They've become terrorists... and Greenpeace needs 2 care about humanity- seriously, we know they want the world's population of children cut by about 70%.... but Greenpeace... we need u 2be humane and obey nations laws..... imho - all the good work u've done is gone 2 sheeet in the last few years... imho
Peter Foster: Greenpeace stands for delay, delay, delay
Financial Post | Business
Told to file a defence in Resolute case, Greenpeace instead files appeal
Greenpeace Canada continues to squirm to avoid coming up with a defence against Resolute Forest Products’ $7-million lawsuit alleging “intentional interference with economic relations;” that is, trying to destroy Resolute’s business by pressuring its customers
Last Friday, lawyers for Greenpeace sought leave to appeal the decision of the Divisional Court of Ontario (which had rejected an earlier appeal and told Greenpeace to file a defence, plus pay costs).
The case has significant ramifications for whether radical NGOs will be allowed to continue to spread misinformation, trample over corporate reputations, and destroy business and jobs. This is somewhat related to those over-ballyhooed CRA audits of charitable institutions, although Greenpeace had its charity status removed long ago. In fact, “intentional interference with economic relations” could almost be Greenpeace’s mission statement.
The suit goes back to claims made by Greenpeace about Resolute’s business practices after the radical environmental NGO exited the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, the deeply flawed 2010 deal under which forestry companies were persuaded that they could buy off their radical opponents by becoming “partners” in plans to sanitize huge swathes of Canada in the name of “environmental protection.” Screw the people who lived there.
To everybody’s surprise, Resolute demonstrated some rare corporate backbone and sued, which led Greenpeace to redouble its attack both through social media, and – more significant – by applying pressure to Resolute’s customers both directly and indirectly, aided by radical cohorts such as ForestEthics, another CBFA signatory.
Greenpeace’s lawyers claim in their latest leave to appeal that Resolute failed to identify anybody who had been “interfered with.” In fact, Greenpeace has sent scores of letters to Resolute’s customers containing thinly disguised threats, and these have been made available to the courts. One such was sent in January to David Paterson, the head of Verso Paper Corp., based in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Paterson is significant because he was head of Resolute (then Abitibi Bowater) when it signed the CBFA.
So now he’s reaping the whirlwind.
The letter, from Joanna Kerr, Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada, wanted a meeting ”to discuss Resolute’s forest management practices and how we can help you ensure that your customers are being supplied with the ‘sustainable’ products they prefer and have come to expect.”
Such customer concern!
The letter noted that “Resolute has recently come under a brighter spotlight,” but failed to record that the spotlight had been wielded by Greenpeace. It also pointed out that three of Resolute’s Forest Stewardship Council certificates had been suspended. Since Greenpeace is a founder of the Forest Stewardship Council, this suspension confirms what “social licence” is really all about: bringing corporations to heel.
The letter declared that Resolute had refused to adopt the Movement’s “science based conservation plans,” and, instead of “collaborating,” had launched its $7 million lawsuit. “I suggest,” concluded Ms. Kerr, “that customers should consider these issues closely when assessing and/or renewing contracts with Resolute.”
Greenpeace’s lawyers claim that the most recent decision against Greenpeace touches on “the right of non-profit organizations such as Greenpeace to disseminate information about environmental protection issues without being sued in the absence of a complete factual basis.”
But the real issue is that of disseminating job-destroying misinformation. Meanwhile, not only does the “factual basis” appear pretty solid, but Greenpeace may have other costly legal clouds gathering on the horizon.
In April of this year, Chief Earl Klyne of the Seine River First Nation in Northwest Ontario wrote to Greenpeace refuting its claims that Resolute had shown “disregard” for indigenous communities. Indeed, he noted that the company had good relations with his people. Chief Klyne made no bones about the fact that Greenpeace “does not speak or represent us on anything.”
The punch line that must have sent a chill through Greenpeace’s vast, global anti-development bureaucracy was “We will be watching the final outcome of the [Resolute] lawsuit with interest as it makes allegations that may form the basis for a similar lawsuit that we could consider launching against Greenpeace should you not cease your publishing of falsehoods regarding our rights and your unnecessary interference in our negotiations and continuing partnership with companies such as Resolute.”
I think Chief Klyne is accusing Greenpeace of “intentional interference.” They have an important case to answer. Once, that is, they have exhausted every other legal, PR and corporate arm-twisting option.
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/29/peter-foster-greenpeace-stands-for-delay-delay-delay/
----------------
SEA
SHEPHERD AND ENVIRON INVADERS- get no sympathy globally.... they must
stop destroying and costing $$$$$ each and every country taxpayers$$$ 4 their crappy behaviour... seriously- frankly with globaly woes - we r all tired of
this sheeeet..... grow up, get a job support our economy... help environment at
grassroots like we do.
Greenpeace tormenting Russian workers- what if a Russian workers died- Japanese fisher died?
Why
is Sea Shepherd, Greenpeace and PETA- sooooooo heavily funded???... and so
violent?
