Peter Bethune's trial starts Thursday 27 May

[avgas]

If what the Japanese are doing (whaling) is illegal, as is claimed, then why is there no action taken by the represented governments or international body? Honest question, not taking the mickey. And I'm looking for serious answers.

It is treated in similar regard as the US in Iraq, Chinese counterfeiting, China grabbing Nepal, South African Hunting........

Big problem, no one person to man against.
I don't support Sea Sheppard at all, but the Japanese cant go around outside their own territory claiming things in todays world. Mabey 100 years ago it was possible (Brits seem to do it). But today it is best practice to carve out your own piece of income, not steal someone elses.

The second problem is terming of definitions. Protected, reserve etc In the old days these words meant what they were written in the dictionary as. Now days they are lost in translation. Sadly they seem to be lost the most in translation from english to english.
Imagine if you will the term graveyard. In the past it meant where you go to bury the dead for respect. In the future it may mean somewhere to go get spare parts.

[oldrider]

That is an interesting bit of footage. The first 15 seconds shows that the jap has the helm over to starboard and is turning into the Ady Gill. The wake from AG is next to nothing and appears almost stationary. The firehoses show the distance getting closer.

The footage from the distant vessel (Sea Shepard?) seemed to verify this.

Have another look and watch the wake of the AG it was moving along all right then it increased heavily just prior to the impact, I reckon he powered the AG into the Jap boat's path!

Reminded me of the guy with the machete attacking the "gun shop assistant" and then wondering why he got shot!

AG was the much more manoeuvrable craft of the two and was deliberately harassing the Jap ship, other than that it had no legitimate cause to be there! (criminal nuisance?)

Personally I think the Japs can piss off and kill whales in their own territorial waters but that doesn't give me the right to break international laws of the sea to emphasise that!

Bethune and greenpiss may well be morally (subjective assessment) right but that does not give them the right to act like international terrorists, even if New Zealand's shonky justice system tells them they can! (I.E.Waihopai)

[Brian d marge]

Bring on the BIFF

the action is outside the court !

Go Tojo !!!

Stephen

[Tank]

Bring on the BIFF

the action is outside the court !

Go Tojo !!!

Stephen

As someone with a local perspective - do you think the going-ons outside (and inside yesterday - people calling him terrorist / fascist) is going to help or hinder PB?

[imdying]

What I don't understand,is why the Sea Shithole people,with the courage of their convictions, haven't gone to the court house to support Buphoon?

That liar Paul Watson can't go for one... the Japanese Coast Guard have a warrant out for his arrest, he wouldn't even make it through customs.

[Brian d marge]

As someone with a local perspective - do you think the going-ons outside (and inside yesterday - people calling him terrorist / fascist) is going to help or hinder PB?

Most people dont know its even going on, as there has been VERY little on the news. There are a small number of nationalists and older people who, well the name Rockhead comes to mind

The court is an old fashioned place where time stood still and the men from the ministry rule supreme, I think he wont get 15 years as reported by the NZ media , but maybe a year or a fine that reflects the costs as per Reuters

I would be very surprised if he walks free

Stephen

[Swoop]

Have another look and watch the wake of the AG it was moving along all right then it increased heavily just prior to the impact, I reckon he powered the AG into the Jap boat's path!

I watched that clip about 8-9 times. If you look at the waves around and behind AG, it appears as if there is minimal revolutions on, so just holding station. The increase in revolutions would be an urgent movement. A vessel can only move if there is revolutions on the screws since rudder control is reliant on this. A wiser move would have been to go max-reverse, but hindsight, eh?

Most people dont know its even going on, as there has been VERY little on the news.

Your report of 20 pro whaling protestors seems to tally with what I saw on our news. It appears as if both sides are making it appear as if a bigger protest is happening. Really it seems like a couple of blokes having a verbal in the street and nothing more.

[JimO]

A wiser move would have been to go max-reverse, but hindsight, eh?

.

a wiser move would have been not to be there

[Naki Rat]

a wiser move would have been not to be there

Did you have the same opinion about the Bikoi?

[JimO]

Did you have the same opinion about the Bikoi?

did anybody park their bike in front of a big arsed boat at the bikoi

[Max Preload]

did anybody park their bike in front of a big arsed boat at the bikoi

Or was there acid thrown at people?

[kermitt]

if ya cant do da time dont do da crime

[Tank]

UPDATE:

Sea Sheppard have kicked out PB - for having a bow and arrows onboard.

"The move follows allegations by the Sea Shepherd that Mr Bethune had a bow and arrows aboard the Ady Gil when it sank in the Southern Ocean, following a collision with a Japanese whaling boat."

ohh - this is interesting - so now his own group say he had weapons on board.

I wonder what peaceful use he was going to use them for. Im sure that this will help his trial somewhat.

or not.


More reading http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10650483

[JimO]

its not ok to have a bow n arrow but it is ok to throw acid at other boats, i think SS has just cut him lose

[spacemonkey]

So they threw him out as it was the only thing he DIDN'T use?