Japan Issues Arrest Warrant For Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson

by Michael dEstries April 30, 2010
Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: paul watson.

paul watson, sea shepherd

Is Japan getting desperate?

Earlier today, the nation’s Coast Guard obtained an arrest warrant for Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson for ordering volunteers to interfere with whaling operations. They also requested that he be added to Interpol on suspicion of assault and obstruction of business, reports said.

Of course Watson doesn’t deny the allegations — in fact, he’s surprised its taken so long to come to this.

“It does seem amazing that it has taken five years for the Japanese Coast Guard to discover that Sea Shepherd volunteers have obstructed illegal Japanese whaling operations,” he wrote Friday.

“We’ve only been obstructing whaling operations since December 2005 and every year we have been more successful than the year before. This last season we saved the lives of more whales than the Japanese whalers slaughtered and we cost them tens of millions of dollars.”

The controversial captain also challenged the Australian government to say whether it will comply with a Japanese warrant for his arrest. “If I go back and the Australians want to arrest me and put me into an extradition trial for the Japanese, then we’ll see what happens,” he told The Australian from New York.

On the Sea Shepherd site, Watson added: “Whatever happens, one thing is clear: the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to defend the whales from continued illegal whaling activities. As long as there is a Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, Sea Shepherd crew will continue to patrol and defend the Sanctuary.”

Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: paul watson.
Photo: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →

Michael Raymer

In America, they run these funny commercials for Fosters beer, showing what a rough-and-tumble place Australia is. Unfortunately in Australia (as well as the U.S.) the bravery and freedom-mindedness of the people gets seriously diluted by the gutlessness of their government. Hopefully Australia will treat any extradition request from Japan as the scrap of paper that it is.

cho cho ma

Australia wont do anything. Remember the Australian Federal Police searched the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker reviewing tapes and stuff. He was already proven innocent as well as his organization by Australia, so it is very unlikely they would actually honor the request. And no matter what, Sea Shepherd will not back down, not now not ever. (In advance please dont believe the BS that Kimitake is going to type on hear later, he enjoys murdering animals in sanctuarys. That is all.)

Mark

Paul has been in difficult positions before so this is nothing new. I too doubt much will come of this aside from not being able to visit Japan. The big issue now is if INTERPOL will accept Japan’s request and if nations take action if he is put on a list (I don’t know if they are obliged).
David

Great, cho, tell all the Australian criminals that. Because if Austarlia doesn’t honor a request from Japan, then Japan won’t honor any requests from Australia. So any Australian criminal that can make it to Japan is home free, and they can try whale meat for a bonus.

But actually his ‘challenge’ to the Australian government is BS and he knows it. Japan requested that Interpol issue a Blue Notice rather than a Red Notice.

Blue notice
Requests additional information about a person in relation to a crime

Red notice
Requests (provisional) arrest of wanted persons, with a view to extradition

But Paul can know claim that he stood up to the Australians and they backed down. Just more of his ego-stroking and chest-thumping.

He has said before that he wishes someone would charge him so he can have his day in court and prove that he is right. (Of course there is that Felony conviction from Canada that he keeps seeming to forget about) Well unless he is a liar, why doesn’t he turn himself into the Japanese and get his day in court? If he is right, he will win and the whole whaling issue will be resolved. Does he have the fortitude to stand up for what he says he believes, or will he run away like Brave Sir Robin in Mony Python?

Mark

The bottom like is the man does not believe everything he says, its basically for media value and to create a memorable narrative. I understand if you cant accept his MO but lets not confuse his tag lines to help his cause for “ego-stroking and chest-thumping.”
This piece is goes a long way to describe Paul and the organisation: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/11/05/071105fa_fact_khatchadourian

Many don’t make the distinction out of ignorance or on purpose. Those who purposefully don’t make the distinction are as guilty as the man they ridicule. We call that hypocrisy, at least Paul openly admits it.

Jane Overton

uh..The japanese are in fact breaking the law. The law says no commercial activity below the 60th parallel. The treaty was to protect Anarctica from commercial exploitation by ANY country. It is the whalers that are breaking the law. It is foolis to suppose that what they are doing is actually research. They are hunting whale meat to sell. Why dont they stick to their own waters? Oh..I forgot, they managed those up years ago so now they want to manage up international waters.
KC

Paul Watson should be sent to North Korean Labor Camp for the rest of his life. Stop blaming Japanese people for LEGAL Whaling. Norway, Iceland and other countries do the same thing. What hell is the fascination about the STUPID whales? Australia should STOP KILLING KANGAROOS THEN!! RACIST AUSTRALIA.

Hufingraz

David, how many times do I have too explain to you what a felony is? Here it is again, just because you are obviously slow and didn’t catch it the first 2 times I explained it to you. Crimes commonly considered to be felonies include, but are not limited to: aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, illegal drug use/sales, grand theft, robbery, murder, rape, and vandalism on Federal property. Paul Watson was charged with mischief and in Canada, that is not a felony. He was also acquitted on those charges, and he has no criminal record. So please, stop spreading your bullshit around.

Hufingraz

David, I am from the East Coast of Canada and I am fully aware of Canada’s legal system. I do know that if you get a criminal record in Canada, you are not travelling anywhere outside Canada, at least for any of the crimes that are considered FELONIES in the US. I was caught growing pot 10 years ago, and have never got in trouble since, and I can not get pardoned to leave my country until 2012. So if Paul Watson has a criminal record and his crime is equal to mine(because in the US, producing & selling drugs is DEFINITELY A FELONY), how does Paul travel the world? Also can you please find me a court case in Canada in which someone that did Mischief got life in prison? To compare felonies and indictable offenses just sounds retarded. DRIVING WITH A PROHIBITED LICENSE IS AN INDICTABLE OFFENSE IN CANADA! The US would NEVER classify driving with a suspended license a FELONY! One other thing, if Paul was charged & convicted of Mischief, and WASN’T acquitted, then how come he was only imprisoned for 10 days? It is like you said earlier, mischief carries up to life imprisonment. Did the courts let Paul out because the Newfoundlanders liked him so much? I highly doubt it considering the fact that the Newfoundlanders HATE Paul and most of them would like to see him dead, and alot of them have tried. I am considered a CONVICTED FELON, Paul Watson definitely is not. SO PLEASE DROP IT DAVID!! Unless, you can produce Paul’s criminal record for me, then PLEASE, shut your mouth. Oh and yes, I do know that SOME Canadians spell color with a “U”, but most don’t. So quit making assumptions on a whole country.

David

I gave you links to the Canadian court cases involve HufflePuff so you can look at exactly what he was charged with and found guilty of.

As to why he can still travel to the US I don’t know contact the US Border Patrol and maybe they can tell you. It might have something to do with the fact that he has a dual US and Canadian citizenship.

He didn’t get 10 days, he got 30 days and the prosecutor appealed trying to get it raised to 6 months (that is one of the cases I linked to).

I never said anyone got life in prison for breaking Canadian Criminal Code 430, I said they could be in certain circumstances, and if you could read I posted the exact section of the criminal code which says, “Punishment

(2) Every one who commits mischief that causes actual danger to life is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.”

So you can get life in prison for ‘mischief’. Whether anyone ever has is not relevant, as I was merely pointing out that the crime called ‘mischief’ in Canada is an indictable offense or felony and not some Dennis the Menace prank.

cho cho ma

Ya because Japan is completely honoring the request to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Seriously, the Japanese government is corrupt, if they disagree with some one they issue a warrant, and they know more often then not that person will be found guilty because of the 98% conviction rate in Japan. It doesnt matter even if paul is found guilty, because Sea Shepherd will still be down there protecting whales no matter what.

cho cho ma

(by the way he isnt guilt of doing anything exept for saving the lives of the defenseless)

cho cho ma

Monty Python had to go up against killer a flying rabit anyway. Moral of the story: humans lose vs. nature

David

Really?

What happened to the killer flying rabbit?

Moral of the story: nature lose vs. human.

http://www.Seashepherd.org Captain Paul Watson

The Sea Shepherd legal team in Japan has informed me that the arrest warrant was issued by the Japanese Coast Guard and NOT by the Japanese police. The Japanese Coast Guard has no authority to issue an international arrest warrant through Interpol.

David is wrong in stating that I have a felony conviction in Canada. I do not. I have a clean FBI record in the United States (not a single felony or misdemeanor conviction) and my only convictions in Canada have been misdemeanors under Canadian Department of Fisheries regulations under the Seal Protection Act that makes it illegal to document or even witness the killing of a seal.

I remain free to travel internationally except for Japan but I’m not going to stop Japanese whaling by going to Japan. We will return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in December for the 7th voyage to the coast of Antarctica to oppose illegal whaling activities by the poachers of the Japanese whaling fleet.

My ship “Steve Irwin” departs tomorrow from NYC for Southern France to begin “Operation Blue Rage” our campaign to oppose the illegal exploitation of Bluefin tuna.

