Sea Shepherd is Moving In On the Japanese Whaling Fleet

[Annces]

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is about one day away from making contact with the Japanese whaling fleet.

"We know where the Greenpeace ship Esperanza is and if Greenpeace is in contact with the Japanese fleet, Sea Shepherd will be there as quickly as we can cover the distance between our two positions," said Captain Paul Watson from onboard the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is with the Japanese fleet. Peter Hammarstedt, the 2nd officer of the Steve Irwin called the Esperanza to speak with the Captain but was informed that the Captain was sleeping and was not to be disturbed. Mr. Hammarstedt spoke with Karli Thomas the Greenpeace expedition leader and congratulated her on finding the Japanese fleet and said that since Sea Shepherd gave Greenpeace the coordinates last year would they repay the favor and provide Sea Shepherd with the coordinates this year? Ms. Thomas replied that as expedition leader she did not have the authority to release that information nor did the Captain of the Esperanza. She added that Greenpeace was withholding the information for security reasons.

Although The Captain of the Esperanza and the expedition leader are under strict orders by Greenpeace International to not release the coordinates to Sea Shepherd, Captain Watson is a co-founder of Greenpeace (1972) and co-founder of Greenpeace International (1979).

"We have our sources in Greenpeace. There are quite a few disgruntled Greenpeacers who are opposed to Greenpeace's policy of non-cooperation. They are being very helpful," said Captain Watson.

There is not much cooperation down here in this region known as the Cooperation Sea (4500 hundred kilometres southwest of Fremantle) amongst anti-whaling groups. The Australian government is refusing to provide any information to Sea Shepherd while providing information on Sea Shepherd to the Japanese government. Greenpeace absolutely refuses to provide information to Sea Shepherd.

The position of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is that we will provide information as we get it to the world at large, to other groups and to the government of Australia.

"The least we can do in the Cooperation Sea, is to do our best to cooperate with everyone," said Captain Watson. "After all, this is about saving whales from illegal whaling activities. We encourage Greenpeace to be aggressive and wish them well with their opening act in this high seas drama. Sea Shepherd is preparing for the Grand finale."

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080112_1.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Good luck to these fine, principled people. Hope they will be 100% successful. Thank you. n/t

[Annces]

2. Greenpeace webcam

There is a ship there (10:28 EST). Japanese or Sea Shepherd?



http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/live-webcam

[Annces]

7. Greenpeace is right on top of them

[flvegan]

8. Daylight shows them on the run

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/live-webcam

[flvegan]

3. According to their site, Greenpeace has found the whaling fleet.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/greenpeace-confronts-whaling-f

To be completely honest, Greenpeace not cooperating with Sea Shepherd over the last two years has cost them a great deal of my respect. Organizations with the same ultimate goal should be able to work together to reach it, regardless of their differences.

Fact is, in one day, it's on.

[backwoodsbob]

5. it's starting to look like..

a pissing contest.

it's a shame..both organizations deserve respect and they are just cutting there own throats working against each other.

[flvegan]

6. Sea Shepherd isn't working against Greenpeace.

Capt. Watson offered their chopper support to Greenpeace. He offered coordinates if he found them first. He suggested that both ships run a 100 mile parallel with the chopper running the middle to find them faster.

Watson has said some relatively unkind things in comparing the two organizations, but he's not been uncooperative in regards to the task at hand.

I wish both SSCS and Greenpeace luck and safe travel, and hope that even operating individually, they're both successful in squashing the whale hunt this year.

[wtmusic]

15. Watson was a founding member of Greenpeace

and pissed off too many people so he was voted off the board.

It's a shame. I hope they can patch things up enough to bring this hunt down.

[Sugar Smack]

20. Captain Watson was kicked out of GreenPeace

but he'd founded it. They'd said he was too "dramatic".

[tekisui]

4. Go, Sea Shepherd, GO!!!

[Orwellian_Ghost]

9. The real deal

K&R

[Bonobo]

10. He is truly, gloriously, courageously "at grace with the sea". Amen.

[Nevernose]

11. Could Greenpeace's refusal be for liabillity reasons?

I know about the bad blood between the two groups, but could Greenpeace's refusal to share the coordinates so far be due to liability issues?

