Removing The “S” from Whale Warriors?

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by ecorazzicontributor January 25, 2011
Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: , , .

The following is a guest post from Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in response to an interview we posted late last week with Ady Gil and Pete Bethune.

That was a very interesting Ecorazzi interview with Pete Bethune and Ady Gil.

Just over a year ago, neither man seemed to have much interest in a cause that I have been prominently involved in for nearly four decades.

Suddenly Pete Bethune comes out with a book that merely drops the “s” from Peter Heller’s excellent book The Whale Warriors published in 2007. The hundreds of dedicated and courageous Sea Shepherd volunteers suddenly are trivialized by a man who was paid to skipper the Ady Gil and whose cowboy antics were not productive to the success of the campaign in any meaningful way.

Last year 74 men and women crewed with Sea Shepherd to the Southern Ocean and this year eighty-eight volunteers are presently on the three Sea Shepherd vessels Steve Irwin, Bob Barker and Gojira. Pete Bethune is not unique in boarding a Japanese vessel, Ben Potts and Giles Lane did it before him in 2008, nor is he unique in being arrested. He is unique in betraying his crewmates.

Bethune would have the whale warriors become irrelevant as he pushes himself front and center as the world’s most famous “whale warrior” or so it is portrayed by his promotional material.

The Ady Gil was lost because Pete Bethune had his crew on the aft deck mocking the whalers and not paying attention to their movements. Any naval inquiry into a captain who lost his ship in that way would have resulted in a court martial.

Bethune brought prohibited weapons onboard the Ady Gil against Sea Shepherd policy and despite what he says, without my knowledge. The decision to board the Shonan Maru #2 was his and his alone. Sea Shepherd supported the decision and assisted him in carrying out that decision but I am also on camera in Whale Wars advising him to not do it and to return to New Zealand to address the ramming of the Ady Gil. But we respected his courage in wanting to do the boarding and there were certainly strategical advantages to doing so. But I warned Pete that anything we do in the Southern Ocean is not illegal but once onboard a Japanese vessel, he would be subject to Japanese law. He replied as witnessed by my officers, that he was prepared for the consequences including going to prison.

Yet his courage faltered once he was subjected to interrogation and there he not only sang like the proverbial canary, he falsely accused me of “ordering” him to board the Shonan Maru #2 thereby giving the Japanese authorities a reason to place me under investigation for conspiracy and to place me on the Interpol Blue list.

Despite this, we paid a half a million dollars for his defense and he was released with a suspended sentence and a promise given to not return to the Southern Ocean.

Returning from Japan he was extremely ungrateful and demanding, and his demand to participate in the present campaign was refused. He retaliated by stating he would make accusations against Sea Shepherd and I, if he was not permitted to be involved.

I refused and he made the ridiculous accusation that I ordered him to scuttle the Ady Gil after it had been cut in half and after the Bob Barker had towed in for 36 hours. I of course did no such thing. In fact, on camera during an episode of Whale Wars, I clearly say that “It’s Pete’s boat, it’s Pete’s decision.”

Despite misinformation, Ady Gil never donated one million dollars to Sea Shepherd. He gave us a check for a million dollars but it was never cashed because along with the check were demands that we could not agree to as a charitable organization and thus the check was returned.

Ady purchased the Earthrace for one million dollars. Ady then chartered the vessel to Sea Shepherd for $1. Pete Bethune unfortunately had the power to choose his own crew and they are the men seen whining on the Whale Wars episodes because Pete told them they would only be away from home for a couple of weeks. The only Sea Shepherd crewmember onboard was Laurens DeGroot and he reported that he was worried that Pete was too much of a cowboy.

Ady Gil and Sea Shepherd did have a contract that stated that if the Ady Gil was lost, Sea Shepherd would name a second vessel after him. However when the one million dollars was not actually donated to Sea Shepherd this voided the contract and Sea Shepherd is under no legal obligation to name any vessel after Ady Gil. We did not name the first vessel Ady Gil. He gave his own name to his own boat.

Ady sent a letter to Sea Shepherd and I in November 2010 threatening a lawsuit if we did not name our new interceptor vessel the Ady Gil II. He gave us a deadline to respond. We notified his lawyer that the “contract” was no longer binding due to the donation not having been received. We have heard nothing since.

Pete Bethune also has no legal contract to be paid a half a million dollars. We paid that amount for his legal defense but we are not under any obligation to pay him for a vessel we never owned. He was paid $10,000 during the time he was incarcerated and the funds were sent to his wife.

Despite what Ady Gil stated in the interview, I told him that I had no intention of naming a boat after him and that we were not legally obligated to do so. I am not sure who he claims insulted him, but this interview is the first I have heard of him having been insulted by a director. I released his letter of intent to sue when he denied he had sent such a letter.