The issuance of the Japanese Coast Guard arrest warrant has served to help Sea Shepherd further our continued expose of illegal Japanese whaling activities.

The third season of Whale Wars will begin on June 3rd.

Sea Shepherd’s return to Antarctica in December 2010 will be named “Operation No Compromise.”

cho cho ma

No the 3rd season of whale wars is on June 4th not 3rd http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/. Long live Sea Sherpherd!!!!!
From MN, with hope…

Good going Paul! I knew you would stay cool in the face of the Japanese arrest warrant. Personally, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Good luck with Operation No Compromise and Operation Blue Rage!
Mick

paul watson stated:

“David is wrong in stating that I have a felony conviction in Canada. I do not.”

In 1994 paul watson was convicted in Canada of the offence of mischief. He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, the maximum victim fine surcharge of $35.00 and 2 years probation.
He was convicted of an “indictable offence”. “In the United States, a crime of similar severity is a felony”.

Michael Raymer

“In the United States, a crime of similar severity is a felony”.

No, it’s not. Not even close. Please try again.
Mick

Michael Raymer,

What are you basing your statement on?

He was convicted of an “indictable offence” in Canada. Wikipedia states that, an indictable offence, “In the United States, a crime of similar severity is a felony”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictable_offence
Michael Raymer

In the U.S. you are not paying a $35 fine on a felony. We don’t jail you for 30 days on a felony conviction and we don’t give you a paltry 2 years probation to felons. Now we’re in common sense territory so you can just quit arguing. We also don’t make “mischeif” a felony. When we do, the pushments (especially the fines) are much harsher.

Give it up dude. You quoted the wrong source and you lose this round. It’s not like I’m cradling any fantasy that this will cause you to leave and not come back. Pick this back up on a different point and I’ll debate your ass into the ground there too.
Mick

Michael Raymer,

“In the U.S. you are not paying a $35 fine on a felony. We don’t jail you for 30 days on a felony conviction and we don’t give you a paltry 2 years probation to felons.”

First, we are not talking about the U.S. We are talking about Canada. He was convicted of an indictable offence in Canada. I cited a source that states that an indictable offence is a crime of “similar severity” to a “felony” in the U.S. You have cited nothing but your opinion.
Second, how do you know? Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Do you know anyone that has been convicted of a felony? Are you a lawyer?
Third, it is possible to be convicted of a felony in the U.S. and recieve a light sentence, such as probation. What determines whether something is a misdemeanor or a felony is the maximum sentence that can be imposed. watson could have been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years, I believe.

“It’s not like I’m cradling any fantasy that this will cause you to leave and not come back.”

I, on the other hand, do fully expect you to run away from this debate,like you have many times before.
Michael Raymer

OK Fantasy-boy, time to get the meds from the nice doctor. You were in fact talking about the U.S. You twice quoted, “In the United States, a crime of similar severity is a felony”. That is the quote that I specifically responded too. And I am telling you that a crime of similar severity is not a felony. And I have a degree in Criminal Justice that tells me so.

“Third, it is possible to be convicted of a felony in the U.S. and recieve a light sentence, such as probation.”

When that happens the charge gets pled down to a misdemeanor. No court in the States is going to give the sentences listed and still call it a felony. And don’t tell me to check my facts, son. Get them yourself. I’m absolutely right about this and you’re tilting at windmills.

Y’know, I do this Mick mainly because you’re such a pain in the ass and I love making you look stupid. But here’s the absolute truth. I don’t give a rats furry ass what Watson or anyone else was arrested, charged and/or convicted of. The man could have a rap sheet as long as my leg and it wouldn’t change my feelings about whaling. This whole thing your side keeps bringing up is a worthless debate and I wish my side didn’t spend so much time on it. But, they do so, well done.

But save the innocent act. I just busted one of your side for blatant identity theft a couple weeks back, and I’m sure you saw it too. Quit pretending to be the side wearing white gloves.
Robert Beller

Michael Raymer where do you practice law because there are lots of felons who never see a day of prison because they got felony probation. Felony probation is a common sentence when you can’t talk the prosecutor down to a misdemeanor.

“Forty percent of convicted felons will serve time in state prison, 28 percent in a local jail, and 32 percent will go straight to probation without any jail time. In 2000, the average sentence for state prison was 4.5 years and six months for local prison sentences with three years of probation. One third of all persons convicted on felony charges never actually serves jail time, but goes directly into a probation period”.

http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/criminal_law/felony/charges.html

NOPE! Nothing about 32% of people begging down to a misdemeanor to avoid their felony probation. Mr. Raymer where did you say you got your law degree? I’m think you got here:

http://www.ohiocollegeclowningarts.com/
Mick

Michael Raymer,

I thought you were capable of following the conversation. I guess I was wrong.

You stated, “In the U.S. you are not paying a $35 fine on a felony. We don’t jail you for 30 days on a felony conviction and we don’t give you a paltry 2 years probation to felons.”

I replied, First, we are not talking about the U.S. We are talking about Canada. He was convicted of an indictable offence in Canada. I cited a source that states that an indictable offence is a crime of “similar severity” to a “felony” in the U.S.

We were not discussing the relation between sentencing for felonies in the U.S. and sentencing for indictable offences in Canada. We were discussing the fact that a “indictable offence” in Canada is of similar severity to a “felony” in the U.S. And you still haven’t provided any source, other than your opinion, proving otherwise.

“And I have a degree in Criminal Justice that tells me so.”

Is that right? I have real world experience that tells me otherwise. I personally know two individuals who were convicted of felonies, first offence with no priors, who were only sentenced to probation. 4 years and 6 years respectively.

By the way, when I asked you “what are you basing your statement on?” you replied, “In the U.S. you are not paying a $35 fine on a felony. We don’t jail you for 30 days on a felony conviction and we don’t give you a paltry 2 years probation to felons. Now we’re in common sense territory so you can just quit arguing.” Yet, in your next post, you say, “And I have a degree in Criminal Justice that tells me so.” If you really do have a degree in crimanl justice, why didn’t you say that in the first place?

“The man could have a rap sheet as long as my leg and it wouldn’t change my feelings about whaling.”

I know that already. You have made it abundantly clear that you don’t care about the law, the truth or other people. The only thing you care about is your own simplistic and narrow-minded views against Japanese whaling.
Buddha

Um not to stoke the fire but I personally was convicted of a felony, sentenced to 45 days and 1 yr of probation. If I failed probation I would have gone to prison for 2yrs(actually 1 with good behavior). So I would wonder what was his 2 years of probation backing up? (ie how long in prison if he was not a good boy) I believe that if it a year or less thats a misdemeanor and longer is a felony.
starladear

WHO F#*%ING CARES!! You are all focused on and impassioned by the WRONG thing! If you all used half that much energy focused on the right issues maybe we could accomplish something positive! Weather you like Capt. Watson or not, you have to admit that he stands up for what he believes in and weather you agree with it or not, you have to admire that. At least he doesn’t just sit around and bitch about the issues. He is out there doing something about it.

cho cho ma

I doubt that comment was really from Paul Watson, but other than the whale wars date it was all true.

http://www.ecorazzi.com Michael d'Estries

I can confirm that the comment did indeed come from Paul Watson.

Robert Beller

Then he’s just lying like he usually does because his indictable offense (felony) had NOTHING to do with seals period! It was for attacking an innocent Cuban fishing vessel legally fishing. You can get a copy of Watson’s sentencing document like we did by sending an email to inquiries@supreme.court.nl.ca ask for:

October 10, 1995
SENTENCING DECISION OF GREEN. J. (Orally)1994 St. J. No. 2059

In the US a felony is any crime that can receive a sentence over 1 year in duration Canada doesn’t use the word felony they call those class of crimes “indictable offenses”. Watson was convicted of an offense that could have carried a 10 year sentence it doesn’t matter what his actual sentence was he was still convicted of the equivalent of a felony.

Martha

ROTFLMAO… This is so incredibly funny – the japanese (like their toyotas ‘will stop for nothing’ to demonstrate what utter and desperate fools they are.

Robert Beller

Peter Bethune thought his situation was funny until it wasn’t. Now he’s tired of cabbage soup and all the lies Watson fed him about how the Japanese have a history of letting SSCS members go with a warning. You do know Bethune’s wife Sharon is worried about losing her home because the SSCS didn’t buy the Ady Gill they leased it for $10,000 and no insurance company is covering the losses.

I thought Paul Watson and his hapless lackey Peter Bethune were going to put whaling on trial and they welcomed arrest? Bethune’s 15 minutes of criminal fame have come and gone without much fanfare outside of Japan and your local twigs and berry bistros. Pete is going to learn some Japanese language and respect for Japanese law in the months or years to come. But according to Watson he has 12 other people ready to go to jail so Peter might have some company next year if his sentence is that long or longer.

kleena

As far as I know, the Ady Gil was bought by a donor – a guy with the same name as the boat – and then left at the disposition of SSCS. So where do you have the information of the skipper’s wf ebeing worried about her home from?

