High tech speed boat boosts anti-whaling force against Japan's might

[depakid]

Looking more like a giant spider ... the activists' new Earthrace, which last year circled the globe in 61 days, fuelled by biodiesel.
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JAPAN has asked Australia to prevent the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin leaving port to harass its whalers in the Antarctic next summer, but the plea may have little effect. The anti-whaling activists plan to upgrade their fleet from an ageing, former North Atlantic fisheries patrol boat to include another ship - something out of the future. The global speedboat Earthrace would head south under Sea Shepherd colours next summer, the group's leader Paul Watson said.

"It looks like a spaceship. It can do 40 knots and dive under waves completely. We'll be using it to intercept and block harpoons."

In 61 days last year Earthrace circled the globe fuelled by biodiesel. The New Zealand owner/skipper, Pete Bethune, said he decided to become involved because "this is happening in my backyard and it really pisses me off. I'm going to make a stand." He said he was adding half a tonne of Kevlar to the vessel to toughen it against the ice. It had the endurance to go half way round the world on a tank of fuel.

"They won't get away from me," he said. Earthrace's role was unveiled as the International Whaling Commission heard that Sea Shepherd's protests endangered the lives of whalers in the Southern Ocean last summer when the Steve Irwin was involved in two collisions. "These are highly dangerous, and it can only be described as a miracle that there has been no death or large-scale accident to date," said a Japanese delegation member, Jun Yamashita.

"We cannot tolerate such audacity," Mr Yamashita told the commission. "We ask for all appropriate measures, including a ban on the ship from leaving port, so that we can prevent these acts from being repeated."

Mr Watson, who is not permitted inside the meeting, said the Steve Irwin was soon to leave Brisbane for Hobart after a $500,000 refit. Its buckled hull plates had been repaired, and it was fitted with a powerful water cannon on the bow to match the whalers'.

He dubbed next summer's campaign Operation Waltzing Matilda and has adopted a symbol with a kangaroo wearing a pirate's eye patch.



More: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/spaceship-boosts-antiwhaling-force-against-japans-might-20090625-cy7v.html

[mikelgb]

1. wow that boat kicks major ass

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Cool. That boat looks bad-ass.

[Larkspur]

3. Awesome!!!

And thanks to Peter Bethune about using his ship to help save whales.

I also love the logo for the new operation -- kangaroo-pirate with an eye patch.

[depakid]

5. More photo's of Bethune's Earthrace

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[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Looks like an updated 'something' from Jules Verne.

Great it is being used for this, instead of being hired out as a futuristic prop for some hollywood movie.

[imdjh]

21. Yeah, I'm wondering if the two back fins (in the air) actually have a function. nt

[Dead_Parrot]

27. Underwater stability

It's built to go through waves, rather than over them: In rough seas, it can up be up to 20ft underwater.
:yoiks:

[imdjh]

4. Love Sea Shepherd

Who do the Japanese think they are kidding? "RESEARCH VESSEL" my ass. When was the last time a legitimate research vessel sold its catch to restaurants?

And this is why I oppose exceptions to the various hunting bans. The Japanese also have "an ancient whaling tradition", as old as any other. Whaling is also a part of their culture. They also eat their whales and use other parts of the animal. The only difference between the Japanese and "indigenous peoples" , which of course they themselves are, is that they are exceedingly good at killing and consuming. So there is no real difference.

[kristopher]

6. There is a mandate in the whaling convention to process the meat from research

[imdjh]

7. Thanks.

I didn't know that. It doesn't change my mind about Japanese whaling (or anyone's whaling), but at least I won't make a fool of myself repeating that particular complaint.

[Chulanowa]

15. Don't get him started

Kristopher thinks you're a racist if you're against Japanese whaling, even if you're also against Norwegian and Iclandic whaling.

[kristopher]

22. That isn't even close to being true.

I oppose Japanese whaling. But when someone ignores facts that are against their goals, lies about what is happening past and present, and attempts to mobilize support for their political cause by demonizing a particular ethnic group then yes, I will call someone a racist.

[Chulanowa]

31. Except I've never seen you be able to tell the difference

Between opposing Japanese whaling, and "demonizing an Ethnic group" - Because I've never seen anyone trash the Japanese people for whaling - only japanese politicians who push it and the whalers who profit from it.

