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Sea Shepherd Needs $1.4 Million, Alyssa Milano Tweets Support

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by ecorazzicontributor July 19, 2011
Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: , .

Raising $1.4 million is a tough feat for any organization, but for one as controversial as Sea Shepherd it’s even tougher.

Regardless, that’s what Paul Watson‘s group is aiming to do. Their flagship, the Steve Irwin, is being held by UK courts due to a lawsuit brought against Sea Shepherd by Fish & Fish Ltd. The bond for the release of the ship is currently set at $1,411,692.87, which seems an awfully specific number…maybe that’s once they subtracted whatever was in their wallets.

In a statement on seashepherd.org, Watson put out a plea to followers to pitch in and help: “We need to raise USD$1,411,692.87 by next week,” said Watson. “Gifts are coming in, but there’s a long way to go. Your gift is essential to save endangered whales.”

I’m not sure where they are, but raising $1.4 million in a week seems a little unrealistic. Still, Sea Shepherd remains optimistic and is getting support from a few big names. Vegetarian and animal lover Alyssa Milano is one of them, as she tweeted, “Emergency SOS! Save The Sea Shepherd Ship! The Steve Irwin needs your help!” with a link to the donation page.

If you’re interesting in helping Sea Shepherd reach its goal, you can read the statement and donate here.


Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: , .
Photo: PR Photos
  • xoxo

    Surely she has $1.4M to donate?

  • Kimitake Hiraoka

    Well who’d have thought it – Sea Shepherd in trouble with the law again!

    There’s no need to dwell upon their criminality, we’re all well aware of it.

    But I will raise this point – will Paul Watson now take responsiblity for this debacle? (of course he will not, but I raise the issue as a matter of discussion)

    Seriously, if this were the navy (which of course it isn’t, as someone like Watson would not be considered fit to serve either physically or psychologically) the person responsible for both the initial violation and allowing the ship to be impounded would be court martialled.

    Now Watson’s incompetance (or alleged violation of law, you choose) has resulted in this ship being held, a $1.4m bond to be paid and the potential for a large compensation pay out. That’s a lot of donors’ funds being misspent. Squandered.

    All that money that Sea Shepherd would otherwise have spent on flashy new toys and weapons for their TV show. What a waste.

    Any respectable person in Watson’s position would do the reasonable thing and resign, apologise to the donors and surrender himself to the proper authorities.

    But I guess therein lies the problem – “respectable”. I sure hope no one is holding their breath.

    • AnimuX

      Sea Shepherd has repeatedly received high ratings from independent charity evaluations because the organization puts the vast majority of its donations toward operational expenses rather than administrative overhead (like salaries).

      Donors can see exactly where their money goes in Sea Shepherd’s ongoing efforts to stop whaling and the commercial extinction of blue fin tuna. The latter, of course, is the sources of this little situation and will hopefully further expose tuna poachers and draw attention to the overfishing of BFT.

      Either way, Sea Shepherd remains in the headlines for doing exactly what its donors want to see the activists doing. That is, taking action for the oceans.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        Maybe Sea Shepherd would be better served in their efforts against tuna poachers by actually *going after tuna poachers*. The Maltese operation they attacked turned out to be perfectly legal and had caught the fish for a tuna farming operation.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        Animux is a prolific Sea Shepherd apologist. He doesn’t care nearly so much about the facts as he does about covering his terrorist idols’ butts. At this point in time, I don’t assign him any credibility.

      • AnimuX

        Davey is just another pro-whaling spam-addict as you will all soon see for yourselves. :p

      • Pip

        Animy is just another pro-whaling parrot as you can plainly see for yourselves. He will just keep repeating the same lies thinking that somehow that will make them true and he will keep repeating decades old information somehow thinking that will make it relevant.

      • the working poor

        “The latter, of course, is the sources of this little situation and will hopefully further expose tuna poachers and draw attention to the overfishing of BFT.”

        Yes, a little situation that’ll only cost $1,411,692.87 to solve. $1,411,692.87 is a very small price to pay for this bit of PR.

      • imforthewhales

        Davey ( nickers?) …go back to your porn.

    • jeffrico

      They are doing just what I/WE want them to be doing! Saving Whales and other marine fish!

    • (??) Matt

      just from your post i am obviously just making an assumption here but im asking you that do you like the killing of whales? i see that your name is in fact japanese…..do you like whale meat and the killing of whales? i sure dont…I got whale watching every single year and see these magnificent creatures…It is absolutely revolting to think that people are killing them, These beautiful creatures that everybody should admire!

      Go Sea Shepherd!!!

