Japan uses tsunami victims' cash to shield whalers from activists - £19m

Japan uses tsunami victims' cash to shield whalers from activists £19m from fund set up to rebuild coast stricken by triple disaster is diverted to help fishing fleet

Japan caused outrage yesterday as authorities confirmed it is diverting millions of pounds tagged for the reconstruction of its tsunami-devastated coast to protect its annual Antarctic whale-hunt.

Roughly 2.28bn yen (£19m) from a reconstruction fund for areas badly hit by the crippling 11 March earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster will be used to beef up security for the Japanese whaling fleet, which left port under heavy guard this week.