Russia:
Rig was forearmed to deal with Greenpeace boarding
Add
Video
Id:20131005-002TitleRussia: Rig was forearmed to deal with Greenpeace
boardingCategoryPoliticsLocationPrirazlomnaya rig,
RussiaRegionRussiaDuration1:26PublishedOctober 5, 2013, 11:17 (GMT)Aspect
Ratio16:9KeywordsGreenpeace, Arctic Sunrise, Murmansk
W/S
Prirazlomnaya rig
W/S
Helicopter approaches Prirazlomnaya rig
W/S
Crew exiting a helicopter
W/S
Map
W/S
Monitoring system
SOT
of Oleg Kiuznetsov, radioman (speaking Russian): "We put attention on this
ship [the Arctic Sunrise] because it was coming closer to the platform. When
the ship was in the rig's zone, it changed course, speed, was approaching and
then moving away from the rig again."
W/S
On board Prirazlomnaya rig
M/S
Gazprom logo
SOT
of Artur Akopov, the rig's chief manager (speaking Russian): "They posed a
minor threat until they attempted to board the platform - and that we have to
prevent by all possible means because they could damage equipment, and sabotage
our work. This rig is a place of extreme danger."
W/S
Prirazlomnaya rig
C/U
Prirazlomnaya rig
SCRIPT
Russia:
Rig was forearmed to deal with Greenpeace boarding
An
attempt by Greenpeace to board Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya rig one year ago gave
the rig's crew the experience to deal with a second crack by the pressure group
last month. Early on the morning of Wednesday, September 18 the rig's captain
was informed that Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise vessel was just a few miles away
- and that its behaviour was unusual.
Oleg
Kiuznetsov, a radioman aboard the rig, said: "We put attention on this
ship [the Arctic Sunrise] because it was coming closer to the platform. When the
ship was in the rig's zone, it changed course, speed, was approaching and then
moving away from the rig again."
The
captain tried to contact the vessel, warning it not to approach the rig. This
was not heeded. The rig's captain had prior experience in dealing with this
particular boat since, in August last year, the Arctic Sunrise had brought a
dozen environmental activists to the platform.
A
year on, the pressure group attempted to repeat the operation. Artur Akopov,
the rig's chief manager, said: "They posed a minor threat until they
attempted to board the platform - and that we had to prevent by all possible
means because they could damage equipment, and sabotage our work. This rig is a
place of extreme danger."
The
30 detained activists - from 19 countries, including Russia - have all been
charged with piracy. If convicted they could face up to 15 years in jail.
THE
GOOD...
POSTED/POSTED/POSTED/
POSTED/POSTED/-
Canada's Caretakers of our Environment
CANADA-
NOVA SCOTIA CELEBRATES MI'KMAQ MONTH- Idle No More Canada 10,000 years First
Peoples Americas- Best Story- Whale Watchers save Foggy the Whale in our Bay of
Fundy- u inspire us 2day
-
ENVIRONMENT... THE GOOD
STUFF- THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE DO- LIKE OUR FIRST PEOPLES OF CANADA- 10,000
YEARS...
IDLE
NO MORE CANADA- our beautiful First Peoples of 10,000 years- u matter-Canada
matters
}} this day and age.... u would come 2 Canada
and trophy hunt OUR BEARS????- let alone the First Peoples of 10,000 years in
Canada- u would insult our First Peoples-
had to cry- watched this on APTN- Canada's First Peoples Television
Station- how could we not mourn and cry- and 2 leave the carcass- like the
billion buffalo stolen from USA First Peoples.... Come one it's 2013
Bear
Witness: a film by BC's Coastal First Nations
Published
on Sep 3, 2013
When
'Cheeky' the bear is ambushed and decapitated in front of a lone witness, a
chain of events is set in motion up and down the coast. You're the next link.
God bless our Canada- I always picture God
looking like Chief Dan George :-)
Idle
No More Canada- our beloved First
Peoples 10,000 years- our Canada
children- our wolves (my very favourite creature- haunting-
beautiful-inspiring) - let's look after Canada now
The
Wolves
The
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus; also spelled Grey Wolf, see spelling differences; also
known as Timber Wolf or Wolf) is a mammal in the order Carnivora. The Gray Wolf
shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), as
evidenced by DNA sequencing and genetic drift studies. Gray wolves were once
abundant and distributed over much of North America, Eurasia, and the Middle
East. Today, for a variety of human-related reasons, including widespread
habitat destruction and excessive hunting, wolves inhabit only a very limited
portion of their former range. Though listed as a species of least concern for
extinction worldwide, for some regions including the Continental United States,
the species is listed as endangered or threatened.
IF U LOVE WOLVES PLZ
ENJOY IT!! SAVE THEM!!
