Ea O Ka Aina: Whales

Showing posts with label Whales. Show all posts

Fuck RIMPAC 2018!

SUBHEAD: These exercises are a colossal waste of resources and energy that only demonstrate America's suicidal death spiral.

By Juan Wilson on 29 June 2018 for Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2018/06/fuck-rimpac-2018.html)

Image above: Naval participants on RIMPAC 2018 on parade for a photo op. From (https://news.usni.org/2018/06/26/rim-of-the-pacific-2018-participation).

For those that don't know RIMPAC is the U.S. Navy term for the "Rim of the Pacific. Evert two years the Navy puts together a nautical dog and pony show that they call RIMPAC "xxxx", where the "xxxx" is the even numbered year in which it takes place.

"Friendly" navy allies from nations proximate to the Pacific Ocean are invited to join the festivities on land, sea and in the air experimenting with new weapons systems, setting off explosives and coordinating he destruction of the planet Earth.

The US Navy likes to show its magnanimity by inviting "potential enemy" nations like China and Russia to join in as observers presumably to scare the crap out of them with the broad show of force. This also gives the nation the option of punishing an "enemy" observer nations with a dis-invitation if they do something we don't like.

This year China was dis-invited (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/05/23/china-was-just-uninvited-from-rimpac-heres-why/) because it had the gall to continue to build up its presence in the South China Sea. Heaven forfend!

Well here we are again. This year is "RIMPAC 2018"... and it is going on now. Why "Fuck RIMPAC 2018!"? Because it is a costly public relations stunt that pollutes the ocean and kills uncounted numbers of sea creatures. Something we don't need any more of.

Through World War II to date the United States has dominated the Pacific Ocean through diabolic destruction with nuclear weapons and unfettered domination of island peoples. It is a disgusting display.

These RIMPAC war game are headquartered in Hawaii, with Pearl Harbor (on Oahu) and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (on Kauai) playing a major role.

If you don't think these "games" come at a cost to us living on Kauai you are dead wrong. Just go back to our post whale on pod stranding of a whale in Hanalei Bay in 2004 due to RIMPAC activities at the bottom of the list or articles below for a taste of the US Navy's games.

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Civil Beat views US military in Pacific 8/20/17
Ea O Ka Aina: "No!" to American Militarism 4/11/17
Ea O Ka Aina: DLNR responsibility on RIMPAC 7/6/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Participation in RIMPAC 2016 6/1/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Judgement against RIMPAC 2016 5/29/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Prepare for RIMPAC War in Hawaii 5/22/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to "take" millions of mammals 5/1
Ea O Ka Aina: Judgement against RIMPAC 2016 4/3/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy's "illegal" War Game 11/17/15
Ea O Ka Aina: US court RIMPAC Impact decision 4/3/15
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 Impact Postmortem 10/22/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 - another whale death 7/26/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 in Full March 7/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: 21st Century Energy Wars 7/10/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War on the Ocean 7/3/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Voila - World War Three 7/1/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Pacific Pivot 6/28/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC IMPACT 6/8/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC Then and Now 5/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Earthday TPP Fukushima RIMPAC 4/22/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Asian Pivot - An ugly dance 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Help save Mariana Islands 11/13/13
Ea O Ka Aina: End RimPac destruction of Pacific 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Moana Nui Confereence 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to conquer Marianas again 9/3/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Pagan Island beauty threatened 10/26/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy license to kil l 10/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Sleepwalking through destruction 7/16/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Okinawa breathes easier 4/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy Next-War-Itis 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: America bullies Koreans 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Despoiling Jeju island coast begins 3/7/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Jeju Islanders protests Navy Base 2/29/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii - Start of American Empire 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Korean Island of Peace 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Military schmoozes Guam & Hawaii 3/17/11
Ea O Ka Aina: In Search of Real Security - One 8/31/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Peace for the Blue Continent 8/10/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Shift in Pacific Power Balance 8/5/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC to expand activities 8/3/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War Games here in July 6/20/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Pacific Resistance to U.S. Military 5/24/10

Ea O Ka Aina: De-colonizing the Pacific 5/21/10

Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC to Return in 2010 5/2/10

Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/15/10

Ea O Ka Aina: Guam Land Grab 11/30/09
E a O Ka Aina: Guam as a modern Bikini Atoll 12/25/09
Ea O Ka Aina: GUAM - Another Strategic Island 11/8/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Diego Garcia - Another stolen island 11/6/09
Ea O Ka Aina: DARPA & Super-Cavitation on Kauai 3/24/09
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 - Navy fired up in Hawaii 7/2/08
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 uses destructive sonar 4/22/08
Island Breath: Navy Plans for the Pacific 9/3/07
Island Breath: Judge restricts sonar off California 08/07/07
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 sonar compromise 7/9/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 - Impact on Ocean 5/23/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2004 - Whale strandings on Kauai 9/2/04
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Stop Navy killing marine mammals

SOURCE: Koohan Paik (koohanpaik@gmail.com)
SUBHEAD: Tell the Navy to examine alternatives that would limit activities harmful to marine mammals.

By Dave Henkin on 6 December 2017 for Earth Justice -
(https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/SPageNavigator/P2A_NavySonar.html)

Image above: Outrigger canoe tries to keep this pod of pilot whales from beaching at Kalapaki on Kauai - five of them died. From (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/36592433/officials-investigating-several-whales-stranded-at-kauais-kalapaki-beach).

The key to reducing harm to marine mammals is to restrict harmful Navy activities in sensitive marine habitat.

Unfortunately, the Navy proposes stripping protections from critical areas.

Thousands of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals could suffer permanent injury—and even death—from warfare training exercises if the Navy walks back their agreement to a reasonable testing and training plan.

Over the next five years, the Navy wants to fire tens of thousands of rockets, missiles and projectiles and blast sonar for tens of thousands of hours in waters off Hawai‘i and Southern California that are home to dozens of vulnerable marine mammal species.

To marine mammals, the deafening sounds from Navy activities can be fatal. In the dark depths of the ocean, these mammals rely almost entirely on sound to “see” their world. It’s how they feed, mate, communicate and navigate. If a whale or dolphin can’t hear, it can’t survive.

