Mr Howard - When will you act to protect whales?

Southern Ocean/Sydney Thursday, 22 December, 2005 : Greenpeace
activists again took to the water today, - this time putting themselves
between the harpoons and the whales.
"We've been able to protect some whales from being killed, and slowing
the hunt down significantly. One of our activists managed to climb onto
a whale carcass, trying to slow down the transfer process.
Unfortunately the whalers were determined and have killed more than
four whales today."
In Sydney today, the environment group called on John Howard to
demonstrate that the government is 'vehemently opposed to whaling', by
ensuring a Japanese whaling ship due into Hobart on Saturday does not
rejoin the whaling fleet.
"If the Australian government were doing all it could to stop the
senseless Japanese whaling, Greenpeace would not have to be out in the
Antarctic getting battered by water cannons," said Greenpeace CEO Steve
Shallhorn.
"It is a bit rich for John Howard to criticise the activities of
Greenpeace, and look good in the eyes of the Australian public with
empty words of opposition," said Shallhorn. "The vast majority of
Australians who are sickened by the annual whale hunt expect the
government to stop shielding behind failed diplomacy."
"With the Australian government an international pariah on climate
change, you would think they would go beyond empty rhetoric, and redeem
themselves by taking firm action to end whaling."
"The whaling vessel Kaiko Maru will arrive in Hobart on Saturday
December 24, to deliver a sick crew member to hospital. We call on the
Australian government to do all it can to ensure that this whaling
vessel does not return to the killing grounds."
"Greenpeace in Japan has let the whaling company Kyodo Senpaku know
that we are aware of the arrival of their whaling ship in Hobart, and
that we will not interfere with the medical evacuation of the crew
member," said Shallhorn, "But we want to see the ship stopped from
rejoining the whale hunt."
This year the Fisheries Agency of Japan has more than doubled its
planned catch of minke whales to 935 and added 10 endangered fin
whales. Over the next 2 years 40 more fin whales will be added to the
annual kill along with 50 humpback