OPERATION DIVINE WIND
Sea Shepherd on kamkaze mission
Sea Shepherd’s three vessels have left port with 88 crew members onboard. Their destination? The Southern Whale Sanctuary in the Antarctic. This is the 8th expedition to oppose the illegal activities of Japanese whalers. During last year’s campaign (numero 7) the Sea Shepherd crew sent the Japanese fleet home early and managed to save 863 whales that didn’t make the whaler’s quota (see SchNEWS 753).
So, as we wrtie, the Japanese Fleet is heading south to illegally hunt thousands of whales. This year the Japanese whalers have supported their illegal activity with 30 million dollars from the Tsunami relief fund following the disaster of 11th March 2011 (See Schnews 763). Whale hunting is in fact a rather expensive sport costing £22,500 per dead whale. Without government subsidies the industry would sink faster than the Titanic. However $30 million can go a long way. That kind of money can buy a great deal of support and influence, including security ships, mercenaries, bad boy PR firms and lawyers. After the failures of last year’s campaign the whalers needed extra support so badly they swiped it from relief efforts (how evil can you get?). For more information on swindling relief funds go to: http://www.avaaz.org/en/japan_disaster_funds_whaling_c?cl=1460470967&v=11637 With the extra heavies in tow, Japan plans to slaughter 1,000 Minke whales this year for their meat. The irony here is the meat usually gets stockpiled because no one wants to consume it.
The Sea Shepherd Crew are being joined by a motley crew of celeb supporters on the Sea Shepherd Board of advisors; the original James Bond, Sean Connery, World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore, The Simpsons producer and director/co-creator Sam Simon and Symphony Orchestra Cellist Michael Goldschlager. Never a campaign to shy away from celebrity support, it seems they have the entertainment side of things covered. Meanwhile the volunteer crew will no doubt be labouring in the bilges as ever.
So while the rest of us are being assaulted by Christmas cheer, the fight in the Southern Sea will continue to be waged; keep updated at www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/operation-divine-wind/operation-divine-wind
Whilst Dorset hunt sabs were gathered on a public road to document the unlawful activities of the hunt, an angered rider rode his horse at speed into a hunt saboteur - knocking her from her feet and trampling over her with his horse, before riding off laughing.
“Being raided, arrested, dragged through the legal system and having my property taken from me (including my photo album because it had a "hunt sabs" sticker on it and my notebook for my uni degree in criminology) just for campaigning seems over the top and has been pretty stressful. But it's not going to stop me from fighting for what I believe in and against what I disagree with. This isn't for ego, nor for fame, it's for the exploited and the vulnerable.” SOCPA 7 defendant - Emma
Anti fracking campaigners have got their hands on a Sussex Police report that details an 'emerging' nationwide strategy on protests against the controversial drilling technique. The report has been exposed in a report about the policing of the protests at Balcombe, West Sussex, last summer.
Bovine TB is on the increase in the areas where badgers were shot last year, but the disease is decreasing in the rest of the country.
We started writing about three interesting but unrelated things happening in June. Here is an amalgamated version, which is worth a read.
Seal cull abandoned after Hunt Sabs and Sea Shepherd join forces.
Re-occupation of the Hambach Forest, near Cologne in Germany, where activists occupy and fight the expansion of opencast mining.
Otis Ferry, son of Bryan, pays thousands in compensation to hunt monitors he attacked
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