[kristopher]

33. Really?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention. It is seldom you find someone engaged in racism that sees their own behavior as racist. It is also possible that you don't fully understand the social dynamics that feed racist actions and attitudes and therefore fail to recognize it unless it is packaged in a very specific way that fits your preconceptions.

[Chulanowa]

34. I... SERIOUSLY doubt that's it.

In fact, your approach to the situation is more racist than those you argue against. You, after all, maintain that the japanese need and deserve special allowances with whaling simply because they're Jaanese, that anything else will crush their noble spirits or something.

Y'know, I've had to put up with that "noble savage" and "enlightened mystic" stereotype most of my aware life, and I can tell you right now, it's pretty damn racist, even if you're trying to mean well.

The Japanese will cope. If they want to be part of the international world, then they can deal with the rest of the world acting, you know, us (well, you) round-eyed gaijin.

[kristopher]

35. That is a strawmans held together with pure bullshit

I've never portrayed the Japanese as anything except a sovereign people who have legitimate rights under international law. If I've characterized them in any emotive sense it is as resentful of being pushed around by arrogant semi-religious zealots who feel laws, rules and international agreements are binding on others but not on the zealots themselves.

Your use of this tactic is pretty pathetic, actually. I've been pretty articulate in my criticisms of where efforts to stop whaling have been counterproductive to that goal. Never is the substance of my remarks the basis of replies; instead the only replies are "psycho-talk" type claims regarding the illegality of Japanese actions and like your posts in this tread, personal attacks intended to sidetrack the issue.

If you really wanted to discuss the problem, you'd consider the post here where I've outlined the elements of the conflict from the Japanese perspective and either show how it is in error, or admit that the facts are as presented. That would be a beginning of dialog.
I suspect you know that the facts are as I've stated and that is why you prefer the personal attacks; that is the only way you can avoid confronting your own culpability in the continuation of the killing.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. It is not the mandate that is bogus - it is the RESEARCH that is bogus.

If the Japanese suddenly decided they no longer wanted to eat whale, the 'research' would drop by 99%.

[kristopher]

14. Do you know the Japanese view of the situation?

In their view, they have been the victims of a fraudulent effort to stop them from whaling. The original purpose of the IWC was to manage whale harvests. US values shifted to include the desire to protect whales as sentient beings, however no such change occurred in the values and beliefs of the Japanese.

The antiwhaling groups gained control of US policy in the IWC and they halted whaling under the guise of a moratorium to study whether whale populations were at sufficient numbers to sustain a harvest and at what level the harvest should be set. That is what the Japnese agreed to: a temporary moratorium to assess the situation. That was in 1982. The problem is that the west is trying to argue their goal of ending whaling with the slippery slope argument. The contention is that if commercial whaling resumes then it will inevitably rise to a level that isn't sustainable. In fact, outside of the slippery slope argument, the science is overwhelmingly against the position of the antiwhaling camp.

The Japanese counter that, in fact, current populations are there in sufficient numbers to allow the resumption of limited commercial whaling and that hypothetical violations of those limits are an illegitimate basis for continuing the moratorium.

The Japanese are correct in their assertions that the judgments being made in the west are a result of an intent towards a predisposed outcome - that whaling should be halted. They are correct in their arguments that a resumption of limited commercial whaling is justified by the science. Since the basis of IWC policy is supposed to be the scientific management of whaling harvests, and since the Japanese by-and-large simply do not share the belief in the sanctity of whale lives, and since the antiwhaling camp have attempted to attain their goals by deceit and trickery within the IWC (ie. they were the originators of the strategy of bringing nonwhaling nations into the IWC in order to bolster their voting numbers), what sort of policy do you think is appropriate for Japan to follow?

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Fuck em.

There is not a single species of whale that is NOT endangered - particularly now with the oceans warming and changing the balance of the oceanic life web. Frankly, there should be a five year moratorium on ALL ocean harvesting, everything from shrimp to whales. Even if you discount their being sentient beings, just overgrown watery cows, there is NO level of hunting that is sustainable.

Maybe if we reduce the HUMAN population to 1 billion world wide we can consider it again. But we are breaking the ecosystem, and particularly the oceans, and when they die it will take a hundred thousand years for them to recover - by that time we'll have killed ourselves off, along with everything else.

[imdjh]

18. Oh please...

Maybe if we reduce the HUMAN population to 1 billion world wide we can consider it again.

