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Japanese Poachers Release Sea Shepherd Hostages
Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane were transferred from the Yushin Maru No. 2 to the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking early in the morning at 0200 Hours Melbourne time (1300 Hours GMT). The two men were transferred to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin at 0930 Hours Melbourne time (2030 Hours GMT).
Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane were transferred from the Yushin Maru No. 2 to the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking early in the morning at 0200 Hours Melbourne time (1300 Hours GMT). The two men were transferred to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin at 0930 Hours Melbourne time (2030 Hours GMT).
Both men were happy to be reunited with their shipmates and eager to return to chasing the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans. “It did not take long before the whalers realized that they made a huge public relations mistake in keeping us on their ship,” said Benjamin Potts. “We made it clear to them that Sea Shepherd was committed to stopping their illegal whaling activities.”
Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane.
“Although we appreciate the concern that people have expressed for our welfare, it is important to remember that this is not about us.” said Giles Lane. “It’s about stopping this cruel and illegal whale hunt. The treatment that we received was trivial in comparison to the suffering that the whales experience at the hands of the Japanese whalers. They may have been rough with us but at least we were not harpooned, electrocuted and mutilated. This is not about us, it’s about the whales.”
The Steve Irwin is continuing its pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet. “This is the 8th day that whales have not been killed,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Every day that we stop the whalers is a victory. We will continue to intervene, harass, block, and obstruct the whalers at every opportunity.”
The Steve Irwin is presently at 59 Degrees 46 Minutes South and 85 Degrees 59 Minutes east and on the tail of the Japanese whaling fleet. The Australian court has ruled that the Japanese whaling fleet cannot kill whales in Australian Antarctic Territorial waters. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is prepared to work with the Australian government to uphold the court’s ruling to ban the Japanese fleet from Australian waters.
Statement of Giles Lane
“After our 48 hours of captivity, I’m pleased to have rejoined the captain and crew of the Steve Irwin. I am unharmed and ready to continue disrupting the whaling of the Japanese fleet in the Southern Ocean. It was worth the risk and time in order to inform them of their illegal activities and stop them killing whales whilst we were aboard.”
Statement of Benjamin Potts
“I’m happy to be back aboard the Steve Irwin with my crew. I’m pleased that everything worked out and that no-one was hurt, and also that we were successful in placing the world’s attention on the illegal slaughter of whales in a whale sanctuary in the Australian Antarctic Territory. To the Japanese people, we have nothing against you as a people. I enjoy Japanese culture, but your barbaric slaughter of intelligent and endangered marine mammals must stop before you drive them to extinction.”
###
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 protect 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. Visit http://www.seashepherd.org for more information.
Both men were happy to be reunited with their shipmates and eager to return to chasing the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans. “It did not take long before the whalers realized that they made a huge public relations mistake in keeping us on their ship,” said Benjamin Potts. “We made it clear to them that Sea Shepherd was committed to stopping their illegal whaling activities.”
Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane.
“Although we appreciate the concern that people have expressed for our welfare, it is important to remember that this is not about us.” said Giles Lane. “It’s about stopping this cruel and illegal whale hunt. The treatment that we received was trivial in comparison to the suffering that the whales experience at the hands of the Japanese whalers. They may have been rough with us but at least we were not harpooned, electrocuted and mutilated. This is not about us, it’s about the whales.”
The Steve Irwin is continuing its pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet. “This is the 8th day that whales have not been killed,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Every day that we stop the whalers is a victory. We will continue to intervene, harass, block, and obstruct the whalers at every opportunity.”
The Steve Irwin is presently at 59 Degrees 46 Minutes South and 85 Degrees 59 Minutes east and on the tail of the Japanese whaling fleet. The Australian court has ruled that the Japanese whaling fleet cannot kill whales in Australian Antarctic Territorial waters. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is prepared to work with the Australian government to uphold the court’s ruling to ban the Japanese fleet from Australian waters.
Statement of Giles Lane
“After our 48 hours of captivity, I’m pleased to have rejoined the captain and crew of the Steve Irwin. I am unharmed and ready to continue disrupting the whaling of the Japanese fleet in the Southern Ocean. It was worth the risk and time in order to inform them of their illegal activities and stop them killing whales whilst we were aboard.”
Statement of Benjamin Potts
“I’m happy to be back aboard the Steve Irwin with my crew. I’m pleased that everything worked out and that no-one was hurt, and also that we were successful in placing the world’s attention on the illegal slaughter of whales in a whale sanctuary in the Australian Antarctic Territory. To the Japanese people, we have nothing against you as a people. I enjoy Japanese culture, but your barbaric slaughter of intelligent and endangered marine mammals must stop before you drive them to extinction.”
###
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 protect 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. Visit http://www.seashepherd.org for more information.
For more information:
http://www.seashepherd.org/
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For more information:
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/save_wh...
I am a Maori, the Whales are very special to my people. I have heard their song all my
life. Our people and our Polynesian cousins have followed this magnificent creature
all over the world. As the whale knows the safest time to cross the seas. The Whale is
in our dreaming and is a very strong gentle intelligent spirit. It is a teacher. We (all
humans) were given this planet with eveything we needed on it. We are borrowing it
from our children. Yet we are slow learners and still defacate in our own nests, we act
like spoilt children who scream Mine Mine All Mine, we show our immaturity by not
thinking of others around us. Animals included. We show our ignorance and
arrogance by our actions of torture and greed. The Japanese as a whole are a
sophisticated people, this has blinded some because of greed and a misplaced sense of
pride. Their hunting methods are barbaric to extreme, its as if they feel power when they can inflict the most pain to the vunerable. This is not the behaviour of a civilised
people. I kill my own meat with the greatest of respect and thanks, but if I cannot kill
a creature humanly it lives for I would not put that shame upon my spirit. Not all of
my people are of the same mind, but thats something for me to bear. The barbaric
nature of many of the Asian nations on the Ones Without a Human Tongue, shows
their inability to move forward in life. On traditions, the japanese never went whaling
in the southern oceans, a tradition of some of my ancestors was to eat asians. Sushi
japanese at my place lol. The japs are endangering the extremely lucrative whale
watch industry in Australia and New Zealand, what right do they have to jepordise
this. The japs have admitted killing lactating whales, leaving the babies to die a slow
lonely painful death, these people if you could call them that are evil. A whale is to
big to kill humanely. I bow to The People of The Sea Shepherd, they have my
financial and spiritual support, hopefully my son will join them next year to help
protect our Spiritual Teacher The Whale. In time may you all grow ears so you can
hear the song of the Whale, for then you will be able to see your world in all its
splendor.
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