Heroes star Hayden Panettiere has reportedly been issued with an arrest warrant from Japan. She was issued with the warrant as a result of her Save the Whales protest in the country, according to a celebrity TV show. The young actress was part of a group who tried to prevent the slaughter of a group of whales and dolphins by fishermen near Taiji in southwestern Japan. They were involved in a confrontation with local fishermen after they paddled on surfboards to try and reach the dolphins, but video footage of the dispute showed fishermen lashing out at the group of activists with a boat hook. Panettiere doesn't know what repercussions the arrest warrant would bring, but stressed she's not put off from doing it again. She said: "I'd do it again". The star also told celebrity website TMZ.com that she won't give up fighting to save the planet's animals, and that more people should be joining her crusade. Hayden said:

"Obviously this issue has generated defensive behaviour on the part of both the Japanese authorities and fishermen. I have grown up hearing - and adhearing to - this phrase: 'condemnation without investigation dooms one to everlasting ignorance.' We must unite as a world to solve our increasing international environmental crises. We can no longer hide behind out-dated, senseless cultural traditions and lazy, bad habits that are resulting in the annihilation of our planet's resources and the extinction of species."

STOCK pictures: Sky News / Fernando Allende