If we were evolved enough to be able to reduce the human population to 1 billion, then we would probably be evolved enough that we don't kill whales for nostalgia.

[RaleighNCDUer]

That's kinda my point.

There is no justification for it.

[depakid]

25. We have had this discussion (ad nauseum) before on the relevant points of law

not to mention relative morals.

So- how does one say without opening all this business up again?

You're stubbornly laboring under misconceptions.

If you want to look up past subthreads on point, be my guest. I'm not taking the bait.

[kristopher]

28. Please do look them up

You'll find that your positions are still unsupported by the objective facts. Australia doesn't dictate law to the rest of the world, and claims based on the perspective that it does are nothing but arrogance and ignorance.

[depakid]

30. The positions and interpretations are what they are

[ProgressiveProfessor]

36. There are times I wonder why the whalers do not turn Watson's tactics against him

Would make for some amusing bluster from him

[depakid]

10. There's surely no mandate to spend tons of money and use political influence to CREATE markets

for the ill gotten gains.

Which is precisely what's being done.

[timeforpeace]

11. Looks cool. But what exactly does it accomplish?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. No helo deck either...which is a key tool for watson.

[imdjh]

19. It's like Reagan's black box, except it actually does something. nt

[depakid]

24. Exactly what does it accomplish?

It's a fast and efficient vessel- more than capable of shadowing the illegal whaling fleet and reporting positions, without necessarily having to return to port so often- and able to stay on point when others do.

Then there's PR value- and morale that goes along with the courage of convictions.

Something all too many in the states seem to have forgotten about.

[Dead_Parrot]

26. Exactly

Two of the key problems have been a) the whaling fleet is faster in a straight line that the SS ships: They can wrap up operations, haul ass out of sight, and set up again while SS catch up; and b) they have a resupply vessel while SS don't, so the whalers get a break while SS trog back to Hobart to fuel up.

This changes both of these. Should be fun. :)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. "We'll be using it to intercept and block harpoons."

Maybe one or two...after that its back to port or sunk. I love it when clowns make statements without understanding the physics...

[depakid]

23. Could be the additional kevlar and such isn't just for.,,, ice

and from the looks of it, the skipper seems to have more than an ample understanding of physics and engineering. Halfway around the world with one tank of fuel.

Good luck trying that yourself, prof....

Bottom line of course is that all we know at this point is that an intrepid Kiwi is pissed off enough to join this effort and, unlike many North American "leaders" -or leaders down under, he's willing to take a stand and put his work where his conscience is. Hats off to the guy for that.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. The clown here is Watson and his silly statement about blocking shots.

The boat designer/owner is clearly smarter than that.

[nashville_brook]

43. word.

that's an awesome shot of the cockpit, btw.

[nashville_brook]

17. the next season of Whale Wars is going to KICKASS

[imdjh]

20. I don't know, I rather like the ramming. "If you dare to board this vessel...

..... we will do nothing at all, because we know that we are in the wrong, and that the only reason we still do this is because old men like to eat whale."

[nashville_brook]

37. it's a new clusterfuck every week with the zero ice-rated hull and Peter Brown.

"I don't know any of that 'port and starboard whatnot," or any of that fancy pants 'strategic planning' or 'satellite image' whatchamacallits."

"Go down there in the rope locker and stop any water that comes in."

In a way I can't stand to watch, and on the other I can help myself. It's like watching Anna Nicole Smith land a plane loaded with orphans every week.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

38. Still amazes me that no one has been killed or seriously injured

[XemaSab]

39. Peter Brown is

*gone.*

He left when they went to refuel in Hobart.

[imdjh]

41. I read his credits.

He's either putting on a show on Whale Wars, or the entertainment business inexplicably puts up with him.

[nashville_brook]

42. yep -- saw that last night.

[imdjh]

40. It's definitely taking on the character of a reality show. Complete with stereotypes and faux drama.

Has Precious Flower sustained a life threatening injury? Stayed tuned after this commercial break and we'll find out.

Where is the mouthy black chick, the bitchy gay guy, the ex-marine, and the born again bleached blond Christian housewife from Orlando?

[XemaSab]

44. This is the story of 20 hippies picked to live on a boat and have their lives taped

Find out what happens when hippies stop being polite and start getting real...

[Name removed]

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