I think the most of the statements fom Moronuki actually end up as compliments with regard to the situation. He is complaining about agressiveness and not being like 'all the other ministers' (who have been to soft to impose a change to this 'scientific study' loophole ... but NOT being like the others seems to be exactly what is needed in this situation.
   
  Also, it doesn't appear he REALLY listened to the Oils when at school.
   
  

Tom Spencer <tomspencer@eml.cc> wrote:
          Howdy Powdies (which perhaps yet includes Mr Moronuki):

Wednesday March 5, 01:53 PM 
Garrett aggressive: Japan whaling chief
Japan's whaling chief has accused Australian Environment Minister Peter
Garrett of being aggressive and undiplomatic.

Section chief of whaling at Japan's Fishery Agency, Hideki Moronuki,
said Garrett's recent proposal to modernise the International Whaling
Commission (IWC) was flawed.

"Regarding the idea of the changes to the IWC, it is quite ridiculous.
The IWC has been established in accordance with the International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling," Moronuki said.

Moronuki said Garrett was less diplomatic than previous Australian
environment ministers - and it's cost the former singer a fan.

"I think he is very different from the previous ministers. He is very
active and aggressive," he said.

"He provided very aggressive messages to the public opposing activities
including research whaling.

"He showed up to the mass media very often compared to other ministers.
Sometimes his message was very direct," he said.

"Previous ministers ... take into account the political situation but
minister Garrett is very, very direct.

"When I was a high school student I used to listen to Midnight Oil. When
I was a high school student I liked his music. Now I don't."

Garrett has proposed reforms to the IWC to allow it to scrutinise
scientific research of whales, and so stop Japan acting alone to kill
the mammals in the name of research.

The IWC should also put in place a plan to protect whales from a host of
threats including climate change, pollution, collisions with ships and
fisheries activities, Garrett has said.

An Australian delegation will take the proposals to an IWC meeting in
London this week.

Moronuki also called on Australia to act against Sea Shepherd activists
who this week threw bottles filled with foul-smelling butyric acid at
Japan's main whaling ship in Antarctic waters.

"That was an illegal, dangerous activity like terrorism caused by Sea
Shepherd only. Taking into account the very dangerous nature of their
activities I think the Japanese government has to take appropriate
actions against those who undertake those activities - Sea Shepherd.

"I cordially ask the Australian government to take appropriate action
and if they can not take any legal action, at least they should provide
full support to the government of Japan to cope with this important
issue," he said.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith condemned Sea Shepherd's
action, although the activists denied Japan's assertion that several
crew members were injured during the clash.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson told AAP that his vessel was continuing
to follow the Japanese whaling ships.

Watson also said he believed the United States had offered a deal to
Japan on whaling, which would mean the Asian country could legally
conduct whaling in the North Pacific.

"I suspect they (Japanese whalers) may pull out of the Southern Ocean if
they can get the legal whale hunt," he said.

But Moronuki denied any deal had been reached with the United States and
said his country had no plans to stop killing whales in the Southern
Ocean.

Japan is seeking to kill 935 minke and 50 fin whales in the Southern
Ocean before this year's season ends when ice closes in at the end of
this month.

Moronuki would not comment on claims the whalers had killed less than
half their planned quota of whales, citing security reasons.

A spokeswoman for Garrett could not be immediately be contacted for
comment.


                         

       
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