Author denies responsibility for diplomatic incident

May 2007, Nelson, NZ—C. George Muller, marine biologist and author of the critically-acclaimed anti-whaling “eco-thriller” novel Echoes in the Blue has denied allegations his book is responsible for any diplomatic incident between New Zealand and Japan.

The allegations were made recently by the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) – the government organisation responsible for carrying out Japan’s “scientific” whaling programme in the Antarctic. In a letter to publisher Koru Press the ICR attacked the book, saying, “This kind of anti-Japanese writing may hinder the friendly relationship between New Zealand and Japan that we have built over the years.”

A copy of their strongly-worded letter was also delivered to the New Zealand Ambassador in Tokyo, Japan.

However, Mr Muller rubbished suggestions he was responsible for any diplomatic rift, saying, “The Japanese government’s continued defiance of international treaties and world opinion does far more to damage international relations. I’m just drawing attention to what they’re doing out there!”

He also accused the ICR of “telling tales”. Publisher Koru Press has previously blamed the ICR for initiating the diplomatic escalation, saying they had deliberately courted controversy by involving the New Zealand embassy in Tokyo.

In a recent letter to Mr Muller, New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter agreed after reviewing Echoes in the Blue that the book could be “perceived as confrontational”. However, he refused to comment further on the matter – although he did wish the author well for his future writing career.

Moving to dispel the controversy, a spokesman for Koru Press’ legal department said, “These are serious allegations made against us, and we would like to see them resolved.” He confirmed the publisher had written to the ambassadors of both governments, but said that to date they had not received any indication that the alleged diplomatic incident was real “rather than a figment of the ICR’s imagination”.

The ICR had also claimed Echoes in the Blue “encourages further distrust and hatred towards Japanese and its research programs (sic)”, and accused the book and its publisher of promoting “terrorism”, going as far as likening the author to “Al Qaeda and its Holy War”.

C. George Muller has denied claims his book is anti-Japanese, maintaining it is against whaling, not Japan or the Japanese people.

Koru Press’ legal representative confirmed that the ICR had so far ignored all their attempts to seek a resolution. “Koru Press has also sought an apology for their more slanderous allegations, which unsurprisingly, has not been forthcoming either.”

However, he repeated the publisher’s offer to reconcile the issue, saying, “If the ICR has legitimate concerns we are happy to discuss these with them, however we consider their actions to date to be insulting and threatening towards us rather than seeking a resolution to any grievance they may have. Furthermore, we find the comparison of ourselves to terrorist organisations and accusations we promote terrorism and illegal behaviour to be particularly distressing and bordering on defamatory.”

Earlier this year Echoes in the Blue was short-listed as a Finalist in the 2007 Nautilus Book Award, which recognises international authors and titles that promote conscious living and positive social change, with the motto “Changing the World One Book at a Time”.

ENDS

Released by Koru Press. For more information please contact: https://www.cgeorgemuller.com/contact.htm

Author denies whalers’ allegations he’s a terrorist

May 2007, Nelson, NZ—C. George Muller, marine biologist and author of the critically-acclaimed anti-whaling “eco-thriller” novel Echoes in the Blue has hit back at Japanese whalers over their allegations his book promotes terrorism.

The Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) - the government organisation responsible for carrying out Japan’s “scientific” whaling programme in the Antarctic - has attacked the book as “vicious fiction” and “disturbing propaganda”.

In a strongly-worded letter to publisher Koru Press, the ICR claimed Echoes in the Blue is “anti-Japanese” and “encourages further distrust and hatred towards Japanese and its (sic) research programs”. The letter also likened the author to “Al Qaeda and its Holy War”.

Author C. George Muller dismissed the ICR’s criticism of Echoes in the Blue as unbalanced, pointing out the factual novel has already received high praise from both the scientific and literary communities - including from a Scientific Advisor to New Zealand’s International Whaling Commission (IWC) Commissioner, who described it as, “Very well researched including some extremely insightful observations about the nature of international politicking in the ongoing fight to protect whales.” The New Zealand Herald described Echoes in the Blue as an “Uncanny real-life parallel” and a “Tense and compelling read”.

Echoes in the Blue has also been short-listed as a Finalist in the 2007 Nautilus Book Award, which recognises international authors and titles that promote conscious living and positive social change, with the motto “Changing the World One Book at a Time”.