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        The Japanese whalers are mostly killing “minke” whales. It’s not exactly the majestic species you like to go out and watch. Personally, I don’t have a problem with admiring swans and eating duck.

      • the working poor

        Yes, all 127 million Japanese citizens & millions of those around the world with Japanese names (including 2nd, 3rd & 4th generation born & raised Japanese-Americans, etc.)like whale meat and the killing of whales. We should put all of them in concentration camps.

      • imforthewhales

        Kimitake is like one of those kamikazes, he likes to strike first and ask questions later…if he sticks around for that long, lol.

    • Penny Fries

      In this modern world there are very few people who stand out for doing the right thing, save for American servicemen and women, of course; but as far as individuals that have dedicated their entire lives to protecting the oceans’ inhabitants against self-serving greedy, stupid morons who care about nothing past their own wallets – there are very few. Captain Paul Watson is as close to a hero as it gets and I admire and respect him immensely.

      If it weren’t for the liars who slaughter the helpless beings of the sea for their own profit, Sea Shepherd would not be needed, it would not exist and therefore, wouldn’t need assistance at this moment to the tune of $1.4m. I don’t have a lot of money, but I will donate to the cause because I believe in Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd.

      • Bennie in Texas

        Amen Penny. Very well said.

    • Mirka

      You are from Japan no doubt. So you should be an expert on whats legal and whats not since your countrymen kill whales braking international laws left and right.

      Personaly I dont give a s**t if Paul Watson sits on a throne covered whit diamonds and gold if he gets the job done.
      An SeaShepherds get the job done!

      No political bull s**t will never stop the fight. If necessary SeaShepherds will take turns rowing a freaking rowboat after the criminals who exploit OUR seas.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        Mirka, cite me even one law that the Japanese are breaking by whaling in the Southern Ocean sanctuary. I dare you. I’ll even put $100 on the line. Go ahead, tell me which law(s) they’re breaking.

      • the working poor

        Yes, all of dem japaneses are guilty of being whale killers who can’t speak english or understand politics!! Screw the national debt crisis!! It’s all political bulls**t anyways!! We should donate all the money that we have towards the diamond encrusted golden throne that Paul Watson (aka Saver of the Universe) deserves to sit on!!

      • imforthewhales

        They are whaling commercialy, enuff said. Everyone knows that. Some poor pathetic souls still try and spout the research crappola, but no-one is buying. At least not anyone with any brains.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Susy-Costello/600701334 Susy Costello

      do your research before commenting on something you obviously know nothing about….His ship is being held because SS intervened in the “illegal” fishing practices of Fish and Fish Company.

      Looks to me by your comments that you care nothing about saving the oceans and the life within it. Maybe you consume these fish and are pro whaling???

      Sea Shepherd does excellent work that no one else has the guts or backbone to do so again, before you leave these comments, get educated…
      Majority of people agree with what Sea Shepherd does. They may not like or agree with some of there tactics but they do agree with their cause and there goals so as long as the job is getting done then let them be…

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamie-McCroskey/100001196054130 Jamie McCroskey

        And yet ICCAT, who has authority unlike watson, confirmed the catch as legal…I believe anyone over watson, he lies way too much.

      • the working poor

        You go girl! I also take anything Paul Watson says to be the gospel truth. If he says that it’s illegal, it surely must be. How dare anyone question his words. Anyone who speaks ill of our savior surely must be fish-eating pro whalers!!

    • PdG

      Mr Kimitake Hiraoka,

      I think you’re alone in your opinions.

      “There’s no need to dwell upon their criminality, we’re all well aware of it.”
      Well sorry, but it’s Japan who hunts whales commercially under the excuse of doing Research.
      The rest of the world knows it and believes this is criminal. I hope that someday you and people like you are able to comprehend more than just their own interests. We are all responsible for the world we are living in.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        PdG, most of the world doesn’t know or care about Japan’s whaling. And regardless of what you like to believe about its legality, we all *know* that Sea Shepherd’s tactics are often illegal.

        Maybe if *you* could comprehend more than your own interests, you would realize that the global whaling industry is a tiny fraction of what it once was, and it isn’t threatening whale species with extinction anymore.

        People and countries need to stop being such extremists against whaling if they want to reach any kind of compromise. The beautiful thing about international law is that if you guys just keep screaming “screw you!”, the Icelanders and the Japanese can just do the same right back at you.

      • AnimuX

        Pro-whalers often like to claim that nobody cares about whaling but the fact is millions of people all over the world care and that’s why they contribute to conservation organizations.

        Whaling nations pushed nearly every species of large whale to the brink of extinction during the 20th century and many species are endangered today as a result.

