Renewable energy sources could allow for a prudent decrease in CO₂ emissions while still powering a populous, electrified global economy. On The Pump Handle, Mark Pendergrast examines the proverbial canary in the coal mine, Japan. Wary of imported fossil fuels and burned by nuclear disaster, Japan is looking toward solar, geothermal, wind, water, and biomass-powered alternative energy sources. Wind, for example, could provide 10% of Japan's energy needs, but with blade-busting typhoons and fierce winter lightning storms, turbines must be more robust and adaptable than ever. 

Japan plans to go ahead with its Southern Ocean whaling program this year despite threats from activists to disrupt the annual hunt.

SAINT HELIER, Jersey (AFP) – Japan and the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd on Tuesday swapped angry words at the world whaling conference here over the hunting of cetaceans around Antarctica.

In a plenary session of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japanese delegation chief Kenji Kagawa blasted Sea Shepherd's pursuit of Japanese whaling ships as "sabotage" and "violent and illegal acts".

We have yet to realize the true devastation of the 9.0 Magnitude earthquake, and resulting tsunami, that struck the north Pacific coast of Japan on March 11. All over the world, hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy. Now is the perfect time to do a project that can help give the people in Japan support during this time of need.

As in the past, groups are encouraged to support organizations that have active relief programs on the ground in Japan. Groups can donate to the Red Cross through their online website, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone. Donations to the Red Cross will be focused on providing first aid, emotional support and relief items. Save the Children, an organization focused on creating safe shelter for children, is also working in Japan. Donations to Save the Children can be made online through their website, or by texting JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10 from your phone.

Winds are set to blow low-level radiation from Japan's quake-crippled nuclear power plant out over the Pacific Ocean in coming hours, easing health worries after drifting toward Tokyo early on Tuesday, experts said.

TOKYO — Interpol this week placed the head of US-based anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd on an international wanted list at Japan's request, authorities in Tokyo said Friday.

The Japan Coastguard was informed by Interpol Thursday about the listing of Canadian Paul Watson, 59, for allegedly conspiring to harass whaling ships in Antarctic clashes in February, a coastguard spokeswoman said.

Dolphins and whales have a long gestation period – about 11 months and they can nurture their young for years. They are not prolific breeders. The Southern Atlantic Blue Whale has yet to recover from the devastation wrought on that species by rampant over-fishing. Out of perhaps 311,000 Antarctic Blue Whales about 2,280 are left, or about 5%.
Despite a 20-year moratorium on whaling they have yet to come back in any significant numbers. In the 1964-65 killing season 5 catcher fleets of Japanese whalers could not find a single blue whale. As a result the Japanese whalers rented out whaling base stations from Chile, the winter home of Antarctic Blues and wiped out every one they could find. Chile has recently declared all of their territory waters a whale sanctuary.