IDLE NO MORE CANADA- our beautiful First Peoples of 10,000
years- u matter-Canada matters
}} this day and age....
u would come 2 Canada and trophy hunt OUR BEARS????- let alone the First
Peoples of 10,000 years in Canada- u would insult our First Peoples- had to cry- watched this on APTN- Canada's
First Peoples Television Station- how could we not mourn and cry- and 2 leave
the carcass- like the billion buffalo stolen from USA First Peoples.... Come
one it's 2013
Bear Witness: a film by BC's Coastal First Nations
Published on Sep 3, 2013
When 'Cheeky' the bear is ambushed and decapitated in front of
a lone witness, a chain of events is set in motion up and down the coast.
You're the next link.
--------------------------
AND
THE VERY BAD...
POSTED
BLOG:
CANADA'S
ENVIRONMENT BEING QUESTIONED BY UN?- What bout Golden Five - Russia, USA, China,
Japan and India- who are pure toxic... and will never sign anything?
And...
really, really bad!
Re:
Greenpeace rams whaling ship #1
--------------
JUST
THE FACTS MA'AM
PETA
Kills Animals? (PETA HELPS) Bullshit Center for Consumer
As
in the video, PETA does put dogs down due to people not spay, neutering and
adopting. I am not a peta member and do not agree with all they do, but am
Vegan because using animals today is simply unncessary.
If
you dont like peta, try my favorite groups Vegan Outreach, MFA, COK or just
keep it about the animals.
Factory
Farms are sick and unsanitary (swine pig flu, egg recall, downed cows,
hormones, antibiotics pumped into diary and chickens) regardless.
Vegans
also help the Environment (greenhouse gases and wasted resources), our Health
care system (heart disease leading killer even if thin and fit) and reduce
World Hunger, while animals are inefficently well fed with our corn and grains
people go hungry. 1lb of meat per 10lbs of grain on average. GoVeg.com/theissues.asp
fast facts!
Critics
often do nothing for animals so are not credible. They represent the factory
farm industries for greedy profits. I also served in the Peace Corps, the
military even has veggie mre's now.
Just
1 vegetarian or vegan can save 1000's of mammals from suffering in a lifetime,
more than PETA has ever put down.
veganoutreach.org/video
(must see videos)
VeganVet.net
VegetarianDogs.com
VeganHealth.org
(Dietician)
VeganBodyBuilding.com
FamousVeggie.com
(Einstein, Newton, Gandhi, Franklin, MLK son and wife...)
----------------
but... when... Canada's Coast Guard... has had enough of these creeps terrorizing our fishers.... Greenpeace can ram... BUT DON'T CHA RAM GREENPEACE???
ENOUGH....
OF THE ENVIRON INVADERS WHO TERRORIZE FISHERS AND WORKERS.... 4 $$$ AND MEDIA
ATTENTION..... this video they thought
we would feel sorry 4 them... 95% population did/does not.
Sea
Shepherd rammed by Canadian Coast Guard ship
-----------
Greenpeace
Harbour Protest Turns Violent: No Illegal Tuna Found
----------------------
Fishers get even
Sea
Shepherd endangers the lives of Maltese fishermen
Sea
Shepherd publicity whores (girly men) rammed a tuna pen while two Maltese
fishermen were on the pen's catwalks. After Sea Shepherd rammed the tuna pen, a
tuna fishing boat rammed Sea Shepherd. Captain Kangaroo then said they rammed
the tuna pen after they were rammed by the tuna fishing boat.
Just
one problem: the video below tells another story.
In
another video Greenpeace climbs aboard a tuna boat only to be thrown into the
sea by the tuner fishermen. Peter Bethune, who did the same to the Japanese
whaling ship, did not meet the same deserved faith. Instead he was transported
to Japan aboard the ship he illegally boarded. Once again proving Sea Shepherd
and their types exploit the politeness of the Japanese culture.
INTERPOL
has added Sea Shepherd's Captain Kangaroo to their wanted list. It is a
"blue notice" warrant. Meaning no arrest to be made, just to provide
information on his whereabouts. A "red notice" warrant would have
requested an arrest.
Greenpeace
illegally boards ships and cut nets belonging to others. Sea Shepherd Captain
Kangaroo and Cabin Boy are fugitives, while another member or ex-member is
currently in jail in Japan. Sea Shepherd purposely rams catwalks occupied by
humans in the open sea endangering their lives.
Any
contribution to these reckless organizations is tantamount to be a party to or
an enabler to illegal, dangerous activities, and aiding fugitives.
-
Sea
Shepherd rams tuna pen with men on tuna pen's catwalk:
Ramming
video with news article:
Greenpeace
attempts to climb aboard tuna boat:
Artist
renderings by pretend Commodore Tony aka: PropagandaBuster. The renderings are
offered purely as a spoof in their childlike artistry to mock the childish
behavior of Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd cowards.
