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MISSION HARPOONED
Not only have Sea Shepherd activists failed to locate any Japanese whalers, they’ve also been slowed by global coldening:
After nearly five weeks in polar waters, the hardline activists of Sea Shepherd are set to leave the Antarctic without having found their quarry, and now are pleading with Australia to let their “pirate” ships land here ...
The Sea Shepherd vessels were halted by ice off the Australian Antarctic Territory. They are now preparing to go north but face the prospect of leaving the region empty-handed.
Their fruitless jaunt cost $2 million. We await an environmental impact report. Meanwhile, Andrew Bolt has further coldening news.
UPDATE. The attack begins:
The hardline anti-whaling activists of Sea Shepherd have found and attacked the Japanese whaling fleet off Antarctica early today.
After weeks of searching for the whalers unsuccessfully in the Ross Sea, the two Sea Shepherd vessels Robert Hunter and Farley Mowat appear to have taken the fleet by surprise ...
In their first attack, Captain Watson said his crew cleared the whale-flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru, when they threw a non-toxic “butter acid” on it from an inflatable dinghy.
That $2 million was worth it after all. Don’t expect the attacks to last long; our pirate pals are almost out of fuel.
The Green Left is not only obsessed with meaningless gestures, they need massively expensive meaningless gestures.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 02 08 at 12:35 PM • permalinkI presume Australia will allow the “pirate” craft to land, and promptly impound them - Law of the Sea and all that…
Posted by Major John on 2007 02 08 at 12:39 PM • permalinkCaptain Jack Aubrey could find the missing whaling fleet, but he’s not likely to sign on with a lubberly crew whose flagship is called The Farley Mowat, and whose weaponry consists primarily of a “hydraulic can opener”.
If these buccaneer bozos do steam into a harbor in New Zealand or Australia, I think it would be a good object lesson if the captain were to be flogged around the fleet. Time to apply the clue belaying pin.
It wasn’t carbon-neutral, but at least they used biofuel. They made it out of the liposuction of their heads and butts.
Posted by Mystery Meat on 2007 02 08 at 03:51 PM • permalinkThis is really one of the funniest news stories of the day.
Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 02 08 at 03:59 PM • permalinkHungry Jacks? Hmmm. Wasn’t that the restaurant that Mark Latham was leaving with his kids before being confronted by a reporter, whose camera he smashed?
Everytime I see that name, I get a bit hungry. I wonder what type of fare they offer.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 02 08 at 03:59 PM • permalinkPeople, but this little adventure was a success. It was an empty and pointless gesture, garnering lots of publicity, and accomplishing nothing. And that is all the left is about these days.
Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion that, maybe, just maybe, they didn’t want to find, and mix it up with, the Japanese whaling fleet. It would be a “harpoons versus acoustic guitars” type of confrontation.
Posted by David Crawford on 2007 02 08 at 04:11 PM • permalinkRebeccaH,
Maybe that explains why the puppets have gone downhill lately.Who’s gonna pay you a prize for capturing these bozos?
Make ‘em walk the plank, and be one with Davy Jone’s locker, arrrrrrr!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 08 at 05:07 PM • permalink#10 #8: Very funny, Merlin! That last line ought to come in handy if you board a Starbuck’s. Posted by paco
I’m pretty sure there are Starbuck’s in San Fran where one can get flogged around the fleet, paco. Hey! That’s something we could make some money on, boss. But what sort of trade name would appeal to the young and the restless in San Fran for such a café? Hey, don’t kids nowadays use “ph” in place of “f”? Isn’t that the cool thing nowadays? Yeah, that’s it: Phloggings Ahoy Coffee Orgy. Yeah, that’s the ticket: At PACO we we whip it, whip it good.
Posted by andycanuck on 2007 02 08 at 05:32 PM • permalinkAndrew Bolt has further coldening news
So do I. If glowball warmening is such a problem, how come I’m coldening my ass off here in Central Virginia?
