Anonymous wades into Japan's anti-whaling battle

Hackactivist collective plans #OpKillingBay to attack Japanese government websites in protest of dolphin slaughter.

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A Japanese man shouts slogans towards people participating in a march against the killing of Taiji dolphins and research whaling in Tokyo Japan 24 November 2012. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Anonymous is calling for a collective protest against the Japanese tradition of whale and dolphin hunting. The group is threatening to attack 22 Japanese websites, including those of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

There is also a day of action planned on December 1. Activists are using #OpKillingBay and #ShutTaijiDown to demand an end to the practice in the whaling town of Taiji, which was made infamous by the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove".

View the story "Anonymous wades into anti-whaling battle with #OpKillingBay" on StorifyAnonymous wades into anti-whaling battle with #OpKillingBayHacktivist collective plans to attack Japanese government websites in protest of dolphin slaughter.Storified by The Stream· Wed, Nov 20 2013 14:04:57Still think this is a game, #Taiji Japan?http://t.co/KKlxhUosQH taken down by #AnonymousWe do not forgive.#OpKillingBay #OpKillingBay#IMATA #WAZA #FedEx #JapanAir can Expect Cyber attacks in the following weeks. We do not Forget #OpKillingBay #OpKillingBayEnd the misery for dolphins http://t.co/SAHcN2io7m #ShutTaijiDown #OpKillingBay http://t.co/ZbBowvS7s4Mary #OpKillingBay here is the #TwitterStorm time.December 1st 1:00pm 2013Expect us #Japan #OpKillingBayAnonymous - #OpKillingBay [Clean version]anonvnopsThere is also a petition online encouraging netizens to support the cause.I have never been more happy to see any op happen, ever. #OpKillingBay ❤️cassandraENOUGH! #tweet4taiji http://t.co/4mnnhe5v7CJulianCritics of the campaign questioned the effectiveness of online activism. They also said Taiji dolphins are not endangered. As the #Taiji dolphin is not endangered & hunted sustainably, #Tweet4Taiji is only opposed to hunting on mystical & superstitious rationale.Shark11324#OpKillingBay, does anyone have a list of #whaling companies in #Japan and their websites? Targeting the #government only does so much.Trevor SpradleyIt'll take more than tweet storms 2stop #TAIJI Highvalue Targets need 2b breached 2 gain media xposure http://t.co/W1Drl5BCze #OpKillingBaycαηυѕ єℓυѕινυѕThe Japanese government has defended its position, claiming that it captures whales only for research:We are rather concerned that certain NGOs and the media are spreading misinformation on this issue to the public to provoke an emotional reaction against our activities which could make dialogue difficult. For example, this activity is not commercial whaling (although some NGOs have stated differently). The research employs both lethal and non-lethal research methods and is carefully designed by scientists to study the whale populations and ecological roles of the species. We limit the sample to the lowest possible number, which will still allow the research to derive meaningful scientific results. The research plan and its results are annually reviewed by the IWC Scientific Committee.mofa.go.jpTaiji is currently the focus of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has traveled to the town to live-stream video of the cove. They are also tweeting about the situation from the account @CoveGuardians.

Thanks to AnonOps India for alerting us to the story via Facebook.

Dear editors at AlJazeera. Kindly provide indepth coverage on the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Media silence on this issue strengthens the brutality. The CoveGuardians keep documenting the killings EVERYDAY, something which the media has never bothered to do. Just today, a dozen Risso dolphins were killed at the Cove. I urge you to cover this story!#OpKillingBayAnonOps India