butcher = scientist... since when?

The Netherlands wants to ban the controversial anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd from sailing under the Dutch flag. Public Works State Secretary Tineke Huizinga said last month she wants to amend the law quickly to make this possible.

The American organisation Sea Shepherd has two ships sailing under the Dutch flag. The Netherlands provided the necessary certificate of registry for this in 2007, after Sea Shepherd had promised in writing not to use violence and to comply with the safety rules. Nonetheless, a number of incidents have taken place between Sea Shepherd ships and Japanese whalers in the Antarctic.

Japan has repeatedly complained to the Netherlands about the Sea Shepherd. It appears difficult at the moment to take action against ships that do not comply with the rules, so the cabinet wants to speedily extend its legal options for withdrawing certificates of registry, according to Huizinga.

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As a Dutch citizen I am proud that the Sea Shepherds are sailing under the Dutch flag. Please help convince our government that international law cannot allow for whale butchery to pass as research, and that the Japanese government should be held to comply with the ban on whaling that has been effective since 1986.

Please sign this petition.. teken deze petitie alstublieft.