whale update

[Ken Gargett]

given a number of posts on the japanese whale slaughter of late, herewith an update. i thought it interesting that the dutch govt and/or entities associated therewith are so generous whearea our own current bunch of scumbags made a huge deal of everything they'd do in their election platform and as soon as they were elected, ran and hid.

harpoons should be reserved for politicians.

and quite why the japanese would want to try this bloke is beyind me - it will be whaling to the attention of the entire world.

Sea Shepherd E-Newsletter

Defending Ocean Wildlife WorldwideFebruary 24, 2010

Dear ken,

Saturday will mark three full weeks that no whales have fallen victim to the ruthless harpoons of the illegal whalers, but Operation Waltzing Matilda is not over yet. There are still roughly three weeks left in the Japanese whaling season and we still have many more whales to save in what is supposed to be their own sanctuary. In these turbulent times, and with your continued support, I am confident that our objective of cutting kill quotas in half will be achieved.

Please read on as I have a campaign report for you, along with an update on Captain Pete Bethune, and some great news about support from the country where our vessel Steve Irwin is registered.

No Whales Killed for 19 Days Straight

Despite foul weather, mammoth swells, thousands of nautical miles, and 19 days, the Japanese whalers have still not been able to kill a whale, because of our interventions! The Steve Irwin is headed back to port, but the Bob Barker has enough fuel to continue chasing the whalers for most of the remaining days in the whaling season.

<A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103083076474&s=27205&e=001RsGUQc2wQQ-KW94Ew9lPS9Bopq_jVETXiUx-hSZ2HItqNQCCyED6DKEwjMpNeiNxPyyoAE-EPtbn7hK7GKWwQg6NVpYq8v1kSbKfijPAcrx3E2w-m0zeRu52cKug6NO5q3GnGNgP6aPiXHf1hfrP5cubh-wJarAPMEeylyqBVXQ=" shape=rect target=_blank track="on" linktype="link">Read more about the most recent campaign news.

Photo credit: Barbara Viega / Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Courageous Kiwi Hero Bound for the Land of the Rising Sun

The Japanese government has said it will have Captain Peter Bethune of New Zealand taken to Japan to be tried on unknown charges in a Japanese court.

On February 15th, Captain Peter Bethune <A style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103083076474&s=27205&e=001RsGUQc2wQQ_AGLxQ3lYv5p37j17vPX0mJhMU0koysFWK7bzONAIvg1haC6hL_Tk4BFbnaVK

Eaf_uAlxDvJ4i_MC7_-NC5G-vyLQpdnMAaDb2pqx5PElixHaqJFNUrVflGVG73g2bNvpUlaWzvRwyx_UbfASDO5NJoKRQIg33wj0=" shape=rect target=_blank track="on" linktype="link">boarded the Shonan Maru 2, to serve a citizen's arrest warrant for the destruction of the Ady Gil and the attempted murder of the six crew members who were on board on January 5th when the vessel was struck by the whalers.

Under New Zealand law, a citizen is empowered to serve an arrest warrant for a crime that carries a penalty in excess of eight years imprisonment. The charge of attempted murder qualifies and thus Captain Pete Bethune acted in accordance with New Zealand law in his attempt to serve the captain of the Shonan Maru 2.

If the Japanese put Peter Bethune on trial in Japan, it will be a case that will draw the attention of the world. Read more and please show your support!

Photo credit: JoAnne McArthur / Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Sea Shepherd Receives One Million Euros for the Galapagos

In addition to their annual donation of €500,000, which is used for general operating expenses for Sea Shepherd in the Galapagos and for our mission worldwide, the Dutch National Postcode Lottery has awarded Sea Shepherd €1,000,000 to fund an automatic vessel identification system project in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. This system will enable all the authorities and organizations involved to monitor illegally operating fishing vessels and to act instantly to enforce exiting regulations.

The Galapagos was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and is a highly protected, very unique place. Despite clear regulations, the illegal finning of sharks, the catching of tuna, marlin and other illegal poaching activities form a serious threat for the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

A vessel identification system will greatly increase our chances of saving the Galapagos from the destructive poachers. Learn more about this exciting news!

We are committed to our mission of ending the global destruction of marine habitats and wildlife worldwide. Help see us through the end of this whaling season with as many whales saved as possible. Please join us in our efforts. Thank-you!

For the oceans,

Captain Paul Watson

Founder and President

--------------------------------------------------E-mail: [email protected]Tel: +1 (360) 370-5650Fax: +1 (360) 370-5651Website: www.seashepherd.org

[KB24]

Awesome, keep up the good work.

I watched "The Cove" the other day and despite that being more about dolphins it still was very disturbing and showed the ignorance of those people involved.