To sum up: The Ady Gil was not a Sea Shepherd boat. I did not order Pete Bethune to scuttle his own boat and anyone who has seen Whale Wars can see the truth about his claims. Sea Shepherd never received a one million dollar donation from Ady Gil and Sea Shepherd has no contractual obligation to name a boat after Ady Gil.

What we have now however is Ady Gil and Pete Bethune setting up two organizations of their own, the Ady Gil World Conservation Organization and Pete Bethune’s Earthrace Conservation Organization.

This is all well and good, but what is interesting is that their “projects” are all projects presently undertaken by Sea Shepherd. Pete Bethune is preparing a campaign to oppose the slaughter of pilot whales in the Faeroes. Ady Gil is financing anti-Sea Shepherd activists to go to Taiji to publicly criticize Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians in the field. In short they are not only duplicating Sea Shepherd’s efforts but they are working to undermine those efforts.

This is not activism, it is obstructionism and it is being done for reasons of personal revenge because both men feel they have been hard done by Sea Shepherd.

Ironically it was not I who lost Ady Gils boat. Pete Bethune lost it. The official New Zealand Martime Safety Investigation stated that Pete Bethune was 50% negligent with regard to the incident. Yes, the Shonan Maru#2 deliberately rammed the Ady Gil but Bethune should not have left himself open to attack.

Ady Gil and Pete Bethune lost their own boat and they demanded that Sea Shepherd replace it, and we refused. That is the reason for their mutual animosity.

Without Sea Shepherd’s support, Pete would still be in prison. Ady Gil did not pay Bethune’s legal fees. Sea Shepherd did. As Ady said in the interview “no good deed goes unpunished.”

As for me, I have only one grievance. Pete Bethune turned me over to the Japanese authorities with his testimony that falsely accused me of ordering him to board the Shonan Maru #2. Pete admits this testimony but justifies it as necessary to his staying out of prison. That is all well and good for Pete Bethune, but such behavior is considered to be very ill advised, even craven, in many circles, especially in prison, and certainly provides me with sufficient reason to deny any further involvement with him.

In short, we paid Pete Bethune’s considerably expensive legal defense costs and refused to allow him to return to the Southern Ocean. And for that he accused me and Sea Shepherd of being morally bankrupt.

I don’t begrudge Ady Gil or Pete Bethune the opportunity to start their own organizations, but I do find it irritating that their approach to conservation campaigns is to piggy back on Sea Shepherd’s on-going campaigns in the Faeroes, Taiji, Japan and the Southern Ocean and to chastise our tactics and strategies when they both have zero experience in the field of marine wildlife conservation and it is for this reason that I feel justified in questioning their motivations.


Categories: Animals, Causes
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  • romika3

    “Such as those who can clearly point out the industry plans to sell seal meat to China without properly examining the animals for disease.” Those work for PETA, HSUS and SSCS. Sorry to burst your bubble.

    • ednakano

      It is better to remove “SSCS” from whale warriors.

  • romika3

    WATSON BUDDY, LOOKS LIKE WE WON THIS ONE. SEE YOU AT THE CLAM BAKE. LOL

    • Michael Raymer

      http://animals.change.org/blog/view/canada_tries_to_dump_cruel_seal_products_on_china

      “Shortly after Chinese and Canadian officials met about importing seal meat and oil, more than 40 Chinese animal protection groups protested the deal, calling it “insulting.” Animal welfare, along with environmental awareness, has been gaining ground in China, and activists are confident that once consumers know the reality behind seal products, they won’t buy into the cruelty.”

      “That’s why animal protection groups are calling on restaurants and consumers to boycott Canadian seafood. The U.S. is responsible for a large enough chunk of exports that the economic impact is sure to get the attention of the fisheries industry and government. The Red Lobster restaurant chain alone is the world’s largest purchaser of Canadian seafood, and one of their suppliers also owns a large seal processing company.”

      “Activists in Asia are working to ensure that seal products remain unwelcome in the Chinese market, and if we can get Red Lobster to join the seafood boycott, it could put enough economic pressure on the industry to end the seal hunt for good.”

      Click on the link if you want to sign a petition.

      • Rob Andrew

        Snore. The last boycott has worked eh? Guess not or we wouldn’t be having this discussion. Hmmm a country of 1.3 billion hungry people who have a vast variety of meats and sea food in their diet are now NOT going to go ahead with the deal? Uhh huh.
        Pork chop anyone?

      • Michael Raymer

        Mmmmmm….pork chops.

        Huh? What? Oh yeah, that stuff we’re talking about. I posted the link so that people could read the story. Maybe China will one day give seal products the boot like the EU did. It starts at the ground level and works its way up. Most avalanches start with a gentle nudge. In all socio-political endeavors, there are people that want the change they want RIGHT NOW! I try to remain realistic. It will take some time but, hopefully, it will happen.