I mean, if they were to give out the coordinates to an organization with a record like Sea Shepherd's, and a Japanese boat was sunk or anyone was hurt, couldn't Greenpeace then be held civilly or even criminally liable? oOuldn't it make more sense for someone to just anonymously tip off Sea Shepherd, thereby protecting Greenpeace from that avenue of retaliation?

[Annces]

13. Sea Shepherd is acting under UN charter

and as such, I think similar to police, if there is damage, the criminal is liable (Japan), not the pursuers (Sea Shepherd).

Sea Shepherd campaigns are guided by the United Nations World Charter for Nature. Sections 21-24 of the Charter provides authority to individuals to act on behalf of and enforce international conservation laws.

http://www.seashepherd.org/about-rules.html

[wtmusic]

16. The Charter For Nature is extremely vague

and as far as "international conservation laws" with regard to whaling -- there are none.

The IWC whaling ban is completely voluntary.

[Annces]

21. What the Japanese are doing is illegal

It is just that no country wants to bother to enforce the law. Sea Shepherd will not be prosecuted for being an agent acting to enforce the law, therefore there is a law. It is illegal to do whaling in the Antarctic Sanctuary. I really don't know where people are coming from when they go to such great lengths to defend Japan when Japan is doing something illegal against whales, which is universally looked upon as a threatened and beloved species. Where is your concern for the whales.

[wtmusic]

22. Not defending what they are doing at all

but there is no law currently on the books of the UN that specifically prohibits whaling.

Here is what Watson is using to justify his actions:

"21. States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities,
international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall:
...
(c) Implement the applicable international legal provisions for the
conservation of nature and the protection of the environment;

(d) Ensure that activities within their jurisdictions or control do not
cause damage to the natural systems located within other States or in the
areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;..."

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/37/a37r007.htm

This is so general that it could be construed to mean anything. You and I and Paul Watson may consider it to include whaling but obviously the Japanese don't. Until we get a UN resolution with some teeth, including enforcement and sanctions, it will be an uphill legal battle.

Personally I don't care if it's legal or not, I support what SS and GP are doing. It would make it a whole lot easier to shut them down with a UN resolution.

[Annces]

23. I don't agree

The Japanese know what they are doing is illegal. They just feel that Sea Shepherd can be dealt with. If what Watson was doing was illegal, he could be prosecuted and jailed. Obviously the Japanese would like to do that, but they know there the law falls.

[wtmusic]

24. Specifically what law are the Japanese breaking?

Under UN piracy law the Japanese have the right to seize the Steve Irwin using military force.

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part7.htm

[Annces]

25. I am not a lawyer

However if there is absolutely no basis for Watson to intervene with the Japanese, then they should detain them. But they won't because they know that it is a "mafia" operation where the tough guys rule, and Japan knows Australia and United States want trade with Japan.

I did find this - however I would have to do research to come up with the technicalities.

Humane Society International tries to sue Japan over whaling -

""Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act it is illegal to kill whales inside the Australian Whale Sanctuary and conservation groups have the right to demand the law be enforced by the Federal Court. However, HSI needed initial permission from the Court to commence proceedings as the case involves a foreign company.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/news-hsi.html

[wtmusic]

26. I, like you, believe there is a moral basis

A legal basis may follow from Watson's actions and the press they have been getting. The reason the Japanese don't send warships out has more to do with publicity than anything else, IMO.

[tekisui]

12. For the Crews of the Esperanza and the Steve Irwin:

Thank You. You are the Better People:

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

[tekisui]

14. kick. They are closing in.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/13/GREENPEACE_wideweb__470x300,0.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/greenpeace-and-sea-shepherd-close-in-on-whalers/2008/01/13/1200159277539.html

[lonestarnot]

17. Swim whales swim...

[Kajsa]

18. Go Sea Shepherd!

Bless each and every one of you!

:applause:

[judaspriestess]

19. they get my lil donation every single month

I am proud to support their effort.