Sea Shepherd unveils its 4th vessel. An actual Japanese Research ship.

[aydin690]

[QUOTE=TestECull;38787209]No, they don't deserve any respect at all. They deserve to be locked up right alongside the illegal whalers they crusade against. I don't give half a flying fuck what their justification is, sinking civilian ships just is not right. It's reckless. They're going to kill innocent sailors that board these ships solely so they can pay for their family's bills. They're eco-terrorists, nothing more. They make it difficult for honest, law-abiding conservationists to be taken seriously. They do more damage than would be done if they didn't do a fucking thing. They have no business on the open ocean and need to be locked up like the criminals they are.

I've got nothing against a group that patrols the ocean and calls in the appropriate authorities when they spot an illegal whaler. That's just fine, such a group would be looking out for the interests of whales without needlessly endangering innocent lives. If this was Sea Shepherd's MO I wouldn't think negatively of them at all. But I do have something against self-righteous assholes that think they're above the law and are entitled to sink ships simply because they can, all while using the "BAWW THINK OF THE WHALES" justification to somehow escape punishment. It's sickening.

Heh.[/QUOTE]

You have no idea what you're talking about, do you? They have not sunk any ships with sailors on them. They have actually made a difference. They pretty much stopped a big portion of the whaling last season.

Also, no authority can stop the japanese whalers because they are using the scientific research loophole.

[OvB]

[QUOTE=TestECull;38787209]No, they don't deserve any respect at all. They deserve to be locked up right alongside the illegal whalers they crusade against. I don't give half a flying fuck what their justification is, sinking civilian ships just is not right. It's reckless. They're going to kill innocent sailors that board these ships solely so they can pay for their family's bills. They're eco-terrorists, nothing more. They make it difficult for honest, law-abiding conservationists to be taken seriously. They do more damage than would be done if they didn't do a fucking thing. They have no business on the open ocean and need to be locked up like the criminals they are.

I've got nothing against a group that patrols the ocean and calls in the appropriate authorities when they spot an illegal whaler. That's just fine, such a group would be looking out for the interests of whales without needlessly endangering innocent lives. If this was Sea Shepherd's MO I wouldn't think negatively of them at all. But I do have something against self-righteous assholes that think they're above the law and are entitled to sink ships simply because they can, all while using the "BAWW THINK OF THE WHALES" justification to somehow escape punishment. It's sickening.

Heh.[/QUOTE]

Sea shepherd tries to get governments involved whenever they can. Problem is, when you have a questionably legal history like sea shepherd does, the governments don't Want to work with you. They nag to the Aussies to send Customs ships every year but Australia declines making they don't want to take sides or show support for the dangerous behaviors. Although their nagging has made the Aussie sue Japan in international court over whaling which will hear sometime next year.

Sea shep has worked alongside the government in the Galapagos for years with much success. Even installing a better ship identification system for the whole island chain. Costa Rica invited them to patrol their waters but quickly turned around and tired to charge them for manslaughter, but dropped the changes after seeing video evidence of no wrongdoing. 10 years later this charges are back on. During the Libyan revolution they patrolled the waters looking for illegal tuna fishermen, while taking tips from legal fishermen and even helping one with first aid.

The problem with sea shepherd is their past. No one wants to deal with them.