        Isn’t this what you anti-SSCS people keep whining about? The actual residents of a given country are taking it upon themselves to let their feelings be known, peacefully. And you’re still crying about it? Is there anything you’re not going to bitch about?

      • Rob Andrew

        What part of varied meats and sea food didn’t you get? I hardly think they’ll turn down a nutritious and fairly cheap meal. You honestly think that the Chinese government gives a damn about anything outsiders say or dissent from within from a few out of a billion plus people?
        Uhh huh. Go get ‘em cowboy.

      • Michael Raymer

        OK, so we’ve established that there IS nothing you won’t whine about. Glad we cleared that up.

        “Fairly cheap”? Sending perishable goods from the east coast of Canada to China, and then distributing them throughout China is fairly cheap? No, I don’t think I’ll need to “Go get ‘em cowboy.” I think I’ll just sit back and watch.

      • Rob Andrew

        No, we actually established that you are doing the whining. I just have to sit here an interject a little truth to see you start dancing. Thanks for the entertainment.

      • Michael Raymer

        Ooooh, it seems I struck a chord. Were your stubby little fingers trembling when you typed that?

        And what “truth” have you ever attempted, let alone interjected? Here’s some of your truth: “a country of 1.3 billion hungry people who have a vast variety of meats and sea food in their diet”

        Ummm…which is it? How are they hungry with a “vast variety of meats and sea food in their diet”?

        Before you go accusing yourself of “truth”, you may want to try achieving coherence.

      • romika3

        ““Fairly cheap”? Sending perishable goods from the east coast of Canada to China,’ Well, get this I picked a package of frozen cod in a local supermarket and guess what “packed in China”!!!! What’s with you folks? What do you eat everday, you own s–t over and over again.

      • Michael Raymer

        Romika….at what point do you add 2 and 2 together? You have claimed to be in eastern Canada, and I have no reason not to believe you. And in your eastern Canadian supermarket, you’re buying Chinese cod? I mean, not only are they selling it but, YOU’RE buying it?!? This from a guy who keeps asking the rest of us to pull out a hanky for the “common frontline fisherperson”. Not only are you betraying your people, but your own supermarket is spitting in your peoples’ faces. And here you are, thinking you just scored a point on me.

      • romika3

        There is still aq limited cod harvest (quota) here on the East Coast. I expect that that product is Artic Cod that have been harvested in the Bering sea either by Chinese Fishermen or sold to China for secondary processing. The point I was making was that is its possible to market products like seal, fish etc across great distances. As an after thought I take back my comment of reeating s–t back as it really added nothing to my post, it was a slight below the belt.

      • Michael Raymer

        One of the attributes of cod is that it is the best fish in the world for long term storage. It has been sought after for this very trait for centuries (including before modern refigeration). In other words, just because someone is transporting and storing cod cost-effectively, that doesn’t mean the same applies to other marine species.

        In any case, your (and Rob Andrews) comparison doesn’t apply. Americans can afford a higher price tag much more than an average Chinese. There is a reason why jobs and manufacturing get outsourced to China. They don’t get paid squat.

        So, between the difficulties and cost of sending seal products to China, and the work of activists within China to halt this practice, don’t go popping champagne corks just yet.

      • romika3

        “One of the attributes of cod is that it is the best fish in the world for long term storage. It has been sought after for this very trait for centuries (including before modern refrigeration).” You know nothing about the fishery nor the sea. Before modern refrigeration cod was salted and dried and then sent to markets in Europe and the Caribbean. Today many fish products are marketed to Asia including turbot, sea cucumber roe, etc etc. No problem when dealing with seal meat and associated products. An excellent source of protein, no additives, and a lean meat from a sustainable and managed population.

        And perhaps it may take the pressure off the whale meat market in China. The unfortunate thing is that Watson will have to find other fishermen to attack. Perhaps he might turn to attacking cucumber farmers. The cucumber is a managed and sustainable resource, the perfect target for the SSCS (Sea Shepherd Cucumber Society) and what a TV series they could make. Imagine attacking cucumber farms and freeing millions of cucumbers, throwing stink bombs at workers on the salad bars, and phoning families, who use cucumbers in their salads, treating to slice and dice them and their children. A there will be Watson, standing in the middle of all the action, wearing a green cucumber Captain’s suit with a big green cucumber stuck up his ———– (fill in the blank) and drooling.

      • Michael Raymer

        Well, so much for even attempting a civil conversation with you, romika. I’ll know better from now on.

        “Before modern refrigeration cod was salted and dried and then sent to markets in Europe and the Caribbean.”

        No shit, dumbass, that’s what I just said. This site won’t let me draw it for you in crayon, so you have to keep up on your own.

        We’ll see if seal products can be cost effectively shipped and marketed to China. I have my doubts. And since they are a relatively unknown commodity, I have further doubts that they will sell at a profit. Throw in all the people who are in active opposition to this and the fact that China is trying to get with modern sensibilities on the world stage, I’d say you have your work cut out for you.

