PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed to do whatever it takes to end Japan's whale hunt as the bloody slaughter continued yesterday.
Mr Rudd's declaration came as Japanese companies scurried to try to minimise a consumer backlash over whaling.
A people-power campaign has begun against the Japanese whalers, spearheaded by The Daily Telegraph, with 100,000 people signing a petition of outrage.
Yesterday Mr Rudd joined the Australian people in demanding Japan cease its so-called "scientific whaling program".
"I want to see an end to whaling," Mr Rudd said.
"I don't have a magic wand, but the Australian Government will do everything within our power to put pressure on the Japanese whalers to bring this slaughter to an end.
"Australia and Japan have a strong relationship, but that strength demands that we leave the Japanese in no doubt that Australia will continue to campaign to bring an end to whaling once and for all."
Mr Rudd said he had instructed Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to "exert real pressure" on the Japanese to end the program.
However, talks this week between Mr Smith and his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Koumoura have been deadlocked.
As the Japanese continued to harpoon and slice up minke whales throughout the day, Mr Smith emerged from talks saying the two men had "agreed to disagree".
Consumers have now called for boycotts of all Japanese products, sending some of Japan's biggest companies into a panic.
Hayley Wilson, 21, of Surry Hills said she thought boycotts were the only solution: "Nothing else seems to be working."
Big name Japanese companies immediately went into overdrive.
Electronics giant Sanyo has written to the Japanese Consulate in Sydney voicing its concern about a consumer backlash.
Sony Australia called on Australians to reconsider the approach and Mazda also begged Australians not to target its products.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23145164-5001021,00.html
Mr Rudd's declaration came as Japanese companies scurried to try to minimise a consumer backlash over whaling.
A people-power campaign has begun against the Japanese whalers, spearheaded by The Daily Telegraph, with 100,000 people signing a petition of outrage.
Yesterday Mr Rudd joined the Australian people in demanding Japan cease its so-called "scientific whaling program".
"I want to see an end to whaling," Mr Rudd said.
"I don't have a magic wand, but the Australian Government will do everything within our power to put pressure on the Japanese whalers to bring this slaughter to an end.
"Australia and Japan have a strong relationship, but that strength demands that we leave the Japanese in no doubt that Australia will continue to campaign to bring an end to whaling once and for all."
Mr Rudd said he had instructed Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to "exert real pressure" on the Japanese to end the program.
However, talks this week between Mr Smith and his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Koumoura have been deadlocked.
As the Japanese continued to harpoon and slice up minke whales throughout the day, Mr Smith emerged from talks saying the two men had "agreed to disagree".
Consumers have now called for boycotts of all Japanese products, sending some of Japan's biggest companies into a panic.
Hayley Wilson, 21, of Surry Hills said she thought boycotts were the only solution: "Nothing else seems to be working."
Big name Japanese companies immediately went into overdrive.
Electronics giant Sanyo has written to the Japanese Consulate in Sydney voicing its concern about a consumer backlash.
Sony Australia called on Australians to reconsider the approach and Mazda also begged Australians not to target its products.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23145164-5001021,00.html
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