From the time NAUTICAL LOG was first published we have always taken a highly negative position against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). This is due not to their gallant efforts to protect whales but the tactics used - violent acts of piracy which endanger both their own and other seafarers lives.
During 2012 the pendulum of opinion and finally the Law caught up with their leader whom we have usually referred to as "Wats-his-name" he is of course one Paul Watson. During 2012 this individual was arrested on outstanding warrants and incarcerated in Germany. After a period of time he was released on bail, which is an honour system, with the understanding that he would remain in Germany. However having no personal honour or respect for the Law since he has always declared himself above the Law he decamped. Leaving for "parts unknown" and so remains to this day but we understand that in actual fact he is on board one of the SSCS pirate fleet the MS Steve Irwin.
In the interim his resignation as leader of SSCS was required by that Organisation, as an international fugitive with an Interpol www.interpol.int/ "Red Notice" he had nowhere to go without running the risk of being arrested for breaking his German bail. For clarification an Interpol Notice is issued by Interpol to share information between members. There are seven (7) types colour-coded by their function: red, blue, green, yellow, black, orange and purple they are issued in the official languages of Interpol: English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Their activation is the domain of the sovereign member state.
The Red Notice states:
"Requests (provisional) arrest of wanted persons, with a view to extradition. It is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant in use today."
This season NAUTICAL LOG does not have a contact in the SSCS vessels however we do have a correspondent in their shore organisation. That person informs us that while Watson remains in the MS Steve Irwin he is not in Command and the new Master Siddharth Chakravarty is from India. Well now we have not heard of a former Master remaining in the ship after a new Master arrives on board or is appointed from the crew in place. We are also rather sure that Watson has not moved out of the Masters Quarters to a crew cabin. Thus the new Master is in a most unusual position to Command a ship. He is also in considerable trouble under Maritime Law because with Watson remaining on board as an international fugitive he could well have his Certificate of Competency withdrawn by its country of issue - possibly that is India. He is also subject to arrest for harbouring that international fugitive. We are quite sure also that India, much bent on standards and raising its international status, is not at all pleased to have one of its nationals employed in this manner and position.
Also this season it is very noticeable that there is little or no word about the SSCS anti-whaling "Operation Zero Tolerance" since the demise of Watson. The usual flamboyant bombastic statements are no longer - thankfully - published and really there is no news about the 2013 Southern Sanctuary Whaling Season whatsoever. NAUTICAL LOG may not have much to say about it either, which may be a relief to many of you !!
Good Watch.
14 comments:
For example, a red notice does not make Paul Watson a fugitive. It means I may be questioned and possibly detained for extradition should Paul Watson enter an Interpol nation BUT there is no active hunt for him so your understanding of the situation is in error.
It is unfortunate that many comments from SSCS supporters are either "anonymous" or contain inappropriate language. Thus the Administrator deletes them (as just occured this morning). This means we do not get an exchange of opinions which with a well thought out argument might even cause a change of heart. It seems that SSCS attracts this type of commenter or the commenter is attracted to SSCS. Several former supporters and activists are currently sueing SSCS and should their cases ever come to court could be quite interesting.
Good Watch
" Several former supporters and activists are currently sueing SSCS and should their cases ever come to court could be quite interesting."
May I ask who you referring to, as to who is sueing SSCS, just for argument sake, and why do you think they are sueing SSCS.?
SSCS4EVER:
Do you actually know what SSCS is and whom you are commenting about?
The following persons are suing the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS):
Pete Bethune, former boat captain
Ady Gil, former financial supporter
Details may be found in various Google sites and you may get fully up to speed.
Good Watch.
SSCS4EVER:
The Ady Gil suit was filed in January 2013 in L.A. County Superior Court.
The Pete Bethune suit was active during 2012.
Hope this enhances your "learning curve".
Good Watch.
Here is a comment from a true SSCS supporter, in regards to this post which we have been discussing in regards to pathos, inaccuracies, tone, use of language and misleading statements.
Enjoy!