TitaniumTotem

I serious doubt it was Watson also since he would know that Canada doesn’t use the “felony” classification. As for his legal team, they are apparently unfamiliar with the laws of Japan, specifically those that detail the legal authority of their Coast Guard which isn’t restricted to sending warrants out through an Interpol notice.
http://blog.babyganics.com Linda

Hail Paul Watson, defender of our planet’s future!
gizwinkus

Watson clones spreading Watson lies, how about that! I’m not surprised the Japanese waited to issue a warrant till they had an operative in custody singing like a canary to try and save himself. I reckon the Judge just needed the evidence of Bethune’s statement. I’m sure we won’t see Watson telling Bethune to go board the ship in Whale Wars. We’ve seen how he passes orders down through his flunkies from behind closed doors so he can try to maintain some measure of plausible deniability. Guess he didn’t figure on being ratted out.
Ecocht Wills

Japan is so fucking backward it’s pathetic.

TitaniumTotem

They are, in what way?

cho cho ma

Hey how can you serve a warrant for obstructing business activitys when your whaling for “Research”. Maybe if they labeled their ships COMMERCIAL then they wouldn’t have these problems-oh, oh ya then that would be to obviously illegal. Great Job contradicting your self Japan so u can make more Yen. Brilliant money making scheme!!!!

Mick

cho cho ma,

“Hey how can you serve a warrant for obstructing business activitys…”

You forgot to mention the warrant also includes assault. It is “obstruction of business” in the sense of obstructing someone from doing their job.
Robert Beller

Hey look, the Japanese Coast Guard writes their name in English on their boats too! I guess that’s means they are getting ready to deal with some people who don’t speak Japanese.

http://yachts.monacoeye.com/files/japan_coast_guard.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Japan_Coast_Guard_PS206_Houou.JPG

Robert Beller

One of my links doesn’t work so here’s some more JCG vessels with their organizations name written in English. Watson and his follower’s ignorance knows no bounds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan_Coast_Guard_PL51_Hida_2.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PL31.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plhakata.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan_Coast_Guard_PL42_Dewa.JPG

David

I really like that ‘military grade’ cannon on the front of the Japanese Coast Guard vessels. You think they might get to try them out on the Sea Shepherds?

I believe the Norwegian Coast Guard tried their ‘military grade’ cannon on the Sea Shepherds once. And the Sea Shepherds haven’t bothered them since.
Jane Overton

the are not. They are waling for commercial profit against international treaty. that says no commercial activity below the 60th parallel. What if all countries broke that treaty and went to get oil, or anything else they could from a heretofore unclaimed piece of real estate? I was determined that Antarctica belongs to all countries and to preserve it, there is to be no commercial activity. Are you really foolish enough to believe the Japanese Whalers are research scientists?

The whalers are IN FACT breaking international law. I feel that Capt Watson will prove that if he gets a day in court. Of course, it will be a kangaroo court if done in Japan.

David

Sorry Jane you are still wrong. The Antarctic Treaty, through CCAMLR, does not prohibit fishing/whaling below the 60th parallel. It does however prohibit drilling for oil. So taking whales OK, taking oil NO.
mkay

I will just have to give Sea Shepherd 30% more donations this year so they can kick some Japanese whaler arse!!!
Robert Beller

Why not throw 50% of you money into the ocean it will be more effective at protecting the seas than donating a penny to Sea Shepherd self aggrandizement fund? Why not paint a rowboat black and crash it into cruise liner maybe you could get arrested like your hero Peter Buffoon and “put whaling on trial”.
mkay

Just the satisfaction of pissing off the dirt bag Poaching organization the ICR and the Japanese Govt. as they loose more money when Sea Shepherd is around is worth every dime I donate. It also makes my day and fortunately there are many people who are just like me Ady Gil ,Bob Barker and other well off Californians so lets keep it coming like I said before let the Japanese go back to their rock and eat rice ,they have done enough damage to our world and environment.
Robert Beller

Japan is the second most powerful economy on the planet if the research didn’t bring in a penny it would only cost about .0003% of Japan’s annual budget. You can’t outspend the Japanese! Hell, you can’t outspend Burundi! The Japanese could care less about the money the are concerned for the safety of their research crews. Watson is bragging about costing the Japanese money and the Japanese are agreeing with him to facilitate an obstruction charge against Bethune and by extension the SSCS. Japan has been subsidizing whale research at a loss since 1987 and there has never been a taxpayer complaint. The only thing the SSCS claims are is evidence in Watson’s eventual upcoming trial and Buffoon’s current trial.
Dmitry

“Their research crews” what a terminology!!! I picture people in white coats with thick glasses manning harpoon cannons. Those who plainly hate Sea Shepherd would never come up with stuff that. Why don’t you come out of the shadows a pro-whaling pro-Japanese pro-fake-research “Robert Beller” or “David” or whatever and tell us exactly who you work for and who’s paying you to read up on heaps of that IWC and legal stuff that a regular person would never bother with???
David

What heaps are you talking about? The IWC ‘legal stuff’ is barely three pages long.

I can’t be sure about anybody else, even you, but I don’t get paid for this. If there is some one who would pay me can you tell me how to contact them. I can always use a little extra money.
From MN, with hope…

This year it will be illegal to operate a ship that takes heavy oil (Nisshin Maru) to operate below the 60th parallel.
From MN, with hope…

This was meant to be a reply to David’s ‘Sorry Jane you are still wrong. The Antarctic Treaty, through CCAMLR, does not prohibit fishing/whaling below the 60th parallel. It does however prohibit drilling for oil. So taking whales OK, taking oil NO.’
David

You need to check your facts, From MN, with hope…

The new IMO regulations don’t take effect until August of 2011. So heavy grade oil is still OK this year.

Now the 2011/12 season will be different. But here is the thing you are missing MN. The Nisshin Maru can burn the lighter, and still allowed, oils. They are just more expensive so many large ships, like cruise ships, use the cheaper heavy oil. So the Nisshin Maru will just use heavy oil on the trip down then switch to lighter oil for the rest of the time. A little more expensive but no real problem.

Maybe if you would actually read/research the regulations that you think are going to cause a problem you would see that they really aren’t going to stop whaling.
Robert Beller

Sorry Jane you’re wrong, the IWC isn’t a treaty there are absolutely NO laws governing whales outside the paper thin regulation offered by the IWC. The UN and CCAMLR defer to the IWC in all matter regarding whaling.

“IWC is a voluntary international organization and is not backed up by treaty. Therefore, the IWC, in essence, is a voluntary organization which has substantial practical limitations on its authority. First, any member countries are free to simply leave the organization and declare themselves not bound by it if they so wish. Second, any member state may opt out of any specific IWC regulation by lodging a formal objection to it within 90 days of the regulation coming into force[20] (such provisions are common in international agreements, on the logic that it is preferable to have parties remain within the agreements than opt out altogether). Third, the IWC has no ability to enforce any of its decisions through penalty imposition”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Whaling_Commission#Enforcement_under_the_IWC

Pete

I don’t see why Watson thinks this will become an issue for Australia to test their resolve to stand up to whalers. They didn’t come rushing to his aid when the AG sunk. Has he forgotten his recent visa difficulty? What makes him possibly think that Australia will adopt him and his criminal troubles? Watson has become a burden and has worn out his welcome.

Watson has dual US and Canadian citizenship. He lives in the US and travels on a US passport. They know where Friday Harbor is. He should be reading up on the extradition treaties between Japan and the US, and not worry about holing up in Australia. Does he intend to never leave Australia for the remainder of his life?

If that was Paul Watson on here earlier; he has forgotten his criminal record. He was convicted for harassing the Cuban fishing vessel Rio Las Casas. Despite poster Hufingraz’s fuzzy recollection, Watson was not aquitted of all charges.

From court documents: “Paul Watson was convicted, following trial by jury, of the offence of mischief, contrary to subsection 430(3) of the Criminal Code, with respect to the throwing of butyric acid onto the deck of the Cuban fishing vessel Rio Las Casas. The offence of mischief in relation to property the value of which exceeds $1000 may be prosecuted by indictment or on summary conviction. The Crown chose to proceed by way of indictment. Subsection 430(3)(a) of the Criminal Code provides that the offence carries with it a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years.”

There were appeals, but the conviction was upheld. The case had absolutely nothing to do with sealing as Watson impersonator stated. I hope that the Sea Shepherd legal team in Japan is not the same group that advised Watson that they could attempt a citizen’s arrest and board a foreign ship!

Reference:
1994 St. J. No. 2059
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEWFOUNDLAND
TRIAL DIVISION
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
AGAINST
PAUL FRANKLIN WATSON
October 10, 1995
SENTENCING DECISION OF GREEN. J. (Orally)
Mike

This Paul Watson guy should face life in prison for piracy. He is no different than the Somali pirates. He will either be KIA next season or incarcerated. He is an animal that must be stopped. His ships should be bombed, his workers slaughtered like little pigs and he should be impaled and left to die in agony. This man has no respect for anything so surely he cannot hide behind the law, he makes up his own laws. Paul Watson is an example of what’s wrong with the human race, he should be butchered with as much care as the safety he practices on the high seas. Paul Watson is a monster, a criminal and a pirate, he should be treated as a pile of soon-to-be rotting flesh. His days are numbered and his death or detention will no be pleasant.

