Greenpeace Japan Activists Charged for Exposing Truth About Whale Killing

[wordpix]

From Greenpeace:

It's been 23 days since my colleagues in our Greenpeace Japan office were arrested for exposing a whaling industry scandal. I'm sorry to tell you that today they were both formally charged with theft and trespass.

It's a sad day for all of us at Greenpeace. We're prepared to risk our lives to protect whales, but we didn't expect such a politically- motivated reaction by the Japanese government. In fact, the very same day our activists were arrested, the public prosecutor dropped the investigation into the true crime of embezzlement of whale meat from the Japanese government-sponsored Southern Ocean whaling program.

TAKE ACTION NOW! http://members.greenpeace.org/action/start/203/

Tell a Friend: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/250/t/5762/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=3037

The outpouring of support for Junichi and Toru has been amazing, and I can't thank you enough for your support. Almost a quarter of a million people have sent letters to the Japanese government calling for their release and demanding a full investigation into the whale meat embezzlement scandal. Protests have been held outside Japanese embassies and consulates in 35 cities across 30 countries.

We all want the same thing: It's time for the Japanese government to end whaling altogether instead of prosecuting peaceful protesters who exposed crimes within the whaling program.

Even though they've been charged, we're not giving up! We're still working hard to get Junichi and Toru out of detention, so if you haven't already written to the Japanese government yet, please take action now! And please, spread the word as far and wide as you can - Junichi and Toru need your support more than ever.

I'll be in touch very soon as events unfold. Please keep Junichi and Toru in your thoughts and be ready to do more to help secure their freedom.

In solidarity,

John Hocevar
Oceans Campaigner snip

:grr: Here's what I think about Japanese government :puke: BOYCOTT JAPANESE GOODS

[hendo]

1. They did trespass

and they did steal. If they are going to break the law, they should accept the consequences.

[wordpix]

2. no, the whalers trespassed in whale sanctuaries & stole the whales for meat, not for research

You are wrong.

[hendo]

4. It was research in how yummy whales are.

Mmm, whale. *drool*

[HEyHEY]

6. Step back and read what you wrote and ask yourself if there's logic.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. Really?

They were charged for telling the truth about something?

That seems unlikely.

[hendo]

5. what else could it be

:sarcasm:

[MonkeyFunk]

8. Well it just cracks me up

every time a supposed "good guy" is arrested, nobody ever says what they're REALLY charged with.

[HEyHEY]

7. They tresspassed, they stole

That's illegal. It may be for a good cause, but it's still illegal. They were not "Charged for telling the truth" stop spinning. They should accept they are charged legally and say, "Yeah, we broke the law - here's why."