        Japan, for example, continues to kill endangered Sei whales, endangered Fin whales, vulnerable Sperm whales, Bryde’s whales (population uncertain), common Minke whales in the North Pacific (up to 46% from the vulnerable J-stock), and Antarctic minke whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary (some IUCN data suggests this species has declined by 50% or more in the last 3 generations).

        Japan also allows the take of whales through by-catch (thus encouraging further unregulated whaling) as well as the slaughter of up to 20,000 “small cetaceans” including rare beaked whales and dolphins.

        Historically, Japan has violated size limits (killed undersized whales), species protections (killed protected species), seasonal limits (hunted out of season), all manner of quotas (killed more whales than allotted by the IWC), and even facilitated “pirate whaling” (setup front companies in foreign countries to kill whales secretly and illegally and smuggle the meat to Japan).

        Since 1986 there has been a global moratorium on commercial whaling which Japan, Iceland, and Norway continue to defy and subvert by killing more whales, including endangered species.

        So when pro-whalers claim it’s “no big deal”, people should be informed and make that call on their own. So far, millions have shown their concern for the plight of whales.

    • Dolly

      They have SPONSORS for flashy toys and t.v. shows!!! Duh

  • Rat King

    I love both – Captain Paul Watson and Alyssa Milano! If I would be a millionaire I would give it today! But unfortunately I’m a pauper – too bad for them – and for me!

  • asdf

    why arent they using the money the get from animal planet for whale wars. Better yet, why isnt animal planet bailing them out.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamie-McCroskey/100001196054130 Jamie McCroskey

    “Two of the clashes involved the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. In one of them, two fishermen were injured and hundreds of fish were freed off the coast of Tripoli, Libya. In the second, fishermen rallied to defend their tuna pens and the Libyan navy intervened to head off what might have been another ugly incident.” Those two men were medevac’d to the hospital, they could have easily been killed.
    http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100724/local/police-working-with-foreign-agencies-over-tuna-clashes.319248

    That’s all I need to know, I will never support violence and lies. Let her bail them out this time. I thought she was smarter than that, I guess not.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Marsh/685226382 Dan Marsh

      Two nameless fisherman, and no charges?

      The article is either propaganda (highly likely), or written by a very incompetent journalist.

    • AnimuX

      Love the way pro-whalers leave out little details like the supposedly life threatening injury from the original confrontation was actually just a few stitches in one hand.

      Or that the Steve Irwin didn’t actually touch the tuna pen until (shown in video evidence) it was rammed in the stern by the tuna fishermen who tried to cut up protesters with a pole-gaff.

      Or the second confrontation where the tuna poachers fired flare guns at the bridge of the SI with the activists standing on the deck.

      Or the shady operations this particular company has been involved in before, such as claiming tuna as domestic that was actually caught by non-eu countries without going through the proper “import” process. (ie: circumventing catch quotas allotted to EU fishing vessels)

      Or the fact that traditional Maltese fishermen praised Sea Shepherd for acting where their own government has failed to stop corporate destruction of the fisheries they depend on for food and livelihood.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Rideough/516534860 Dave Rideough

        “Love the way pro-whalers leave out little details like the supposedly life threatening injury from the original confrontation was actually just a few stitches in one hand.”

        I don’t care what the extent of the injuries are, when you have an EIGHT HUNDRED TON SHIP DELIBERATELY RAMMING the structure you’re perilously standing on, that’s a direct threat against your life.

        “Or that the Steve Irwin didn’t actually touch the tuna pen until (shown in video evidence) it was rammed in the stern by the tuna fishermen who tried to cut up protesters with a pole-gaff.”

        You mean when the tuna fishermen tried to defend their property against the militant activists flying the Jolly Roger and threatening them.

        “Or the second confrontation where the tuna poachers fired flare guns at the bridge of the SI with the activists standing on the deck.”

        Oh, so you’re willing to admit that that’s an act of violence? Because Watson loves doing that.

        “Or the shady operations this particular company has been involved in before, such as claiming tuna as domestic that was actually caught by non-eu countries without going through the proper “import” process. (ie: circumventing catch quotas allotted to EU fishing vessels)”

        Do you have any evidence for that, or did you just make that up on the fly?

        “Or the fact that traditional Maltese fishermen praised Sea Shepherd for acting where their own government has failed to stop corporate destruction of the fisheries they depend on for food and livelihood.”

        Come on, seriously?

      • AnimuX

        Ahem – Shady dealings by this company (example):

        http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/11/26/t2.html

        “In all these cases, government says the cages were used to farm tuna from foreign purse-seiners, intended for re-export. For example, the Fish & Fish tuna ranch holds what government claims are 210 tonnes (€4.2 million) of tuna caught by a Moroccan purse seiner, Le Marsouin.

