Captain Bethune is currently detained on a Japanese whaling vessel, the Shonan Maru#2. He will remain onboard, until this vessel returns to Japan, where he is expected to face charges of piracy. Is he a hero or just an over zealous bully?
Sea Shepherd do not deny being pirates, hence their black and white logo. They even take pride in their image...they are the militants of the sea. Their goal is basic; to conserve and protect marine wildlife, which includes their mission to stop the practice of whaling. Their history goes back to 1977, when they were established by Captain Paul Watson in Vancouver, Canada.
Green Peace have been campaigning against whaling for years, yet it still goes on. They have become more mainstream and accepted in society, so lack the clout and shock power they had when we once believed they were just a bunch of tree huggers.
I don't profess to know all about the organisation, but I am starting to read up and learn as much as I can. I may not agree with their hard core tactics, but I do have a lot of admiration for anybody who is prepared to put their life on the line for something they strongly believe in.
I first heard about Sea Shepherd about a year ago at The Veronicas' and Metro Station concert. The Veronicas pushed the organisation, throughout their show, and encouraged their young audience to visit their display in the Challenge Stadium lobby. This endorsement would have served as great publicity for the group, and was aimed at a part of society Sea Shepherd would be keen to influence - Australia's enthusiastic youth.
We did take our son up to have a look at Sea Shepherd's display. We are members of Green Peace and The ACF, so were naturally curious about another environmental organisation. My husband, Nigel, commented that he had heard they were controversial and militant, and there was mass division of opinions on the way they went about their cause.
I have been cautiously considering my feelings on the organisation, and observing them since this time.
On January 6, 2010, the high speed Sea Shepherd vessel, the Ady Gil, was rammed and destroyed by the Shonan Maru #2. The Japanese vessel had been provoked and part of an ongoing 'war', but they still jeopardised the lives of the crewmen on the Ady Gil and sunk the vessel. It is easy to understand why Captain Bethune acted in anger, and boarded the offending vessel, to arrest the Japanese captain. However, he himself was detained, as a trespasser, and will find out his fate when the Shonan Maru#2 returns to Japan.
Regardless of the sensibility of the act, Captain Bethune showed great courage. He acted with passion and now endures a lengthy period at sea, because he was brave enough to confront his enemy.
Many of us sit in our living rooms, or at the pub, and discuss Japanese whaling, usually defending these amazing beasts of the sea, yet very few of us are prepared to actually do something proactive about it.
Perhaps Captain Bethune and his many supporters are cowboys, but they are determined to make a change. At the very least, we are talking about them and recognising that extensive Japanese whaling is taking place in the Southern Ocean.
Are they too militant for me to support? I'm still not sure, but I hope our grandchildren and great grandchildren will have a large enough population of whales to enjoy, and be able to thank organisations like Sea Shepherd for trying to do something about it!
photos are from Sea Shepherd's official web site
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