        As far as your latest rant about Admiral Watson:

        http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-110128-1.html

        “And if they don’t return, we will be in a position to move our operations to the North Atlantic to once again challenge the outlaw whalers of Norway, Iceland, and the Danish Faroe Islands.”

        Hey, you’ll get your wish. You guys have been pissing and moaning about SSCS not going after the North Atlantic whalers for years now. It looks like you’ll get what you have been asking for.

      • Michael Raymer

        Y’know, I usually don’t double post, even when I’m sorely tempted. But I keep coming back to your second paragraph like a moth to the flame, like a rubber-necker to a train wreck. I keep reading it in utter amazement.

        You honestly don’t know what a sea cucumber is, do you, you freakin’ retard?

      • romika3

        “But I keep coming back to your second paragraph like a moth to the flame, like a rubber-necker to a train wreck. I keep reading it in utter amazement.” glad you appreciate my leap from the sea cucumber to the terrestrial cucumber. Your slipping back into the name-calling mode, bad sign.

      • Michael Raymer

        “The unfortunate thing is that Watson will have to find other FISHERMEN to attack. Perhaps he might turn to attacking CUCUMBER farmers.” (EMPHASIS added)

        OK, why don’t you explain this “leap” of yours. All I see is the ranting of the ignorant. And I’m still waiting to hear more about your heroic “common frontline fisherpersons” buying Chinese cod from the local supermarket. As a matter of fact, I’m still waiting to hear anything at all from your “common frontline fisherpersons”. Why are you the only one here? For all your vitriol and BS accusations, why don’t we ever see others of your type in here? If Admiral Watson and SSCS are so hated in your part of the world, you’d think that your friends and neighbors would be in here backing you up. But all we ever see is you. Why is that?

        Methinks we have a chief with no indians.

      • romika3

        Gee, I can say the same for SSCS supporters. I only see posts from only four or five of the same individuals, nobody else, no body of any reputation in the areas of marine conservation, population dynamics, social or cultural science. (except myself). Maybe I am more than one, ever think of that, just like a split fish, two sides or perhaps a herd of harp seals trained to remember only one password and to cut and paste with one flipper tied behind their back. All pissed off at the ecosystem (laying around on the ice doing nothing but eating and reproducing) because they want to be more that they are, a pair of seal skin boots, a jacket wrapped around a sweet babe, a bottle of seal oil tablets hanging out in a cupboard, or perhaps a flipper pie being eaten in the middle of a Saturday night “time”. Image 9.5 million seals giving Watson the “flipper finger”

      • Michael Raymer

        Still waiting for an answer Romika.

      • romika3

        “OK, why don’t you explain this “leap” of yours” in fear of leaving you lying awake every night for the rest of the winter and staring at the ceiling wondering, in a cold sweat, the rational of the leap between whales and cucumbers here is the answer. There is no answer, it was a fly and you took it like a trout, hanging on and playing with in your mind for days. Now perhaps you can get a good nights rest.

      • imforthewhales

        Romika3, are you related at all to seacumbers?

  • km

    So it doesn’t get lost, Animux has accused me of the following:

    “AnimuX, January 29, 2011 at 3:30 pm
    As usual, km and other anti-environmentalist antagonists are grasping at straws to paint a false narrative. A random person on the internet (who doesn’t represent any group) makes an offensive comment and pro-whaling morons claim it’s evidence that an entire international organization is “racist” or “terrorist” or some other emotionally charged false accusation they’ve been pushing for months or even years”

    He did so because I called an SSCS supporter a racist for posting racist statements. Statements that were apparently so inappropriate that the editor of the site removed them twice. By my calling a racist a racist, Animux has accused me of calling SSCS a racist organization despite the fact that I have twice stated on this page that the organization is not racist. I have pasted my comments below. I have no doubt that if Animux replies to this post then he will continue ranting and raving about people who come to a gossip site to reply to a post by Paul about Paul. Apparently you are only safe from his wrath if you worship Paul. Because if you disagree with him or are critical of Paul or question his claims, Animux will call you a liar even when presented with the truth. And he’ll call you names.

    “km, January 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    And I said that SSCS wasn’t racist above. Mkay sure is racist as demonstrated by his/her statement above. I was being nice to you. Aren’t you a gracious fellow!
    Also, one can be against whaling and racist in spite of claiming otherwise. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”

    “km, January 26, 2011 at 10:29 am
    So the Japanese take EVERYTHING? Really everything? No other nationality is engaged in fishing or whaling? Those sneaky Japanese disguising themselves as Americans, Australians, Canadians, Europeans. MKay was right. They can’t be trusted. As MKay has said, they have snuck around EVERY law since WWII. A bat is not enough. After all, they are destroying this planet.
    You are pathetic. I stated that I don’t think SSCS is racist. A listening in reading comprehension may do you well.”

