Australian police confiscate Sea Shepherd log book and video footage

[Annces]

Source: The Mercury, Australia

ANNE MATHER

February 21, 2009 12:00am

POLICE boarded the anti-whaling ship Steve Irwin when it arrived in Hobart last night and confiscated the ship's log book and video footage. The film depicts some of the most dramatic whale-killing scenes ever seen, crew on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship said. After violent clashes with Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean, the Steve Irwin was met by Australian Federal Police when it docked in Hobart about 5.30pm. The police, who had search warrants, kept the crew on board as they searched cabins.

Steve Irwin captain Paul Watson said he was not told whether the police action stemmed from a complaint by the Australian Government or from the Japanese. He said the Steve Irwin had never been searched before but he would welcome any charges that led to the crew facing a court. "My position is that if they want to put me on trial for anything connected with this, then I am happy to do it," Capt Watson said. "We are not there protesting, we are down there to stop a blatantly criminal activity, to stop whaling in a whale sanctuary. "These actions have to go to court somewhere, so let's start it here."

Capt Watson said the conservationists had risked their lives during the campaign and were willing to risk their freedom. He said the campaign had ended four days earlier than intended because it was clear the Japanese whalers were "out of control". "They were frustrated, violent and attacking us," he said. "I didn't want to get any of them killed or any of us killed."

The Australian Federal Police could not be contacted by the Mercury last night, though Tasmania Police confirmed federal officers met the ship. The Steve Irwin was involved in its most extreme and dangerous clashes this season, culminating with the activist vessel crashing into the stern of the Yushin Maru 3 on February 7. Capt Watson's crew said they were pelted with scrap metal, blasted with high-powered water canons and attacked with military-grade sonic weapons.




Read more: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/02/21/56935_todays-news.html

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I hope for goodness sake they get their video back. In related news, the EU Parliament wants to make scientific whaling illegal.

[DS1]

1. But they're holding up signs saying "We're examining stomach contents"

Listen, you fucks. The whales are doing fine on their own, you don't need to examine anything on them.

[Coventina]

3. word. n/t

[XemaSab]

2. .

:popcorn:

[Duppers]

4. email the Aussie Feds

https://www.afp.gov.au/email_forms/media.html

Public and international pressure could help.

[Annces]

5. update - police were acting on a formal request from Japan

An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman says officers are conducting preliminary inquiries as a result of a formal referral from the Japanese authorities.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/21/2497623.htm

[Judi Lynn]

6. Update: Leisel Jones encourages Government to lead in anti-whaling campaign

Leisel Jones encourages Government to lead in anti-whaling campaign


By David Barbeler

February 22, 2009 03:58pm

OLYMPIC gold medallist Leisel Jones is urging the Australian Government to speak out about the cruelty of whaling, just two days after the anti-whaling ship Steve Irwin was raided by Australian Federal Police (AFP).

After violent clashes with Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean, the Steve Irwin was met by the AFP when it docked in Hobart early on Friday evening (AEDT) and officers confiscated the ship's log book and video footage of dramatic whale-killing scenes.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown is demanding the Federal Government explain why the AFP raided the ship but a spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the matter was in the hands of the AFP.

Swimming star Jones is the face of a new anti-whaling campaign by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), which has no affiliation with the Sea Shepherd, and believes informing people that whaling is cruel is the key to stopping the suffering.

"WSPA has scientifically-proven evidence there is no humane way to kill a whale, with some whales taking an hour or even more to die," Ms Jones said.

More:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25090305-5005961,00.html

[Lost in CT]

7. Didn't they ram the Japanese whaling ship?

Thats got to break a few laws....