Posted on 10/07/2010 9:23:46 AM PDT by george76
A former Sea Shepherd activist on Thursday accused the militant conservation group of deliberately sinking one of its own ships as a publicity stunt after a collision with a Japanese whaler.
New Zealander Pete Bethune labelled Sea Shepherd's leadership "morally bankrupt" for allegedly ordering the hi-tech trimaran "Ady Gil" to be scuttled after it collided with a Japanese whaler last January in the Southern Ocean.
Bethune, the Ady Gil's captain, said Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson ordered the ship's sinking to "garner sympathy with the public and to create better TV" in the publicity battle against Japan's Antarctic whaling program.
"It was definitely salvageable, it was still rock solid from the engine room back," he told Radio New Zealand.
Bethune, who spent five months in custody in Japan earlier this year after illegally boarding the same whaler "Shonan Maru II" a month after the high-seas collision, said he had cut all ties with Sea Shepherd.
"I think an organisation that relies on public money and public generosity to survive has an obligation to be honest," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nz.news.yahoo.com ...
I did read it and was aware of that. However, he was not in jail five months before that and didn't posit this position at that time. I'm just wondering what changed it. Could it be part of the terms of his release?
I’d also add to that that the 2 million dollar boat was financed by mortaging the guys home in Australia.I watched the episode where he was talking about how he had to break it to his family (wife and kids) about the house.
I know...but when I actually watched, it was HILARIOUS if you think these zealots are idiots.
The whalers ALWAYS get the whale. The zealots always get thwarted.
The ‘added value’ is once every three episodes, one of the zealots gets hurt. And once a season, they end up adrift at sea in lifeboats.
Pop some popcorn, fix a cold beverage, and enjoy.
I could care less if the Japanese ship did attack them. They deserved it and too bad it didn’t kill all the hippies on board. They are acting like pirates and acting illegally. The Japanese have a right to do their whaling as this is part of their economy and legal in their country. So they should be able to do so without molestation.
Sounds like we have a bunch of semi-hippie anti-whaling people on FR. They won’t find many friends here. Better go cry on MoveON.
“I don’t like the Sea Shepard operation - but then I don’t like the Japanese whaling either.”
The Japanese told me to tell you that they don’t like your cattle/goat/sheep farming. They will shortly be sending anti-cattling activists on ATVs to disrupt your cow slaughter. Failing that, they’re going to start hijacking Dorito trucks. They do not approve.
I bet you have a chunk of meat stuck somewhere in your teeth while you’re lecturing others on not harming whales. And if you don’t, and you’re a vegetarian...then untold millions of rodents die to raise your arugula.
I eat meat. It is delicious. Since I consume flesh, I don’t feel like I’m morally able to tell others what to do for their sustenance.
indisputable, I do not think the word means whay you think it means
1) The entire crew of the Andy Gil was on the back portion of the ship when the collision occurred because they were out of gas. They were un-powered, so couldn’t move.
What generated the prop wash at the rear of the Ady Gil Sea Pixies?
Maybe the crew were at Ramming Stations
2) The Andy Gil was rammed by the Japanese vessel which was powered, i.e. could navigate and turn out of the way if the Japanese Captain had wanted too.
Camera view down the starboard side of the Japanese vessel shows no sign of a wake. It was turning to port, away from the Ady Gil
3) The Japanese vessel had been previously attacked by the Andy Gil with a Spud gun.
And this means?
Conclusions I draw from this are that the Japanese vessel intentionally ran over them to destroy the ship. It was an opportunity to get revenge - and the Japanese did.
Leaping to an unwarranted conclusion. Have you considered a job with the MSM?
Let’s see - the captain of the damaged ship scuttles it.
But there were survivors. Baaad captain!
Any skipper who “runs out of gas” that far out to sea is lucky to be alive. He is an idiot no matter how ye slice it.
At least I don’t go by a monicker that suggests I have my head in the sand. I’ve viewed the videos and don’t see what you do. I have a different opinion.
Oh well.
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