Before the Navy can adopt its testing and training plan, it needs to consider public input under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. You have only until December 12 to tell the Navy to commit to a reasonable plan that achieves military preparedness while maximizing marine mammal safety.

Image above: Two dying pilot whales on the sand at Kalapaki Beach. From (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/36592433/officials-investigating-several-whales-stranded-at-kauais-kalapaki-beach).

After a landmark settlement with Earthjustice in 2015, the Navy voluntarily agreed to safeguards for whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, protecting vast swaths of vital ocean habitat. But these common sense measures are conspicuously missing from Navy’s draft plan for the next five years of training and testing around the Hawaiian Islands and off Southern California.

The settlement proved that the Navy can both protect our nation and minimize harm to whales and dolphins by limiting the use of sonar and explosives in vital habitats.

The waters off the coast of Southern California are a globally important feeding area for endangered whales, and, for numerous small, resident whale and dolphin populations off Hawai‘i, the islands are literally their only home.

For years, scientists have documented that mid-frequency sonar wreaks havoc on the ocean environment, causing serious impacts to marine mammals, such as permanent hearing loss, lung injuries, strandings, habitat abandonment and even death.

The Navy already acknowledged that it doesn’t need to train in every square inch of the ocean and that it can take reasonable steps to reduce the deadly toll of its activities. Tell it to examine and pursue alternatives that protect both the nation and irreplaceable marine life.

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Air Force plans to bomb whales 2/6/17
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaiian spinner dolphin restriction 1/9/17
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to dump 20K tons of poison 11/16/16
Ea O Ka Aina: PMRF injuring marine mammals10/9/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Judgement against RIMPAC 2016 5/29/16
Ea O Ka Aina: US court RIMPAC Impact decision 4/3/15
Ea O Ka Aina: PMRF RIMPAC Claptrap 11/22/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 - another whale death 7/26/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy Injury & Death Toll 3/19/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy License to Kill 10/9/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy admits threat to sea mammals 5/10/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Talk on Ocean Noise 12/28/11
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to kill Pacific whales 1/17/09

Japanese meet their whale kill quota

SUBHEAD: Japanese whaling fleeting has reached their self-allocated slaughter quota of killing 333 minke whales.

By Heather Stimmler on 31 March 2017 in Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2017/03/japanese-meet-their-whale-kill-quota.html)

Image above: Murdered minke whale wrapped in tarp on deck of Japanese "research" vessel Nishin Maru photoraphed by Sea Shepherd Global. From (http://news.cision.com/sea-shepherd-global/i/20170115-gl-si-heli-spots-nisshin-maru-and-2-harpoon-ships-04--gnl3690,c2110221).

This season Sea Shepherdreturned to the Southern Ocean on its 11th Whale Defense Campaign, Operation Nemesis, named for the Greek goddess of inescapable justice.

As the Japanese whaling fleet have expanded their hunting grounds and lowered their self-allocated quota, the biggest challenge was to find and stop them before they’ve killed their quota of whales.

Despite our efforts to once again disrupt the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean, the Japanese whaling fleeting has reached their self-allocated quota of killing 333 minke whales.

Today Sea Shepherd mourns the loss of these whales. We have called an emergency meeting of the Global Board of Directors in Amsterdam this weekend to review our whale defense strategy in the Southern Ocean, and will release a more detailed statement on Monday morning

We were aware of the challenges from the outset of the campaign – the doubling of the whaling area and the reduced quota that would be easier to reach – but we did our best despite the odds because it was the right thing to do.

And – as usual – we did it without any government support. It is a reminder that the needless slaughter of marine life will continue unless governments stop making hollow statements of disapproval and start taking action to hold Japan accountable.

For further information contact:
Heather Stimmler, Sea Shepherd Global Media Director
E-mail: heather@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel: +339 7719 7742

For Australia and New Zealand media requests, contact:
Adam Burling, Media Coordinator Sea Shepherd Australia
E-mail: adam@seashepherd.org.au
Tel : +61 409 472 922

More about Operation Nemesis:(http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/nemesis/about-operation-nemesis.html)

Sea Shepherd Global
Sea Shepherd is an international non-profit marine conservation movement using innovative tactics and direct action to defend, conserve and protect the worlds oceans and marine wildlife. Founded by Paul Watson in 1977, today Sea Shepherd is a worldwide movement with independent national and regional entities in over 20 countries.

With the exception of the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS), they are united by a common mission through Sea Shepherd Global, based in Amsterdam, which coordinates communications, logistics and a fleet of five ships to cooperate on campaigns around the world.

Sea Shepherd investigates and documents violations of international and national conservation law, and enforces conservation measures where legal authority exists.

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Japanese Whale Slaughter 1/15/17
Ea O Ka Aina: Japanese whaling inside sanctuary 12/23/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Sea Shepherd to obstruct Japanese 12/5/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Sea Shepherd Patrols Atlantic 8/9/16
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Air Force plans to bomb whales

SUBHEAD: USAF asks NOAA for permission to take lives on sea mammals while testing weapons in ocean.

By Juan Wilson on 6 February 2017 in Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2017/02/air-force-plans-to-bomb-whales.html)

Image above: Squadron of F-16s at Elgin Air Force Base during exercise Combat Hammer. From (http://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/391730/combat-hammer-on-the-ground).

Note, Katherine Muzik PHD emailed us 2/9/17 the following "Weapons testing would happen for five straight days every summer, in an area approxmately 50 miles north of the island.The permit asks for permission to launch nearly 100 missiles each year.Within the request, the military said it was possible that the following species of marine mammals could be effected by the explosions:

Humpback whale
Sei whale
Minke whale
Pygmy sperm whale
Dwarf sperm whale
Pygmy killer whale
Short-finned pilot whale
Melon headed whale
Bottlenose dolphin
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Striped dolphin
Spinner dolphin
Rough-toothed dolphin
Fraser's dolphin
Risso's dolphin
Longman's beaked whale

While the Air Force says no animals are expected to be killed, officials estimate that at least 219 animals were likely to experience a significant change in behavioral patterns, including those involving migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding and feeding.

Military estimates indicate that 382 animals could suffer temporary hearing loss, with roughly 36 permanently losing their hearing.

