Sea Shepherds - help stop the killing

ok. so i'm not usually one for partaking in conservation campaigns (though vic and i helped a bit with stuff while working at timberland) but this one kind of captured my attention. this is mostly down to vic's best mate, lex, who twitters about the sea shepherds and we chatting when we've seen her about the cause and her involvement.
so, this morning, i read her twitter about the news of more clashes on the seas between the sea shepherds and whalers. reading through the sites news feeds is both a thrill and saddening. the events these guys witness and fight against are incredible. i felt the need to post this to raise awareness of the campaign. while it's nothing bike related, it is miscellaneous but most definately not meaningless, so here you go:

http://www.seashepherd.org/

please, read. even if you don't support, digest the news, the events and the motive.

**The Battle for the Whales Turns Ugly in the Ross Sea **

On board the Steve Irwin --The Ross Sea
February 5, 2009- 1700 Hours Sydney Time

At 1230, the [I]Nisshin Maru aimed the Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at helicopter pilot Chris Aultman of California and Animal Planet cameraman Ashley Dunn of Tasmania.[/I]
"At first it was just a loud noise," said Aultman, "then they turned up the volume and we could feel it in our legs and chest."
Aultman retreated out of range of the device but was shocked they used it.
*"It was extremely irresponsible for the whalers to aim that devise at the helicopter," said Captain Paul Watson. "They were doing nothing but filming and presented absolutely no threat to the ships. They demonstrated absolutely no regard for human life." *
At this point the harpoon vessels turned on their LRAD and aimed it at the small boats and the [I]Steve Irwin.[/I]
This sonic attack was followed by the [I]Nisshin Maru turning into the Steve Irwin and attempting to actually ram the Sea Shepherd vessel at full speed.[/I]

LRAD info

pretty harsh stuff.

I read about the use of non-lethal weapons by whaling fleets this week...
This account is scary.

the friendly japanese whalers give the finger and dose from the LRAD...

... then hose the sea shepherds with water canons.

hmmm - while i do support the cause wholeheartedly i don't always agree with the sea-shepherd's methods.

there was an excellent documentary on telly last year about the rainbow warrior (greenpeace ship) and it's dealings with both the nishin maru and the sea shepherd.

the rainbow warrior spent weeks searching for the japanese whaling fleet and sharing info with the sea shepherd. when they eventually located the whaling fleet, one of the japanese ships had run into trouble and the crew were rescued by the rainbow warrior.

in the meantime the sea-shepherd set about attcking the crew of another japanese boat with acid.

good cause, makes me think twice about wanting to visit a country that partakes in illegal whaling

'acid' or rotten butter. as with all things controversial, each side has a tale. i support the sea shepherds direct action. haven't greenpeace had their share of criticism too?

To be blunt:
Fuck Sea Shepard.
Violent idiots led by a violent lunatic.
Their cretinous and dangerous activities detract from the very respectable greenpeace campaign. Which is certainly saying something cos 9 time out of 10 I think greenpeace are idiots too.
The japanese should be harpooning anything with a sea shepard logo rather than whales.

good cause, makes me think twice about wanting to visit a country that partakes in illegal whaling

i know seb, i love japan but this side of their traditions and industry is appalling.

good cause, makes me think twice about wanting to visit a country that partakes in illegal whaling

i dont think it is 'illegal'.. Japan is allowed to hunt, under a scientific hunting clause.

what IS stupid however, is that most people in Japan dont eat/like Whale. Its just eaten by rich old people, as it was what used to be fed to them in large amounts when they were school kids.

http://www.sas.org.uk/

Wait a minute...they were pissing off a load of blokes with a sound weapon? WTF did they expect?

the whalers? they were the ones with the LRAD. not the sea shepherds.

^ yeah I know.

If I was pissing off a load of blokes trying to do their job, Quite honestly I would expect the same response.

LRAD, does it play Craig David Records.

re-e-wind. when the whales say 'no' ... oh dear.

sas, another great cause andy, they campaigned a lot near my home town at saltburn.

LRAD, does it play Craig David Records.

That I can also honestly say would be enough of an incentive to say fuck it and go home and forget about the protest.

The whales just leap out of the water, suicide styleeee.

'acid' or rotten butter. as with all things controversial, each side has a tale. i support the sea shepherds direct action. haven't greenpeace had their share of criticism too?

touché. i read about the rancid butter thing on the sea shepherd site after i posted that - which was based on what was stated on that doc some time ago. i stand... if not corrected clarified (excuse the unintended butter pun).

sas, another great cause andy, they campaigned a lot near my home town at saltburn.

yep. i was a paid up sas member for a long time.

word up.
one of the best things about the shepherds is the campaigning against shark finning.
horrible stuff.

I had the pleasure of kayaking with these alot over the summer.
Truly magnificent beasts.

hmmm - while i do support the cause wholeheartedly i don't always agree with the sea-shepherd's methods.

there was an excellent documentary on telly last year about the rainbow warrior (greenpeace ship) and it's dealings with both the nishin maru and the sea shepherd.

the rainbow warrior spent weeks searching for the japanese whaling fleet and sharing info with the sea shepherd. when they eventually located the whaling fleet, one of the japanese ships had run into trouble and the crew were rescued by the rainbow warrior.

in the meantime the sea-shepherd set about attcking the crew of another japanese boat with acid.

I saw that too, I found it funny that the greenpeace activists were feasting on steaks etc for every meal while moaning so much about the whalers.

I saw that too, I found it funny that the greenpeace activists were feasting on steaks etc for every meal while moaning so much about the whalers.

Cows which generally find themselves being steak were (as a general rule) reared for that specific purpose, I have never herd (;)) of a battery whale.