Other parts of the U.S. are coldening even more - 5 feet of lake-effect snow in Upstate New York, anyone?
Global warming, my ass.
Posted by Barbara Skolaut on 2007 02 08 at 05:33 PM • permalinkTim b, did you know that Jewish women are segregated on buses? I told you they wigs..
We could have Life Saving Jewish ladies with wigs and then the cap sewn on to save swimmers along with Burqa ladies in neck to knee not being able to touch other men!! beauty!!
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21195823-2703,00.html
Have a good weekend everyone!!
Last year, Jennifer Marohasy wondered if this kind of money would be better spent on true conservation.
If this mob had been in the right place last month they might have made a difference to another endangered whale.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 02 08 at 05:59 PM • permalink#11
On a side note, if they are pirates why don’t dome of you more enterprising Aussies get a Letter of Marque and take them as prize. Fast money.
I was recently contacted by representatives of the Piracy (Anti) Consent Office, which offered this very thing. When I asked what exactly was the nature of the prize, they began mumbling inaudibly. But they did assure me that any film made during the course of an anti-piracy campaign would be rated “Arrrrrrhhhhh”
#16
Burger King operates in Australia under the name Hungry Jack’s.
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 02 08 at 06:02 PM • permalinkIs there any chance that the Sea Shepherd was actually sailing around Iceland, and thus the current icy conditions, and not around the Antarctic? They must have bought a cheap knockoff instead of the genuine PACO GPS they should have bought. Serves them right for eating into PACO’s bottom line. [And ‘thanks’, boss.]
Posted by andycanuck on 2007 02 08 at 06:18 PM • permalinkUPDATE NEWSFLASH
According to the SMH
“Pirates Attack Japanese Whalers”. Looks like the Sea Shepherd has found it’s prey. Read it here#38
It’s kind of complicated. There was some dispute between the original master franchisor and BK over the name. When BK first came to Oz, the name “Burger King” was already registered (probably by some smart aleck corner hamburger shop owner who’d been to America [see also Taco Bell vs. Taco Bill’s]). When the name registration problem was solved, BK tried to make the Hungry Jack’s restaurants change to the BK label. Hungry Jack’s won the court case. So much for all-powerful multi-national corporations!
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 02 08 at 06:42 PM • permalink#40
The SMH makes these arseholes look like heroes. They even use the word “attack”, and admit that the ships are nothing more than pirate vessels.
Why the Hell doesn’t the Japanese Navy escort the whaling ships?
Also, note the extremely risky way the Seashepherd ships approached the whaling fleet to avoid detection. No wonder they’re being deregistered, even by Belize!Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 02 08 at 06:49 PM • permalinkDon’t expect the attacks to last long; our pirate pals are almost out of fuel.
Sea Shepherd Captain: “Almost out of fuel oil. We need a source of oil, preferably something large that we can extract enough from. Hmmmm…Holy Shit!”
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2007 02 08 at 07:05 PM • permalinkIt will be interesting to see if any of Australia’s TV networks are subsidising the trip, like last time
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 02 08 at 07:57 PM • permalinkBloody polar bears. They’re supposed to like the ice ‘n’ all.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 02 08 at 08:21 PM • permalinkFor once I agree with the french.
O/T Has anyone seen a post from Stop Continental Drift recently?
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 02 08 at 08:23 PM • permalink#35 AlburyShifton
Burger King operates in Australia under the name Hungry Jack’s.
Burger King also operate stores in Australia under their own name.
“An Australian court ordered Burger King Corp. to pay $45 million to franchisee Hungry Jack’s Ltd. for lost profits from delayed restaurant openings, inability to sell third-party franchises, and cannibalization by the chain’s corporate-owned locations. The Miami-based chain has until early December to appeal the case or pay the fine. Burger King started putting competing units in close proximity to Hungry Jack’s, so (HJ) argued encroachment.”#33 You are not mistaken Ash Underscore.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 02 08 at 08:28 PM • permalinkI’m still aghast that these confessed pirates are allowed to enter Australian waters, let alone call at Australian ports to be bunkered and provisioned. Ian Campbell is possibly a bigger dolt than Bob Brown- these scurvy scallywags should be clapped in irons, then sent to their maker off the yardarm- I believe piracy is the only offence on Commonwealth statute which still carries the death penalty- an oversight by the Law Reform Commission, but one that should be observed.