Jane Overton

can you not read? the Japanese are breaking international law.

No commercial activity below 60th parallel. Are you willing to just cede them Antarctica? It is unclaimed at this point. That treaty is there for a reason and Japan is signatory to it.
Robert Reppy

Wow, Mike, you are really f–ked up. Take a few breaths and calm down. Paul Watson is a hero. He cannot realistically be compared with Somali pirates except in your fevered brain. Pirates demand money and kill people. Paul goes out of his way to avoid hurting people, has never made a demand of money – in fact, he is trying to stop people who DO kill for money – and if anyone has ever got hurt by his campaigns, it’s been his own people hurt by the whalers.
While he goes out of his way to avoid hurting humans (only machines), you are going ballistic calling for slaughtering volunteer environmentalists who care about Life as a whole, and advocate impaling them and letting them die in agony (much like the whalers do to the sentient beings that Watson is trying to save). Who sounds like the better person here?
You should wipe the spittle off your lips, take a pill, turn off Fox News and the Glenn Beck show, and start showing some appreciation for people who are doing some good in the world, whom you are not fit to even lick the shoes of.

Walter

I must say I have to agree with Mike, Mr. Watson’s actions are the same as the Somali pirates. He should face his day in court and be treated the same as all other pirates. Robert Reppy, the Somali pirates also believe that they are doing good, that doesn’t make it so. I think you comments brushing aside his legitimate comments underscores your inability to think clearly. Mike’s point is perfectly valid, if Mr. Watson can take the law into his own hands they why can’t people who oppose Mr. Watson do the same? The point is they can and they will. Mr. Watson should face a firing squad.
georgina0912

If Captain Watson (and DO NOT correct me for saying Captain, i have been reading Ecorazzi for a long time and i know that sooner or later some wise ass will say something like “how. many. times. do. i. have. to. explain. what. a. captain. is.? Do not want to hear it period) deserve to face a firing squad then so the Japanese. Who do they think they are fooling? The entire world knows they are not into whaling for research, the entire world, and they are the ones thinking that they should still get away with the massacre of whales. That alone is the reason they are pissed at CAPTAIN WATSON.

Hell yes, he and his crew of volunteers are interfering with the “business” of the Japanese…if i was them, i would be pissed as well.

Long Live the SSCS!!!!!!!!!!
Henri

Georgina, Paul Watson is not a captian, he is a pirate just like the Somalis. While Mike’s view may be a bit extreme he is correct. Pirates are a problem and killing the pirates is a viable and realistic way to deal with them, however, in the interest of preserving HUMAN life, something which pirate Watson has no regard for, a lengthy prison sentence in Japan will suffice. I hear that Mr. Bethune’s diet in the Japanese prison consists of cabbage and rice. I hope he enjoys it! He’ll be there for at least a decade. Ring leader pirate Watson, however, should face a much stiffer sentence as the instigator of violence on the high seas – 25 – life is suitable for someone with such a felonious background. Or perhaps the Japanese will simply dispose of him at sea, also a suitable for a pirate.

Robert Beller

That absolutely isn’t Cap’n Crap for brains Paul Watson would know full well his felony has NOTHING to do with seals. Watson was convicted of facilitate an unprovoked attack on a Cuban fishing vessel operation legally in international waters. Remember “Paul” this is the case where you claimed the “color of right” but later lied and said the UN Charter For Nature saved you. This is the case where you were notified that the UNCN offered you no protection against lawful prosecution.

October 10, 1995
SENTENCING DECISION OF GREEN. J. (Orally)1994 St. J. No. 2059
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEWFOUNDLAND
TRIAL DIVISION (excerpts)

“Paul Watson was convicted, following trial by jury, of the offence of mischief, contrary to subsection 430(3) of the Criminal Code, with respect to the throwing of butyric acid onto the deck of the Cuban fishing vessel Rio Las Casas. The acid was thrown from the vessel Cleveland Amo ry, a Canadian flag ship, as it drew alongside the Cuban vessel”.

“The offence of mischief in relation to property the value of which exceeds $1000 may be prosecuted by indictment or on summary conviction. The Crown chose to proceed by way of indictment. Subsection 430(3)(a) of the Criminal Code provides that the offence carries with it a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years. (making it the equivalent of a felony.)”

“By its finding of guilt, the jury must be taken to have concluded that an obstruction, interruption or interference with the use, operation or enjoyment of the Rio Las Casas occurred as a result of the throwing of the butyric acid and that Mr. Watson aided and abetted the offence by maneuvering his vessel into close quarters with the other vessel, thereby providing the thrower of the acid the means and opportunity to accomplish her criminal purpose.”

“Inasmuch as Mr. Watson’s defence to this charge was that he acted under
colour of right in that he himself believed that he was authorized to do what he did by the UN Declaration (1982) known as the World Charter for Nature, his conviction also carries with it the conclusion that the jury were satisfied that the Crown had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he did not have such an honest belief”.
David

“And I have a degree in Criminal Justice that tells me so.”

Well Michael Raymer if that is true than you should get your money back from whatever school you went to. Because I guess they didn’t teach you how to research a criminal charge.

http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-46/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-46.html

Here is the crime Watson was convicted of.

Mischief
430. (1) Every one commits mischief who wilfully
(a) destroys or damages property;
(b) renders property dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective;
(c) obstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property; or
(d) obstructs, interrupts or interferes with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.
Mischief in relation to data
(1.1) Every one commits mischief who wilfully
(a) destroys or alters data;
(b) renders data meaningless, useless or ineffective;
(c) obstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use of data; or
(d) obstructs, interrupts or interferes with any person in the lawful use of data or denies access to data to any person who is entitled to access thereto.

Punishment
(2) Every one who commits mischief that causes actual danger to life is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.

Punishment
(3) Every one who commits mischief in relation to property that is a testamentary instrument or the value of which exceeds five thousand dollars
(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or
(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

So in Canada the crime called Mischief can result in a sentence of Life in Prison, under certain conditions, and you still insist that it is not a felony because the word they use to describe it isn’t to your liking? That is a pretty arrogant and bias position. You seem to think everybody does thing just like the US does.

You say you don’t care about Paul’s rap sheet. So just admit you’re wrong, admit Paul is a convicted felon and the issue goes away. The longer you insist on lying and trying to prove that your lie is somehow true, the longer the issue will stay active and the more people who will see that Paul Watson lies every time he says he has never been convicted of a felony.

Michael Raymer

You guys crack me up. You spend all this time and effort for what? Convicted felon or not convicted felon? Who cares? Is it stopping him from going anywhere or doing what he wants?

Nice reply above Robert. Y’know I’ve haven’t been treating you with much respect lately. I’ve said some things about you directly concerning your apparent intelligence based upon your writings and, well………yup, I was right. You really are a simpering retard with basic comprehension issues. Where the hell in any of my posts do I say anything about Canadian law? I am talking about American law under the circumstances given. And since, between you and Mick, I am apparently dealing with a couple of high school kids and their sexual frustration, I really don’t feel the need to connect the dots for you. Go see the nice librarian and maybe she’ll help you out.

And again, I am asking and I want an answer. Considering that one of YOUR people was caught, right here, in an act of blatant identity theft, where do you guys get off pointing fingers at anyone else? If you’re that hot to cut and paste something, go find whether that’s a felony or not. Criminal or not, Watson does what he says, he doesn’t hide behind cheesy shit like that.

Robert Beller

I’m talking about American law too! It is you who doesn’t know how to read with comprehension, the US link I provided proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are wrong. Over 30% of US felons never see the inside of a jail they get probation. Your argument was “In the U.S. you are not paying a $35 fine on a felony. We don’t jail you for 30 days on a felony conviction and we don’t give you a paltry 2 years probation to felons”.

My link shows that felons imprisoned in state facilities average 4.5 years but felons jailed in local municipal facilities average 6 months incarceration and that 32% of all convicted felons don’t ever go to jail they get probation. You do realize there are various classes of felonies right? Not all of them are rape and murder breaking curfew and loitering can be a felony Vandalism is a felony, Drunkenness is a felony here’s a list of the top 20 in the US.

http://felonyguide.com/List-of-felony-crimes.php

“Convicted felon, who cares” Obviously you do because you kept trying to defend the indefensible and now that someone has proven you wrong suddenly you wonder why it matters and go off on a tangent about your deep love for me and my factual information. I’m sure your law professor is very proud of you, that was a Mr. Bozo wasn’t it?
Robert Beller

“You guys crack me up. You spend all this time and effort for what? Convicted felon or not convicted felon? Who cares? Is it stopping him from going anywhere or doing what he wants”?

