journey, at 10,000 feet altitude, finally arriving early Wednesday morning.

They endured a white-out but survived on a 7,000-calorie-a-day diet of pemmican, Gatorade drink powder, outdated salami, deep-fried bacon, cheese and butter. "If you took a cloud, wrapped it around your head and then duct-taped it, that's what a white-out is like," Mr Zahab, explained. The trio also suffered altitude sickness, vertigo, massive, painful blisters, and temperatures as low as minus 40. Zahab had to pull 170-lb (77-kg) sleds of equipment, traveling on foot and on snowshoes while the other two men skied.

According to ExplorersWeb.com's founder, Tom Sjogren, the trio erased the previous record of 39 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes, which was set by American Todd Carmichael, the first American to cross Antarctica to the South Pole alone, on foot and with no assistance. He arrived at The Pole on December 21, 2008. "They have definitely broken the record," said Sjogren. Guinness World Records spokesman, Damian Field, in London, however, said that "Guinness monitors a category for fastest unsupported trek to the South Pole, but it has no record currently listed."

Prior to Carmichael, the record was held by Briton Hannah McKeand. In the fastest journey to the South Pole (600 nautical mile journey), she completed solo and in just 39 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes. In March 2008 she attempted to reach the North Pole alone and unsupported but had to abandon the trip after falling through the ice and badly damaging her shoulder.

Antarctica. An orthographic projection of NASA's Blue Marble data set.

Ray Zahab is a Canadian ultramarathon runner, personal trainer, and motivational speaker. He lives in Chelsea, Quebec, and is famous for his 4,300-mile (6,920-kilometer) epic run across the Sahara Desert in 2007, which was the subject of a documentary narrated by actor Matt Damon's "Running the Sahara." He heads Impossible2Possible, a nonprofit organization which advocates planet protection. "I started looking at impossible places on the planet in the past year, and I said Antarctica is one of those impossible places, and if we can create an expedition, perhaps we can inspire a bunch of young people to realize they can achieve,' Zahab said.

Richard Weber, M.S.M. (born June 9, 1959 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a world-renowned Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer, from Alcove (near Wakefield). From 1978 to 2006, he participated in, lead and organized more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions. He has therefore trekked to the North Pole more than anyone in history.

The trio were waiting out a storm before boarding a flight to Chile for Ottawa. "I'm pretty tired, actually," said Kevin Vallely, calling from Patriot Hills, Antarctica. During the saga, Vallely was solely burdened with carrying the high-tech gear in his sled consisting of video cameras, satellite phones, hand-held computers, different kinds of solar panels, batteries and wires chargers. "Had we not brought all that stuff we probably would have got it done faster because we wouldn't have had to carry all that weight, but then it doesn't matter as much," he explained. Vallely said he also intends to produce a documentary of the expedition.

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Sources [edit]

Learn more about Antarctica and Ronne Ice Shelf on Wikipedia.

"Canadians set new record for 700-mile South Pole trek" — The Scotsman, January 10, 2009
"Ice jam: Canadians make 'fastest trek' to South Pole as Shakleton's descendants reach spot explorer abandoned trip" — Daily Mail, January, 2009
"Canadians claim South Pole record" — BBC Online, January 9, 2009
Jessica Barrett. "Trio break speed record to South Pole" — Canwest News Service, January 9, 2009
Katie Daubs. "Chelsea athlete breaks record for polar trek" — Ottawa Citizen, January 9, 2009
Kristen Gelineau. "Explorers say they set record in South Pole trek" — Associated Press, January 9, 2009
Est. "Canadian Trio Break World Record For Unaided Trip Across Antarctica To South Pole" — All Headline News, January, 2009
Canadian Ski Museum. "Richard Weber" — Skimuseum.ca, January, 2009
Ray Zahab. "Ray Zahab Official Website" — Ray Zahab, 2009
"Adventurer quits solo pole trek" — BBC Online, March 23, 2008

Canada

Location of Canada	Other Canadian stories 12 April 2013: Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case 8 April 2013: Wikinews interviews USA wheelchair curler David Palmer 28 February 2013: Austria wins friendly team competition at end of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships 26 February 2013: France finishes 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships on top of medal ladder 26 February 2013: Austria regains medal leadboard after fourth competition day of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships ...More articles here
To write, edit, start or view other Canadian articles, see the Canadian Portal

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Passengers rescued from stranded Antarctic cruise ship

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:16:47 GMT

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Antarctica

Other stories from Antarctica

28 February 2013: British explorer Ranulph Fiennes leaves Antarctic expedition after frostbite
15 April 2012: Wikinews Shorts: April 14, 2012
10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
3 August 2011: Russian geographer Andrey Kapitsa dies aged 80
2 January 2010: Remains of 1912 expedition plane found in Antarctica

...More articles here

Location of Antarctica

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Antarctica, see the Antarctica Portal

The Panamanian-flagged cruise ship MV Ushuaia, operated by Antarpply Expeditions of Argentina, ran aground near Cape Anna at the entrance to Wilhelmina Bay. Having been stuck on rocks in the Antarctic Peninsula, it suffered a puncture in two diesel fuel tanks, and was leaking fuel and taking on a "minimal amount of water." It had two cracks, but is not in danger of sinking.

