Altman should have spoken Paul's language, "If you send me up the helicopter could be lost - that's bad PR for you, good PR for the whalers and you would have to buy a new helicopter."
Blind "we've all seen the V12" Io said:...mass killings of entire pods, including juveniles
Do we not have the Japanese on camera harpooning juveniles, females with calves and multiple whales from the same pod?
...they were on camera last season chasing down a group of about 5 whales until they got the last one.
When did your ban expire? Still didn't learn your lesson?
06/07
MSS: 2.29
W/S: 1.15
07/08
MSS: 2.12
W/S: 1.16
08/09
MSS: 2.47
W/S: 1.06
09/10
MSS: 2.27
W/S: 1.06
10/11
MSS: 2.81
W/S: 1.00
Australia Approves the Use of Drones by Sea Shepherd
Antarctica is No Longer a Drone-free Zone
From: Policy Coordination Branch. Australian Antarctic Division. Territories, Environment and Treaties Section Australian Antarctic Division. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 (?the Act?)
Notice of Variation to determination under paragraph 12N(2)
I refer to the additional Preliminary Assessment of Environmental Impacts submitted in relation to the proposed activity to be conducted, namely the conduct of Operation Divine Wind by Sea Shepherd Australia Pty Ltd including the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
In accordance with section 12N(2) of the Act, the delegate has considered the additional information and has determined that the activity is likely to have no more than a negligible impact on the environment. Accordingly, the authorization issued under section 12F of the Act, subject to your compliance with the conditions set out in the attached Determination and Authorization, has been varied to include the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as proposed.
If it is proposed to further change the activity, or the activity changes, sub-section 12D(2) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 requires that the activity again be reassessed. Note that a change refers to any variations to the program?s duration, location, frequency, equipment used, physical consequences, environmental impacts and their risk, or ability to remediate or monitor impacts etc.
Subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person or persons whose interests are affected by this decision may, within 28 days, make an application in writing to the Antarctic Division of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for the reasons for the decision. An application for independent review of the decision may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, on payment of the relevant fee, by or on behalf of the person or persons whose interests are affected, either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration if reasons for the decision are not sought.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson 'arrested in Germany'
The founder of US-based anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, has been arrested in Germany, the group says.
In a statement, it said Mr Watson was detained in Frankfurt and now faces extradition to Costa Rica.
It quotes German police as saying the arrest relates to a confrontation over shark finning in 2002.
Sea Shepherd is a controversial direct action group best known for disrupting Japan's annual whale hunt.
In the past there have been collisions between its vessels and the whaling fleet, and its activists have also boarded Japanese vessels.
Mr Watson tweeted late on Sunday: "I am currently being held in Frankfurt on charges from Costa Rica. Court appearance in the morning."
Attempted murder claim
The German warrant related to an "alleged violation of ships traffic" which took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002, the group said, when it "encountered an illegal shark finning operation" - referring to the practice of catching sharks, slicing off their valuable fins and returning the shark to the water where it will usually die.
On order of the Guatemalan authorities, the group says, it instructed the crew of the Costa Rican vessel in question, the Varadero, to head back to port to be prosecuted.
"While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew," the statement claims.
"The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherd of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy.
"To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings."
Media cite Costa Rican reports as saying Mr Watson also faces an outstanding warrant for attempted murder stemming from the same incident.
According to Sea Shepherd, Mr Watson is being assisted in jail by European deputies Daniel Cohn Bendit and Jose Bove.
"Our hope is that these two honourable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further," Sea Shepherd says.
Man, this season sucked. The Japanese whalers are getting smarter in dodging SS....which makes for a boring show.