Jesus Christ, you are Perry “Doodles” Mason aren’t you? Having a prior criminal record isn’t a good thing when people are making out warrants for your arrest. Watson’s previous convictions (remember Norway) shows a history of similar criminal actions and it strips away any notion he had that the UN Charter for Nature is a protection for his actions. The Canadian judge was very clear on that matter that’s why Watson had to fall back to the “color of right defense” and it is also why he doesn’t launch butyric acid attacks near Canada anymore because you can only use that defense once. It is also why Watson doesn’t like talking about it because his 1995 Canadian conviction illustrates his UNCN stuff is BS. Unfortunately for Paul Japan doesn’t recognize color of right or his delusional interpretation the UNCN.

As for the answer you are so desperate to hear why don’t you tell us? “Susan” could have easily been one of “your” agent provocateurs not unlike the ghostly former love of Paul’s life Mia. BTW, nice attempt at a thread derail why not stay on topic. Oh, that’s right you’ve already been schooled there. Oh well, carry on with your off topic blathering.

cho cho ma

Wow pretty cool that was actually from Paul.
GO SEA SHEPHERD!!!

Robert Beller

Yeah it must have been Paul you can tell because he lied about his criminal history in Canada! It wouldn’t be Paul Watson without a poorly crafted lie that anyone with an Internet connection could prove wrong.

georgina0912

Paul Watson lies. Paul Watson manipulates. Paul Watson creates more lies. Paul Watson deserves to be impaled and die a slow death.

Really mature.

Convicted or not, felon or not, he does what he does and will continue doing it out out passion and respect for sentient beings. Why do you hate him so much? Is he interfering with your business as well? Are you a whale killer?

From MN, with hope…

Paul Watson is the one who was convicted, not any of you, so he knows what he’s talking about.

Robert Beller

Paul doesn’t know a damn thing he’s talking about! He can try to ignore his criminal past it only makes him ignorant not right. Paul ignores inconvenient truths when they get in the way of him lying. Like when he said the SSCS sold the MV Sea Shepherd II when they actually abandoned it in Barclay sound Canada to become an ecological danger.

Here are pictures of the SSCS vessel “Sea Shepherd II” rotting away in Robbers Passage Barclay sound.

http://bcmarina.com/Places/Robbers_Pass … nails.html

according to this: http://www.sqwalk.com/docs/BCsHarbourHu … tOct09.pdf

“Sea Shepherd II
In April 2004, the MV Sea Shepherd II, located in Robbers Pass, Tzartus Island [also in Barkley Sound], was in a derelict state and in danger of sinking. By May 11, 2004, 188 tonnes of a mixture of waste oil and diesel was pumped off the Sea Shepherd II, but some 16 gallons per hour of seawater was leaking back into the vessel. On May 26, 2004, the vessel was taken in tow, arriving at the Esquimalt graving dock the next day for break up. By June 17, 2004, seven large waste bins of oiled debris had been removed from the vessel. By July 30, 2004, the break up of the vessel had been completed.
Cost to SOPF: $331,892.31 plus interest”

Even more to be found on the matter here: http://www.ssopfund.gc.ca/documents/2009_SSOPF_AR_e.pdf

2.6 Sea Shepherd II (2004)
In April 2004, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) received a number of reports that the MV Sea Shepherd II, located in Robbers Pass, Tzartus Island, British Columbia, was in a derelict state and in danger of sinking. The CCG, TCMS, and Provincial authorities attended on-scene to investigate. It was concluded that the vessel’s condition made it a threat to the marine environment. The ownership of the vessel could not be determined, so no assistance was forthcoming from that quarter. A Response Order under CSA section 678 was issued on April 26, 2004, by the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.
Robert Beller

No you are wrong, criminal records are a matter of public record anyone with an Internet connection can know the facts that Watson won’t tell you by sending an email to:

inquiries@supreme.court.nl.ca

ask for:

October 10, 1995
SENTENCING DECISION OF GREEN. J. (Orally)1994 St. J. No. 2059

From MN, with hope…

Oh, so if you were to be convicted of something you wouldnt know how bad your sentence was, only people with internet would?

mkay

It is just too bad that Paul Watson is interfeering with Japanese Illegal Poaching operations . If Japan considers illegal whaling buisiness then they are dumber than I thought . I hope the whole nation goes into an economic nosedive and Japan collapses , no loss to the rest of the planet.

Robert Beller

There is absolutely noting illegal about what the Japanese are doing that is why the anti-whaling nations of IWC were looking to make a lame compromise with the Japanese over whaling. And that is why Japan Norway and Iceland didn’t agree with the plan because they aren’t breaking the law now.

Japanese whale research is a business just like cancer research is. People are paid to conduct both whale and cancer research and interfering with this research is a crime. Japan is paying the ICR to conduct research and the SSCS is illegally interfering with them and by the SSCS’s own moronic admission they are costing Japanese tax payer millions in wasted subsidies. Thanks for screaming out the evidence to anyone who would listen Paul. Paul was dumb enough to give the Japanese years of evidence and then he delivered a member of his organization who has turned states evidence against his leader resulting in a warrant.

kleena

So what is the whale “research” of japan good for? Cancer research is meanto t be against cancer. Is the japanese program against whales? That would fit…given the number of whales (800 planned 2010??? WTH for?).
If japan is subsidizing their wicked whale restauranit inndustry, that still doesn’t make it right and interfering with it wrong.
I already hear you arguing that interfering with Wehrmacht operations is illegal, because the Reich is paying them for doing what they do…
If one criminal is paying another one to do something, they still both stay criminals.
Robert Beller

The research is good for harpoon sales, what does it matter what good it is to you it only has to be “good” to the Japanese to satisfy article 8. Regardless of how much you try to demonize whale research it is still considered legal research by the only organization that has any say on the matter of whales and whaling.

Interfering with the with Wehrmacht operations WAS illegal where they were in power (65 years ago) but it has absolutely nothing to do with legal whale research conducted in the 21st century under the auspices of the IWC article 8. Your inaccurate emotional screed won’t change the IWC only a 3/4 majority of IWC members can do that.

David

“I just busted one of your side for blatant identity theft a couple weeks back…”

“Considering that one of YOUR people was caught, right here, in an act of blatant identity theft, where do you guys get off pointing fingers at anyone else?”

Really now!

First off you didn’t ‘bust’ or ‘catch’ anybody. And there is no way to know what the really situation was without the IP logs. You do realize that anybody can type in any name when they post on this forum? I could use your name next time I post. So how do you know that the ‘busting’ wasn’t a fake post by someone else trying to discredit the original poster? Or as someone else suggested that all the posts under that name weren’t a plan to try and discredit the anti-Paul Watson side?

Secondly, what is this ‘one of your side’ BS? Are you so delusional that you think everybody that is against the SSCS are all one big cabal that meets to make plans every Thursday at 7:30? Get a clue, Sherlock. There are as many different ‘sides’ within “our side” as there are people on “our side”.

“I am talking about American law under the circumstances given.”

Why the heck would you do that? Watson committed the felony he was convicted of under Canadian law, so US law has no bearing. Didn’t they teach you that at Clown College?

“You guys crack me up. You spend all this time and effort for what? Convicted felon or not convicted felon? Who cares?”

Obviously you do since you won’t let it die. You insist on beating the dead whale. Paul is a convicted felon. Mischief can be a felony in Canada. And you got you degree at the same place Watson got that neato badge that saved him from the ersatz bullet.

“Watson does what he says, he doesn’t hide behind cheesy shit like that.”

Really? I have heard him lie about all sorts of things. I have also heard him say multiple times, “Whaling stops today!” Has whaling stopped? I must have missed it. Either that or he doesn’t do what he says.

Michael Raymer

David, you can put whatever pre-pubescent spin on it that you want. The person was not only using Susan’s name but used her identity in their original post. I noticed it, I took action and I stopped it. Call it whatever you like. Since you are from the same side as this pathetic loser, you get painted with the same brush. This is the same tactic you use against the anti-whaling crowd now you get to live with it. I mean really, the utter cowardice of what that poster did was stunning. 2 weeks later it still pisses me off. I’m sure that it goes completely over your head, how truly offensive an act this was. I understand that you pro-death guys must deal with a smaller than average brain and severely limited comprehension of the world around you. But this was a violation of a person and a violation of a persons privacy. All for the oh-so important cause of trying to make a point on an environmental internet forum.

This is what the pro-whaling side is to me now. A bunch of adolescent punks who will whine about someone ELSE’S crimes while committing crimes themselves. (Wow, what an eerily similar situation.) Where I was once willing to maintain some civility and respect, it is now gone. You disgust me, you have my unwavering contempt and I’m not going to be so shy about hiding it from now on.

“Secondly, what is this ‘one of your side’ BS? Are you so delusional that you think everybody that is against the SSCS are all one big cabal that meets to make plans every Thursday at 7:30? Get a clue, Sherlock. There are as many different ’sides’ within “our side” as there are people on “our side”.”