Here are photos of the crews on both Sea Shepherd boats. I particularly like Jenifer Gibson, who believes the “only remaining viable direction is to become an ACTIVE environmentalist, to restore the Earths balance in favor of the gentle animals being exploited and annihilated by this damnable human race- a failed species!
Darling, if you’re the logical endpoint of human evolution then, yes, you might have a point…
#55 -
What is it about people named Baldwin?
Saskia Achilles looks like she’s been on watch for 5 years with breaks only for more meth.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 08 at 08:41 PM • permalinkpaco, until they actually take something or hurt somebody it isn’t “piracy” as properly defined. Tossing stinkbombs doesn’t count.
There are hundreds of “rule of the road” regulations which they violate routinely, which is why they can’t find a flag for the mast any more. But, again, not having a “home port” isn’t a violation as such.
They’re crazy, not stupid. It would take maybe all afternoon to fit one of the whaling ships with a pair of torpedo tubes, and less than that to hire a frigate for protection. If Sea Shepherd actually did commit an act of piracy the Japanese would be justified by eleven centuries of maritime law to shoot back, and if Watson actually has, or has ever had, a Master’s license from any non-cockroach authority, he knows that and will steer clear of the possibility.
No predicting the behavior of his crew, of course.
Regards,
RicSo what happens if the Japanese send a destroyer along next time? You know, that sort of accidentally gets in the SS’s way?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 02 08 at 09:12 PM • permalinkMy god, what a scary bunch of compassionate head-tilting loonies.
Some of the comments on the crew pages just HAVE to be a “piss-take”—- don’t they?
This world is all we have. Let’s not murder any more species than we already have on our way down. Or hey kiddies, let’s sort it out, stop killing, feed the world, love one another as much as possible and grow as individuals and a race. It is indeed your choice. Oh and save the whales man.
OR
It is my observation after an incredibly fulfilling life up to this point, that you are one of two things… A part of the problem or a part of the solution. The earth’s oceans are being raped by large corporations + individual hunters + fishermen who are driven by greed, pride and an unsupportable adherence to tradition. The demise of the oceans and the wonderful diversity of life within her is imminent.
OR
A compassionate heart will have the courage to hold the grief, anger, pain, fear, despair and confusion we feel in these times, as we must bear witness to the cruel murder of our kin and the brutal destruction of what we hold sacred. A healthy body and mind will put that compassion into action.
What an egocentric little twat this one is:
This campaign will see my 4th consecutive birthday aboard a Sea Shepherd ship. I can guarantee that I will have many more birthdays aboard Sea Shepherd vessels as I have committed my life to the defense of the earth, the oceans, and the animals. I spend time on the ships and in the office, helping Sea Shepherd fight the good fight. A bio-centric view and a Vegan lifestyle are the cornerstones of my life and the only hope for the planet. On the ocean, or in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. doing Forest Defense, I will never rest while the earth is being destroyed.
This one’s just plain simple:
As I’ve grown older, I find myself living in an environmental holocaust where humans are systematically destroying all life on this planet. I believe in direct action as a means to end those practices that are devastating the earth. And after we have fought the good fight and this war is won, I plan to have a small garden, become a simple printmaker and lead a simple life.
Whether on land, or at sea, the animals come first. They are our equals.
Another smug little smirker:
The world will be a better place for all Earthlings if we fight the corporatocracy that has overthrown most governments and is destroying nature and driving mass extinctions. I avoid over-consumption to reduce my environmental footprint by eating low on the food chain and by not buying things I don’t need. If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.