        However, since this fish was not caught by an EU-flagged vessel, it should have been considered by Malta and the EU as an import of live bluefin tuna.”

      • AnimuX

        Traditional Maltese fishermen supporting Sea Shepherd in statements to Maltese media (example):

        http://www.fish2fork.com/news-index/maltas-traditional-fishermen-salute-sea-shepherd.aspx

        “Charles Bugeja’s family boasts four generations of fishermen. Today his father’s vessel has been on land since May and the quota he was allocated was so low that it was reached within a few weeks. Bugeja said: “The Sea Shepherd people are doing what the government should have done to protect the tuna and the livelihood of traditional fishermen who have lived off the sea for generations. ” While he understood the decline in tuna populations now requires such measures, he was bitter that his family was suffering the consequences of a big commercial industry controlled by a few.”

  • oceanlover

    Animal Planet only pays expenses for the camera crew, they don’t pay SSCS for the show they merely document their activities. Wish SSCS had their annual reports on their website (like Greenpeace) to be transparent with their finances. Maybe if they raise the 1.4 million, they can pay Mr. Bethune the money sill owed him for the Ady Gil. SSCS does good work and they’re the only ones out there ~ hope they get back to open ocean soon.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Devin-Davis/100000565703531 Devin Davis

      Why should SSCS pay for the Ady Gil? He went into the engagement knowing what might happen. Noone could have predicted that the Japanese would become so agressive and plow into them on purpose. But now we know and shouldn’t ever presume to know what the Japanese would or would not do.

      If anything the Japanese should be paying for the boat and restitution for his incarceration for boarding their vessel and attempting to arrest the captian.

      • Pip

        Maybe because they had agreed to pay the money?

  • Bobby Xavier

    Maybe Sea Shepherd board member Anthony Kiedis could pull $1.4m out of his $120m and put his money where his heart is?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamie-McCroskey/100001196054130 Jamie McCroskey

      Put his money up? that’s not the sea shepherd way.

  • Rick

    The sea is being grossly over-fished, this is not just about whales. They are not called Whale Shepherds. They are worried about the ocean dying due to uncontrolled fishing, without enough time for the fish to replenish their numbers. Fishing like this is like cutting down all the trees and hoping for more to regrow. Not going to happen, or if it does, it will take a long time to recover. We need to stop doing this blindly, as if it can go on forever.

    I hope people donate and they raise extra money.

    • Dolly

      KUDOS!

      • imforthewhales

        Bravo Rick. Well said.

  • http://www.facebook.com/braune Guilherme Braune

    I did my part! I’ve made my donation! Not much compared to the amount needed, but did what I could, if everyone does the same, victory is assured! Good luck, Captain! Yo Ho Sea Shepherd!!!

  • Colt

    This is not a criminal matter. They are being sued for the damage done when they released tuna last year. The case is unlikely to succeed, but that’s not the point. The point is they want revenge and doing this right before a campaign accomplishes that.

    • Pip

      Sorry but the case is very likely to succeed. There is video evidence they rammed the net and allowed/caused the release of the tuna.

      Even if they can show the tuna were illegally caught (which is a big IF especially since ICCATs doesn’t agree with the SSCS that the catch was illegal) they are still guilty of the damage they caused. If I think my neighbor is driving without a license so I flatten his tires then even if I was right I would still be guilty of vandalism and destruction of property, the DA might decline to file criminal charges but I would almost undoubtedly lose any civil case.

  • Steve Ager

    The vessel has not been impounded by authorities in Shetland. She has been
    arrested by Court Order by commercial interests. The details are available
    on the organisation’s website.

    Regards

    Lerwick Port Authority
    Albert Building, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LL
    Tel: +44 (0) 1595 692 991 Fax: 44 (0) 1595 693 452
    http://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk

    You can spam them at the following email address:
    info@lerwick-harbour.co.uk

    • Pip

      And why would anybody spam them? Will it help get the boat released?

      Or might it just piss them off because all they are doing is following the law?

      On second thought, go ahead and spam them, it will just cause more problems for the SSCS. Hope everything is exactly and completely 100% correct on that boat.

      • the working poor

        Didn’t you know that negative spamming campaigns is the Sea Shepherd way? Google “Hotel de France Jersey”

      • Steve Ager

        Whats wrong with voicing your objection to something by whatever means possible? I want the Steve Irwin released as soon as possible so they can inhibit the imminent “Grind” event in the Faroe Islands. The port authority following the “law” is just going to result in lots of dead pilot whales! As far as I am concerned they are just as bad as the illegal whalers/fisherman.