No there isn’t. I hear the same line of bullshit from all of you. Each and every time it comes up. You may have your individual styles, but it’s all the same thing. The size and substance of this very thread is living proof of that. If the pro-whaling group is divided, it’s only into two sub-factions:

1. Those who are ridiculously stupid enough to think that whaling is good for people or the planet.

2. Those who honestly don’t care about whaling one way or another, they just like to stir shit up on the internet.

That’s it. That’s your side there, Concerned Citizen. That’s the crowd you run with. So every time you try to get all noble and hard-done-by, this is what I see and it’s what I respond to.

mkay

What Japan is doing is illegal ,it is commercial whaling and commercial whaling is still illegal and they are whaling in a whale sanctuary ,same as poachers in Afica. Paul Watson and supporters will be back next season to shut the Japanese down in the southern ocean ,with more ships and more crew and a new helicopter. I am sending more funds to help them in the operations and it doesn’t matter who likes it or not the Sea Shepherds WILL be back to stop the Japanese and soon they will go back to their lousy island nation and they can just try to live on rice instead.
Robert Beller

What Japan is doing is 100% legal and sanctioned by the IWC and it’s wonderful articles 8. BTW, Commercial whaling isn’t illegal that is why Norway and Iceland are full blown commercial whaling and they are still member of the IWC in good standing so is Japan. Look for yourself.

http://iwcoffice.org/commission/iwcmain.htm#nations

How could that be possible for nations to break your imaginary “laws” yet still be members of the only internationally recognized arbiter of all things whaling? Here’s a hint, it has a lot to do with you being wrong but that isn’t surprising when you depend on an avowed liar like Paul Watson for your “facts”.

The Sea Sheeple can come back all they like Japan has plenty of jail cells waiting for them. That is if the Tuna mafia lets them live. How is the Steve Irwin going to avoid Greenpeace’s fate in 2008?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivr3xnDsFn4#

“Writing in The Daily Mail yesterday, Andrew Malone described the operation of spotter planes. He said, “Operating illegally from airfields in Malta, Libya and Croatia, these rogue pilots call in the coordinates of the tuna shoals to the captains of more than 200 hi-tech boats waiting below”.

http://www.mafia-news.com/category/malta/

No wonder Cap’n Coward is sitting this one out.
Mick

mkay,

“What Japan is doing is illegal ,it is commercial whaling and commercial whaling is still illegal..”

You should check with the IWC. According to them Japan is legally conducting whaling under SCIENTIFIC PERMIT. Norway and Iceland are legally conducting commercial whaling UNDER OBJECTION. Russia, the U.S. and Greenland are legally conducting whaling under ABORIGINAL SUBSISTENCE. All three categories are legal exceptions to the moratorium on commercial whaling.
Robert Beller

IWC Article 8 is very clear there is no limit to a member nations right to issue scientific permits the Japanese can issue a permit for 10,000 whales to test out new harpoon grenade designs and then grind them up for fertilizer and they wouldn’t be breaking any “laws”. The ICR’s research doesn’t have to make anyone happy outside of Japan. And Article 8 overrides any other Commission regulations including the moratorium and sanctuaries.

“The IWC is a voluntary international organization and is not backed up by treaty. Therefore, the IWC, in essence, is a voluntary organization which has substantial practical limitations on its authority. First, any member countries are free to simply leave the organization and declare themselves not bound by it if they so wish. Second, any member state may opt out of any specific IWC regulation by lodging a formal objection to it within 90 days of the regulation coming into force(such provisions are common in international agreements, on the logic that it is preferable to have parties remain within the agreements than opt out altogether). Third, the IWC has no ability to enforce any of its decisions through penalty imposition”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Whaling_Commission#Enforcement_under_the_IWC

Whaling in the North Atlantic is totally legal you still haven’t explained how Iceland and Norway are still members of the IWC after they broke your imaginary law. You are willfully ignorant of the facts like most SSCS supporters. The pause in whaling can end for any country who lodged an objection to the pause or drops out of the Commission. You do realize your “ban” was actually a 10 year pause in whaling that the anti whaling faction of the IWC decided to extend with scientific obfuscation and excuses. Norway LEGALLY went back to commercial whaling because of it’s objection to the pause. Japan was blackmailed by the USA into rescinding their objection for continued fishing rights in US waters but the US later reneged on those fishing rights. Japan LEGALLY fell back to scientific whaling to prove there are enough whales to hunt which is the IWC’s stated mission.

The IWC is the end all be all of internationally recognized whale regulation and it is just a gentleman’s agreement at best. There are NO LAWS against commercial whaling just a old agreement that is wearing thin for the whalers.

Aymee

The issues of his prior convictions are of little importance in this issue. I am unsure of the Canadian legal system or the Australian but I can say in the US the degree and nature of a felony determines the punishment. It is possible to have a felony and only be in jail for one night. However, Canadian law may be different. Regardless of this for the Japanese government to wait so long shows little strength in their justifications for the warrant. If they are to propose Australia turn him over it would be a naive assumption on their part. If Australian authorities see fit for the charge I’m sure the matter would be settled in Australia on behalf of the Japanese.

Robert Beller

Any criminal prosecution is only as strong as the evidence it presents. It isn’t uncommon for authorities to allow criminals to break the law for years before they gather enough evidence for a proper conviction. It is obvious Peter Bethune has turned states evidence against Watson and implicated him as the mastermind behind the assaults. It’s amazing how well a diet of cabbage soup and solitary confinement can work during a three week interrogation. Peter probably won’t even realize how much evidence he betrayed until his court date at the end of the month.

Why would you think the Japanese would bother with the Aussies? Watson has boasted that he has 12 more people ready to be arrested next season he may be one of them. Like I said and illustrated in an earlier post the Japanese Coast Guard paints their name in English on their vessels I guess that means they plan to tangle with people who don’t speak Japanese in the future.

mkay

Japan issued itself permits to whale in an established whale sanctuary and they are commercially processing and selling the whale meat on the black market, that is not legal research . Japan also makes no effort to follow established quotas for whale catches and there is no body that is officially counting and varifing the amount of whales caught. Time to send Sea Shepherd more funds so they can really obstruct buisiness next season. A small amount of whales caught by native Americans is no comparison to thousands destroyed by Japanese industry. If the world lets Japan continue they will fish tuna and other sea species to extinction.
Robert Beller

Japan 100% legally issues itself scientific permits article 8 of the IWC negates ALL Commission rules including the moratorium and SANCTUARIES. The Japanese don’t need a black market because article 8 requires research material must be used a far as practical. The sale of whale meat in Japan is legal the sale of whale meat outside of Japan isn’t Japan’s problem Neither you or the makers of the Cove can prove who in Japan is illegally selling whale meat and even if you could you’d only have one criminal individual not an entire industry. Aboriginal whale hunts take 30% of Japan’s cull just more evidence you don’t know what you are talking about.

David

mkay, the aboriginal hunters take is not insignificant when compared to what the Japanese take. Aboriginal hunts take over 30% of the total Japanese hunt and more than 50% of the Japanese Southern Ocean hunt, which is the only one the SSCS harrasses.

If 30% is insignificant, are you willing to take an insignificant cut in pay?

Aymee

Point blank, over whaling is as hazardous as overfishing. It depletes the ecosystem, lowers population counts, and eventually causes prices to escalate later. If they are going to do this they need to do it responsibly. Otherwise they ruin their own industry as well as the species themselves.
gizwinkus

“Point blank, over whaling is as hazardous as overfishing. It depletes the ecosystem, lowers population counts, and eventually causes prices to escalate later. If they are going to do this they need to do it responsibly. Otherwise they ruin their own industry as well as the species themselves.”

This is why the IWC was created Aymee, to stop over whaling, and it did. Whale populations of nearly every species are reported to be increasing by researchers. Japan is doing it responsibly by abiding with the laws, rules and regulations that the members of the IWC put in place. They are also acting responsibly in trying to stop a known criminal from having free reign to attack, disrupt and injure hard working innocent people. The irresponsible parties are the ones that have subverted the purpose of the IWC to their own ends,that of forbidding all commercial whaling forever. It was irresponsible and a violation of the convention for them to declare a Southern Ocean whale Sanctuary without scientific justification based on the best interests of the commercial whaling industry. Also, the members that allow illegal attacks to continue on legally whaling vessels are hugely irresponsible and daft to try to claim any moral high ground in the negotiations to reduce/reinstate quotas. They have the legal and moral obligation to stop the attacks, if they can, after they have been notified and given proof that such illegal attacks were/are taking place. They CAN stop it, they HAVE been asked to and HAVE been provided plenty of evidence. I’m appalled and ashamed that My government apparently condones terrorism as long as it’s a US charity organization that’s doing it to a foreign country that opposes certain US government policies to end all commercial whaling for emotional reasons, not scientifically sound ones. I wonder if they will continue to condone it after people are killed in the attacks? Those idiots in the Ady Gil were very nearly killed in their attack and Watson is totally to blame. Watson has earned his Warrant, Japan has been collecting evidence for years, this is not a spur of the moment decision. May Justice prevail.