  • Over it

    Take a look at all the posts in response to this article…everyone has conflicting ideas of who is right or wrong but I’m sure every single person who has posted has a common interest in the cause of marine conservation. No-one has a copyright on championing this cause, and no two people go about things the same way. The army, navy and air force are completely different outfits but in times of war they all contribute to the effort in their own way. How about we celebrate those differences and direct our energies to furthering the cause, instead of wasting energy on petty bickering?

    • Michael Raymer

      I suggest you actually look “at all the posts in response to this article”. “Every single person who has posted” has no common interests at all.

      • http://www.herwinsvegancafe.com herwin

        @ Over It.
        brilliant suggestion, would do a lot of good for the anti whaling movement.
        @ Mick. your really have to respond (and disagree) to ALL posts, don’t you ? Even this simple post from a new poster who simply wants that diferences be put aside and focus on the anti whaling and the dolphin killings, instead of bickering and tit for tat stuff.

      • Mick

        @herwin

        “@ Mick. your really have to respond (and disagree) to ALL posts, don’t you ? Even this simple post from a new poster who simply wants that diferences be put aside and focus on the anti whaling and the dolphin killings, instead of bickering and tit for tat stuff.”

        herwin, that was Michael Raymers’ post, not mine.

      • Michael Raymer

        *Sigh*

      • http://www.herwinsvegancafe.com herwin

        @ Mick :-P sorry !

      • Mick

        @herwin

        “sorry !”

        No problem.

  • Bob

    Oh here’s a big surprise. Turned out Paulie was lying when he said he was going to prevent the Japanese from refueling.
    http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110130-1.html
    This season is the same as all the others. Watson wasting millions of dollars on ships, helicopters and fuel and accomplishing nothing for conservation. Once again he has risked the lives of innocent seamen to create a reality show for gullible Americans. And once again he has failed to stop whaling. Nothing surprising to anyone who has come to see Paul Watson for the compulsive, pathetic liar he is. We are not going save the planet if we keep wasting a kings ransom every year supporting worthless charlatans. We have to start directing our efforts to the real conservationists and the real conservation causes.

    • imforthewhales

      good onya Bob…more pro sealer BS.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Wes-Muller/45701948 Wes Muller

      He is a liar! I enjoy the show, but at times I cringe from seeing all the wasted time, money, and effort spent on their campaign. It seems like no one in the crew knows anything about sailing. I liked Bethune because he was the only aggressive one. I also liked the helicopter pilot because he seemed like the only true professional on the show. I’m sorry Mr. Watson, if you actually did get shot with a bullet that lodged in your kevlar vest, the impact would have left some serious bruising, broken ribs, etc.

  • romika3

    Well folks, it looks like this season has been an epic fail for the SSCS. A survey of the internet, in particular YouTube and other social media indicates a major turn down in SSCS traffic. Copyright issues, the “terrorist” flag and perhaps disinterest on the part of the youth who thrived on the projected violence have impacted on the SSCS presence on YouTube. SSCS failure to create an “incident”, similar to their orchestrated sinking of the Ady Gill in 2010, has resulted in minimum media coverage and limited footage for “Whale Wars”. With exception to the odd chase by an inflatable this year’s series will be show of much about nothing. In fact, recent events in Arizona and the continued discussion around the link between government and NGO’s validating the use of violence to bring about change coupled with a “toning” down in the media may see the end of “Whale Wars”. What is even more disconcerning is the SSCS falling for the “big chase” blowing thousands of dollars to donor money up the stack of three boats as bunker sea or diesel fuel. Their carbon footprint is definitely significant. There is no doubt that there are management issues that relate to the harvesting of whales in the southern ocean and in other parts of the world, but having a bunch of “pesto-pirates” bobbing around in the ocean pretending to make a difference is not the way. The conservation movement no longer has room for organizations that use violence and demonization of people and culture to attain their goals

    • imforthewhales

      How do you feel now, romika3? Still feelin’ confident?

      • romika3

        My post has nothing to do with “feelings” they are the facts plain and simple.

  • Mick

    The ICR has issued a new press release.

    “At about 0910JST at least two of the wire ropes entangled in the YS3’s propeller.
    At 0928JST the YS3 sent a Mayday signal. The attack continued for a number of hours despite the
    mayday call. No attempt was made by the SS vessels to assist.”

    http://www.icrwhale.org/pdf/110204ReleaseENG.pdf

    • Michael Raymer

      Yeeee-Hawwwww!!! It’s about time these prop foulers worked! A lousy season just got worse for the whalers. Unless the crew has a means to disentangle the props, the Yushin Maru #3 will have to be towed by one of the other whaling vessels. And since they can’t pull into Australia, they have an even longer way to go. This year is and will be a financial disaster for the ICR, who is already in deep trouble.