#59 like a lot of things, the answer is “it depends”.
There are all kinds of stupid ship tricks, mostly boiling down to getting in somebody else’s way or not letting a vessel with privilege enjoy that. (Example of the latter: sailboats have the right-of-way over supertankers, no question.) They are also violations of law, punishable by penalties ranging from fines to confiscation of the ship and jail terms for the Master and/or crew members. But it isn’t piracy until somebody’s hurt, something is damaged on purpose, with the purpose being to prevent the ship from navigating, or something is taken by force.
Of course, reality intrudes occasionally. If the Exxon Godzilla Maru runs over a sailboard, the sailboarder’s heirs and assigns will enjoy the settlement; the guy himself, not so much. Japanese DEs are pretty tough. If Robert Hunter gets in the way, and the destroyer can’t stop in time, an Admiralty Court might award damages to Sea Shepherd. The crew might not be in a position to appreciate the windfall, though.
As I said before, the simplest solution would be for the Japanese to fit one or two of the whaling vessels with torpedo tubes and train some folks in operating them. Not to be used in sight of the Press helicopters, of course. If an actual act of piracy, as opposed to harrassment, occurs, they’d lose big in public opinion thanks to Press bias, but any Admiralty court that penalized them would be laughed at on appeal.
Regards,
Ric#62 - Wonder if his friend knows he stole his ipod?
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 08 at 09:35 PM • permalinkButyric acid:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butyric_acid
“Butyric acid, (from Greek βουτυρος = butter) IUPAC name n-Butanoic acid, or normal butyric acid, is a carboxylic acid with structural formula CH3CH2CH2-COOH. It is notably found in rancid butter, parmesan cheese, and vomit, and has an unpleasant odor and acrid taste, with a sweetish aftertaste (similar to ether). “
Present in rancid butter and vomit - yum!
Posted by attilathepun on 2007 02 08 at 09:44 PM • permalink#55- bloody hell, they’ve got over 30 swabs on each barnacle-collector, more crew than a 30,000 ton container ship and more than a Fremantle or Armidale class LRPB, which carry naughty explodey things; what do they do with all the poo and wee from these scurvy bilge rats? Surely not pump it into the pristine waters of the Great Southern Ocean. And what’s with the rigid rank structure among these egalitarian idealists? I’d have thought the vessel would be run on a collectivist line, with all decisions about course, speed, victuals etc decided by a quorem.
I agree BIWOZ, though allow me a tiny amount of skepticism - would it be possible that it is a hoax?
Under the conventions of the sea (if not the law?) the Japanese fleet is bound to stop whaling and help search - which achieves the group’s aims. If the japanese refuse, that is another propaganda victory.
I doubt they would go this far, and I do hope the people are found okay, but you never know.
Posted by attilathepun on 2007 02 08 at 09:56 PM • permalink#66 - ahhh good old Butanoic acid. In the old high school days it was used in a experiment in making those aromatic esters. Unfortunately we all ending up smelling like vomit after that session and not banana as planned…..
#67 I hope they find them safe, however it highlights the risks of such an operation. I don’t think the japanese ships will turn around and give them a hand understandably. They would be justified in thinking that it was just another trick.
Habib, On your subject of gross overcrewing on the Sea Shepher ships: One of the crew on the Robert Hunter is aboard as the “artist/tattoist”.
Posted by Steve at the pub on 2007 02 08 at 10:18 PM • permalinkI can’t believe those hippy pirate bastards have been out there mangling sea ice.
Don’t they know sea ice is the habitat for krill?
Do they know anything about the animals that depend on krill?
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 02 08 at 10:38 PM • permalinkIt seems they’ve found their prey: ‘Pirates’ attack Japanese whalers
In their first attack, Captain Watson said his crew cleared the whale-flensing deck of the Nisshin Maru, when they threw a non-toxic “butter acid” on it from an inflatable dinghy.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! LOL
Listen, though, I have as much disdain for these wankers as the next guy, but what the hell:
The Japanese Government’s Institute for Cetacean Research, which owns the fleet, is harpooning up to 935 minke whales and 10 fin whales under its program of “scientific research”. A spokesman for the ICR was unable to comment immediately.