David

I am not quite sure of your point Aymee. But if the IWC would do its job and set quotas then the issue would be solved. Their own Scientific Committee says that some species of whales were either never overexploited and/or have recovered sufficiently to be safely harvested at controlled levels.

As far as prices go. Depending on the day and what they are trying to prove, anti-whalers will either tell you whale meat is a ultra high priced delicacy or it is so undesirable that it gets used for pet food. You can even find the same person using each of the mutually exclusive arguments at different times.

Sea Cucumber

Jane,

Do you even know what you’re saying? Jeez, you make no senses at all. I have a feeling that you don’t even know what the word “parallel” actually means. Where are you parroting this information from, Donovan’s Facebook page? You should try understanding the information before you cut/paste it elsewhere like an idiot. Quote exactly which law that the whalers are breaking.

The whalers are in fact NOT breaking the law – they are operating well within it. The law says that they can do their research and sell the excess whale meat on the market. That’s according to the IWC. If you don’t like it, you can try to have the laws changed. That’s a better effort than throwing bottles of toxic materials at some whalers who DON’T make the laws! Oh, and if you’re one of the mindless idiots who say that butyric acid is non-toxic – try drinking some and splashing it in your eyes and see how non-toxic it is. Post it up on YouTube and then we’ll believe you. Numbskull.

What’s actually scary is a weak-minded parrot like you following Paul Watson no matter what he says and does and never questions it. This is the same person that actually said to make up the facts if you didn’t have them. But yet you still follow his every word like a cult member. You don’t think for yourself, and that pretty much negates anything you really have to say, because now we know how much of a dumbass you really are.
Dmitry

To any normal person, who is not an idiot, who is not being paid to express a certain opinion, killing 1000 whales a year, every year, in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary, majority still listed by CITES as threatened and the rest as endangered, is not SCIENCE, period, full stop, no arguing required, common sense. That’s why Australia threatens them with a court action. Black is not white and white is not black. I am in New Zealand, and we have here a guy who is specifically paid by the Japanese to be their spokesman on behalf of the “Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research” (what a name), and on local forums a certain person regularly pops up who is virulently pro-Japanese, pro-whaling and has an undue knowledge of the numbers of specific articles of the IWC documents. That person takes time and care to answer every anti-whaling and anti-Japanese comment with a detailed pro-whaling and pro-Japanese one along the same lines: Japanese are doing “legitimate research” in full accordance with the IWC and Sea Shepherd are terrorists, and he takes time to dig any dirt on Sea Shepherd he can find. He’s pretty similar to a “Robert Beller” here.

David

You sure have a high opinion of yourself Dmitry. To believe that the only way someone could have a different opinion than you is if they are paid, some ego you have.

The IWC charter only has 11 articles, they are in plain English and would fit on 2 or 3 pages. CITES is a trade treaty. IUCN determines endangered status. You might want to try reading some of them yourself. Then maybe you could argue you points better.

Dmitry

There you go: CITES lists Antarctic minke whales, which unusually pro-”whaling-is-OK” pro-”Japan-do-no-wrong” people claim are OK to be explosively harpooned and bled to death for SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH REASONS, in Appendix I: http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml (see “Balaenoptera bonaerensis”). That’s where the tigers are as well. What one hears from pro-Japanese commentators constantly is that MOST OF THE WHALES THE JAPANESE HUNT ARE NOT ENDANGERED. What they conveniently forget to mention is that THEY HUNT WHALES LISTED AS THREATENED and “most” is a good word to avoid mentioning that THEY HUNT ENDANGERED WHALES AS WELL ALL THE TIME.
But I didn’t really need to dig this up to form an opinion. I know it ain’t no frigging “research” by any stretch of imagination unless it’s inflamed or produced by financial incentives. Even if whales were not threatened, endangered or whatever, it’s not OK to hunt them for food as it’s not OK to hunt dolphins, elephants for ivory etc etc, however plentiful they might appear to be. They certainly aren’t plentiful as they used to. Humans are driving the natural world to destruction, and the Japanese time and time again aptly demonstrate that they don’t give a toss when a species is driven to extinction, as is the case with the Atlantic bluefin tuna. They will likely do the same thing to the whales, given the opportunity.
For certain people, slavery in 19 century was perfectly legal, women did deserve to vote, and the people who helped slaves to escape or advanced the cause of women rights were law-breakers, trouble-makers and in nowaday terms possibly “terrorists”.

Robert Beller

Thank you for the local recognition Dmitry I wish I knew the forum you are speaking of because I’d certainly spread the truth and facts anywhere I find Paul Watson’s parrots singing his easily disproven lies. You do know the Aussie have been told by more than one legal expert that they’ll lose any court battle they try to launch that’s why they’ve been “threatening” to take Japan to court since 2002. I thought the current AU government promised to end whaling when they came to power but now isn’t everybody mad because they failed to deliver?

You are in New Zealand, well maybe you can explain why Google Trends doesn’t register any activity for Peter Bethune in NZ or AU? As a matter of fact he only generated a short blip of interest in Canada and the US and that was a straight article about his arrest. Go ahead and add the word “free”, “hero”, “SSCS” or even “Earthrace” to Bethune’s name and you’ll get this message:

“Your terms – “blank” peter bethune – do not have enough search volume to show graphs”. Nobody cared about Bethune before or after his arrest he’s a flash in the pan.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=peter+bethune

And to be clear Google trends tracks worldwide activity let’s look at an actual famous Kiwi like Peter Jackson as you can see he generates interest around the world especially back home.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=peter+jackson&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Anyone with an Internet connection can have “undue knowledge” of the whaling issue Paul Watson and his supporters just refuse to to use the Internet for anything more than a stage for their ignorance.

Dmitry

Maybe you don’t google right. You trump up the nonsense of “scientific research” by the Japanese, even when they themselves and their backers know it ain’t, it’s a ruse, an exploitation of a legal technicality to keep whale meat on the table. That says a lot about you, whatever your motives are.
Robert Beller

If I didn’t “Google right” why don’t you use Google Trends to prove me wrong? Come on show us how popular Peter Buffoon is with some independent verifiable method. Oh, I see you can’t spin my original question so you go off on some tangent about me. Way to save whales.

Look at the official IWC website’s description of the scientific permit program. They say article 8 is ENSHRINED right this isn’t the language used to describe a “ruse” or a “legal technicality”. Your willful ignorance of the facts says a lot about you.

The IWC and Scientific Permits

GENERAL

A major area of discussion in recent years has been the issuing of permits by member states for the killing of whales for scientific purposes. The use of such permits is not new. The right to issue them is enshrined in Article VIII of the 1946 Convention. Whilst member nations must submit proposals for review, in accordance with the Convention, it is the member nation that ultimately decides whether or not to issue a permit, and this right overrides any other Commission regulations including the moratorium and sanctuaries. Article VIII also requires that the animals be utilised once the scientific data have been collected.

Prior to 1982, when it was agreed that a moratorium would come into effect in 1986, over 100 permits were issued by a number of governments including Canada, USA, USSR, South Africa and Japan.

http://iwcoffice.org/conservation/permits.htm
Dmitry

I believe there is a notion in law of what something actually is, based on what reasonable people agree it actually is. Killing 1000 whales a year, every year for “scientific purposes” is not reasonable, and that’s why Japanese can be hauled into court for abusing the very clause that you have meticulously posted, and they would likely lose. One would really have to question your motives for defending something that is so obviously fake and indefensible. Add to that the ease with which you choose to abuse and insult other people, and the picture is pretty grim.
Robert Beller

@ Dmitry

Since there is absolutely no law regarding whaling you are totally wrong. I see you ignored the IWC’s official website and continue to incorrectly blather on about how the Japanese are breaking the law I’ve read the ICRW thoroughly and it doesn’t say anything about how “reasonable” people (or people like you) feel about whale research. It doesn’t really matter what some wanker believes article 8 is very clear that the issuing nation is the only entity that can determine what constitutes valid research…. period.

The way that that IWC article 8 is written any member nation could kill 10,000 whales a year to test harpoon designs and then grind up the research for fertilizer and they wouldn’t be doing anything wrong. If Japan could have been taken to court it would have been done long ago the Japanese have been research whaling since 1987.