[Buch0]

Cheers Ken, I love hearing about any sort of hardship those pricks are enduring in their quest to destroy sea life. This type of thing really does hit a soft spot and I feel this isn't the right place to vent my thoughts on these scum partaking in the killing. I could go on for days..

This next one is not on whales, but sharks, sharks of which we need to survive being wiped out for the shark fin soup supply in asia.

http://www.sharkwater.com/

Be sure to see it if you haven't, it will open your eyes no matter your current view on sharks and portray the reason why we need them in the ocean. Be warned though, it will bring a tear to your eye, I guarantee that.

[Ken Gargett]

Cheers Ken, I love hearing about any sort of hardship those pricks are enduring in their quest to destroy sea life. This type of thing really does hit a soft spot and I feel this isn't the right place to vent my thoughts on these scum partaking in the killing. I could go on for days..

This next one is not on whales, but sharks, sharks of which we need to survive being wiped out for the shark fin soup supply in asia.

http://www.sharkwater.com/

Be sure to see it if you haven't, it will open your eyes no matter your current view on sharks and portray the reason why we need them in the ocean. Be warned though, it will bring a tear to your eye, I guarantee that.

i'm scared stiff of sharks and have seen more than enough big ones in our waters to have no interest in diving etc but one of the saddest things i've ever seen was driving along the beach on fraser. there was a bunch of tourists looking at something - we stopped and had a look. it was a shark, about 13-14 foot, which had had its dorsal sliced off and then had been tossed back for what must have been a long, slow and cruel death. it had washed up on shore. if they used the entire shark, i can understand that, but to kill it just for the fin is barbaric. i'd simply invite those doing this to share a pool with a few sharks before they lost their fins.

and yes, probably not the place but with the big cheese away, i can get away with a few things for a bit.

[Colt45]

Does this mean I can start posting weekly National Rifle Association and Gun Owners Action League reports?

"have you hugged a tree today?"

[reg]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_seaworld_death

[Ken Gargett]

Does this mean I can start posting weekly National Rifle Association and Gun Owners Action League reports?

"have you hugged a tree today?"

what do you think?

i'm forbidden from posting on guns but i'm allowed to respond (sort of, if rob is not around).

[Ken Gargett]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_us/us_seaworld_death

that has got a mention out here as well.

i'm a strong proponent of well run zoos and their equivalent where the intention is to educate, to assist research to benefit the species involved and to /help breed endangered species but really hate places that cage animals to put on shows for tourists (i know it is not that simple and seaworld, yours and ours, do a lot of good work and if the shows help promote an interest in marine life then there are positives).

that said, if someone locked me in a small pond and made me do tricks for the rubberneck brigade, i reckon i'd have the odd unpleasant moment too.

[Buch0]

there was a bunch of tourists looking at something - we stopped and had a look. it was a shark, about 13-14 foot, which had had its dorsal sliced off and then had been tossed back for what must have been a long, slow and cruel death. it had washed up on shore. if they used the entire shark, i can understand that, but to kill it just for the fin is barbaric.

Mate sharkwater shows this exact practice happening on a mass scale everyday all over the world. It is absolute heartbreaking to see such a creature be harvested in this way by these scum in this day and age. It is unfathomable how governments with any sort of power can let this happen especially seeing as once sharks are wiped out, the whole ecosystem of marine life is going to be screwed up.

When you get time watch it and see what you think yer?

[Ken Gargett]

Mate sharkwater shows this exact practice happening on a mass scale everyday all over the world. It is absolute heartbreaking to see such a creature be harvested in this way by these scum in this day and age. It is unfathomable how governments with any sort of power can let this happen especially seeing as once sharks are wiped out, the whole ecosystem of marine life is going to be screwed up.

When you get time watch it and see what you think yer?

will do.

[Colt45]

what do you think?

I think a picture's worth a thousand words......

[Ken Gargett]

I think a picture's worth a thousand words......

just thinking of you, colt!

[finecigar]

Hey Ken, Thank you for the update on this. Some people are out there doing the wrong thing and I am glad that members on the forum care and notice,

I have a severe animosity for these people, it is simply inhumane and wrong what has been done and in some areas still going on. It just takes time though everyone has to remember. One step at a time,

[finecigar]

The whales strike back.... Whale kills trainer

(ok the Orca is technically from the dolphin family ,but...)

A Dolphin is a whale- although it is a common misconception. They are part of the "toothed whales," to be specific.

I am actually glad that the whales are striking back- it is like a slap in the face to the people who think captivity is okay or even natural. I really don't care if they are taking care of these whales perfectly. None the less, they are taking one out of it's habitat and nature- one should expect a few fatalities for polluting the oceans.

Tampering with something that should be left alone... Unfortunately it is the root of many issues in the past and now present.