      • Michael Raymer

        I have never seen anything on the SSCS website encouraging spamming anyone and I have never been requested to spam by email. So I don’t know where this accusation that, “negative spamming campaigns is the Sea Shepherd way” is coming from. If you have a source that verifies your accusation, please post it.

      • the working poor

        I already told you what to google. How much more specific do I need to get?

      • the working poor

        Oops, I forgot to add “sea shepherd”. Google News concerning “sea shepherd hotel de france jersey”. Let me know if you need to be spoonfed more info!

      • Michael Raymer

        OK, I did exactly what you said, including what you forgot to add until your last post. Now what?? I still see no support for your allegation that, “negative spamming campaigns is the Sea Shepherd way”. And keep in mind that I have been to the SSCS site on a weekly basis (at the very least) for the last couple of years. They have never asked the membership to spam anyone. Soooo, “spoonfeeding” isn’t exactly the applicable term. It’s more like shoveling, and it smells an awful lot like manure.

      • the working poor

        No sense showing evidence to the blind, I guess.

      • Michael Raymer

        You haven’t shown any evidence at all. How about not wasting peoples time, in the future?

      • the working poor

        Your blinders’ll probably prevent you from seeing any wrongdoing on SS’s part but here you go:

        http://www.thisisjersey.com/2011/07/16/hotel-defends-decision/#comment-110620
        http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2011/07/12/hotel-de-france-jersey-the-hotel-of-choice-for-whale-killers-467

        I’d also give you the link to the facebook page of the hotel but it’s gone now, thanks to the hate campaign that Paul Fatson incited. You should’ve seen the ignorant crap that people were spewing there.

        Oh, and for the record, Paul’s commentaries & editorials on the Sea Shepherd web site is NOT a reliable source for finding out facts. It very much counts as propaganda; 10X worse than citing Wiki.

      • Michael Raymer

        I am still waiting for you to support your allegation that “negative spamming campaigns is the Sea Shepherd way”. You post links, but none of them contain a shred of evidence to support your argument.

        “Paul’s commentaries & editorials on the Sea Shepherd web site is NOT a reliable source for finding out facts. It very much counts as propaganda”

        Thank yew….but I really don’t need the obvious explained to me. But since you do, I’ll explain it one-more-time. SSCS has never encouraged any form of spamming campaign from their website or through emails. How much plainer do I have to be?

  • Sea Cucumber

    Love the way anti-whalers leave out little details like the fact that the life threatening injury from the original confrontation actually resulted in the fisherman having to be airlifted out.

    Or that the Steve Irwin rammed the tuna pen first (shown in video evidence) and was subsequently rammed in the stern by the legal tuna fishermen who tried to defend themselves from being showered with butyric acid in glass bottles.

    Or the second confrontation where the tuna poachers fired flare guns at the bridge of the SI with the activists standing on the deck shooting BA projectiles at them.

    Or the shady operations that the SSCS has been involved in before, such as claiming the tuna was illegally caught by non-eu countries without going through the proper “import” process. (ie: circumventing catch quotas allotted to EU fishing vessels)

    Or the fact that most traditional fishermen condemned the Sea Shepherds for acting as if they had actual legal authority.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamie-McCroskey/100001196054130 Jamie McCroskey

      Here is that Video, well one of them: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=721_1277206273
      You can see the two men trying to get away.

    • the working poor

      Didn’t you know that any attack against Sea Shepherd’s targets is perfectly justified? While any attack against Sea Shepherd is a grevious sin? Being that they’re the self-appointed savior of the oceans?

  • zoey2011

    The Sea Shepherd operates, at least in the Southern Ocean, in compliance with the International Treaty on Whaling. For the poster who commented that the Japanese was killing “just some Minke whales”, as if it were no big deal; the entire oceans are being overfished. Besides, who are you to decide which species are or are not “big deals”? What are you doing as a supposedly intelligent human to make yourself a big deal. The loss of any species is horrendous, and we have lost too many already.

    • Pip

      There is no such thing as an International Treaty on Whaling.

      Please at least try and make your lies plausible.

      I do agree that the loss of any species is horrendous, but none of the hunted whale species are being driven toward loss by whaling.

  • Bob
    • the working poor

      How dare you bring up the starving visible minorities when people are trying to save the whales & tuna?! It’s almost as OT as the Iraqi war or the debt crisis!!

  • AnimuX

    Don’t just click a like button. You can help to STOP Icelandic whaling!

    The United States Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, has formally certified that Iceland is guilty of subverting international conservation efforts under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen’s Protective Act!

    The United States has national laws that allow for unilateral action against other nations that diminish the effectiveness of international conservation efforts regarding whales.