-
Sea
Shepherd Whale Wars The Cove publicity whore senorina putana Japanese whaling
ICR Captain Kangaroo rust bucket girly men culinary imperialist vigilante
justice blue fin tuna Malta Maltese fishermen Mediterranean Sea Greenpeace
Commodore Tony propagandabuster propaganda buster Steve Irwin International
Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ICCAT Cesare Rustico Rosaria Tuna
FMAP The Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers FMAP Jean-Marie Christian
VI Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora CITES Atlanta bluefin tuna grappling hooks
---------------------
Greenpeace
activists attempt to scale Russian oil rig
comment:
The
ridiculous smug look on the guy on the bridge's face at 2:07 says it all,
snickering at being called an eco-terrorist while unlawfully boarding a vessel
at sea as his diesels spew hundreds of pounds of CO2 per hour into the
atmosphere. These are the kind of self-serving clowns that give people working
for actual causes a bad name. Yes pal, you are an eco-terrorist. Along with the
worst kind of idiot.
comment:
They
did violate Russian waters, and they were arrested, not kidnapped.
comment:
greenpeace,
if you can't do the time, don't do the crime! crybabies.......poor oil workers
probably shit themselves thinking WTF do these guys want. Who made greenpeace
the judge, jury and executor on these issues. Now you will have to face the
law.
Australia:Russia
to bring new charges against Greenpeace activists
DateNovember
8, 2013 - 5:52AM 11
Moscow:
Russia is to press additional charges against several Greenpeace activists who
were arrested for a protest at the country's first offshore Arctic oil rig,
investigators said on Thursday.
Russia
has drawn international criticism over the arrest and subsequent treatment of
the 30 people on board the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise when activists tried
to scale the Gazprom-owned Prirazlomnaya oil platform.
Russian
investigators initially charged all 30 with piracy but said last month they
were changing the charge to hooliganism, cutting the maximum jail sentence they
face to seven years from 15 years. An Australian, Colin Russell, is among those
being held by the Russians.
But
Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for a state investigative team which reports
directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said some of the activists, in
addition to being charged with hooliganism, will face charges of resisting law
officers, which would carry a maximum five year-prison sentence.
Advertisement
"A
few boats approached the platform, and with the aid of special equipment, they
tried to climb up the platform. They completely ignored the authorities'
orders. Furthermore, if you recall, they rammed the coastguard ship," Mr
Markin said in an interview on Internet news site gazeta.ru.
Greenpeace
has always said its protest was entirely peaceful.
Mr
Markin's comments came after British Prime Minister David Cameron gave an
interview on Thursday urging Putin to help free the Greenpeace activists,
saying the action taken against them was "excessive".
Mr
Cameron said he welcomed a decision to reduce the charges against the
protesters to hooliganism from piracy, but still felt the action went too far.
"They
are not hooligans, they are protesters," Mr Cameron told BBC local radio,
according to a transcript released by his spokesman.
"I
totally understand that countries have to have some quite tough rules to stop
people invading oil platforms, but I have appealed to Vladimir Putin to try to
de-escalate this and make sure that these people can go home."
Rights
Violated
Russian
authorities have held the 28 activists and two freelance journalists, as well
as the Dutch-registered Arctic Sunrise, in the Arctic city of Murmansk.
Greenpeace
said last week officials were preparing to move the prisoners to St Petersburg
where they have more chance of being visited by family and lawyers after well
over a month in jail.
The
Netherlands has asked the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in
Hamburg to order Russia to release the ship and all those detained.
Russia
has said it does not recognise the case, accusing the activists and their ship
of posing a security threat.
A
Dutch government representative said Russia had "violated the human
rights" of the activists who tried to climb onto Russia's first offshore
Arctic oil rig in September, detaining them for seven weeks "without
grounds".
After
the protest, Russian coastguard officers boarded and seized control of the ship
and towed it to Murmansk. Russia has rejected Greenpeace's assertions that the
ship had been in international waters when it was seized.
Strains
between the Netherlands and Russia over the Greenpeace protest are in danger of
overshadowing the arrival of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to
Moscow on Friday to mark 400 years of diplomatic ties between the two
countries.
Greenpeace
activists said their protest was aimed at raising awareness about the risks
that Arctic offshore oil drilling posed to thousands of kilometers of coastal
areas.
The
head of Greenpeace Kumi Naidoo offered on Wednesday to move to Russia and stand
as security for the release on bail of the 30.
Greenpeace
activists attempt to scale Russian oil rig
comment:
The
ridiculous smug look on the guy on the bridge's face at 2:07 says it all,
snickering at being called an eco-terrorist while unlawfully boarding a vessel
at sea as his diesels spew hundreds of pounds of CO2 per hour into the
atmosphere. These are the kind of self-serving clowns that give people working
for actual causes a bad name. Yes pal, you are an eco-terrorist. Along with the
worst kind of idiot.