Antarctic Peninsula map

The passengers were rescued by Achiles, a Chilean Navy ship, which took them to Chile's Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva in Antarctica. The station has a 1300 metre-long airstrip which can facilitate airlifts for the passengers. They will be taken by a Hercules C-130 plane to the Port of Ushuaia, from which they can be flown back to South America.

Argentine Admiral Daniel Martin Alberto said that the 89 passengers onboard were all in good health. Argentina and Chile are both sending a rescue mission to the stricken ship, with 40 crew members. The Antarctic Dream, at seven nautical miles away, was reported to have changed course to collect and transfer passengers to Tierra del Fuego. However, the Chilean Navy got to Ushuaia first.

The Australian Antarctic Division announced that "as well as the New Zealander, there were 11 Australians, 12 Americans, 14 Dutch, nine Germans, seven Britons, six Chinese, six Spaniards, five Swiss, three Italians, two Irish, two French, two Canadians, a Cypriot and a Belgian. The crew consisted of 28 Argentinians, eight Chileans, three Uruguayans, and one Spaniard."

Meanwhile, Jon Bowermaster, a writer aboard the National Geographic Explorer, described the situation: "We had hurricane winds yesterday — 103 miles per hour (166 kilometres per hour) and gusting — which may have contributed to the grounding."

Although there is no major leak, containment efforts are being made by Chilean navy ship Lautaro to stem the fuel leak, which has spread for half a mile around the stranded ship. Salvaging the ship, however, was proving more of a problem.

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Sources [edit]

"Passengers stranded in Antarctica rescued by Chilean navy" — Xinha, December 6, 2008
"Antarctic Cruise Ship Runs Aground; Oil Leak Spreading?" — National Geographic News, December 6, 2008
"Passengers removed from cruise ship stranded off Antarctica" — CNN, December 5, 2008
"Antarctic Cruise Tourists Rescued" — Sky News, December 5, 2008
"Cruise ship taking on water in Antarctica" — The Times, December 5, 2008
"NZer among passengers on stricken Antarctic cruise ship" — The New Zealand Herald, December 5, 2008
"Cruise ship stranded in Antarctica" — BBC News Online, December 4, 2008
Andrew C. Revkin. "Cruise Boat Runs Aground Off Antarctica" — The New York Times, December 4, 2008

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Wikinews Shorts: December 5, 2008

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:39:18 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Friday, December 5, 2008 .

Bombings strike Iraqi city [edit]

According to local police, two suspected car bombs detonated in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, killing at least fifteen people and injuring several dozen more.

Two police positions were the targets of the attack. Both suffered from damage, with one being completely totaled, according to reports from a senior police officer. Several houses in the vicinity of the police positions were also damaged.

Fallujah is located in the eastern part of the Al Anbar Governorate. The city was at the centre of a Sunni-led rebellion against US forces after the latter invaded Iraq in 2003.

Sources

"Bombers return to Fallujah as Iraq-US pact endorsed" — Agence France-Presse, December 4, 2008
"Deadly bombings strike Iraqi city" — BBC News Online, December 4, 2008

Security alert at Dehli's airport [edit]

Indira Gandhi International Airport (source:Grubb)

There was a security scare at Dehli's Indira Gandhi International Airport in India on Thursday in what later seemed to be a false alarm, according to officials at the airport.

There were unconfirmed reports that shots had been fired from a car near the international terminal of the airport, but Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Deputy Inspector General Udayan Banerjee later stated that "there was no eyewitness" to any shooting and there were no reports of injuries.

"We have combed the airport inch by inch and we have found nothing. The same is for the domestic airport. Nothing has happened," said the person in charge of the CISF control room, K. R. Singh.

This comes just days after last week's attack of Mumbai that killed almost 200 people.

Sources

"Major security scare at New Delhi airport: official" — Agence France-Presse, December 4, 2008
"Security scare at Delhi's airport" — BBC News Online, December 4, 2008

Ship gets stuck on Antarctic shores [edit]

This story has updates

See Passengers rescued from stranded Antarctic cruise ship

Antarctica (source: Andrew Mandemaker)

The Argentine Navy reported that a cruise ship with 122 people on board has run aground on the coast of Antarctica in Wilhelmina Bay.

Admiral Daniel Martin reported that the ship, which is named Ushuaia, was leaking fuel, and that small amounts of water were coming in. The ship is 300 kilometres southwest of Argentina's Marambio Base on the Antarctic peninsula.

A nearby passenger ship is en route to rescue the stranded vessel.

