On August 2, two anti-whaling activists, one Australian and the other British, approached a Japanese whaling ship while on a whaling hunt. Their objective was to deliver a letter to the ship informing them that what they were doing defied international agreements. However, these two men could never have guessed at the welcome they received. They were immediately seized, tied to the rail and then the mast (in Arctic waters), and kept captive for nearly three days before an Australian ship came to retrieve them. 

Warrants are currently being sought in Japan for the arrest of three activists who caused much damage in a recent protest, including jamming a ship's propeller with a rope. Last year protesters dumped acid on the deck of a whaling ship, injuring multiple crew members. 

The battle over whaling in Japan grows increasingly bitter as the weeks pass. Whaling has a cultural heritage in Japan, but it also has its fair share of opponents around the world. Defying other nations and researchers who cite low whale populations, Japan continues to hunt through the loophole of "scientific research," even though they kill larger numbers than necessary, and sell the meat on the open market.

In 2002, Japan sanctioned the hunting sei whales, and in 2006, the hunting of fin whales. They have threatened to resume the hunting of humpback whales as well, though they have yet to act on this threat. All three of these whales are highly threatened.

While there may be many people who disagree with the actions of the Japanese regarding this issue, there have to be better, less violent and destructive ways of communicating this disagreement. Current protests are escalating to the point where both parties involved are in real danger. 

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