Humpback whales, Minke whales, Pygmy sperm whales and Dwarf sperm whales are at greatest risk of injury, the military says.

"They rely on their hearing to find food. They also rely on their hearing to avoid predators, said Henkin. "They rely on their hearing to find mates and rear their young. So any time a marine mammal permanently loses its hearing those individuals would be at greater risk of dying."

Source: http://www.k5thehometeam.com/story/34436638/air-force-looks-to-start-testing-weapons-in-kauai-waters

The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, based in Elgin Air Force Base, Florida, submitted request with the National Marine Fisheries Service of the NOAA for authorization to harm the hearing of 637 whales and dolphins from September 2017 through August 2022 while testing ordinance in the ocean range operated by the pacific Missle Range Facility on Kauai. See pdf of Star Bulletin article here (www.islandbreath.org/2017Year/02/170206bombplan.pdf)

The Air Force is applying to NOAA, at the National Marine Fisheries office within the Office of Protected Resources for a permit authorizing the Air Force to do "incidental takes" of marine mammals.

A "take" is when you harass, maim, or kill. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that applicants engaging in dangerous actions apply for such authorization permit.

The comment period, which ended today, is to comment on the application in terms of omissions or inaccuracies.

There are two comment periods. This is the first one. After receiving all "relevant" comments (those regarding omissions and inaccuracies), the Fisheries Service will integrate them into a report that will be published, and which will then trigger the second comment period, which will invite comments that are broader than just those for omissions and/or inaccuracies.

The purpose of this report will be to give an overview of the proposed action and its effects on marine mammals, and to set rules that the air force would have to follow in order to minimize the number of allowed "takes."

By the way, this proposed action has nothing to do with sonar. It has nothing to do with the navy. This is about bombing and missiles conducted by the air force above, at and below the surface of the water.

One thing we do know, though, is that cetaceans need a peaceful environment, and that sound travels very very far and is very disruptive to their breeding, feeding, socializing etc. So these explosions would have dramatic detrimental impact.

The proposed action is to take place for five years, between 2017-2022.

Here is a link to the application:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military/usaf86fws_2017loa_app.pdf

Today is the deadline for comment on this plan.

Email:
ITP.McCue@noaa.gov

Traditional mail address is:
Jolie Harrison, Chief Perimts and Conservation Division
Office of Protected Resources National Marines Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring MD 20910

USAF to start weapons tests near Kauai

By Associated Press on 6 February 2017 in the Garden Island News
(http://thegardenisland.com/news/state-and-regional/air-force-looks-to-start-testing-weapons-in-kauai-waters/article_8c89a869-0a0f-5f0b-9b45-4fda1e4da1c3.html)

The Air Force wants to resume its weapons testing program at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, but some are concerned about the potential impacts on marine animals.

The Air Force in December filed a request seeking authorization for the testing from the National Marine Fisheries Service. A public comment period on the request ends Monday, The Garden Island reported (http://bit.ly/2le1erh ).

The five-year testing of mainly bombers and fighter aircraft would start in September. It would involve the detonation of a variety of missiles and other weapons about 50 miles offshore of Kauai.

The testing could cause sound or pressure-related problems for whales, dolphins and other marine mammals in the area.

Gordon LaBedz of Kauai's whale education group Kohola Leo said the fight to prevent the Army from getting a federal permit will likely end up in court.

"The only way to stop them from getting permits to kill whales and dolphins is to sue them," LaBedz said. "When we do, we usually win, but the conservation community only has so much money for attorneys."

Whitlow Au, who studies the behavior of marine life, said determining the effects of the sounds from weapons testing on marine animals is a complicated process.

"We don't even know the intensity of the sound that reaches an animal caused by a missile launch," said Au, chief scientist of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii.

If a whale in the area dives when a missile is being launched, that could be interpreted as a reaction to the launch, or it could just be natural behavior, he explained.

Au and his students have applied for their own five-year permit with the NMFS to study the effects of noise behavior on whales and dolphins.

While Au is not convinced weapons testing negatively impacts marine animals, he said it is important for the Army to conduct its training without harming sea life.

"These groups of people have to learn how to work together in a collaborative-type relationship," Au said.

Ea O Ka Aina: De-colonizing the Pacific 5/21/10

Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC to Return in 2010 5/2/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/5/10

Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/15/10

Japanese whale slaughter

SUBHEAD: Sea Shepherd catches Japanese poaching fleet with dead minke whale in Australian Whale Sanctuary.

By Staff on 15 January 2017 for Sea Shepherd Global -
(http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/news-and-commentary/news/sea-shepherd-catches-japanese-poaching-fleet-with-dead-whale-in-australian-sanctuary.html)

Image above: Slaughtered minke whale on deck of Japanese "research" vessel. From Sea Shepherd.org.

After five weeks of patrolling the Southern Ocean, Sea Shepherd has located the Japanese whale poachers’ factory whaling vessel in the Australian Whale Sanctuary with a dead minke whale on its flensing deck, the first to be documented since the International Court of Justice ruled against their whaling operations in the Antarctic in 2014.

The Nisshin Maru was spotted by the helicopter of Sea Shepherd’s MY Steve Irwin at 12:34AM GMT (11:34AM AEDT) at a position of 64 57.6S - 085 09.6E, within the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

When the helicopter approached, the Nisshin Maru crew scrambled to hide the slaughtered whale with a tarp, while the fleet’s harpoon ships Yushin Maru and Yushin Maru #2 quickly covered their harpoons.

"The whale killers from the Nisshin Maru were caught red-handed slaughtering whales in the Australian Whale sanctuary,” says Captain Adam Meyerson of the Ocean Warrior, Sea Shepherd’s newest Southern Ocean patrol ship. “The Steve Irwin has shut down their illegal operations and caught them trying to hide the evidence."

Image above: Crew covers harpoon gun with tarp as Sea Shepherd helicopter nears Japanese whale hunting vessel Yushin Maru. From SeaShepherd.org.

These are the first photographs documenting the Japanese whaling fleet’s killing of whales since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled their whaling program illegal in 2014 and the Australian Federal Court found the Japanese whaling industry in contempt for killing protected whales in the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

Sea Shepherd’s discovery of the factory ship and the slaughtered whale comes just a day after Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in Australia on an official state visit.

