EarthFirst Blog Week in Review: March 3rd - 7th

Last week was a good one if only because I turned 30 on Saturday. Three cheers for Pisces!

You can feel Spring in the air here in Maine, though we’re probably due for another good storm or three. We’re slowly ramping up things on the ol’ blog here and should be getting our Official Launch on in the next few weeks. You’ll start to see some new writers get into the mix and our editorial intern Caroline starts this week. Yeeeehaw!

Here are the headlines from Earthfirst.com from March 3rd through the 7th.

• The Internet Saves 10 Watts of Energy for Every Watt it Uses
• War’s a Comin’! Alabama, Georgia and Florida Will Fight it Out Over Water
  
• Bush 0 Whales 1, Federal Court Rules Against Use of Navy Sonar
• Al Gore Calls out Major Media at TED: Ask More Green Questions to Presidential Candidates
• It’s a Long Way Back to The Office- A Pull Back in Work At Home Policies?
  
• Very Stupid Eco-Arsonists Torch Green Homes in Seattle Suburb
• Tiny Homes Are Full of Awesome, 100 Square Foot Tumbleweed Tour Video
  
• Higher Gas Prices + Road Congestion = Greener Mass Transit
• Great Flying Spaghetti Monster! Look at Those Gas Prices!
  
• Alyssa Milano Makes a Very Strong Argument for Vegetarianism
• Ripping Off Mother Nature For Design Tips Nets Better Wind Turbines
  
• George Bush Bends Space and Time to Recast America as a Leader on Climate Change
• The Pedal Powered Snow Plow Is Chock Full of Awesome
  
• Tripp Isenhour, Pro Golfer and Dick, Kills a Hawk with a Well Aimed Bal
• Bullet Proof Vest Saves Anti-Whaling Activist from Japanese Whaler’s Bullet
  
• Clearly You’re Doing it Wrong
• The Friday Crazy: The Can Man Suit is 35lbs. of Aluminum Can Awesome

Bullet Proof Vest Saves Anti-Whaling Activist from Japanese Whaler’s Bullet

It’s on! Japanese whalers have fired a shot in their ongoing battle with anti-whaling protesters, literally. Protesters Captain Paul Watson, of the very proactively active group Seas Shepherd, allegedly got hit in his bullet proof vest after being shot at by Japanese whalers on the high seas of Antarctic whaling grounds. Sea Shepherd doesn’t pussy foot around- their plan is to use any means possible to disrupt the Japanese whale hunt. If the world isn’t going to outright ban whaling, we should at least open up the rules to allow anyone to shoot back at the whalers. Then film the battles and package as a TV show and coffee table book. I’d pay to see that. Link [The Earth Times]

Evil Incarnate, Japanese Whalers Slaughter Mother Whale and Her Calf for “Scientific Research”

Warning: This story is disturbing, the video even more so. Watch it only if you can stomach seeing the graphic killing of whales, including a mother and her calf.

Japan has spent the last decade or so flouting international whaling laws by claiming it’s slaughter of thousands of whales a year is for “scientific research“. They spent millions of dollars lobbying the International Whaling Commission for the resumption of commercial whaling and when that didn’t work they left the IWC and formed their own pro-whaling organization called NAMMCO. Meanwhile their “scientific” whale meat is sold is grocery stores and restaurants.

Australia has taken it upon themselves to closely monitor the Japanese whaling fleet when they enter their territorial waters and to document the slaughter to gather evidence for a future case in international court.

The Australians just published some sickening videos and photos of a whale hunt that show Japan’s claim of their hunt being scientific is without merit. It’s stomach churning, but important to see to understand the barbarism of this vicious practice. Fucking Japanese whalers.

Check out Celsias and Environmental Graffiti to learn more about this very important story.