Breaking news from the whale wars

[OldNSalty]

Although I haven't been able to follow this entire thread due to being out of town, I am concerned about several posts I have seen which condemn the Japanese for the actions of the Japanese whalers. This is highly inappropriate as there are Japanese who are working for the end to whaling in their country.

It is also similar to to those who condemn all fishing (when many eat fish themselves). When I talk about fishing activities decimating the oceans, I am very unkind towards those who fish in illegal ways. I try to go easier on those who fish legally even though it is the cumulative effort of all fishers, commercial and recreational, that have caused the problem of overfishing.

Let's condemn the Japanese whalers (if we think we are without guilt ourselves... individually or as a nation), not the entire Japanese populace. Like any group of humans, they have varying opinions on this issue as well.

I am curious, and maybe you, or someone else, could help out with this. Why do they (the whalers) hunt whales?

Is meat so hard to come by in Japan? Is it a tradition thing? Is it really tasty? I mean, I think part of it might be that they are a proud people and simply might not like us telling them what they can do (plus the meat has to be useful for something) but I don't really know.

Understand why they do it might help in finding ways to persuade them not to do it. Might be more effective then chasing them around in small boats

 

[AquaExplorer]

In the end they are the SS crew private citizens, with no governmental authority whatsoever, harassing an authorized activity (yes I realize that there is a bit of a nod-and-wing going on here with the Japanese, but until some government that has authority rules it illegal and sends out its forces, well it is not illegal). They think it is "fun" and a "worthy cause" yet if someone starts to play Batman in Gotham we call them vigilantes.

Sorry these yahoos are vigilantes out to intentionally damage or destroy private property, and in some cases have been know to board vessels without permission. They are criminals and the ship had every right to defend itself.

 

[Wookie]

Here are 2 interesting things I found this morning.
Opinion of maritime expert
YouTube - Confirmation Japan's Whaling Vessel Caused The Ady Gil Collision


"Ady Gil" Last Moments
YouTube - Ady Gil: The Last Moments

I'd love to see the GPS tracklines, but it sure looks like the whaler made a long sweeping turn to port back 1/2 mile or so to come alongside the Ady Gil and hose them down. That would mean that the whaler burdened themselves as the overtaking vessel and royally screwed up. I take back many of my earlier comments.

 

[JKPAO]

I was 24, a Navy Diver and I bought my first Corvette. A guy driving a Mustang wanted to race with me, he cut me off twice, got in-front of me and slammed on his brakes and took-off. I was pissed-off and put the pedal to the metal. He stopped at a red light, but rather than pulling up beside him, I got out of the car, opened his door and punched him in the head.

1. Was he wrong for harassing me, cutting me off, slamming on the brakes almost causing a collision? I think so.

2. Did he get what he deserved? I think so.

3. Did I have a right to be ticked-off? I think so.

4. Could I have been charged with assault? Yes.

In thinking about it, I was lucky. Should I have pulled a shotgun and blown him away because some arse made me angry? No.

Anyway you look at it, we have no reason to use deadly force on another unless we believe that we are in immediate danger and the use of such force is the last solution, in defense.

Regardless of your opinions on piracy, terrorism, or whaling, civilized people don't try to kill another solely because they're ticked-off and harassed. The jails are full of people who have acted in this manner.

As I've said, I'm happy to wait for the investigation, but in this isolated incident, if it's held that the whaling Captain intentionally rammed the smaller vessel, he should be drawn and quartered.

The SS Skipper should be punished similarly, should the evidence support a conviction; without question.

I do not see it as Isolated. There is video on you guessed it YOU TUBE! I saw acctual footage of SS group ramming their ship into the whalers ship. This is not the first time. From previous footage last year I think. Not this encounter.

We all know what the SS group wants to do. Dissrupt the whaling!
Your arguement is flawed in the fact that you went after the mustang guy at a red light. The whalers did not go out looking for the SS group. They are after whales.

You let emotion drive your thought process. Instead of writing down the plate # and let the police handle the troubled individual. Although the mustang driver wanted to race or just cut you off?

On the high sea there are no police to call. The porposeful fouling of the prop is a menacing act! They are trying to make the ship be DEAD IN THE WATER (this is a real definition) under way not making way (another real definition) Like the Ady Gil just before powering (adding Forward thrust I am sure it has reverse and why the person at the helm did not go in reverse ????) up to pull in front of the whaler. Placing other individuals in danger. There is footage of the SS group earlier that day pulling in front of the whaler trying to foul the prop. Yeah I know there is no time stamp! I do know that their actions are dangerous and show a pattern of harrassment.
I also know it was before they were run over or rammed.

Did emotion play a roll in the collision? Or as some have stated the ramming of the SS group. Sure I think first fear then anger, I let everyone decide who was fearful and who was angry.

Now several other captains have said they have been behind the wheel of ships that tonnage. I have not, although I am a rated captain. The imput from wheel to rudder is not as fast as some think! There are no brake on ships just reverse thrust, which I am sure a $1.5 million boat has also. was this a case of poor judgement you bet. some were along the lines of going up to a red light a punching someone.

See you topside! John

 

[BTravlin]

i don't see where any of the videos posted so far show definitively who's at fault. The video does show the crew of the Andy Gil to be reckless idiots though.

 

[JKPAO]

i don't see where any of the videos posted so far show definitively who's at fault. The video does show the crew of the Andy Gil to be reckless idiots though.

+1
see you topside! John

 

[JKPAO]

I'd love to see the GPS tracklines, but it sure looks like the whaler made a long sweeping turn to port back 1/2 mile or so to come alongside the Ady Gil and hose them down. That would mean that the whaler burdened themselves as the overtaking vessel and royally screwed up. I take back many of my earlier comments.

Do you mean to starboard?
See you topside! John

 

[cdreamer]

I'd love to see the GPS tracklines, but it sure looks like the whaler made a long sweeping turn to port back 1/2 mile or so to come alongside the Ady Gil and hose them down. That would mean that the whaler burdened themselves as the overtaking vessel and royally screwed up. I take back many of my earlier comments.

Thanks Frank. Your opinion means alot to me.

 

[DennisS]

I would not be stupid enough to put myself in harms way as they did. They knew exactly what was going on and what was happening. If they felt that sitting there while a large whaler came bearing down on them, waiting for the most dramatic time to zoom forward so that it looks like they just escaped with their lives, then that is a choice they made. If they thought that that ship would be able to turn on a dime and avoid them....that was their stupidity. They knew exactly what was happening and they were trying to obtain the most dramatic footage possible to sell their show.

I would call this a success.

It was down there as a movie prop. It was low on fuel, they got some great footage and sank it. It would be very fortunate, though unlikely, if it was insured.

 

[cdreamer]

Sea Shepherd has already recieved 1 million dollars towards rebuilding "Ady Gil"
They have filed charges and seek to recoup their loss and I think they will
win.