    The Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman’s Protective Act was enacted in 1971 to conserve Atlantic salmon. The Pelly Amendment grants the President discretion to prohibit the importation of fish or fish products originating in a country that is diminishing the effectiveness of an international fishery conservation program. The Packwood-Magnuson Amendment of 1979, an amendment to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), allows the President to impose trade sanctions pursuant to the Pelly Amendment if a country is diminishing the effectiveness of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

    WDCS and other conservation organizations are seeking trade sanctions against Iceland under U.S. domestic law because of Iceland’s ongoing destruction of endangered Fin whales!

    YOU CAN HELP!

    Write to President Obama!

    Ask the U.S. President to enact sanctions against Icelandic marine products (under the 1971 Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman’s Protective Act and 1979 Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act) until the commercial slaughter of whales, especially endangered species, is stopped!

    http://www.internationalwhaleprotection.org/campaigns/iceland/

    • Bob

      http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-20/u-s-may-impose-sanctions-on-iceland-for-hunting-whales-1-.html

      ” ‘Iceland has given permits to its whalers to catch as many as 216 minke whales and 154 fin whales this year, the island’s Fisheries Ministry said in an e-mailed statement. So far, whalers have caught 38 minke whales out of a stock of 70,000 animals. No fin whales, which number 20,000, have been caught this year, according to Bjarni Hardarson, a spokesman for Iceland’s Ministry of Fisheries.’

      ‘The commercial whaling quota is “based on sound scientific grounds and is unquestionably sustainable,” the ministry said. Iceland, which doesn’t consider the two species endangered, exported $814,000 worth of whale meat in 2008, most of it to Japan.’

      ‘The U.S. hunts bowhead whales off the coast of Alaska with Icelandic support, the Reykjavik-based ministry said. “U.S. authorities are not consistent when they criticize Icelandic fin whale hunting,” which is “no less sustainable than U.S. bowhead whaling,” the ministry said.’ “

      • AnimuX

        Pro-whaler­s often like to pretend that Iceland killing whales to make a little money by mass producing canned whale meat is the same thing as native tribal people who hunt whales to survive in remote areas where other food is not plentiful.

        Aboriginal Subsistence: Hunt to survive
        Icelandic whalers: Slaughter endangered whales for money

      • Bob

        Anti-whalers like to pretend that animals that are not endangered are endangered.

    • the working poor

      I’m sorry; all my attention and life savings is devoted to saving SSCS property. Maybe some other time!

  • SquidNunc

    “The bond for the release of the ship is currently set at $1,411,692.87, which seems an awfully specific number…maybe that’s once they subtracted whatever was in their wallets”

    That, or it’s 1,000,000 Euros.

    • Andy Neuenschwander

      Quite clever, quite clever indeed!

  • Nutjob

    I have confidence that there are enough rich idiots in the world to save the Sea Shepherds.

  • SS Fan

    Well done Sea Shepherd!! Go, Go, AnimuX!! Now you are raising money to support the poor fishermen. Maltese would love you!

  • http://echosfromthesea@wetpaint.com kV

    The reality is that these f$#@&*$ are not going to give up what their doing because they do not give a s&#* so it takes Capt. Paul and his crew to do what it takes! All animals are innocent and they are here on this earth to be protected and loved by us, that ARE human. We are in this mess because of greed and pride. I wish people would stop doing things that make God sad but unfortunately it happens all the time. It does not matter where the money comes from as long as the job is finished, and that will never end. Whatever good that’s being done is on a huge scale and the spirits of the whales are forever being healed. If a dolphin can know you are in distress and lead a ship to safety then anything can be done in these great waters! Long live the Seashepard!

  • romika3

    $1,411,692.87 donated to a conservation organization that does real work could go a long way. Do the math, 1.5 million for the Ady Gil that was sent to the bottom by the SSCS as a media stunt and now almost another 1.5 million. That is almost three million dollars out the window. Doners might what to begin asking serious questions.

    • the working poor

      SSCS need not worry. Paul Fatson followers are incapable of questioning their leader. Years of worship and visiting the SSCS site on a weekly basis (at the very least) have reduced their brains to what looks like a sponge that’s been used to clean a public washroom for many years. They’re unable to google so they believe everything on the SSCS site (and Fox News, in some cases) to be the gospel truth. It’s sad, really.

      • Michael Raymer

        How cute. The newbie presumes to know who he’s is talking to. Until you actually find out you make yourself look more foolish with every non-post you compose.

      • imforthewhales

        Lol, just another sea cucmber clone..or a romi clone or a walter clone. The usual SSCS haters. Nothing new.

      • romika3

        Nothing new but the truth!!!

