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Sea Shepherd Updates: An Interesting Turn of Events
Image Source: Flickr
One interesting turn of events certainly deserves another.
Last week, it was announced that anti-whaling activist, Captain Pete Bethune, would be heading back to his New Zealand home. The Japanese court sentenced him to 2 years in jail, but that sentence was also suspended for 5 years, which means if he can stay out of trouble with Japanese authorities for the next 5 years, he will continue to be a free man.
Over the weekend, it was announced that Bethune was deported by Japan back to New Zealand. Upon his release, Bethune commented that he would never stop fighting Japanese whaling, though whether that fight will continue in Antarctic waters remains to be seen. He also added:
“There’s a few things that I need to figure out and have a chat with some people to figure out what I’m doing next.” … “Yeah, sure, it was worth it, I have no regrets … I don’t regret anything about what I did, but I don’t know if it’s made any difference.”
Oh, and there’s one other nice surprise. Remember about a month ago when he was on trial, and Sea Shepherd came forth and announced he was banned from further missions with them? Yeah, well, apparently that was all a ruse. That little “legal strategy” and about half a million dollars on their part helped to keep Bethune out of jail. In fact, Sea Shepherd founder, Captain Paul Watson, already announced that they plan to welcome him back whenever he’s ready to rejoin them.
Bethune is not expected to join them for the upcoming season, however. According to Watson:
“I don’t think he’ll be going back this season, because I think he’s going to be writing a book, which is good, but he’s certainly welcome back in the future.” … “We are not going to retreat. These people are poachers. They are targeting endangered whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and it’s illegal.”
Needless to say, it certainly has been an interesting turn of events. Right now, Sea Shepherd is working to launch their Gulf Rescue campaign to help rescue and rehabilitate wildlife affected by the ongoing oil spill. You can find out more about that here.
By Heidi Marshall
Tags: anti-whaling, Captain Paul Watson, Captain Pete Bethune, heading back to New Zealand, Sea Shepherd, turn of events, updates, welcomed back to crew, Whale Wars, whales
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Minke whales are baleen whales and therefore incapable of eating other whales.
Pete Bethune is an outstanding individual. These whalers have been subverting and violating IWC regulations both before and after the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling (and other international agreements). Bethune did what he could with the resources available to him to stop a decades old unjust and essentially criminal poaching operation in the Southern Ocean.
Japan annually kills both endangered and non-endangered species from the Antarctic Minke and Bryde’s whales to Endangered Sei whales, Fin whales and vulnerable Sperm whales. Many of the Minkes killed in the North Pacific come from the vulnerable J-stock (as much as 46% according to a 2009 DNA study). Japan also imports the meat of endangered Fin whales from Iceland.
There is nothing irrational about demanding Japan adhere to international agreements in good faith. Especially when so many species of whales have already been driven to the brink of extinction by commercial whaling and Japan has a long history of breaking the rules. The problem is world governments (now with the possible exception of Australia) don’t have the political will to enforce their own international agreements.
A Nutta that became a Financial slave of Liars, Nuttas, and Movie makers Using him to make money for them off an irrationally Emotional cause that is not backed by facts but is Good for Movie making and Paul Watsons lifestyle and imagination choices.
Minkies are not endangered. Stop The Lieing…Minkies are Killers that are Carnivorous like Us.
Other Whales eat them and Minkies eat others …..Time to stop the emotional Garbage…If you were saving the Cows that are peaceful and harmless you may have a Leg to stand on….But Pete eats them.