Sources

"Cruise ship stranded in Antarctic" — BBC News Online, December 4, 2008
"Antarctic cruise ship with 122 onboard taking on water" — The Daily Telegraph, December 4, 2008

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Protester says Japanese whalers shot him

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:23:31 GMT

Friday, March 7, 2008

Paul Watson in 2005.
Image: David w ng.

Paul Watson of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says that he was shot by Japanese sailors while protesting against their hunting practices in Antarctica. Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd ship the Steve Irwin, stated that his crew had been throwing stink bombs at the sailors, but that they responded with gunfire and flash grenades.

Watson said he was hit in the chest and found a bullet in the ballistic vest he was wearing. Watson told Australian radio: "It bruised my shoulder but it would have hit my heart if I didn't have the vest". He says one of his crew members received minor injuries after being hit by a flash grenade. News Limited reported that Ralph Lowe, 33, had a bruised back from a flash grenade that exploded behind him, and that Ashley Dunn, 35, received a hip injury while trying to get away from an explosion. David Page, the ship's doctor, was filmed by the Sea Shepherd group prying a bullet from Watsons's Kevlar vest, and said "You have been hit by a bullet".

Tokyo denied Watson's account, stating that "warning devices" were thrown after their ship had been attacked. Japan's foreign ministry said that their coastguard on the Nisshin Maru threw a baseball-sized device which exploded near the protesters' ship and emitted a loud sound, and was not designed to cause harm to anyone. Glenn Inwood, spokesman for the Japanese whalers, told ABC Radio: "Any claim from Paul Watson that he was fired at with a gun and has a bullet lodged in his bulletproof vest is absolutely false." Inwood stated there had been "retaliation" when the Japanese coast guards fired warning balls at the Steve Irwin.

Stephen Smith in 2008.
Image: U.S. Dept. Defense.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith released a statement regarding information he received from Japanese officials: "Japanese officials have now advised the Australian embassy in Tokyo that during the incident in the Southern Ocean this afternoon, three warning balls — also known as flashbangs — had been fired ... Japanese officials have advised that these devices are designed to make a loud noise but not to injure, and that no gunshots had been fired." Japan also told the Australian Embassy that one of the crew members of the Nisshin Maru had fired a warning shot in the air. Smith stated: "I absolutely condemn actions by crew members of any vessel that cause injury – or have the potential to cause injury — to anyone on the high seas ... The Australian Government once again calls on all parties in the Southern Ocean — including all protest and whaling vessels, and their respective crews – to exercise restraint."

Nobutaka Machimura in 2005.
Image: U.S. State Dept..

Watson explained to Australia's ABC News that the Japanese whalers had no reason to fire on the protesters: "We were doing what we usually do, which is putting stink bombs on deck ... We go out of our way to make sure we don't throw them near anybody, but they were throwing the flash grenades directly at us." If Watson's statements are proven to be true, the actions of the Japanese saliors represents a breach of international law.

Japan claimed that four crew members of the Nisshin Maru were injured in the confrontation, but Watson denied this. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura criticized the Sea Shepherd group in a statement to reporters: "They have repeatedly resorted to such activities and it is truly unforgivable ... Is it all right to hurt humans in order to protect whales? I think whales are cute and important creatures, but even so, hurting humans is unforgivable."

Earlier this week, Sea Shepherd protesters clashed with the Nisshin Maru, and threw stink bombs and "slippery" powder at the Japanese ship. Two Sea Shepherd protesters were taken hostage in January after they boarded a Japanese harpoon ship, the Yushin Maru No. 2, and Australia later brokered their release. Protesters have been following the Nisshin Maru since Japan began its annual hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean in December.

Both New Zealand and Australia have led international protests against the hunting of whales. Last month Australia released film of whale slaughter taken from its customs ship, the Oceanic Viking, and said the footage could be used in a potential international legal challenge to Japan's whaling activities. Due to a loophole in a 1986 global moratorium on whaling that allows "lethal research" on whales, Japan kills up to 1,000 of the mammals per year.

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Sources [edit]

Learn more about Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd and Whaling in Japan on Wikipedia.

Michael Perry. "Anti-whaler says he was shot in Japanese clash" — Reuters, March 7, 2008
"Whaling protester says Japanese shot him" — Agence France-Presse, March 7, 2008
"Protester says whalers shot him" — BBC News Online, March 7, 2008
"Sea Shepherd captain 'shot by Japanese whalers'" — ABC News (Australia), March 7, 2008
"Anti-whaler shot in Japan clash" — Herald Sun, March 7, 2008
"Whalers say shot fired" — Sky News Australia, March 7, 2008
Michelle Draper, Adam Gartrell. "Japan denies shooting anti-whaler" — News Limited, March 7, 2008
"Anti-whaling protesters claim they were shot at - Summary" — The Earth Times, March 7, 2008

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