Sea Shepherd abandons damaged boat – Japanese claim it is leaking oil

Before even reading your comment, I was about to say the exact same thing!

I do believe, however, that Australia takes a slightly less biased approach by admitting this incident was the fault of both sides.

I don’t think this site is necessarily pro-whaling or anti-activist, although I can certainly understand that one might get that impression.

Rather, the writers tend to be anti-terrorist-action, which just so happens to appear similar to the ICR’s stance. That’s not to say that activism is the same as terrorism. I think most people here have no problem with the SSCS’s stance against whaling or the fact that they are committed to their cause (that is what most would consider the core of “activism”). The problem is in SSCS’s history of extremist actions, which have caused significant damage, are of legal questionability, and have overall been relatively ineffective in stopping the whaling operation. What it does appear to be good at is making great stories for media outlets.

The difficulty is that so many people think this is such a black-and-white issue, that you must either be exclusively pro-whaling/anti-activist, or anti-whaling/pro-activist. As a result, people interpret every last detail as an either-or.

Of course you could interpret claims like “the AG is leaking oil” as being pro-whaling/anti-activist, but that doesn’t change the fact that leaking oil is possibly causing damage and that some action needs be taken to contain it. It hardly seems fair that the ICR just stands there and points fingers, but at the same rate the SSCS has so far not stepped in to clean it up.

If the SSCS instead claims responsibility of the spill is with the SM2/ICR, then we are just playing an immature game of he-said-she-said.

Again, I would say that most people actually stand in the middle grey area. People don’t dislike Watson or SSCS because they are pro-whaling or anti-activist, they dislike him/them because they don’t agree with the types of actions they use.

You mean Debito would run headlong into something larger than himself to make a point? Maybe like a bus or a museum? Could be interesting.

As for some background led to this “accident”, the fact that the Sea Shepherd had been there for the purpose of obstructing or annoying whalers should not be easily ignored. Other video clips suggest that they do not hesitate to approach very closely, or dangerously, to whaler ship for their purpose of obstruction. Some people who distrust them may claim that their purpose is to annoy whalers and let whalers get irritated, and then they are awaiting for a chance to film a “violent” action taken by irritated whalers. I think this kind of things are known techniques to make one look an innocent and weak protester victimized by merciless organizations, companies, or authorities. The Shonan-Maru II might have overdone as a result, but it is not clear who should be blamed in the first place even for this “accident”.

‘Marine conservation organization’ must not abandon the oil leaking wreckage in pristine Antarctic waters.

In this longer video it appears that trawler is turning towards them and here is no visibility on speed boat because they have water curtain of shower coming from trawler.

Actually, as far as I remember, the Sea Sheperd indirectly, and perhaps accidently?, caused a death of one Japanese fisherman last year. When he fell into the sea and Japanese ships tried to salvage him, Sea Sheperd charged against Japanese ships, caused confusion among Japanese ships and the fisherman was lost in Arctic water forever.
Needless to say, the SS did not make any apology when Japanese made that announcement. To me, the incident indicated that the SS does not respect human life, especially life of those on other “side”.

It is certainly amazing that Japanese do nothing against the SS aside from giving them shower.
The Norwegian whaler fleet is protected by their own navy, and you know how Russian can retaliate without any hesitation if you messed with them. But against Japanese, they can act like big men and enjoy their “heroic” adventures in the Arctic. Picking a quieter guy and acting like a big man… and they don’t even care to deal with the bigger problems for whales and other animals in the Arctic; pollution, that is… pretty pathetic, if you ask me.

Sea Shepherd spokespeople have repeatedly claimed the boat had sunk. You can find tons of news articles.
This evidence means, at least, Paul Watson admitted they abandoned the wreckage (and oil) in pristine Antarctic waters. They were lying.
….Aren’t they environmental warriors!?

I note Sea Shepherd wisely edited the video to cut it short right before the Ady Gil’s pilot gunned the engines to ensure a collision. Wouldn’t want that bit getting out!

I also note that despite speculation above about the Ady Gil’s crew having their vision blocked by the “screen of water” put out by the Shonan Maru 2′s crew, the ship remained plainly visible throughout the whole time. Not that it would be possible for a ship that big to sneak up on you in the daytime in those seas anyway.

1 “Cows aren’t killed with exploding harpoons. They are usually killed in a quick humane manner”
→
Earthlings
http://www.earthlings.com/

2 Whaling is only “sustainable” if only Japan engages in it.
→
”
IWC scientists have ruled that the quota is sustainable, and those in favour of whaling will probably cite that fact – as they did last year .”
(“Whaling talks target compromise ” 22 June 2009 UK BBC)

”Interesting that whenever anyone criticises Japanese policy, they and all the people fron their country are racists”

→
Not everyone who criticize Japanese policy are racist. But when some people try to demonize Japan’s policy, the whaling issue is sometimes used as racist attacks on the Japanese.

See

“Japanese-born kid (”whale muncher”) nearly beaten to death by bullies in New Zealand” (July 7th, 2009 by James Japan Probe)

Aussie Anti-Whaling Commercial: Harpooning Japanese People
(September 2nd, 2007 Japan Probe)

Anti-Japanese hatred grows after “The Cove” is shown in Australia
(August 28th, 2009 Japan Probe)