Jeff Hansen, Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia stated, "The lack of action by the Turnbull government while whales are being killed in Australian waters just a day after Japan's Prime Minister was on a state visit in Australia shows that the government has no spine when it comes to protecting the wishes of Australians to defend the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary."

Sea Shepherd’s helicopter has relayed the whaling fleet's position to the MY Steve Irwin, now on an intercept course with the factory ship. No more whales will be killed today.

“The fact that the Japanese crew went to cover up their harpoons and the dead minke whale on deck just shows that they know what they’re doing is wrong,” says Captain Wyanda Lublink of the MY Steve Irwin;

“They know they are in contempt of the ruling of the International Court of Justice and the Australian Federal Court. How can the Australian government ignore these actions when the majority of Australians condemn what they are doing?”

About Operation Nemesis
Operation Nemesis is Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctic whale defense campaign. In Sea Shepherd’s past ten campaigns over 6,000 whales have been spared the grenade-tipped harpoons of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet. Japan’s so-called “scientific research” program used to justify the killing of whales has been rejected by the International Court of Justice and the International Whaling Commission’s scientific committee. In 2015 the Australian Federal Court fined the Japanese whalers $AU1 million for hunting within an Australian whale sanctuary, however it remains unpaid.

See more here: http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/nemesis/about-operation-nemesis.html

For further information, photos, video footage and interview requests, contact:

Heather Stimmler, Sea Shepherd Global Media Director
E-mail: heather@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel: +339 7719 7742 (EUROPE, GMT+1)

For Australia and New Zealand media requests, contact:
Adam Burling, Media Coordinator Sea Shepherd Australia
E-mail: adam@seashepherd.org.au
Tel : +61 409 472 922 (AUSTRALIA, GMT+11)

.

Japanese whaling inside sanctuary

SUBHEAD: Sea Shepherd intercepts Japanese whaling fleet deep in the Australian Whale Sanctuary

By News Staff on 23 December 2016 for Sea Shepherd Global -
(http://news.cision.com/sea-shepherd-global/r/sea-shepherd-intercepts-japanese-whaling-fleet-deep-in-the-australian-whale-sanctuary,c2156478)

Image above: Sunrise over icebergs from bridge of the Ocean Warrior . From ().

Yesterday at approximately 6:40pm GMT, Sea Shepherd’s patrol vessel the Ocean Warrior intercepted one of the harpoon ships of the Japanese whale-poaching fleet in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

"The crews of the Ocean Warrior and the MV Steve Irwin have been battling through thick fog and ice to protect the whales in the Australian whale sanctuary," said Captain Adam Meyerson of the Ocean Warrior. "The Yushin Maru was hiding behind an iceberg and came out on a collision course."

The harpoon ship was located approximately 165 miles northeast of Australia's Casey base, well inside the Australian whale sanctuary (64˚15' S 115˚06' E). Sea Shepherd's vessels are now on the hunt for the centerpiece of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet, the floating slaughterhouse known as the Nisshin Maru.

"Finding one of the hunter killer ships hiding behind an iceberg in a thick fog means that the rest of the fleet is nearby,” says Meyerson. “We all hope to have whaling in the Southern Ocean shut down by Christmas."

In the meantime, foggy weather conditions have made for poor for visibility for the whaling fleet, which is a great sign for the whales.

"While I applaud the work Sea Shepherd are doing locating the Japanese whaling fleet deep inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, it is appalling that they are having to do the Australian Government's work for them,” said Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson in a statement reacting to the news. “The whales are getting more protection from the weather than from the Australian Government.”

About Operation Nemesis
Operation Nemesis is Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctic whale defense campaign. In Sea Shepherd’s past ten campaigns over 6,000 whales have been spared the grenade-tipped harpoons of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet. Japan’s so-called “scientific research” program used to justify the killing of whales has been rejected by the International Court of Justice and the International Whaling Commission’s scientific committee. In 2015 the Australian Federal Court fined the Japanese whalers $AU1 million for hunting within an Australian whale sanctuary, however it remains unpaid.

Image above: Sunrise over icebergs from bridge of the Ocean Warrior . From ().

See more here: http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/nemesis/about-operation-nemesis.html
http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/nemesis/about-operation-nemesis.html
For further information, photos and interview requests, contact:

Heather Stimmler, Sea Shepherd Global Media Director
E-mail: heather@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel: +339 7719 7742 (EUROPE, GMT+1)

For Australia and New Zealand media requests, contact:
Adam Burling, Media Coordinator Sea Shepherd Australia
E-mail: adam@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel : +61 409 472 922 (AUSTRALIA, GMT+11)

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Sea Shepherd to obstruct Japanese

SUBHEAD: An attempt to stop Japan’s so-called “scientific research” program used to justify killing whales.

By Staff on 5 December 2016 for Sea Shepherd -
(http://www.seashepherdglobal.org/nemesis/)

Image above: Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin sets sail to meet Japanese whalers. From (http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/sea-shepherd-the-chase-is-on).

After final preparations in Australia, two Sea Shepherd vessels are now on their way to the Southern Ocean to intercept the Japanese whaling fleet in a bid stop their slaughter of Minke whales.

The marine conservation organization's flagship vessel the Steve Irwin departed Saturday from Seaworks, Williamstown in Melbourne, followed by its fast new patrol vessel the Ocean Warrior, which departed from Hobart, Tasmania on Sunday.

They're now on their way to the vast Southern Ocean in an effort to prevent the Japanese whaling fleet, which left Japan on November 18th, from killing its self-allocated quota of 333 Minke whales.

"With all of the hectic preparations behind us, it's good to finally be on our way to the Southern Ocean," said Captain Adam Meyerson from the bridge of the Ocean Warrior.

Fast enough to outrun any whaling ship and equipped with a powerful water cannon, Sea Shepherd predicts the Ocean Warrior will be a game-changer for their 11th whale defense campaign, Operation Nemesis.

About Operation Nemesis
Operation Nemesis is Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctic whale defense campaign. In Sea Shepherd’s past ten campaigns over 6,000 whales have been spared the grenade-tipped harpoons of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet.