“Scientific research”? What do the Japanese do with these whales anyhow? Not one of their aphrodisiac things, I hope.
Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 02 08 at 10:50 PM • permalink“Can the pirate vessels be confiscated?” Depends on the Maritime Laws of the next country visited.
“Can the crews ultimately be prosecuted?” For what, literally?
“What would the jurisdiction be?” There is no national ‘jurisdiction’ beyond a country’s territorial limit, subject to multilateral agreements on certain straits. Once beyond territorial waters, the rulebook vanishes because the ‘high seas’ are not under any legal jurisdiction. However, individual nations can assert national jurisdiction over protection of shipping in the national interest, especially if nationals are involved. Think of the Barbary Pirates.
Piracy is a matter for national law, as international agreement is hard to come by; similar to agreeing on an international definition of terrorism. Generally though, priacy involves the capture (or attempt) of a ship from its legal crew. This can include deliberate damge to the ship in the course of the takeover attempt which may make the ship unseaworthy.
Until such time as the Sea Shepherd crews attempt to board one of the whalers, they do not qualify as pirates. At best, when they arrive in port, they could be cited for offences under the relevent national “Rules of the Road”, where proper seamanship takes precedent over the letter of the law.
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 02 08 at 11:03 PM • permalinkAs for the sail boat versus the supertanker?
A powered ship must give way to a sailing ship; however a sailing ship must give way to a ship with restricted ability to manouvre. In the case of a sailing ship vs a supertanker, the former should yield to the latter.
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 02 08 at 11:06 PM • permalinkAh, J.M., you caught me oversimplifying.
It’s been a long time since I had to study the Rules of the Road, and I’ve never held a Master’s license, but I do have some memories.
The metarule is that the vessel most easily able to maneuver should yield to the less capable one. Powered ships are faster than sailboats and can choose their courses more freely, so in general they yield, but supertankers can hardly turn at all, so they have the right of way. In fact they will take the right of way whatever orders their Master might give.
I frequently simplify things for purpose of making a point. I try very hard not to simplify things to the point that the example misrepresents what I’m talking about. If you catch me doing that, I’m grateful as it allows me to calibrate my thinking. If you just like to pick nits, there are others around who will appreciate it more than I do.
Regards,
RicJ.M. Heinrich—It’s been a while since I sailed, but the REAL rule on the water is, ‘always yield to tonnage…’
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 02 08 at 11:56 PM • permalinkRic
1. I’m not picking nits, I was trying to point out that dry land rules are not maritime rules, and that the rules are not parsed according to Common Law but by “Customs of the Sea”. Thus the sailboat vs the supertanker example is correct but would be overturned by “Customs of the Sea”.
2. And that there is no recognised body of laws governing the High Seas, only maritime customs plus agreements between various nations. It’s a different and foggy legal world when a ship moves out of territorial waters.Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 02 09 at 01:07 AM • permalink#81 Kyda
Obviously those whales end up on somebody’s plate. No doubt.
The point is, the Japanese are still within the quota system. Endangered species are protected. The system has flaws from a whale-lover’s point of view, but that’s life, isn’t it? You can never get everything you want. Every responsible use of power involves compromise and mutual respect of those with differing/opposing positions. You can’t even run a school fete without that attitude. Which is why these Sea Shepherd dickheads are so risible.
#89 Every responsible use of power involves compromise and mutual respect of those with differing/opposing positions.
I know this debate is continuing on another thread. But obviously that’s far too broad. What I meant to say is that the most desirable use of power involves this. Once the mutual respect and willingness to compromise to find common ground is lost, of course, it is responsible to defend yourself when the other guy comes gunning for you.
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And who pays for that little jaunt? Big Green, no doubt.