      • the working poor

        “The newbie presumes to know who he’s is talking to. Until you actually find out you make yourself look more foolish with every non-post you compose.”

        Huh? Is this a reference to you or romika3? Is it a “Don’t you know who I am? Don’t mess with me, because I know where you live!” type of threat? Or is it just a high school-type situation where you’re warning the new kid not to hang out with the losers & geeks? Unfortunately, I have a life so I won’t be hanging around long enough to find out.

      • Michael Raymer

        Wow, another pro-whaler that needs clear english explained to him…what were the odds? Learn to read, fool, before swinging with the grownups. Your post of July 23 @ 12:44am is so full of inaccuracy and distortion that I am the one who should question you on who you are talking to. Don’t presume, fool, to speak for me or to know what I do and don’t believe in. I am far beyond your limited grasp to comprehend. You have a good 2 years of catching up before you can claim to know anyone here or what they stand for.

      • the working poor

        Ah, so it IS a “Don’t you know who I am?” type of powertrip hissyfit. I’m sorry, the notion of someone doing that in the comments area of an online article seemed so ludicrous to me that I had to make sure.

        Believe it or not, there’s a whole world outside the ecorazzi comments area and your status here means very little to me. My comment that you’re spazzing over is all inclusive (hence the use of plurals) & based on sources other than…well, you. Also, you should look up the word “satire”.

        Unfortunately, I won’t be hanging around here for a couple of years in an effort to comprehend the awesome complexity that is Michael Raymer. Instead, I’m off to spend my free time doing s**t to help the environment (including saving marine life). Goodbye and good luck with becoming Ruler of the Ecorazzi Comment Boards!

      • Michael Raymer

        Maybe you wouldn’t be so poor if you worked on your reading skills. But hey, the world needs hillbillies.

        Don’t try to speak for the rest of us. You have no idea where we come from, so keep your bullshit little generalizations to yourself. “All inclusive” is the act of a desperately stupid mind. And satire only works if it’s funny. When it isn’t, we call it ignorance.

        “Instead, I’m off to spend my free time doing s**t to help the environment (including saving marine life).”

        Good luck with that. Again, a little effort towards comprehension might actually have you doing something other than wasting everyones time.

  • romika3

    Folks: Have a look at this video. I will really give you an idea of how members of the SSCS operate. Just listen to their commentary.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcOEkfRHoWk

  • Sea Cucumber

    I have clones? That is Cool!

    Do like Don Freeman (Animux) says – write to President Obama. Lol – yeah, right – THAT is really going to work!

    Donny boy – Here’s what your brethren are going to write:

    Dear President Obama,

    Please set up some sanctions against Japan and Iceland for killing whales. They are non-human persons and should have rights. We tried telling them to swim faster, farther and deeper telepathically, but we can’t reach them all. Paul Watson found understanding when he looked in a whale’s eye, and that is good enough for us. So please, ignore any trade and military alliances and punish these evil murdering savages for what they are doing, even though it’s perfectly legal – we just don’t like it.

    Thanks,

    Whale Lover

    Yeah, that’s going to make up about 99.7% of the letters he will receive. The other .3% will be illegible and so full of grammatical errors that the Secret Service will determine they were written by monkeys wearing boxing gloves while they typed them!

    Let me know how the Pres responds back to you! Lol!

    • AnimuX

      You can all clearly see the way pro-whalers arrogantly scoff at the voices of those scientists, officials, activists, and citizens who oppose the commercial slaughter of endangered whales.

      WDCS confirmed that more than 250,000 people wrote to the U.S. Commerce Secretary (through their own form) calling for sanctions against Iceland. Secretary Locke responded to these calls by officially declaring Iceland is subverting international conservation efforts, thus opening the door to economic sanctions.

      YOU CAN HELP!

      Write to President Obama!

      Ask the U.S. President to enact sanctions against Icelandic marine products (under the 1971 Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman’s Protective Act and 1979 Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act) until the commercial slaughter of whales, especially endangered species, is stopped!

      http://www.internationalwhaleprotection.org/campaigns/iceland/

  • Sea Cucumber

    Did you write your letter today, Don? The response you got was called a “courtesy” response. It happens when more than half of your letters are written with crayons and illustrated with macaroni and glitter, and reference whales and dolphins as “non-human persons”. Believe me, they take it about as seriously as they do Bozo the Clown. They wanted your votes, and because they sent you a “form response”, they got it because you bought it. Congratulations – you just proved P.T. Barnum right!!

    By all means, write your letters to President Obama. Since the financial, healthcare, and budget issues have all been resolved, he has all the time in the world to deal with a pitiful band of tree-hugging nuisances.