Denying accusations the book is anti-Japanese, Muller reiterates that both he and the main characters in the story have repeatedly stressed the point that the book is against whaling, not Japan or the Japanese people - a fact he says is particularly relevant given that recent surveys have shown that most Japanese do not support their country’s continued whaling programme in defiance of the whaling Moratorium, and that fewer than 4% of Japanese regularly eat whalemeat.

Muller says he was particularly concerned by the ICR’s assertion that the book’s description of Japanese whalers “infringes their vocational rights and gives serious offence to those involved in taking the lives of animals for legitimate reasons.”

He responded by saying, “The ICR’s reasons for killing whales are anything but “legitimate”. Legitimate science does not require killing animals in order to study them, and the commercial sale of whalemeat in Japan makes a mockery of the ICR’s claims of scientific independence. Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling programme has been condemned in the strongest terms by international scientists, governments, and the International Whaling Commission itself which has repeatedly said that Japan’s whaling ‘research’ is not required for the management of whale stocks ‘ a damning indictment given that is the ICR’s justification for issuing itself a ‘scientific’ research permit.

In addition, many of the whales Japan targets are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ or ‘Threatened’, meaning they are “facing a high or very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future”, and their killing and sale are banned by numerous international treaties - Including the International Whaling Commission. The Japanese ICR’s so-called research takes place in defiance of the IWC-gazetted Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and a worldwide Moratorium on commercial whaling.”

Further raising the stakes, the ICR also warned that the book could cause a diplomatic incident between Japan and New Zealand, saying, “This kind of anti-Japanese writing may hinder the friendly relationship between New Zealand and Japan that we have built over the years.”

However Koru Press countered that by saying the ICR was responsible for initiating the diplomatic escalation and had deliberately courted controversy by involving the NZ embassy in Tokyo.

Koru Press’ legal representative said, “If the ICR has legitimate concerns we are happy to discuss these with them, however we consider their letter to be insulting and threatening towards us rather than seeking a resolution to any grievance they may have. Furthermore, we find the comparison of ourselves to Al Qaeda and accusations we promote terrorism and illegal behaviour to be particularly distressing and bordering on defamatory.”

Author C. George Muller added, “Such aggressive “bully boy” tactics appear commonplace within the Japanese IWC delegation as they try to force support for their whaling agenda, however this personal attack on me represents a new low even for them. I can only conclude that my book hit too close to the mark, and their attempt to discredit me and intimidate my right to free speech represents their desperation to suppress any criticism of their illegal whaling programme.”

ENDS

Released by Koru Press. For more information please contact:
https://www.cgeorgemuller.com/contact

Anti-whaling thriller Finalist in ‘Visionary Fiction’ award

April 2007, Nelson, NZ—Koru Press is pleased to announce the anti-whaling thriller novel Echoes in the Blue has been short-listed as a finalist for the 2007 Nautilus Book Award.

C. George Muller’s factual “eco-thriller” about illegal whaling is one of 2-4 finalists in the Adult ‘Visionary Fiction’ category, open to all titles published in 2006 and 2007, and is in the running for the top accolade with the winner yet to be announced.

The Nautilus Book Award is a unique award created to honour books that promote conscious living and positive social change, with the motto “Changing the World One Book at a Time”.
The award recognises international authors and titles that contribute to our society’s awareness and well-being, and that embrace spiritual and ecological values.

Past Nautilus Book Award winners include:

This distinction is the second for author C. George Muller whose first novel won the 2005 Richard Webster Popular Fiction Award.

Echoes in the Blue is a story of illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean, and one man’s battle to stand up for what he knows is right - despite the consequences.
It has already received high praise from both scientific and literary reviewers - including from a Scientific Advisor to New Zealand’s IWC Commissioner, who described it as, “Very well researched including some extremely insightful observations about the nature of international politicking in the ongoing fight to protect whales.”

Author C. George Muller is a marine biologist who wrote the book to draw attention to “the illegal slaughter happening just out of sight over the horizon”.
He has also set up the website https://www.cgeorgemuller.com/ to provide more information on illegal whaling, including an online petition, and is offering a portion of the proceeds from every book sold as a donation to save the whales.

More information on the Nautilus Book Award can be found at:
http://www.nautilusbookawards.com/The_Nautilus_Library.html

ENDS

Released by Koru Press. For more information please contact:
https://www.cgeorgemuller.com/contact

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