---------------
The
world has had enough of the arrogance and vicious behaviour of people who feel
they can attack and potentially kill innocent fishers and workers of our
nations on their lands, sea and air.... it's just become so ugly.... they want
5 billion people eradicated 2 save the planet....??? What happened 2 peaceful
and decent protesting...??? THEY ARE
VIOLENT... AND DANGEROUS 2 FISHERS AND WORKERS.... and that's got 2 stop...
smoke bombs, acid, bows and arrors and drag ropes??? boarding the numberous
vessels.... Russia is angry, Japan is angry- most countries are just tired of
the absolute terror environs who endangers everyday working folks.... it's
wrong in this day and age of NO JOBS- LOUSY GLOBAL ECONOMY.... imho.... there
are so many wonderful environmental things going on in communities and on our
planet... but these hijackers must be tamed..... Russia will never tolerate
this sheeeet... nor will Japan or the rest of the world... enough! imho
Fugitive
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson due in court on Wednesday to defend himself
against Japanese whalers
Fugitive
eco-activist Paul Watson is due in a US court this week for his latest legal
battle — but, after 15 months on the run, he says he is happy to leave the high
seas clashes to friends in Australia.
The
Canadian-born Sea Shepherd founder arrived in California last week more than a
year after fleeing arrest in Germany, spending most of the intervening time at
sea in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean.
In
an interview with AFP the 62-year-old said he expects to take the stand in a
Seattle courtroom on Wednesday, to defend himself against accusations of piracy
brought by Japanese whalers.
But
the white-bearded activist says he does not expect a judge to lift an
injunction on him joining Sea Shepherd boats due to leave Australia within
weeks for an annual campaign against Japanese whaling vessels.
“I
don’t believe that the injunction will be lifted, so I don’t plan on going on
the campaign,” said Watson, who is banned from participating along with the
Oregon-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS).
“But
I’m not particularly concerned about it because Sea Shepherd Australia is quite
capable, as they’ve proven … to carry out the campaign,” he added.
The
Australian arm of the environmental group is ready to set sail again on
December 1 to disrupt the Japanese whalers, said Watson, known to his loyal
supporters as “The Captain.”
Sea
Shepherd, founded by former Greenpeace activist Watson in 1977, has chased the
Japanese fleet hunting whales off Antarctica for several years in a bid to stop
the animals being slaughtered.
Japan
says it conducts vital scientific research using a loophole in an international
ban on whaling, but makes no secret of the fact that the mammals ultimately end
up as food.
Watson
was arrested in May last year in Frankfurt on a warrant from Costa Rica, where
he is wanted on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation over shark
finning in 2002.
He
was released on bail after paying a fine, and was ordered to appear before
police twice a day. But he skipped bail on July 22, 2012 and fled Germany.
Between
then and last week, when he unexpectedly announced his arrival by boat in Los
Angeles, Watson said he was mostly at sea — including from December to March
with the Southern Ocean campaign, but only “as an observer.”
In
Tokyo, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato responded to Watson’s
re-emergence on US soil by saying: “Japan continues to request the captain’s
arrest.”
The
eco-activist was not stopped by US immigration or other officials when he
entered the country last week.
But
he acknowledged that he could yet be arrested. “There’s always a possibility,”
he said, while noting that: “Nobody gets extradited on a trespassing charge,
it’s political.
“They
can try, but the US government is well aware of where I am. If there’s any
reason to deal with it (being arrested) we’ll deal with it. I’m not going to
make myself unavailable.”
Watson
said he thought Japan was pursuing the legal action partly to drain non-profit
Sea Shepherd’s coffers.
“Basically
what they’re doing is they’re forcing us to spend a lot of money on that,
hoping that that will stop us.
“But
Sea Shepherd USA has already withdrawn from the campaign, the campaign is under
the leadership of Sea Shepherd Australia and the ships are ready to leave on
December 1,” he said.
The
veteran environmentalist, who was granted an Australian visa last week, had
another reason to return to the United States, of which he is a citizen.
“It’s
been 15 months since I’ve been here. I left the week that my granddaughter was
born so I haven’t seen her for 15 months. So that was the most important thing
about coming back.”
-------------------
RUSSIA
Greenpeace
activists to face additional charges
Russia
is to press additional charges against several of the group of 30 Greenpeace
activists arrested after a protest at an offshore Arctic oil rig.
The
group of 30 – including two New Zealanders – were arrested after activists
tried to scale the Gazprom-owned Prirazlomnaya oil platform.
The
activists will now also face charges of resisting law officers, which carries a
maximum five-year prison sentence, Reuters reports.
"They
completely ignored the authorities' orders. Furthermore, if you recall, they
rammed the coastguard ship," says Vladimir Markin, spokesman for a state
investigative team which reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It
is not yet clear whether New Zealanders Jonathan Beauchamp and David Haussmann
face the additional charges.
The
group were originally charged with piracy, but last month Russian investigators
said the charges would be changed to hooliganism, cutting the maximum jail
sentence they face to seven years from 15 years.
Greenpeace
says they haven't been notified about the additional charges.
Russia
has drawn international criticism over the arrests.
comment:
Good
Stuff, throw the book at them, then throw away the key!