***Paul Watson***
This guy is just another self righteous frustrated glorified sea going truck driver. He spent his entire life peddling crap across the oceans for his corporate masters. He has no idea what a real sea captain does. All his life he has lived in fear of regulations as he steered his ships along safe shipping routes, never venturing into remote and hostile waters. He says he has no respect for me. Well, I view that as a compliment. His respect is not worth a modicum of worth to me. The man is so insecure that he deletes any comment that disagrees with his namby pamby opinions. He probably has nightmares of pirates and brigands storming his vessel or mermaids teasing him to forget his over valued virtue. This is a man who spent his life in fear of storms and groundings. My newest volunteer recruit deckhand has more courage in her little finger than this wimpy little excuse for a seafaring man.
* Paul Watson *
I am a Sea Shepherd supporter and my name is Mark Lawless. I have been a supporter for nearly 5 years. Before that I worked on Tugs and cruise ships and have spent my life on or around the sea. I come from a family of Royal Navy and Merchant Navy Sailors. Captain Paul Watson is a good and honourable man, who is not afraid to stand up for what is good and right. Our Oceans are being decimated at an alarming rate (and the Japanese Whaling fleet is poaching whales unlawfully in an International Whale Sanctuary by the way) and SSCS is the only organisation actively doing something about that. History will hold this man aloft as a saviour of our time. IF we can save our oceans in time that is. I suggest a bit more support and respect for our Oceans, which have provided your good self and all other seafarers with your livelihoods for all these years, wouldn't go amiss.
The fact that Paul Watson is despised by so many people is a sad indictment of the times we live in. It's difficult to see how anyone individual could have done more to protect the lives of defenceless animals over the last 40 years.
Leaving Germany was a necessary strategic move to outmanoeuvre a politically motivated extradition warrant which would ultimately have ended with him ending up in a Japanese prison. A bogus and shameful conspiracy between the governments of Japan and Costa Rica, which the German government, sadly, could not see through.
People sue people all the time. The fact than someone is being sued does not prove anything. There will always be a few malcontents in any organisation. The exception does not prove the rule. This world desperately needs more people like Paul Watson, and less of the types who show fawning deference to the very systems which have made this planet such an ecological disaster zone.
Brendan
We were delighted to publish this "Anonymous" comment, along with the Mark Lawless comment, as it was signed Brendan. The opinions are well expressed and raise good points well worth considering.
Good Watch.
"The man is so insecure that he deletes any comment that disagrees with his namby pamby opinions."
Paul was given control of a Whale Wars page on Facebook and immediately banned anyone who might post a comment that disagreed with his namby pamby opinions. Now Paul only interacts in a private Facebook group where no one would dare disagree with his namby pamby opinions. By his own logic, Paul must be extremely insecure!
Sea Shepherd ships are registered as yachts to avoid those pesky official requirements.
gCaptain had an interesting discussion about Paul's credentials.
http://gcaptain.com/whos-legit-captain/
"The man is so insecure that he deletes any comment that disagrees with his namby pamby opinions."
This has got to be the funniest thing Paul has ever said. Anytime he is in a Facebook group that he controls, anyone that doesn't lick his feet is tossed to the curb. No exceptions. For someone so secure in his life long conning of gulible people, he sure has a funny way of showing it. Hiding in closed groups of butt kissers, he sure has the nerve to criticize others and their blogs.
Mike.
Once again we published this "Anonymous" because it was signed by Mike. Great bunch of comments to this Post. Our SSCS contact tells us that people (butt kissers?) are assigned to comment abusively to negative Posts. Wonder if the new leader of SSCS pirate group will continue this practice - should be fun to see what happens.
Good Watch
Glad to see you back. I've missed your comments and take on all things maritime. Especially the seamanship award "won" by the capt and crew of the Costa Concordia. Absolutely unbelievable. And your concerns for the captives of the Somalia pirates does not escape my thoughts.
I've followed SSCS for several years off and on and I enjoy your updates on their activities. I've come to count on your column to keep me informed of the nature of quest to save the whales, and whatever else they are "saving." However......
It is quite visible Watson, unintentionably, has figured out how to rub you the wrong way. Boy, you sure like going off on him. Granted, he gives you good reason, I agree. But I think you've elevated him to a stature he doesn't deserve. He's not a pirate. A vandal, a houligan, a troublemaker, and person who relishes in placing stary eyed neophites into harms way is highly irresponsible and boarders on the criminal. But what's his biggest weapon? Ropes to through into propellers, and stink bombs. If he were a real pirate he'd be throwing RPG's and Stinger missiles. Not stink bombs! If anything, he gives real pirates a bad name.
I still enjoy your column all the same.
senja66@aol.com
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