      Wanted: One fat lady with singing talent. Horned cap optional.

      • Mick

        @Michael Raymer

        “A lousy season just got worse for the whalers.”

        You do realize that disabling a ship at sea is a serious crime, don’t you?
        Not to mention continuing to attack a ship after it issues a Mayday call, is beneath contempt.

      • Michael Raymer

        And that is just too effing bad. You guys keep using the line that SSCS tactics just makes the ICR dig in its heels. Well look at what they stepped in now. Or, to put it another way, if you’re looking for sympathy, it’s in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. Prop fouling is not a new tactic. SSCS has been attempting it for years. So acting all shocked and shaken now that it has finally (FINALLY) succeeded isn’t going to do it for me. If your boyz have that much of a problem with it, they can stay home.

        Your boyz kill whales. They kill mama whales, they kill papa whales and they kill baby whales. They hide behind their bogus “Research” claim. They have employed concussion grenades. They have used an LRAD on a helicopter in flight. They intentionally rammed the “Ady Gil”, seriously jeopardizing the lives of the people on board. Cry on someone elses’ shoulder. Payback is a bitch!

      • imforthewhales
    • romika3

      An fouled prop in a storm can prevent a vessel from either quartering the waves or hoving to. The abilbity to do this can =lead to the foundering of the ship. The SSCS is an eco-terrorist organization employing terror and terrorist tactics.

      • imforthewhales

        Where would you hove to too in the Southern Ocean?

        I think that preventing the YM3 from quartering the waves is the general idea?

    • imforthewhales

      Awesome…one down , two to go.

  • Michael Raymer

    Ah, the plot thickens:

    http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110204-1.html

    “The Yushin Maru No. 3 deliberately turned into Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship the Gojira today in an attempt to ram and destroy the fast multi hulled vessel skippered by Captain Locky MacLean.”

    “Both vessels were on a parallel course, with the Yushin Maru No. 3 on the starboard side of the Gojira. Suddenly the Yushin Maru No. 3 made a hard turn to their port in an attempt to disable the Gojira.

    Captain MacLean saw this in time to hit the throttle, effectively avoiding collision with the Yushin Maru No. 3 with the stern of the Gojira by a mere 10 feet.”

    “Delta boat operator Chad Halstead narrowly avoided being injured when one of the whalers threw a bamboo spear at the boat crew. Sea Shepherd crew recovered a few of these potentially lethal bamboo spears.”

    “With the Bob Barker escaping their grasp, the Yushin Maru No. 3 issued an international distress signal saying they were under attack by Sea Shepherd ships the Bob Barker and the Gojira. However, the Bob Barker was over seven miles away when the whalers issued their distress signal.

    Both the Bob Barker and the Gojira acknowledged the distress signal and radioed the Yushin Maru No. 3 to inquire as to the nature of their distress. They were radioed three times in Japanese and in English but refused to reply.”

    “Despite the fact that Sea Shepherd responded to the distress from the whalers and recorded and monitored this acknowledgment, the Institute for Cetacean Research issued a media release accusing Sea Shepherd of not offering assistance when in fact assistance was offered three times.”

    Soooo, Mick…..what excuses would you like to make this time? And what’s with these bamboo spears that the whalers have now resorted too? Let’s talk about these “serious crimes” of yours. You do realize that intentionally trying to ram a ship is illegal, don’t you(not that New Zealand or Australia is going to bust anyone for it)?

    Hmmm… for all this talk about people lying, it seems that the ICR has just LIED to you. How about some of that patented Mick-indignation over that!

    Sleep tight pookie.

    • romika3

      All SSCS press releases are questionalbe. In Paul Wastons book “Earth Force” he instructs his members to lie and distort the data.

      • imforthewhales

        The Captain of the YM3 is the same dude that was behind the wheel when the SM2 sliced Ady Gil in half and sending it to the bottom of the Southern ocean last commercial whaling season.

        It is clear that the Captain of the YM3 is not fit to hold a Captains licence and must be arrested immediately and tried for attempted murder.

      • romika3

        “the SM2 sliced Ady Gil in half and sending it to the bottom of the Southern ocean last commercial whaling season” here is an example of how members of the SSCS distort truth (facts), the Ady Gil accelerated into the Japanese whaling ship, it was not sliced in half, its bow (1/8 of the vessels length) was sheared off and it was Paul Watson who sent the Ady Gil to the bottom to increase media coverage and the bleed money from the pockets of youth, who are attracted by the SSCS promotion of violent to bring about change and boster tee shirt sales.

      • Michael Raymer

        “All SSCS press releases are questionalbe.”

        How “questionalbe” are they when they have independent film crews onboard, recording everything that happens? Not to mention the video evidence provided?

        The ICR is doing the lying. And they suck at it.