----------------
Paul
Watson quits Sea Shepherd over U.S. court order
Environmental
activist prevented from approaching Japanese whaling boats
-------------------
Activist
Watson appears in court
November
6, 2013 - 7:17pm By GENE JOHNSON The Associated Press
SEATTLE
— A fugitive activist known for confronting Japanese whaling vessels off
Antarctica took the witness stand in a U.S. appeals court Wednesday, hoping to
persuade a commissioner that neither he nor the organization he founded
violated an order requiring them to leave the whalers alone.
Paul
Watson, the Canadian founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,
testified in a contempt of court hearing in Seattle.
The
white-goateed, 62-year-old described his history of environmental activism and
accolades, and said he’d spent the past year at sea. He fled Germany in 2012
after being arrested at the behest of the Costa Rican government, and Japan
continues to seek his arrest related to his interference with a whaling vessel
in 2010.
“Over
the last year there’s been a lot of negotiation on different levels that
allowed me to come ashore,” he said, in response to a question from his lawyer.
Watson did not elaborate, and it remained unclear whether he might still face
arrest.
The
case is part of a long-running fight between the protesters and Japan’s whaling
fleet, which kills up to 1,000 whales a year, as allowed by the International
Whaling Commission. Japan is permitted to hunt the animals as long as they are
killed for research and not commercial purposes, but whale meat not used for
study is sold as food in Japan. Critics say that’s the real reason for the hunts.
For
several years, Sea Shepherd operated anti-whaling campaigns in the Southern
Ocean. Activists aboard its vessels would hurl acid and smoke bombs at the
whalers and drag ropes in the water to damage their propellers. They claim they
have saved thousands of whales.
Last
December, just before the whaling season was to begin, the 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals ordered Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Watson and anyone
acting “in concert” with them to keep 500 yards away from the whaling vessels.
The
Japanese whalers argue that the organization violated that order 10 times early
this year, with incidents that included the deliberate ramming of a fuel ship
by a protest vessel. They asked the court to impose fines of $100,000 for each
violation, though they suggested the court waive those fines as long as the
protesters stop confronting their ships.
In
response to the injunction, Sea Shepherd says it withdrew from any
participation in the anti-whaling campaign, and Watson stepped down from the
organization. Instead, Watson and Sea Shepherd said, its cousin, Sea Shepherd
of Australia Limited, took over — and that organization insists it wasn’t
subject to the court’s order.
The
hearing in Seattle, which began last week, is aimed in part at determining
whether the Australian organization carried out the protest in concert with Sea
Shepherd. The whalers argue that the distinction between Sea Shepherd and its
Australian counterpart is largely fictional: Sea Shepherd had spent about $2.5
million preparing for the protest, including the cost of fuel and ship crews
eventually used in the protest.
Watson,
whose exploits have been featured on the Animal Planet reality television show
“Whale Wars,” insisted that it was important for him to comply with the
injunction — but by the time the injunction was issued, he was already on board
one of the protest vessels. He remained only as an observer, he said, and at
one point urged Sea Shepherd of Australia to abide by the court’s injunction.
He
also argued in court Wednesday that although the injunction ordered the
protesters to keep 500 yards from the whalers, “it didn’t say anything about
whether the Japanese whaling vessels could come within 500 yards of us.”
He
fled from Germany last year after being arrested at the behest of the Costa
Rican government, which is pursuing him on a warrant that claims he endangered
a fishing crew in 2002. He has said he believes the arrest was made under
pressure from Japan, and that he eventually would have been extradited there
had he remained in Germany.
Jeff
Hansen, director of Sea Shepherd of Australia, testified Tuesday that his
organization did not co-ordinate with the American Sea Shepherd group after the
injunction was issued. He said he does not believe the U.S. courts have jurisdiction
over international waters — “No disrespect, of course,” he told the court.
And
he vowed that no matter what the U.S. court rules, his organization will forge
ahead with plans to challenge the Japanese whaling fleet early next year.
“We’re
answering to our clients, which is the whales,” he said.
-----------------------
Sea
Shepherd Dumps Peter Bethune - World News
wn.com/Sea_Shepherd_DUMPS_Peter_Bethune Cached
Sea
Shepherd DUMPS Peter Bethune, Japan Arrests Captain Pete Bethune. Sea Shepherd-
'LET'S HAVE A TRIAL (German and English Subtitles), Sea Shepherd & Pete
Bethune
PAUL
WATSON- SEA SHEPHERD'S VIOLENT HISTORY...
1977:
Watson establishes Sea Shepherd organisation. States that Sea Shepherd is not a
protest
organization.
“We are [a] self-appointed policing organization given credibility by the terms
of
the
United Nations Earth Charter of 1982.”
1978:
Watson admits to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) programme As It
Happens
that his work is aimed at raising funds for his organisation, Sea Shepherd.
Watson:
“You see, the seal is very easy to exploit as an image. We have posters, we
have
buttons;
we have shirts … all of which portray the head of the baby seal with tears
coming
out
of its eyes. Baby seals are always crying because the salt tears keep their
eyes from
freezing.
