The problem is the Godzilla is now flying under the Australian. Australia sued Japan in the Hague. Remember that the Japs are whaling in Australian claimed waters. SO!!! If the Japs attack the Godzilla will the Australian Navy get invovled? That is where things get interesting. And Paul Watson will have another ship I can guarantee it!
I believe they get more funding than Green Peace because unlike Green Peace Sea Shepherd takes action where Green Peace just bitches and takes pictures.
Australian claimed waters? Are they whaling within a 200-mile limit of the Australian coast like we claim in the US, or is this some sort of extended claim?
Putting that boat under the Aussie flag is a smart move by the otherwise-dense Watson...like you said, Australia has always been annoyed by Japanese whaling, and if a boat under the Aussie flag gets damaged (even if they put themselves in harms’ way) then it’s g’day, international incident.
}:-)4
I wouldn't call what they do "taking action". Bethune was so frustrated by the total INACTION of the sea shepherd team, and their disfunctional lack of leadership and a plan, that he ended up running his boat into a whaling ship and then boarding it with a knife in order to "do something".
He was then disowned by Watson, and left to rot for 5 months in a Japanese prison. Meanwhile, evidence was revealed that the Ady Gil was actually sunk by the sea shepherd folks to raise their profile, rather than being salvaged after the hit.
My daughter will watch almost anything on TV, but she refuses to let us watch Whale Wars because "absolutely nothing happens". And she isn't humored by gross incompetence.
The new boat doesn’t look “ice rated”...
I am an ocasional viewer, it seems they sea-hippies are careful about the nationality of who they send to attack/board the whalers... trying to avoid court trouble at the home port.
Now the sea-hippies will have to answer to the Australian Coast Guard for their behavior too... cuts both ways.