Whaling Protestors go too far

[Aliantha]

While I don't think Japanese whaling ships should be allowed to operate in Australian waters (and perhaps not even international waters), I don't think throwing acid on board the ship is going to help matters.

From todays paper:

JAPAN summoned ambassadors from Australia and the Netherlands after it said environmentalists hurled stinging acid on to a Japanese whaling ship, injuring three on board.

Australia, a leading opponent of Japan's whaling, quickly condemned the latest attack by the militant Sea Shepherd group, which has vowed to stop Japan's expedition by force if necessary.

Members of Sea Shepherd threw more than 100 brown envelopes containing a white powder and bottles of butyric acid from their own vessel on to the Japanese whaler Nisshin Maru, Japanese officials said.

Butyric acid, a by-product of cheese-making, is used in making industrial alcohol and can sting the eyes. Sea Shepherd said they threw rotten butter.