Operation Waltzing Matilda - In the News
Check out selected media coverage that Operation Waltzing Matilda has received around the world.
 December 14 , 2009 -- The Sydney Morning Herald - Australia
Japanese harpoon whaling talks
The first harpoon of this year's whaling season has been fired, and it was shot by Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.
Like the grenade-tipped harpoons his whalers shoot in the Antarctic, it left its target bloodied and flailing. Still alive, but barely.
Okada's weapon was his words, and his hit was on peace talks that were hoped to bridge the global whaling divide.
Now the question is: how can countries like Australia honestly keep these International Whaling Commission talks going?
Okada was speaking in his first interview with Australian correspondents in Tokyo since the new Democratic Party of Japan came to power promising broad reform.
He was asked straight out whether Japan was reviewing its whaling policy, and did not equivocate in reply. "We do not think that there is a need for a policy review at this point of time."
Oh really? Then what about these IWC meetings that have dragged diplomats around the world in the past three years, largely at Japan's behest?
If Tokyo has decided there is no need to change, it's time for other countries involved, like Australia, to stop the sham. . . . more
 November 19, 2009 -- Mother Nature News - USA
Japan's whaling season has begun
Japanese whalers have set out for waters off the Australian Antarctic Territory. Australians await their arrival with trepidation, as this is the third season since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government pledged to end whaling in the Southern Ocean.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) confirms that each year, the Japanese fleet begins whaling in mid-December and alternates each year between the Australian Antarctic waters and the Antarctic Ross Sea. The IWC has been working for years to curb whaling. . . . more
October 21, 2009 --News.com - Australia
Arrest the whalers, activist demands
AUTHORITIES should arrest Japanese whalers if they hunt in Australian waters this summer, a radical protest group says.
Japan is expected to target Australia's Antarctic waters for its annual whale hunt.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which will send two vessels to harass the Japanese fleet, wants to see the whalers put in the dock.
Captain Paul Watson cited an Australian federal court ruling in 2008 which ordered a Japanese whaling ship out of Australian waters because it had unlawfully slaughtered whales.
"All Australians should expect the Australian Government to enforce the law,'' Capt Watson said from the US.
''(If someone) is blatantly in contempt of a federal court ruling, they should be arrested or at least escorted out of the waters.''. . . . more
August 26, 2009 -- Reality TV World - US
Animal Planet renews 'Whale Wars' reality series for a third season
Animal Planet announced that it has renewed Whale Wars for a third season.
Whale Wars' second-season finale aired last Friday night on Animal Planet, and it was the most-watched episode ever of the reality series -- averaging 1.3 million total viewers. Overall, Whale Wars' second season was the second-best performing series in the network's history, averaging 1.08 million total viewers per episode.
In addition to its ratings success Whale Wars also recently received its first-ever Emmy nomination, as it was recognized in the Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming category. . . . more
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