      • km

        Michael, not to defend the whalers but are you sure the SSCS are not lying too? Are you willing to stake your credibility on that? What if these “potentially lethal spears” turn out to be just sticks? SSCS lied about the Shonan Maru not answering the Ady Gil distress call. And about the shooting. I’m not saying they’re lying now but they have lied in the past, even with an “independent” film crew.

        I don’t believe everything from either side and I’m surprised any reasonable person would. You’re taking romika’s bait.

      • Michael Raymer

        km, if you want to remain fixated on the alleged shooting, that is your perogative. I have clearly stated several times that I have moved on. I will let you drag me back for just one moment with a question: How do you KNOW that he was lying about it? You seem to be certain of this. Please show your proof.

        “Just sticks”? Let’s see how you feel about someone throwing “just sticks” at you while merely standing on dry land. Now let’s see how you feel about it when onboard a small craft, moving at high speed over freezing water. And these “just sticks” were recovered by the SSCS small boat crew. So we’ll see these “just sticks” when the new season is aired.

      • km

        You’re correct about my being flippant in my comment as to them being “just sticks” but that doesn’t make them “spears” either.

        As to the shooting, fine. I can’t prove he wasn’t shot but I am willing to stake my credibility on the fact that he was not. That’s not the point though. More to the point is I don’t believe all the ICR prints is true and all the SSCS is false.

        Michael, I’m not the enemy and I’m not attacking you. If you consider what I wrote, you’d see that. If I could have phrased it better then I apologize.

      • km

        One more thing, the shooting accusation is a big issue to me. Accusing someone of violating laws by killing whales and accusing them of corruption are one thing but likely falsely accusing someone of attempted murder is very different. And having your crew go along with it makes it that much worse.

      • romika3

        “How “questionalbe” are they when they have independent film crews onboard, recording everything that happens? Not to mention the video evidence provided?” There the video does support the statement that the SSCS uses terror and terror tactics.

      • romika3

        ““Just sticks”? Let’s see how you feel about someone throwing “just sticks”, not differnt than throwing glass bottles full of acid.

      • imforthewhales

        The nut job crazy goon that they have put behind the wheel of the YM3 clearly attempted murder on the crew of the Ady Gil…he should be thrown into jail and the key thrown away.

        Thank heavens the YM is now dead in the water. The nut-job’ s wings have been clipped.

      • Michael Raymer

        km –
        First, I’m not saying or thinking that you are attacking me so, let’s put that one to rest.

        I think you need to watch the first season of Whale Wars again. I never got any impression that the crew was coerced to go along with the shooting story. If anything, Peter Brown (the one guy above all else who would be in Admiral Watson’s pocket) seemed skeptical about it. And let’s keep in mind that the actual bullet was turned over to Australian Police. Pretty ballsy thing to do if you’re faking it. Again, I’m skeptical myself, but without further evidence that he was lying, I have to make the assumption that he was telling the truth. I would give you or anyone else the same respect and benefit of the doubt.

        I would also remind you that the alleged shooting took place during a concussion grenade attack. Why is it so hard to believe someone might have taken a pot shot at Watson, when they are already resorting to such methods? And I’ll tell you this from personal experience, TV and film cannot and does not do the power of an exploding concussion grenade justice. If you are in a position to attend a police or military demonstration, and they are going to demonstrate one of these, you’ll see (and hear and feel) what I mean. From there, making the leap that some disgruntled crew member (these guys aren’t exactly Rhodes scholars and librarians) stuck his gun out a porthole is not implausible.

      • km

        I guess anything is possible and you bring up good points. It does

        I understand that you are against whaling and you support any actions by SSCS to stop whaling but because of that do you think these men on the ships are bad people capable of murder? I find harpooning whales no more offensive than hunting deer or, sorry to say, eating meat. Do you see their use of LRADs and concussion grenades as indicative of them being evil people? Is that worse than fouling propellers or throwing bottles? How would you have them defend themselves? The people on the ship are doing what I assume they see as legal, meaning whaling, and they are being harassed by a group that’s trying to disable their ship. I am by no means defending whaling and what may be bogus research but I can separate that from what I see as realistic and reasonable given the circumstances.

        I may not be explaining this well because it sounds like I’m defending them when I’m really trying to understand your perspective of them and why our opinions differ so much and hopefully lend some insight as to why I find the lies and characterizations by Paul so problematic. And that is that rather than the actions taken by him that are an issue for me. It seems like anything they do is wrong and unreasonable and anything SSCS does is okay and reasonable simply because the whalers are killing whales and that is wrong to you and perhaps illegal. Is it that you believe they are violating the law and SSCS has a right to do whatever they want? If so, what happens if the ICJ finds in Japan’s favor? I question the legality but, as to the whalers themselves, I assume they are led to believe it is legal and that SSCS is interfering with a legal operation. SSCS harasses, albeit somewhat peacefully, the dolphin killers in Taiji and that most certainly is legal.