    Look, Don, why don’t you answer the question I asked you before about your own dedication? Why weren’t you there protesting at the IWC meeting? If this was so all-important to you like you profess, why wasn’t it worth it to join the twenty-something individuals in Jersey?

    I guess it wasn’t that important to you.

    See folks – when pressed to spend any more than 10 bucks of their own money, anti-whaling guys like Don (Animux) will always fold and hide behind their keyboards. Is that the kind of person that you want giving you advice about what to do – someone that clearly demonstrated a lack of personal commitment to the SSCS???

    They could have used your help when Watson was sent packing from the hotel with a boot print on the seat of his pants.

    While you’re at it – I hear they could still use about a million dollars to get the Steve Irwin freed up – you got that much on you? Sell your house and car and give the money to Paul if it means that much to you – anything for the whales, right, Don?

    I guess not.

    Sad – I was starting to think you actually cared about the whales but it seems all you want to do is to mislead others into doing what you’re too scared to do yourself.

    • AnimuX

      Unfortunately, there seems to be a rational disconnect between what pro-whalers actually write and what they think the impact of their writing has.

      WDCS has measured the number of messages sent by those who oppose whaling (just through their own website form) at over 250,000. At least 18 additional organizations opposed to whaling also participated in the campaign calling on Secretary Locke to open the door to U.S. sanctions against Iceland.

      The official response from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce can be found at: http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2011/07/20/us-commerce-secretary-gary-locke-certifies-icelands-whaling-undermine

      “Iceland’s disregard for the International Whaling Commission’s global moratorium on commercial whaling is unacceptable,” Locke said. “Iceland’s harvest of whales and export of fin whale meat threaten an endangered species and undermine worldwide efforts to protect whales. It’s critical that the Government of Iceland take immediate action to comply with the moratorium.”

      Anti-whaling activists, scientists, citizens and officials will continue to oppose whaling through petitions, protest, actions, and donations regardless of pro-whaling fools and internet trolls. They will continue to call on their elected and appointed representatives to “Save the Whales”.

      • AnimuX

        YOU CAN HELP!

        Write to President Obama!

        Ask the U.S. President to enact sanctions against Icelandic marine products (under the 1971 Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman’s Protective Act and 1979 Packwood-Magnuson Amendment to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act) until the commercial slaughter of whales, especially endangered species, is stopped!

        http://www.internationalwhaleprotection.org/campaigns/iceland/

  • Kyle Noble Quandel

    SSCS is one of the most respected, highest rated charities in the country. Their dedication combined with direct action tactics are hugely effective, perhaps more so than any other advocate/conservation organization.

    Big ups to the heroes at Sea Shepherd! They’ll exceed their goal, with a bit of help from their friends & supporters.

  • Sea Cucumber

    Lol – Hey Kyle – Their “dedication” is going to cost you and your sheep brothers and sisters another 1.4 million dollars that could have been used elsewhere but for the Wat$on’s decision making! Was ramming that cage worth 1.4 million dollars to you? Of course it was – you didn’t have to pay for it, right?

    Analmux – Did you see the Presidential Address tonight? He mentioned that because of receiving all the letters in the mail about whales and dolphins, he has decided that the budget can wait – and instead decided to declare war on Iceland and the Faeroes!

    You did it! Now you can hate on Iceland some more, which shouldn’t be a problem since Fingering laid you to waste on your own forum over Iceland’s whaling! That WAS funny! You got lots of talk designed to garner your votes while nothing of any substance is going to happen.

    Sure – in a time when the US is in danger of losing its AAA credit rating, we’re about to level sanctions against a strong trade partner over whaling??? Are you kidding me??? Are you really that stupid? Say it ain’t so!

    Anyway, yes, by all means, complain to President Obama that the Parkwood – Stagmeir Act of 1977 is being violated. This is in conjunction, and coercion with the Pelly Telly Savales Amendment to the Fisherman’s Prophylactic Act of 1812.

    Don’t cut your tongues while licking the envelopes!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eric-Southard/100001109253565 Eric Southard

    maybe someone should contact James Cameron. After Avatar I’m sure he has an extra million between his couch cushions ;)

  • Rick James….. bitch

    I’m a millionaire and I don’t like the sea shepperds so I’m going to buy a ship and harrass the sea shepperds because in my opinion what they’re doing is wrong and that’s all that matters. Me and my friends will chase them all over the southern ocean throwing acid at them and trying to foul their props. Apparently this is perfectly legal because the sea shepperds have been doing it for years. If anyone should die in the process that’s ok also because everyone knows going in that stopping the sea shepperds at all cost is what’s important and we will put our live on the line for our cause. Death to the sea shepperds! Paul Watson better watch his ass this year.

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