Paul Watson: Hi-ho, me hearties, a buccaneering we will go

[depakid]

The Southern Ocean now rivals the 17th-century Caribbean, given all the reported acts of piracy during the past two weeks. The Japanese whalers are accusing Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace crew members of being pirates. Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace are accusing the whalers of being pirates. The whalers and Greenpeace are accusing Sea Shepherd of being pirates. The Japanese Government is throwing the word piracy about as freely as the governor of Jamaica once did.

We decided years ago that if people were going to be landlubber silly and call us pirates we would adopt our own Jolly Roger. My ship, the Steve Irwin, does fly a modern version of the "pretty red" or "jolie rouge", the original name of the banner that evolved into the Jolly Roger, the black and white skull and crossbones flag. As soon as we hoisted that black flag, children around the world began to write to us in support. Our Jolly Roger hats and shirts have become our most popular merchandise.

Why? Because there is a romance to piracy that is separate from the reality of piracy. Some pirates were great and noble heroes and some were dastardly villains. It's all a matter of perspective. If you love whales we be heroes; if you eat whales then we be pirates.

There are pirates of profit like the Japanese, pirates of opportunity like the politicians, and pirates of compassion like Sea Shepherd. It is a little difficult to cast Sea Shepherd's volunteers trying to save the lives of whales as ruthless pirates.

On the other hand, the Japanese whalers are illegally stealing and killing whales from a sanctuary for whales and from the territory that is supposed to be under Australian control.

More from The Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/hiho-me-hearties-hiho-and-a-buccaneering-well-go/2008/01/21/1200764168306.html