DESPICABLE WHALER THUGS ATTACK & SINK SEA SHEPHERD VESSEL

[Guest guest]

****Cross Post Freely****

 

Breaking News:

 

Japanese Sink the SSCS Ady Gil

All Crew Members Safe

 

http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/77727/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat-ady\

-gill.html

 

Japanese ship sinks whale protest boat Ady Gil

Jan 06, 2010 4:15pm

 

 

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's stealth boat Ady Gil has been cut in half by a

Japanese security vessel in the Antarctic today, the group's leader Paul Watson

said.

 

The high-tech stealth boat Ady Gil was cut in half and sunk by a Japanese

security vessel in Antarctic waters today, dramatically upping the stakes in the

annual struggle between whalers and protesters.

 

Sea Shepherd group leader Paul Watson told Fairfax Media the $1.5 million Ady

Gil was sinking, but its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured.

Captain Watson said the Ady Gil was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay,south

of Hobart, when it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship

Shonan Maru, which has been detailed to provide security to the fleet.

 

Earlier today, the fleet was contacted for the first time by the Ady Gil and Sea

Shepherd's " secret " third vessel, the Bob Barker.

 

Captain Watson, aboard the Steve Irwin, said he was still 500 nautical miles

from the scene.

 

" This seriously escalates the whole situation, " Captain Watson said of the

collision.

Video footage released by the Institute of Cetacean Research shows the Ady Gil

stalking the Japanese ship, towing ropes from its stern.

 

The ICR said the Ady Gil came " within collision distance " directly in front of

the Nisshin Maru bow and repeatedly deployed a rope from its stern " to entangle

the Japanese vessel's rudder and propeller " .

 

The statement accused the activists of shining a laser device at the Nisshin

Maru crew and launching acid-filled projectiles, one of which landed on the

vessel's deck.

 

After broadcasting a warning message, the Nisshin Maru sprayed the Ady Gil with

water cannons to prevent it from coming closer, the ICR said.

 

Captain Watson told Fairfax in November the Ady Gil would be used to intercept

the whaling fleet's chaser boats.

 

" What I think we can do is latch onto at least one of the three harpoon vessels

and keep them out of the picture, " he said.

 

Looking more like Batman's spacecraft than a boat, the biodiesel-powered

trimaran Ady Gil arrived at the Southern Ocean stand-off between Japanese

whalers and activists yesterday.

 

It was reported this morning to be about 50 nautical miles away from the whaling

fleet.

 

Japan's Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu had earlier warned two security

ships would be used to protect the whaling fleet, intervening when Sea Shepherd

tried to block the transfer of harpooned whales to the factory ship Nisshin

Maru.

 

Captain Watson this morning announced the existence of a secret third ship in

the Sea Shepherd flotilla.

 

He said he was confident that with three ships, Sea Shepherd would be able to

cause maximum disruption to the whaling, which has been underway for around a

month.

 

Japanese whalers have stepped up security this year, sending spy flights from

Australian airports to track protest ships.

 

The Hobart flights were paid for by Wellington-based Omeka Communications, air

industry sources told Fairfax.

 

Omeka is a public relations firm retained by Japan's Institute of Cetacean

Research. The Hobart flights carried Omeka's principal, Glenn Inwood, who is an

institute spokesman, and another man, the sources said.

 

The operation started in December when the Steve Irwin left Fremantle to

intercept the whaling fleet, which this year is targeting 935 minke whales and

50 fin whales.

 

WA pilots said surveillance flights continued out of Albany for somedays,

costing a ''truckload'' of money. Two men aboard the flights toldlocals they

were ''looking for people who were looking for whales''.

 

The Rudd Government has repeatedly called for caution by both sides in the wilds

of the Antarctic.

 

" We have reminded the masters of protest vessels of their obligations under

international law to take all steps to ensure safety of life at sea,

particularly in the inhospitable conditions of the Southern Ocean, " Environment

Minister Peter Garrett said recently.

 

" We are also passing the same message to the government of Japan. "

 

FACTS ON THE ADY GIL

 

Top speed: 40 knots (74 kmh)Cruising speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)Range: Halfway

around the world - 20,000 kmCost: Estimated $1 millionLength: 24 metresWeight:

16 tonnesConstruction: Carbon fibre foam sandwich with kevlar armour.

Article from: WA Today

 

TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY

 

You can do your part to help Sea Shepherd defend the whales. Now more than ever,

gGive generously to Sea Shepherd:

 

http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/

 

Let's make sure the Japanese Embassy and their Consulate offices come in to

voice mail and e-mail messages this morning. Contact the Embassy of Japan and

their New York City Consulate Office asking them to stop attempting to kill

whales and to stop trying to murder our activist friends:

 

Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki

Embassy of Japan in the USA

2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20008

Phone: 1.202.238.6700 or 6900

Fax: 202.328.2187

e-mail: jicc

 

Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya

Japanese Consulate General

299 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10171

Phone: 1.212.371.8222

Fax: 1.212. 371.1294

e-mail: inquiry

 

If you do not live in the United States, go to the following link to find your

closest Embassy or Consulate office:

 

http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Japan/Japan.html

 

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, contact:

centcom

 

Visit the WAR Calendar for future events:

http://calendar./winanimalrights

Visit the WAR MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/winanimalrights

Visit WAR on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-Animal-Rights/25169195791

 

For more info contact Win Animal Rights at: winanimalrights

Call: 646.267.9934 or visit the WAR website at: http://war-online.org