Blue Crab Boulevard

Depraved Indifference

The captain of a ship protesting Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters is openly threatening to ram any Japanese ship it catches in whaling operations. This is in brutally cold conditions where anyone who goes into the water would have little chance of survival. But he feels he has a "mandate" to threaten what amounts to premeditated murder.

Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd's ship, said the leading Japanese vessel, the Nisshin Maru, was now outside the hunting area and had not killed any whales in the past 48 hours.

"I think they're running scared really," he told AFP via telephone from on board the ship.

"When we found them originally they were down by the icebergs and as we were moving in they started running and they've been running ever since."

In response to a question, Watson confirmed he would ram the Japanese fleet if his ship came upon them killing whales.

But he added: "It is something we have to do very carefully because it's very remote and rough waters down here."

Australia, which has led international opposition to the hunt, has warned environmentalists against dangerous manoeuvres in the ice-cold conditions due to the difficulty of any rescue operation.

Sorry, pal. That crosses the line into terrorism, not activism. You do not, as you claim, have a "right" to damage their equipment and if you kill someone with your "direct action" you will very likely spend the rest of your days in prison. Or maybe you'll be the one thrown into the water to die of exposure. You might have 15 minutes or so to reflect on your actions before those actions killed you.

World news | Gaius Monday, 14 January , 2008

By TKelso, Monday, 14 January , 2008 @ 9:56 am

I would expect no less from these misanthropes.
By martian, Monday, 14 January , 2008 @ 12:59 pm

I like whales as much as the next guy, but this threat is tantamount to piracy. Does this guy think he’s some latter day Capt. Nemo? The very threat he’s making would could be charged as an assault in most states in the US - guess it’s a good thing (for him) he’s in international waters. If a naval vessel of any nation did what he’s threatening to do it would be considered an act of war. This guy is a notcase pure and simple.
By martian, Monday, 14 January , 2008 @ 1:00 pm

Make that “nutcase”, sorry.
By terrence, Monday, 14 January , 2008 @ 1:09 pm

Paul Watson is a drooling moonbat. He probably DOES think he is “justified” in making these terrorists threats. He is one of those hate-filled psychos who put animals above humans; and he is probably is prepared to murder humans to “save” some other species.
By Mockin'bird, Monday, 14 January , 2008 @ 4:54 pm

Whew!

That is all.