But they have this image of ... they are baby animals; they are beautiful. And
because
of that, coupled with the horror of the sealer hitting them over the head with
a
club,
it is an image which just goes right to the heart of animal lovers all over
North
America.”
1979:
A Sea Shepherd vessel rams the whaling vessel “Sierra”, causing considerable
damage.
“Sierra”
survives attack.
1980:
The IWC at its meeting in Brighton, United Kingdom, assigns high-level
protection to two
Canadian
Government delegates after Watson threatened to kill them for voting against a
moratorium
on sperm whales. Delegates given Royal Canadian Mounted Police protection until
their
return home to Canada.
1980:
The “Sierra” is sunk in Lisbon harbour. Sea Shepherd claims responsibility.
Investigation
shows
limpet mines used to blow up the vessel.
1981:
Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the sinking of the two whaling vessels,
Ibsa I and
Ibsa
II, in the Spanish harbour of Viga.
1983:
Paul Watson and “Sea Shepherd” vessel engineer Paul Pezwick, tried and
convicted in a
Quebec,
Canada, court for “interfering in the annual seal hunt in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence”. Trial
followed
arrest in March 1983 when “Sea Shepherd” vessel boarded by Canadian police.
“Sea
Shepherd”
fortified including electric barbed wire around the deck’s edges. Seventeen
crew
arrested.
Watson and three others flee across ice to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, but caught
and
arrested.
Watson charged additionally with piloting a ship in a dangerous manner,
intimidation of
the
sealers and being unlawfully within a half mile of the seal hunt – a violation
of the Seal
Protection
Regulations. Watson sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
1983:
In retaliation for Watson’s arrest by Canadian police, animal rights extremists
slash car
tires
and spray paint slogans on walls of buildings in the inner city of Quebec.
“Fisheries Murder
Seals”
and “Set Paul Watson Free” slogans spray painted on the Department of Fisheries
and
Oceans
offices in Keele Street. Animal Liberation Front delivers letter to the Quebec
Star
newspaper
admitting causing several thousand dollars worth of damage to the Department’s
Keele
Street offices.
1986:
Sea Shepherd attempts to stop Faroe Islands pilot whale harvest. Using rifles,
Sea
Shepherd
activists shoot at Faroe Islands police in an attempt to sink their rubber
dinghies. The
vessel
“Sea Shepherd” was ordered to leave Faroese territorial waters. The police
report of 7
October
1986 states: “One of the rubber dinghies was attacked directly by a “Speed
Line” line
rifle.
The attack … endangered the lives of the police crewmembers ... and signal
flares
containing
phosphorous was thrown at the police. At a later stage the Sea Shepherd used
“toads”
(rotating
iron spikes, pointed and sharp at both ends) against the rubber dinghies …
petrol was
poured
over the side of the ship and signal flares were thrown from the “Sea Shepherd”
in an
attempt
to set the petrol on fire.”
1986:
Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the sinking of two whaling vessels in
Reykjavik,
Iceland,
and for malicious damage to a whaling station. (This act of violence was
carried out after
Iceland
stopped whaling in line with the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling.) Attack
carried
out by Sea Shepherd members Rodney A. Coronado and David Howitt. (Coronado
linked
to
Animal Liberation Front and arrested eight years later by United States FBI for
his part in an
ALF
attack on Michigan State University research laboratory. Charges included use
of an
explosive
device, theft and arson.)
1988:
Paul Watson returns in Iceland demanding to be held responsible for the sinking
of the
whaling
vessels in Reykjavik in 1986. (He is arrested and held for questioning and told
he could
face
several years’ imprisonment. In a press release, the Icelandic Ministry of
Justice stated: “At
questioning,
Paul Watson has admitted that he has given some remarks that connect him with
the
sabotage,
but in spite of this he now claims that he neither took part in the planning
nor the
execution
of the sabotage.”) There was no evidence incriminating Watson. He was ordered
to
leave
the country and declared persona non grata in Iceland.
1991:
A US crew member on a Mexican fishing vessel, reports that Sea Shepherd, some
of whose
crew
were armed with rifles, rammed his vessel causing considerable damage.
1991:
Scott Trimmingham, president of Sea Shepherd quits in protest. “We had rules
about not
hurting
anyone, about not using weapons. I left because those rules and that philosophy
seems to
be
changing.” Outside magazine (Sept. 1991). Paul Watson admits there are arms on
board “Sea
Shepherd”.
“We confront dangerous people. As the captain, it is my responsibility to
protect the
lives
of my crew ... Therefore, I have prepared myself for the possibility of
defending my crew in
a
situation that could go never occur, but if it does I will use firearms to
first intimidate and then
to
defend,” Watson tells the Los Angeles Free Weekly (April 24, 1992).
1992:
Sea Shepherd makes unsuccessful attempts at ramming three Costa Rican fishing
vessels.