Japan’s so-called “scientific research” program used to justify the killing of whales has been rejected by the International Court of Justice and the International Whaling Commission’s scientific committee. In 2015 the Australian Federal Court fined the Japanese whalers $AU1 million for hunting within an Australian whale sanctuary, however it remains unpaid.

This is the second time the illegal Japanese whaling fleet has returned to the scene of their crimes in the Southern Ocean since the 2014 International Court of Justice ruling. at a press conference in the port of Hobart Saturday morning Australian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:

"Sea Shepherd shouldn’t have to be taking on the whalers again this summer. Australia won the International Court of Justice case against Japan, but unfortunately the government put trade deals ahead of whales and removed all diplomatic pressure. The Japanese whaling fleet might be able to escape and outrun the international courts but it won’t escape Sea Shepherd."

Jeff Hansen, Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia said:

"It's time that Japan respected the International Court of Justice, the Australian Federal Court, and the global moratorium on commercial whaling and ended their so-called scientific lethal hunting of whales off the Antarctic coast."

The Japanese typically hunt whales from December until March, so Sea Shepherd's vessels have been equipped to endure four months of harsh conditions at sea to protect the whales of the Southern Ocean.

"The crew has worked really hard to get the ship ready and everybody is super excited to be on our way," said Steve Irwin's Captain Wyanda Lublink.

The two Sea Shepherd vessels are carrying a total of 50 crew members from eight different countries: Australia, Germany, France, UK, Austria, Spain, Canada and the United States. "They are very much looking forward to getting down towards the Antarctic and being able to experience firsthand the stunning beauty of this part of the world. A place where illegal whaling vessels from the other side of the world do not belong."

Video above: Video describing Sea Shepherd activity on its 11th seasonal journey to protect whales from Japanese hunting vessels. From (https://youtu.be/vZm-k9r3kus).

About Sea Shepherd Global
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

For more information, visit:
www.seashepherdglobal.org
For photos and interview requests, contact:

Heather Stimmler, Sea Shepherd Global Media Director
E-mail: heather@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel: +339 7719 7742 (EUROPE, GMT+1)

For Australia and New Zealand media requests, contact:
Adam Burling, Media Coordinator Sea Shepherd Australia
E-mail: adam@seashepherdglobal.org
Tel : +61 409 472 922 (AUSTRALIA, GMT+11)

.

Humpbacks rescue others from orcas

SUBHEAD: These whales rescue other species from hunting killer whale packs.

By Bryan Nelson on 30 July 2016 for Mother Nature Network -
(http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/humpback-whales-around-globe-are-mysteriously-rescuing-animals-orcas)

Image above: A humpback whale breaches the ocean surface. From (http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/weird-new-sound-heard-among-humpback-whales).

Humans might not be the only creatures that care about the welfare of other animals. Scientists are beginning to recognize a pattern in humpback whale behavior around the world, a seemingly intentional effort to rescue animals that are being hunted by killer whales.

Marine ecologist Robert Pitman observed a particularly dramatic example of this behavior back in 2009, while observing a pod of killer whales hunting a Weddell seal trapped on an ice floe off Antarctica.

The orcas were able to successfully knock the seal off the ice, and just as they were closing in for the kill, a magnificent humpback whale suddenly rose up out of the water beneath the seal.

This was no mere accident. In order to better protect the seal, the whale placed it safely on its upturned belly to keep it out of the water.

As the seal slipped down the whale's side, the humpback appeared to use its flippers to carefully help the seal back aboard. Finally, when the coast was clear, the seal was able to safely swim off to another, more secure ice floe.

Another event, involving a pair of humpback whales attempting to save a gray whale calf from a hunting pod of orcas after it had become separated from its mother, was captured by BBC filmmakers. You can watch the dramatic footage here:

Image above: From (https://youtu.be/-lw8_SAtX8o).

Perhaps the most stunning aspect of this behavior is that it's not just a few isolated incidents. Humpback whale rescue teams have been witnessed foiling killer whale hunts from Antarctica to the North Pacific. It's as if humpback whales everywhere are saying to killer whales: pick on someone your own size! It seems to be a global effort; an inherent feature of humpback whale behavior.

After witnessing one of these events himself back in 2009, Pitman was compelled to investigate further. He began collecting accounts of humpback whales interacting with orcas, and found nothing short of 115 documented interactions, reported by 54 different observers between 1951 and 2012. The details of this surprising survey can be found in the journal Marine Mammal Science.

In 89 percent of the recorded incidents, the humpbacks seemed to intervene only as the killer whales began their hunt, or when they were already engaged in a hunt. It seems clear from the data that the humpback whales are choosing to interact with the orcas specifically to interrupt their hunts. Among the animals that have been observed being rescued by humpback whales were California sea lions, ocean sunfish, harbor seals, and gray whales.

So the question is: Why are humpback whales doing this? Since the humpbacks seem to be risking their own well being to save animals of completely different species, it's hard to deny that this behavior seems altruistic.

There is also some reason to believe that the behavior isn't entirely selfless. Mature humpback whales are too large and too formidable to be hunted by orcas themselves, but their calves are vulnerable.

Orcas have been witnessed hunting humpback whale calves in much the same way that they hunt gray whale calves. So, by proactively foiling orca hunts, perhaps the humpbacks are hoping to make them think twice about messing with their own calves.

Then again, maybe it's just as simple as revenge. Even if it has more to do with revenge than altruism, though, the behavior would represent evidence of an intense and complicated emotional life among humpbacks that is unprecedented in the animal world, outside of primates.

One common feature among many humpback whale rescue efforts is that the humpbacks often work in pairs. Scientists will need to do more research into this behavior, though, to truly understand the significance of it.

Until then, these beautiful animals, which are perhaps best known for their majestic songs, have certainly earned some additional respect. They might just be the ocean's most ferocious and selfless first-responders.
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Federal Court slams Navy sonar

SOURCE: KAtherine Muzik PHD (kmuzik@gmail.com)
SUBHEAD: 9th District Court of Appeals rejects US Navy's rules on ocean sonar use.

By Staff on 16 July 2016 for the Associated Press -
(http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-appeals-court-rejects-navy-sonar-rules-40627158)

Image above: Orca jumps for joy. From original article.

