Monday, February 05, 2007



Why the secrecy?

So, after "days of diplomatic wrangling" and a "top secret rescue mission", we have a Japanese whaler in Wellington hospital. All very dramatic, but I have two questions: why the wrangling, and why the secrecy? Sure, we may not like whalers, but basic humanitarianism beats that any day, surely? Did we really spend days potentially putting a man's life at risk just to rub in our opposition to whaling, rather than treating this just like any other search and rescue operation and sending a helicopter the moment it became convenient to do so?

Posted by Idiot/Savant at 2/05/2007 10:10:00 AM

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5 comments:

According to Chris Carter on Morning Report, the ship had to travel for some time to a rendezvous point. While it was making its way there, I got the impression that the ministry took the opportunity to play hardball, sending a message to the Japanese that they shouldn't even be down there in the first place. He said that at no time was the rescue delayed.

I suspect that adding friction to the whole whaling context is part of a wider strategy to get the Japanese to give up on their "scientific" harvesting.

 Posted by Mikaere Curtis : 2/05/2007 10:34:00 AM

Secret? Can I posit two hypotheses:

1. The New Zealand Government doesn't want to open itself up to complaints that it was supporting (or an acessory to) piracy at international law by telling the Sea Shepherd people where the boat is.

2. Everyone in New Zealand has a right to privacy, including/especially in relation to medical treatment

 Posted by Graeme Edgeler : 2/05/2007 11:28:00 AM

Graeme: Generally speaking, public announcements that a search and rescue operation is underway do not give much idea of the location. And such anouncements are routinely made, suggesting that privacy concerns are not the issue you suggest they are.

The government's response smacks of political paranoia and grandstanding. What would have been wrong with treating it as what it was: a simple humanitarian rescue operation?

 Posted by Idiot/Savant : 2/05/2007 11:57:00 AM

I thought that was exactly what was done. The report I saw (Stuff) said that no delays were imposed.

What's happening now is that the news is either going to leak or be announced, so we're seeing preemptive damage control. And reasonably so, IMO. I suspect not a few people would rather he be refused entry, or at least that someone explain to him in painful detail that what he is doing is wrong.

I would be happy see the guy treated using japanese science. First we need to find out what is wrong with him, using culturally appropriate techniques like an exploding harpoon to the head followed by flensing. Then treat him, again in the Japanese way, by slicing him thinly and applying soy sauce before humanely disposing of the remains at a restaurant.

All done in the best possible taste.

 Posted by Moz : 2/05/2007 11:58:00 PM

Ahhhh... Kenny. I miss Kenny.


"What do you mean you airlifted me to this hospital and now you are going to eat me?"

"Well you see Mr Saki, it's all for SCIENCE!"

 Posted by Muerk : 2/06/2007 08:28:00 PM

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