“The IWC is a voluntary international organization and is not backed up by treaty. Therefore, the IWC, in essence, is a voluntary organization which has substantial practical limitations on its authority. First, any member countries are free to simply leave the organization and declare themselves not bound by it if they so wish. Second, any member state may opt out of any specific IWC regulation by lodging a formal objection to it within 90 days of the regulation coming into force[20] (such provisions are common in international agreements, on the logic that it is preferable to have parties remain within the agreements than opt out altogether). Third, the IWC has no ability to enforce any of its decisions through penalty imposition”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Whaling_Commission#Enforcement_under_the_IWC

I guess by your silence you agree Capn’ Drongo is a sook, he sailed down the gurgler for a whinge fest and went all wobbly. I’m still waiting for independent evidence to prove Peter Bethune hasn’t been forgotten by the world.
Dmitry

The IWC moratorium on commercial whaling is the “law” for those who signed up to it and Japan did and is supposed to respect it, what do you mean “there is no law”? Instead, it decided to act clever and simply continue commercial whaling, only now call it “research”, in what others consider the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary of all places. The Japanese see a whale, they kill it, chop it to pieces, and package it for supermarkets, but because they might now write down what was in the whale’s stomach, it is now “research”, not commercial whaling. They could kill 10,000 whales and FOR YOU IT WILL STILL BE “RESEARCH”, ISN’T IT AMAZING??? I don’t need to read up on all the stuff you urging me to, and I don’t have the time. When people see a spade, they call it a spade, not a large spatula. New Zealand now has also threatened to join Australia and take Japanese to court, and the members of the IWC time and time again urged Japan to respect the charter and stop its “scientific whaling”. Read this, you legal nit-picking egghead: http://www.asoc.org/Portals/0/pdfs/17%20Governments%20Ask%20Japanese%20to%20Stop%20Antarctic%20Whaling.pdf. Man, somebody must be paying you for all your hard work.
I can google the support for Mr. Bethune no problem. Maybe you should have a touch of respect for people who give up their comfort for what they believe in instead of abusing them, even if you do not agree with their motives. Otherwise, you might get polite silence instead of someone telling you exactly what kind of a person they think you are in the same kind of language.
David

“Maybe you should have a touch of respect for people who give up their comfort for what they believe in instead of abusing them, even if you do not agree with their motives.”

So we should respect the terrorists who flew planes into the World Trade Centers? They gave up comfort for what they believe in, so even though we disagree with them they still deserve respect.

You really are nuts.

David

Good Dmitry, you can find things on the internet and read at least parts of them. Now how does CITES list the Antarctic Minke? Lower Risk – conservation dependent.

And what does a listing in CITES mean? “CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species.”

Does it say anything about not hunting animals listed in CITES? No, all CITES does is restricts the international trade. A country can still hunt them all they want as long as they don’t trade them to other countries.

Dmitry

http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml
“Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.” Antarctic minke whale is listed in Appendix I. What else do you want me to tell you, maybe translate that into Mandarin? Thanks for saying “hunting”, cos that means you know exactly what the Japanese do: THEY HUNT ENDANGERED SPECIES IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES. Case proven.
Honestly, you and “Robert Beller” sound so similar you probably should get in touch and agree to divert your styles a bit, unless you are really the same person.
I think it’s quite likely, as we have a paid pro-Japanese whaling industry person in our country who possibly dabbles in some overtime on anonymous forums on a per-word or per-sentence basis, there must be a proportional number in the U.S. as well, doing a subtle whitewashing and bad-mouthing PR campaign from within. It would be a real shame if it was being done for free. Not accusing you, naturally. May be your parents told you that Moby Dick would come and get you when you were naughty, so you naturally hate whales and think their best place is in Japanese sushi.
Robert Beller

“Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances”.

These exceptional circumstances arise when nations like Japan, Norway and Iceland decide they do by lodging a reservation.

Too bad whales in the Antarctic are listed as Appendix I/r as far as Japan is concerned. That “r” means the Japanese LEGALLY lodged a reservation see:

http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html

Article 8 allows the Japanese to conduct research on any species of whale they wish. CITES has no power or bearing over the IWC scientific research program and neither do you.
Dmitry

See the reply 3 comments above.
Pokopensuke

For some morons
http://www.cites.org/eng/app/reserve_index.shtml

Any Party (member State) of CITES may make a unilateral statement that it will not be bound by the provisions of the Convention relating to trade in a particular species listed in the Appendices (or in a part or derivative listed in Appendix III). These statements are called reservations and may be made in accordance with Articles XV, XVI and XXIII of the Convention.
http://www.cites.org/eng/app/reserve_intro.shtml

Cho cho ma

Finally mkay! A person with common sense, who believes we must stop these poachers!
ThanatosK

LOL! I can tell you guys all love each other!
Cho cho ma

You do realize that Japan suffered greatly during the the economic problems. They continue to suffer today, regardless of how big their economy is. Its a giant waste of money. They will not continue to run the program if they continue to lose millions each season.

David

Yes Japan along with just about every country has been affected by the recent economic problems. But their 2010 budget is $1 trillion, 2009 was $960 billion, 2009 was $901 billion and 2007 was $900 billion. So if we accept the SSCS claim of $170 million lose, that equals 0.017%. That is equivalent to $8.50 for someone making $50,000 a year. I really don’t think it is going to cause them any problems or issues, especially when thanks to the actions and words of the SSCS whaling is now not just an economic issue but a national pride issue. I think most Japanese citizens would be willing to write off the 0.017% if for no other reason than to spite the anti-whaling groups and thumb their noses at the SSCS.

Sea Cucumber

David,

I’ll fix that – I’ll get you on the ICR payroll with the rest of us!
SR

To all those criticizing the actions of Sea Shepherd, I ask –

What is is that you are doing for the good of humanity and the environment?

Judging from your dismissive, elitist attitudes you must all be environmental activists or human rights advocates, saving the wold from behind your computer I suppose.

Rather than attacking those that have the determination to make change, perhaps you should attempt to dedicate your entire lives to creating policy and legislative reform to safeguard the rights of humans, other animals and the natural environment. I get so tired of listening to people’s arguments and challenges on a daily basis –

Instead of helping whales, why don’t they help kangaroos? Instead of helping kangaroos, why don’t they help cows? Or in the human arena (where I belong), instead of helping refugees, why don’t they help Indigenous people? Instead of helping Indigenous people, why don’t they help inner city kids? The arguments go on an on. In my years of experience, it is mainly people who do nothing that involve themselves in such arguments, either because they simply do not care or are utterly gutless and haven’t the will to act. So I have taken it upon myself to ask the question – What is is that you do? In most instances, this is met with silence.

If anyone has any experience in these areas they will understand why people resort to direct action – governments are very slow to respond to social ills on any level. Where money is involved, the moral imperative to act is diminished or non-existent. As far as direct intervention is concerned I fully understand the drive. Protesting or advocating for any issues or on behalf of any groups year after year with no improvement is very disheartening and some argue, a waste of time. To know that the public and the government have no interest in your cause be it social or environmental and on a minor or major level leaves you stranded. You begin to wonder, what do people care about and when will they start to show interest and support for anything?

So, the point of this long winded rant is – sitting back criticizing everyone and everything is pointless. Get out there and do something about any issue (I’m sure many of you do) and see what you come up against – apathy, ignorance, disinterest at all levels!!!

And please don’t attempt to twist my words. I’m not prompting everyone to engage in direct, aggressive action. Start talking to people about social or environmental issues (and I don’t mean people that you know are interested) try engaging with a variety of people, a very small act. I guarantee – most people are very ill informed and most people DO NOT CARE!

David

So you want to post a ‘long winded rant’ but not defend your comments?

Not a real good way to affect change. But fine, then expect to be ignored.

SR

Oh, because you do so much! Please.
SR

Also, I don’t need to defend my comments, they speak for themselves.

Jenn

In my opinion no one ever Really gets involved in things until it is to late. Since the japanese have been doing “research” on whlaes for many years now what do they keep researching? i would like to see the results and what they have discovered about whales that researchers who observe and study whales that are alive have not found out. i believe their excuse of doing research is bullcrap and i hope it all comes to an end before it is to late and the beauty of the oceans cease to exist.
Jenn

Going through and reading some of these pro whaling articles makes me want to throw up! You people need Jesus and a good kick in the face if you really believe the bullcrap you write. How would you like it if someone came into your home stab you with a harpoon and cut you up for ‘research” then served you up? but it would be ok, right because you are weighing stomach contents and learning what mating and diet habits are of a ignorant human jackass? Maybe you might view it a bit differently if it was something that connected closer to home.

gt

First and foremost there are no conventions or laws that allows involunatary research on human beeings, however since you ask, it probably would be painful. The human being part is the second point where I believe the “anti-whaling-community” is misled. All mammals are not human beings. Brain size is no measure for intelligence, empathy and emotions.
I belive that catching a select number of whales from a considerable population, such as we do with reindeer, elk, moose and other four-legged mammals, for the purpose of consumption is unproblematic.

Manpreet Singh

Hi Paul,

This is Manpreet from INDIA. I have seen the season, and I am so excited to join your campaign ASAP. I hate whale killing and wanted to stop this being the part of your crew. My blood boiled when I saw the Japanese ships killing whales in front of Steve Irwin.

I don’t know if this is the correct place to write this to you. However I am passionate to join your crew. I am computer specialist but love adventure and hate Japanese whale killing.

Will wait for your reply. E-mail Id : manpreetsingh.bindra@yahoo.com

Thanks
Manpreet. Long Live Sea Shepperd

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