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the U.S. Navy was wrongly allowed to use sonar that could harm whales and other marine life.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision upholding approval granted in 2012 for the Navy to use low-frequency sonar for training, testing and routine operations.

The five-year approval covered peacetime operations in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

The appellate panel sent the matter back to the lower court for further proceedings.

A message seeking comment from representatives of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Honolulu was not immediately returned.

Sonar, used to detect submarines, can injure whales, seals, dolphins and walruses and disrupt their feeding and mating

The 2012 rules adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service permitted Navy sonar use to affect about 30 whales and two dozen pinnipeds, marine mammals with front and rear flippers such as seals and sea lions, each year.

The Navy was required to shut down or delay sonar use if a marine mammal was detected near the ship. Loud sonar pulses also were banned near coastlines and in certain protected waters.

Environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, filed a lawsuit in San Francisco in 2012, arguing that the approval violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The appellate court ruled 3-0 that the approval rules failed to meet a section of the protection act requiring peacetime oceanic programs to have "the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammals."

"We have every reason to believe that the Navy has been deliberate and thoughtful in its plans to follow NMFS guidelines and limit unnecessary harassment and harm to marine mammals," the appellate ruling said.

However, the panel concluded that the fisheries service "did not give adequate protection to areas of the world's oceans flagged by its own experts as biologically important," according to a summary accompanying the court's decision.

"The result is that a meaningful proportion of the world's marine mammal habitat is under-protected," according to the decision.

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DLNR responsibility on RIMPAC

SUBHEAD: 60 Day Legal Notice to Enforce the U.S. Endangered Species Act on the U.S. Navy and RIMPAC.

By Terry Lilly on 5 July 2016 in Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2016/07/dlnr-responsibility-on-rimpac.html)

Image above: DLNR police armed with semiautomatic weapons enforcing restrictions on Hawaiian protest of construction of Thirty Meter Telescope on a sacred part of the summit of Mauna Kea mountain on the Big Island in 2015. From (http://www.civilbeat.org/2015/12/should-hawaiis-dlnr-cops-carry-semi-automatic-weapons/).

[IB Publisher's note: The following is a letter from Terry Lilly to Mrs. Suzanne Case Chairperson of the Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources to enforce the US Endangered Species Act against the U.S. Navy for conducting RIMPAC 2016 and damaging the environment in and around Hawaii. Certainly, the DLNR fully enforce regulations along the beaches of Polehale and Kalalau to keep residents without the proper permits from camping (presumably to protect these pristine environments.]

Dear Mrs. Case,
As Chair Person of the Hawaii DLNR you are head of law enforcement and bound by law to enforce the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) here in Hawaii. When you took your oath of office you swore to uphold US and State Law.

The federal and state ESA claims " Any employee or agent of the department upon whom the board has conferred powers of police officers, including the power to serve and execute warrants and arrest offenders, or issue citations throughout the state, and any police officer of the counties of this state shall have the authority to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter".
Furthermore, it has been determined in court "That the Willful Omission of enforcing the ESA can be considered a Take under the law itself". Which means that you are obligated to enforce this law.

I know you are well aware of the wording in the ESA and are aware of the need for the Navy to do a Habitat Conservation Plan before operating in the habitat of Hawaiian endangered species.

The reason I know you know this law is because in December of 1998 you attended and graduated from the same class I did in California which was hosted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Craig Potter who wrote the ESA in 1973.

The class was called "Endangered Species Act and Habitat Conservation Planning". You are listed on the attendance sheet as "Suzanne Case : The Nature Conservancy: 201 Mission Street 4th FL San Francisco CA : 415-281-0466.

During that class we were both give many legal quotes out of the ESA itself and also many court case studies.

We were presented by the top environmental attorney firms in the USA and Craig Potter himself these quotes about the ESA.

1. ESA Section 7 requires that EVERY Federal agency consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to ensure that the agency actions are "not likely to jeopardize the continued existence or ANY endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat of such species.

I can prove that the war ships off our coastline during RIMPAC and the US Navy five year long electronic microwave war testing here in Hawaii is "likely" to jeopardize the critical habitat of the endangered green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle and monk seal. These ships put out billions off watts of electromagnetic energy they discharge into the sea and they are using high intensity sonar. Both of these events harm, harass and take our endangered species.

2. 16 U.S.C. 1536 (a)(3)(4), 50 C.F.R. 402.14 legal code claims that : If the agency determines that an endangered species MAY be present in the area affected by the action and proposed actions is LIKELY to effect the species the ESA REQUIRES consultation.

NOAA has already determined that all Hawaiian waters are critical habitat for the monk seal because these endangered species travel in between islands!

Plus the very rare hawksbill turtle travels between islands and the baby green sea turtles live out at sea for the first part of their life.

So it is obvious that the wide area of sea that the Navy is discharging electricity into, blasting with explosives, sinking ships with bombs and using massive amounts of sonar and underwater (DARPA) tested electronics to track and destroy submarines is "likely" to harm, harass and take our endangered species.

3. Section 7 V. Section 10 of the ESA is a process by which FEDERAL agencies obtain permission to "TAKE" endangered species. The Navy must file for and receive an Incidental Take Permit to START RIMPAC or their microwave war test.

Section 7 outlines the process that the Navy must take to get a permit to operate in the habitat of our endangered turtles, whales and monk seas. This process is called an HCP.

It is described by law as:
Habitat Conservation Plan as a plan describing the ANTICIPATED effect of proposed taking on the affected species and HOW that TAKE will be minimized and mitigated for : the plan is submitted with and Incidental Take Permit.

No HCP was done or submitted by the Navy to operate RIMPAC! RIMPAC is in direct violation of the most powerful environmental law ever adopted by a country on our planet.

Commander Bruce Hay from PMRF openly told all of us on the KKCR radio show and in a private meeting with the top PMRF officials "RIMPAC 2014 had no way to monitor the effects on the sea turtles and coral reefs". He further said "RIMPAC 2016 will be operated just like RIMPAC 2014 and the Navy has NOT done an environmental study ahead of time or a Habitat Conservation Plan".

