Sea Shepherd expels Peter Bethune over weapons

[onestepforward]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/08/sea-shepherd-expels-peter-bethune

Tuesday 8 June

The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd has expelled a member, currently standing trial in Tokyo, for allegedly violating the organisation's policies against carrying weapons.

New Zealander Peter Bethune, 45, had a bow and arrows with him while he was aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil, although he never used them and the group believes he never intended to use them, said Chuck Swift, Sea Shepherd's deputy chief executive officer.

"His decision to bring them on a Sea Shepherd campaign is unacceptable," Swift said in a statement on Friday.

Bethune is being tried on charges including trespassing, vandalism, possession of a knife, obstructing business and assault. He pleaded guilty to all but the assault charge in last month's opening session. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Bethune climbed on to the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 from a jetski in February, while the ship was in the Antarctic Ocean. He was apprehended when the ship returned to Tokyo in March. Bethune is suspected of throwing glass bottles containing rotten butter at the Japanese harpoon boat in an attempt to block its whaling mission, injuring a crew member.

Sea Shepherd has been protesting Japan's whaling policy for years.

Japan, alongside Norway and Iceland, hunts whales under exceptions to a 1986 moratorium by the International Whaling Commission. Its programme involves large-scale expeditions down to the Antarctic, while other whaling countries mostly stay along their coasts.

Sea Shepherd says it will continue to support Bethune through his court battle in Japan and sees him as a dedicated hero for its cause.

"But unfortunately he will no longer be formally associated with, or be a representative of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society," said Swift.

In tearful court appearances last month, Bethune said it is likely that he will end his anti-whaling protests.

"I thought my crew were going to die," he said, sobbing. "I live with this vision of being run over – images of this big boat running us over. This broke my heart."

Sea Shepherd says that in its 30 years of activism, it has never injured anyone.

Wow.

[arissa]

1. This smells fishy...

From what I gather Bethune always was kind of a loose cannon, so I could see that maybe something is going to come out in the new season of Whale Wars that would make Paul Watson want to distance Sea Shepherd from him, but it's odd considering that they also asked him to risk his life and freedom to pull off this publicity stunt. At least they're not pulling the legal support, but still, I think if you ask someone to do a stunt like this you need to stand by them 100% until they're free.

Also, when did this weapons policy take effect? Watson has admitted to carrying rifles and other guns on Sea Shepherd campaigns in the past (admittedly, this was long before the Animal Planet series and all the publicity), stating that they were for protection against pirates and other common dangers on the high seas. Does he still carry rifles? If so, is this just an excuse to distance himself from Bethune for some other reason?

I wholeheartedly support Sea Shepherd, but sometimes Watson baffles me. I don't think this story passes the smell test, my BS meter is going off.

[onestepforward]

2. This may help to explain a little.

Paul Watson's explanation in his own words:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-100609-1.html

It helps to fill in some gaps from the original story. It sounds like this may actually help to get Bethune out of Japan and back home. Watson gives a little more detail. The SSC are still helping Bethume and will continue to do so until he is released.

[arissa]

3. Thanks for posting, that does make more sense n/t

[onestepforward]

4. You're welcome : ) n/t

[Ignis]

5. Thanks for that.