In
a written complaint to the local authorities the fishermen report that the Sea
Shepherd crew
shot
at them with bullets containing a red substance, hitting two of them and
causing them great
pain.
1992:
Sea Shepherd makes unsuccessful attempt at scuttling the whaling and fishing
vessel
“Nybræna”
at her moorings in the Lofoten Islands, northern Norway. Attack committed by
Paul
Watson,
girlfriend Lisa DiStefano and one other Sea Shepherd member. Watson later
states: “The
scuttling
of the Nybræna was not a terrorist or criminal act. We were responsible for
removing an
instrument
of death and destruction without causing death or injury.” Charges laid against
Watson,
who fails to turn up in court. Watson convicted in absentia and sentenced to
120 days in
prison.
1992:
Sea Shepherd vessel “Whales Forever” collides with Norwegian Coast Guard vessel
“Andenes”
on July 4. Charges against Paul Watson include negligent navigation, refusal to
leave
Norwegian
waters on orders of the Coast Guard and transmitting false distress signals.
(Tape
supplied)
1993:
Paul Watson orders the crew on board the Sea Shepherd vessel “Edward Abbey”
(formerly
US
Navy) to open cannon fire at a Japanese fishing vessel. Sea Shepherd crew do
not carry out
the
order, but instead fire a shot across the bow of the Japanese vessel. The
Japanese vessel does
not
stop. (Recorded by Yorkshire Television Documentary “Defenders of the Wild –
Ocean
Rider”.)
1993:
Paul Watson claims in an open letter to the people of Norway that Sea Shepherd
has sunk
eight
ships and rammed and damaged a further six vessels. In the same letter, he
states: “The Sea
Shepherd
Conservation Society is a law abiding organization. We rigidly adhere to and
respect
the
laws of nature or lex natura. We hold the position that the laws of ecology
take precedence
over
the laws designed by nation states to protect corporate interests … the smell
of guilt is
already
a stench in the nostrils of God.”
1993:
Federal Grand Jury in Michigan State hands down five-count indictment against
Coronado
for
illegal use of explosives, extortion, threats to interfere with interstate
commerce and interstate
transportation,
to commit arson, theft and destruction of government property and for receiving
stolen
property. Indictments stem from February 1992 fire-bombing of Michigan State
University
in
East Lancing. Coronado involved in sinking two whaling vessels in Iceland in
1986.
1994:
Sea Shepherd claims responsibility for the unsuccessful attempt at scuttling
the combined
minke
whaling and fishing vessel “Senet” at her moorings in Gressvik. The vessel was
salvaged,
but
the water had caused considerable damage. Paul Watson tells Norwegian newspaper
Dagbladet
on January 26 that former US navy “Seal” commandos took part in attack on the
Senet.
“Certainly
these men are trained to kill, but they are also well disciplined and respect
my orders,”
he
told the newspaper.
1994:
Sea Shepherd loses observer status at the International Whaling Commission. IWC
Secretary,
Ray Gambell, declares that the IWC and all its member states ardently condemn
Sea
Shepherd’s
acts of terrorism.
1994:
US National Fisheries Institute asks for investigation into Sea Shepherd. “The
recent
alleged
actions against Norwegian fishing vessels constitute a clear case of piracy,”
it says in a
letter
to former US IWC Commissioner James Baker. “Acts of violence against fishermen
of any
nation
cannot be tolerated. Their safety and livelihood could be threatened unless US
officials
vigorously
condemn violence on the high seas.”
1997:
Paul Watson arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the
1992
attempted
scuttling of the Norwegian combined whaling and fishing vessel “Nybræna”.
Arrested
by
Dutch police after Interpol issues warrant. Serves 80 days in prison in the
Netherlands, the
equivalent
of the necessary two-thirds of the 120-day prison sentence handed down by
Norway.
2000:
Watson campaigns against the Makah people of Northwest United States. He uses
intimidation
to prevent the Makah from carrying out their IWC approved catch of the gray
whale.
2002:
Watson tells Animal Rights 2002 Conference in Washington DC that if a person
dies from
one
of his actions, he would consider it “collateral damage”. He believes it is not
possible to
“commit
violence against non-sentient objects. Property damage is not violence.”
ENDS
CANADA'S
ENVIRONMENT BEING QUESTIONED BY UN?- seriously how about Golden Five - Russia,
USA, China, Japan and India- who are pure toxic... and will never sign
anything???- seriously u have audacity 2 approach Canada and NOT Golden Five?
-------------------------
If
Carbon Markets Can’t Work in Europe, Can They Work Anywhere?
Europe
has always been at the forefront of global climate policy. But its landmark
carbon market is on the brink of failure.
Read
more: European Union Kneecaps Carbon Cap and Trade System | TIME.com http://science.time.com/2013/04/17/if-carbon-markets-cant-work-in-europe-can-they-work-anywhere/#ixzz2jtqXJhEz
------------------
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