The ESA has been held up in court against the US Navy in dozens of law suits filed by the NRDC and Earth Justice and once again it looks like we must got to court to force the Navy to follow our Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and Clean Water Act.

As a citizen of the USA I have the LEGAL rite to make you enforce the ESA onto the Navy. I have the legal rite to sue the Navy, NOAA, and the DLNR for violating the ESA and, or lack of enforcement of the ESA.

This is called a Citizens Suit. It is described in the ESA section 11 as : To enjoin any person, INCLUDING the United States of America and other governmental instrumentality or agencies, who allege to be in violation of the ACT or its implementing regulations.

Craig Potter who wrote the ESA said " This is the peoples law" because the people own the wildlife, not the government.

Well I am "the people" and I wish to formally allege that the US Navy is currently in violation of the ESA for not doing the needed Habitat Conservation Plan before RIMPAC started. I allege that you are violating the ESA for lack of enforcing the ESA onto the military. I allege that very same actions on NOAA for their lack of enforcing the ESA onto the military.

I am alleging these violation on behalf of the endangered sea turtles, whales, monk seals and their coral reef habitat because I have direct proof via HD video with time, date and GPS of the US Navy and their guests during the 2014 RIMPAC harming, harassing and taking our endangered species.
.
Since Commander Bruce Hay said "that RIMPAC 2016 will operated like RIMPAC 2014" and we know the capabilities of the ships currently involved in RIMPAC today we easily have the "Likelihood" that these current operations are effecting the habitat of our endangered species.

Therefore by law the military needs to stop ALL activities in Hawaiian waters and do the needed Habitat Conservation Plan and acquire the needed Incidental Take Permit to resume their destructive activities!

Please look at this letter as a legal 60 day notice under the ESA to force you to enforce the ESA on the US Navy. This is the responsibility of the oath of office you hold.

I would be more than happy to meet with you and your legal council in person and go over all of the documented proof I have of the violations of the ESA the Navy has committed. I already had a high profile meeting with the Navy brass in Kauai of which they did NOT dis agree with any of these violations!

Aloha,
Terry Lilley: Marine Biologist
Hanalei HI
808-212-8600

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Oceans4Peace Pacific Pivot Panel 6/18/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Ocean 4 Peace Events 6/11/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Prepare for RIMPAC 2016 War in Hawaii 5/22/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to "take" millions of mammals 5/17/16
Ea O Ka Aina: US court RIMPAC Impact decision 4/3/15
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 Impact Postmortem 10/22/1
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 in Full March 7/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: 21st Century Energy Wars 7/10/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War on the Ocean 7/3/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Voila - World War Three 7/1/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Pacific Pivot 6/28/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC IMPACT 6/8/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC Then and Now 5/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Earthday TPP Fukushima RIMPAC 4/22/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Asian Pivot - An ugly dance 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Help save Mariana Islands 11/13/13
Ea O Ka Aina: End RimPac destruction of Pacific 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Moana Nui Confereence 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to conquer Marianas again 9/3/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Pagan Island beauty threatened 10/26/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy license to kil l 10/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Sleepwalking through destruction 7/16/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Okinawa breathes easier 4/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy Next-War-Itis 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: America bullies Koreans 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Despoiling Jeju island coast begins 3/7/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Jeju Islanders protests Navy Base 2/29/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii - Start of American Empire 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Korean Island of Peace 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Military schmoozes Guam & Hawaii 3/17/11
Ea O Ka Aina: In Search of Real Security - One 8/31/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Peace for the Blue Continent 8/10/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Shift in Pacific Power Balance 8/5/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RimPac to expand activities 6/29/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War Games here in July 6/20/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Pacific Resistance to U.S. Military 5/24/10
Ea O Ka Aina: De-colonizing the Pacific 5/21/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC to Return in 2010 5/2/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/5/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/15/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Guam Land Grab 11/30/09
E a O Ka Aina: Guam as a modern Bikini Atoll 12/25/09
Ea O Ka Aina: GUAM - Another Strategic Island 11/8/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Diego Garcia - Another stolen island 11/6/09
Ea O Ka Aina: DARPA & Super-Cavitation on Kauai 3/24/09
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 - Navy fired up in Hawaii 7/2/08
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 uses destructive sonar 4/22/08
Island Breath: Navy Plans for the Pacific 9/3/07
Island Breath: Judge restricts sonar off California 08/07/07
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 sonar compromise 7/9/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 - Impact on Ocean 5/23/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2004 - Whale strandings on Kauai 9/2/04
Island Breath: PMRF Land Grab 3/15/04
.

Oceans 4 Peace Events

SUBHEAD: A mission to educate the public about the adverse effects of the 2016 RIMPAC.

By Juan Wilson on 11 June 2016 for Oceans4Peace -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2016/06/oceans-4-peace-events.html)

Image above: Still frame of ship bow plowing the ocean. From video "Sonic Sea" trailer below.

WHAT:
RIMPAC 2016 - The US Navy is sponsoring the armed navies of 24 countries to come to Hawaiian waters and practice naval war. They call these war exercises, RIMPAC, short for rim of the Pacific. These foreign navies will blast whale-killing active sonar, shoot missiles, shoot torpedoes, drop bombs, plant mines, sink ships, test new experimental weapons and otherwise harass, pollute and upset our ocean environment and the creatures who live in it. Oceans4Peace will sponsor teach-ins, a film series, contacts with decision makers and other public education events.

WHERE:
Around the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Missile Research Facility on Kauai.