        I may have gone off on a tangent but bottom line to me is save whales if you want. Throw bottles or whatever and deal with LRADs or whatever but don’t misrepresent or mischaracterize what you do or what others do. It doesn’t save any more whales and instead just foments hatred and validates lying.

        I usually am a person of few words but I very much want to understand your thinking that I feel like I have to explain mine way too much to see if any of it resonates with you.

      • Michael Raymer

        km, there’s a new thread up and this one has grown gi-normous. I’ll pick this up over there.

    • romika3

      Analysis of the attached video suggests that a mop handle was thrown at the SSCS inflatable. This scene will surely become the center piece of this seasons “Whale Wars” perhaps attracting the sponsorship of a floor wax company.

      • imforthewhales

        They are obviously sharpened punji sticks…perhaps they have been poisoned (?) these were in widespread use during ‘ Nam. Highly dangerous military grade weapons and thus a direct violation of the Antarctic treaty which forbids the use of punji sticks and other military weapons. One of the SSCS crew members nearly lost an eye!

      • romika3

        Looks like we are going to have to lock up our broom and mop handles in the gun cabinet as they are now classified by Paul Watson as military grade weapons. Wow what a great distortion of the truth.

      • Michael Raymer

        ” they are now classified by Paul Watson as military grade weapons.”

        Where does he classify them as military grade weapons? Where?

        We all see where romika gets his expertise about lying and liars. The man is a Ph.d in “distortion of the truth”.

      • romika3

        “Where does he classify them as military grade weapons? Where?” from you sir and are you not a puppet of Paul Watson?

      • Michael Raymer

        Ah, another question not answered by romika. Well played young man, well played.

      • imforthewhales

        Punji sticks…made of bamboo…were in widespread use during the Vietnam war and were a favorite weapon of the Viet Cong and the soldiers from the South.

        Thus, bamboo sticks have been used in war.

        Of course, you guys might know this from scenes out of Rambo, first blood.

        They may also have been used by the Japanese Samurai.

    • Mick

      @Michael Raymer

      “Ah, the plot thickens”

      Only for idiots, such as yourself.

      As to the alleged “ramming” attempt. watson has provided no evidence of that. The photos posted on the SS website depicting the bow of the YM#3 a “mere 10 feet away” from the Gojira were taken when the G was passing in front of the YM#3 during their attacks on the ICR ship. Videos and photos posted on the ICR’s website confirm this.
      As for the so-called “spear”. The YM#3 was moving very slowly. The SS zodiac boat was within feet of the YM#3 and a SS crewmember was raising some kind of weapon to attack the crew of the YM#3. A bamboo stick was thrown at the boat to ward of their attack. Due to the slow speed of the YM#3 this attack by the SS zodiac was after the props had been fouled and after the distress signal was issued. The video posted on the SS website supports this.
      The ICR press release clearly states that the YM#3 was under attack by two zodiac boats from the BB. It doesn’t matter how far away the BB was. Boats from the BB attacking the YM#3 constitute an attack by the BB on the YM#3.
      Photo’s on the ICR website clearly show the G attacking the YM#3 after their props had been fouled and the distress call was made. A good way for SS to give assistence would have been to stop attacking them.

      • Michael Raymer

        Hey everyone! Look! Mick just called me an idiot. And apparently he did it from the deck of the Yushin Maru #3. Either that or he’s a card carrying member of romikas’ Super-Sleuth Spy Network. Oops, I meant “contact”. Sorry, I didn’t see the decoder ring. Such an insightful analysis.

        Whine all you want, the whalers are on the ropes. Again I say that this year will be a disaster for them and hopefully it will be the last that we see of them in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

      • imforthewhales

        The Japanese illegal whalers need to pack up whats left of themselves and go back home to japan..and take their bamboo spears with them.

  • romika3

    imforthewhales is the last of the paid “internet posters” hired by Paul Watson and the SSCS. According to an inside source the others have been let go for the season as there is little traffic on the net regarding the foolishness of the SSCS.

    • imforthewhales

      Lol @ romika…I am no troll, and as for Paul Watson paying me…I wish..

      I just come back here for a bit of a laugh at the pro-whaling propoganda, see what you guys are up to, and making sure that you will be alright when the end time comes.

  • AnimuX

    romika, the admitted baby seal killer from Canada, is just upset that no unarmed activists have been murdered lately. You see, despite all of his bullshit accusations about “eco-terrorism” the fact is that supposedly super-violent environmental activists have never killed anyone for their causes.

    A fact that contrasts with the numerous activists who have been brutalized and murdered over the years by poachers, governments, and industries.

    Just take a look at this video of truly violent, terrorist-like seal hunters in Canada attacking activists with the same weapons they use to brutally bash in the skulls of baby seals.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HEqc2398iQ

    • romika3

      So, what are you trying to say?

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