It is possible to
feel strongly opposed to Japanese whaling in the Southern
Ocean yet uneasy at some of the actions taken in opposition
to it. The trial of power boat skipper and anti-whaling
activist Pete Bethune in Tokyo focuses on a case in point.
Mr Bethune is charged with trespassing, vandalism, possession
of a knife, obstructing business and assault, having
illegally boarded the Shonan Maru 2 in Antarctic waters in
February this year. He admitted to all but an assault charge
in the opening session of the trial last week.
As is well known, Mr Bethune was in charge of the $3 million
futuristic power boat Ady Gil - a boat which he had built and
put his family's life savings into - when it was involved in
a collision, in January, with Shonan Maru 2.
He and his crew, as part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society's anti-whaling efforts, had been harassing Japanese
whaling ships in the Southern Ocean, attempting to disrupt
and prevent their activities.
He continues to blame the captain of the larger vessel for a
sudden change in course and a direct attempt to ram Ady Gil,
such that a collision became unavoidable.
The exact sequence of events - who did what to whom - remains
masked in confusion amid claim and counterclaim, the only
certainty being there was a collision and, consequently, the
unsalvageable Ady Gil later sank.
If this was a bitter end, as intimated in the Tokyo courtroom
this week, to a dearly held dream, then its progress to that
point had not been without other nightmares. Mr Bethune came
into view with his vision to power a boat, the Earthrace,
around the globe in record time using biofuels.
The first attempt in 2007 was hampered by mechanical hitches
and tragedy when a Guatemalan fisherman was killed and
another seriously injured following a collision off the coast
of Central America.
Mr Bethune and the crew were detained for 11 days before
being cleared of all charges. But the attempt had been
derailed and a further voyage in 2008 was successful in
setting the record.
Late in 2009, the Earthrace reappeared painted black and
renamed Ady Gil under the auspices of the Sea Shepherd group.
Mr Bethune's subsequent collision, followed by his attempt to
affect a "citizen's arrest" aboard the Japanese ship,
garnered priceless worldwide publicity, drawing lasting
attention to Japanese whaling activities.
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