WHEN:
June and July 2016

ACTION:
Sign our petition to stop RIMPAC 2016
"Oceans4Peace : Stop the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises"

To sign click here:
(https://www.change.org/p/oceans4peace-stop-the-rim-of-the-pacific-rimpac-exercises?recruiter=1616584&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive)

Oceans4Peace is sponsoring discussions, teach-ins, a film series and other public education events. See calendar below or go to(http://www.oceans4peace.org/page/page/8901763/2016-6.htm) or

RIMPAC IMPACT
Panel Discussion
Friday, June 17th 2016 6:00pm
Kapaa Library
Technology Effects on Whales - Kalasara Setaysha - Oceans4Peace
The Threats to Coral - Dr. Katherine Muzik - Marine Biologist NTBG
Expansion of US Militarism in the Pacific - Juan Wilson - Kauai Sierra Club

MOVIE SERIES
"Sonic Sea" A film about noise in the ocean, especially Navy sonar.
Thursday, June 23rd 6:00pm 2016
Koloa Neighborhood Center
Discussion with Gorden Labedz

"Sonic Sea" A film about noise in the ocean, especially Navy sonar.
Friday, June 24th 7:00pm 2016
Kapaa Library
Discussion with Kalasara Setaysha

“Sonic Sea” A film about noise in the ocean, especially Navy sonar.
Sunday, June 26th 6 :00pm 2016
Princeville Neighborhood Center
Discussion with Rick Cooper

“Why We Fight” A film about the US military.
Friday, July 1st 1016 6:30pn
Koloa Neighborhood Center
Discussion with Rick Cooper

"Oceans" Disney documentary film about the ocean.
Saturday, July 9th 1:00pm
Hanapepe Library
Discussion with Gorden Labedz

“Why We Fight”A film about the US military.
Sunday, July 10th 1:00pm
Kapaa Neighborhood Center
Discussion with Rick Cooper

“Why We Fight” A film about the US military.
Friday, July 15th, 6:30pnm
Hanapepe Library
Discussion Rick Cooper

“Oceans” Disney documentary film about the ocean.
Sunday, July17th 206 1:00pm
Kapaa Neighborhood Center
Discussion with Gorden Labedz

Oceans4Peace is a Coalition of Kauai Conservation and Social Justice groups whose Mission was to educate the general public about the adverse effects of the 2016 RIMPAC, Rim of the Pacific, Naval war exercises.

The Coalition continues to monitor the US Navy for abuses to the ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystem. With Hawaii the center of the US Naval Fleet and Kauai the center of Naval war research, our Coalition continues to update its educational Process.

Presently, the on-going threat to our Ocean is the increase of the US Naval presence in the Pacific, "the Pacific Pivot," especially in the new Marine Sanctuary of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

The Navy has excluded all human activity there, except their own. They admit to using mid frequency and low frequency active Sonar in this so-called 'Protected Area'. This extreme sound blasting Sonar has been shown to cause harm to all ocean life, especially to marine mammals that rely on hearing for their existence.

The Navy, in partnership with the South Korean and Japanese governments, continues to build military bases only a few hundreds of miles from China, at Jeju Island in South Korea and Oura Bay, Okinawa, Japan. Both projects necessitate environmental destruction on a massive scale. We can ill afford this military buildup or the arms race with China it will provoke.

Our 'Oceans 4 Peace Coalition' is seeking the real answers, which enable us to report the truth. This page will keep you updated on US Navy impacts on our Ocean.

Video above: Still frame of ship bow plowing the ocean. From video "Sonic Sea" trailer below. From (https://youtu.be/T-jabL64UZE).

Oceans4Peace supporting organizations
Kohola Leo (Whale Voice)
Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice
Surfrider Foundation
Kauai Sierra Club

Video above: "RIMPACT IMPACT" film shown by Juan Wilson at Oceans4Peace Panel Discussion 6/7/14. From (http://youtu.be/NLZx9fg7Gvg).

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Oceans for Peace Pacific Pivot Panel 6/18/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Prepare for RIMPAC 2016 War in Hawaii 5/22/16
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to "take" millions of mammals 5/17/16
Ea O Ka Aina: US court RIMPAC Impact decision 4/3/15
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 Impact Postmortem 10/22/1
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC 2014 in Full March 7/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: 21st Century Energy Wars 7/10/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War on the Ocean 7/3/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Voila - World War Three 7/1/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Pacific Pivot 6/28/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC IMPACT 6/8/14
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC Then and Now 5/16/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Earthday TPP Fukushima RIMPAC 4/22/14
Ea O Ka Aina: The Asian Pivot - An ugly dance 12/5/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Help save Mariana Islands 11/13/13
Ea O Ka Aina: End RimPac destruction of Pacific 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Moana Nui Confereence 11/1/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy to conquer Marianas again 9/3/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Pagan Island beauty threatened 10/26/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy license to kil l 10/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Sleepwalking through destruction 7/16/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Okinawa breathes easier 4/27/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Navy Next-War-Itis 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: America bullies Koreans 4/13/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Despoiling Jeju island coast begins 3/7/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Jeju Islanders protests Navy Base 2/29/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii - Start of American Empire 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Korean Island of Peace 2/26/12
Ea O Ka Aina: Military schmoozes Guam & Hawaii 3/17/11
Ea O Ka Aina: In Search of Real Security - One 8/31/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Peace for the Blue Continent 8/10/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Shift in Pacific Power Balance 8/5/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RimPac to expand activities 6/29/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC War Games here in July 6/20/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Pacific Resistance to U.S. Military 5/24/10
Ea O Ka Aina: De-colonizing the Pacific 5/21/10
Ea O Ka Aina: RIMPAC to Return in 2010 5/2/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/5/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Living at the Tip of the Spear 4/15/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Guam Land Grab 11/30/09
E a O Ka Aina: Guam as a modern Bikini Atoll 12/25/09
Ea O Ka Aina: GUAM - Another Strategic Island 11/8/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Diego Garcia - Another stolen island 11/6/09
Ea O Ka Aina: DARPA & Super-Cavitation on Kauai 3/24/09
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 - Navy fired up in Hawaii 7/2/08
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2008 uses destructive sonar 4/22/08
Island Breath: Navy Plans for the Pacific 9/3/07
Island Breath: Judge restricts sonar off California 08/07/07
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 sonar compromise 7/9/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2006 - Impact on Ocean 5/23/06
Island Breath: RIMPAC 2004 - Whale strandings on Kauai 9/2/04
Island Breath: PMRF Land Grab 3/15/04

.

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Ea O Ka Aina

Fuck RIMPAC 2018!

Stop Navy killing marine mammals

Japanese meet their whale kill quota

Air Force plans to bomb whales

Japanese whale slaughter

Japanese whaling inside sanctuary

Sea Shepherd to obstruct Japanese

Humpbacks rescue others from orcas

Federal Court slams Navy sonar

DLNR responsibility on RIMPAC

Oceans 4 Peace Events

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