Death in the Ferocious Isles: Sea Shepherd under Escort by the Danish Navy
What can be more horrific than the cruel and senseless slaughter of beautiful and intelligent dolphins in Taiji, Japan?
The Academy Award winning film The Cove turned the international spotlight on the bloody carnage of dolphins screaming in pools of their own blood as Japanese fishermen speared them in the shallows of the cove.
What can be more obscenely monstrous than the pitiful screams of impaled dolphins slaughtered without mercy for profit?
There is something worse, far more cruel and wasteful, and it takes place in Europe.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s undercover ship, the Golfo Azzurro, is presently under pursuit by the Danish Navy after a month of covert surveillance operations in the Danish Protectorate of the Faeroe Islands.
It is in these islands, halfway between Scotland and Iceland, that the slaughter of entire pods of pilot whales takes place. Not for profit, but because it is considered by the islanders to be fun to kill them.
They do eat some whale meat but the flesh is so contaminated with mercury that Faeroese children have higher levels of mercury in their bodies than any other people on the planet. But the majority of the whales are killed and dumped at sea, and Sea Shepherd was able to secure evidence of this waste.
The images are nightmarish with fetuses torn from the bodies of mothers, and bodies mutilated with clubs, knives and spears as the islanders drive the defenseless whales up onto rocky beaches killing every one, wiping out entire pods.
In Taiji, experienced fishermen do the killing, but in the Faeroes, even the children are encouraged by men to spear and stab the whales to death; many of these men are drunk and laughing, in what they consider to be a traditional festival of slaughter.
The killing is a violation of the Berne Convention of which Denmark is a signatory, but Denmark claims that the Faeroese are not subject to the law as a protectorate despite receiving all benefits from the European Community.
Sea Shepherd, in partnership with the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, worked earlier this summer with an on-the-ground undercover operative and continues to work at sea onboard the Golfo Azzurro to expose the slaughter and investigate ways to defend the pilot whales from the vicious and lethal assaults by the Faeroese.
Yesterday the Golfo Azzurro’s cover was compromised, and the ship was boarded and searched by police. The vessel was released because no laws had been broken, and it is presently being escorted by the Danish Navy.
Sea Shepherd crew members are continuing their patrol, but this time under the watchful eyes and guns of the Danish Navy.
Source: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100818-1.html
Japan Deploys LRAD Against Sea Shepherd Helicopter
Southern Ocean - Sea Shepherd’s ship Steve Irwin is ten days at sea after departing Fremantle, Australia, and has had a Japanese tail ship for nine of those days, the Shonan Maru No. 2. This Japanese security ship is reporting the Steve Irwin’s location, preventing them from closing in on the whaling fleet.
Sea Shepherd entered French Antarctic territorial waters after graciously receiving permission from the French Base at Dumont D’Urville in an attempt to lose the tail ship. The Shonan Maru No. 2 followed the Steve Irwin into French waters without permission in illegal pursuit. The French Base confirms that the Japanese ship neither requested nor received permission to enter French waters.
At 1730, the Steve Irwin helicopter flew back to film the Shonan Maru No. 2 in its illegal pursuit. In response, the crew of the Japanese ship activated their Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at the Sea Shepherd helicopter. LRAD is a military class weapon.
“This was an extremely irresponsible thing to do,” said helicopter pilot Chris Aultman. “That device can cause nausea and disorientation and the use of it against an aircraft is both extremely dangerous and grossly irresponsible.”
The Sea Shepherd helicopter returned to the Steve Irwin for safety from the LRAD, at which point, the Shonan Maru No. 2 increased speed and aimed their water canons in an attempt to destroy the helicopter on the landing pad. This occurred while the crew was attempting to secure the helicopter.
Captain Watson responded by deploying a 150-meter line aft of the vessel to force the Shonan Maru No. 2 to maintain a safe distance. The Sea Shepherd ship is undamaged and the crew safe.
Sea Shepherd has reported the incident to the French authorities. The pursuit continues. “The situation is now very dangerous,” said Captain Paul Watson. “We have deliberately led the Japanese ship into thick ice in order to lose them in the ice. The ice bergs could easily damage either vessel.”
### About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protects ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Founder and President Captain Paul Watson, is a renowned, respected leader in environmental issues. Visit www.seashepherd.org for more information.
For related images and video: http://media.seashepherd.org
Operation Waltzing Matilda Benefit
Fremantle, Western Australia
Wed, 2 Dec, 2009 6:45 PM - 11:45 PM
The evening will be entertaining and provide information on Sea Shepherd’s forthcoming Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign. The MC for the evening will be the Hon. Ian Campbell who is a member of the Sea Shepherd Advisory Board. Special guests include Brad Pettit, the new Mayor of Fremantle, Senator Rachel Siewart, Greens Spokesperson for Whaling, along with current Sea Shepherd crew. There will also be a silent auction and various raffles! Music for the night will be provided by Aiden Varro.
The primary purpose of this event is to raise much needed funds for Operation Waltzing Matilda - Sea Shepherd’s 6th Whale Defense Campaign which is being launched from Fremantle on Monday 7th December. This year, Sea Shepherd’s flagship Steve Irwin, will be accompanied to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by the Ady Gil. The Ady Gil is a futuristic trimaran which recently set the world powerboat record for circumnavigation. Due to its speed capabilities (up to 50 knots) Captain Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd President and Founder) intends to use the Ady Gil to intercept and physically block the harpoon ships from illegally slaughtering whales.
The Japanese whaling fleet will be targeting 935 Piked (Minke) whales and another 50 Fin whales, and has threatened to add Humpback Whales* to their quota as well. Sea Shepherd will once again attempt to block the whaling fleet’s efforts to kill these innocent animals and in doing so negate their illicit profits from the so called lethal research.
* Sources suggest Humpback Whales are not being targeted but all whales are beautiful and deserve defending!
Wed, 2 Dec, 2009 6:45 PM - 11:45 PM
Location: Fremantle Town Hall, William Street, Fremantle, Western Australia
Fees: $20 per person, tickets available at the door
Contact: jeff@seashepherd.org
http://my.seashepherd.org/
Foxtel
615 Animal Planet
Starts: Sun 6th Dec, (2009) 10:30 pm. Duration 60 mins
Ladies First: Armed with new volunteers, the Sea Shepherds head out to sea to find the Japanese whaling ships. After they pinpoint the fleet’s location, the Captain raises the stakes and plans for another boarding. This time it will be an all-female boarding team! Many of the crew are worried for their safety, having to jump aboard a large moving ship. Tensions rise as the crew struggles to load two outboard boats while disorganised deckhands fight among themselves. During the mission, a female crew member is critically injured in one of the Delta’s and she is rushed back aboard the Steve Irwin.
Foxtel
615 Animal Planet
Starts: Sun 29 Nov, (2009) 10:30 pm. Duration 60 mins
Doors Slamming & Things Breaking: The ship’s engineer reports that one of two engines is broken. Now they will be unable to keep up with the Japanese whalers and are forced to return to Melbourne for repairs. While heading back, they are forced to navigate through a massive oceanic storm size of Australia. After they make it out alive, the crew throws a party to celebrate but the officers are angry and order the Steve Irwin to now become a dry ship. This is the final straw for many volunteers and they decide to get off the ship when they dock. With astronomical engine repair costs and a skeleton crew, the Sea Shepherds are worried they won’t be able to raise enough money to complete their anti-whaling campaign.
