sea shepherd sank its own anti-whaling boat for publicity

[Alley01]

Not a huge surprise. I was 100% behind them initially - during the first season. But, seriously they have got to be the worst at actually stopping whaling. Sure, they are great at creating PR stunts like PETA, but not well respected and clearly not saving any whales. I think some non-vegans need to start their own organization with some ex-military guys that mean business and could actually be perceived as a threat, not as a fly buzzing around your head.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Ozgal

We have massive trade deals with Japan

Legal action has been threatened - to end whaling by November 2010

Australia threatens legal action over Japanese whaling | World news | guardian.co.uk

Grandstanding by politicians looking to gain votes from the gullible. Australia has no legitimate claim to the territory, and Japan's whaling is entirely legal (go ask the IWC if you don't believe me).

[ecvMatt]

The article isn't saying they intentionally collided with the whalers, rather, that after the collision they abandoned the broken boat because it would be better publicity to say it sunk, when in actuality, it could have been brought back. They claimed it was taking on water and sinking so they scuttled it when in actuality, they just set it adrift when it could have been brought to an arctic station, and possibly saved, or at least salvaged.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Shankapotomus

If they had the resources they would go about it in a better and safer way.

They are pretty heavily funded with various ships, a helicopter etc etc. Seriously, they must have tens of millions and are basically squandering it by playing "pirate" with an ineptness that makes me wonder if this isn't the naval version of Hogan's Heros?

What they are doing is playing right into the hands of the Japanese which have a VERY strong sense of nationalism and they will play it to their people that they are being oppressed by outsiders blah blah blah.

The best chance to curtail the whaling is to change hearts and minds from within.

Imagine a bunch of India hindus with a problem with US beef consumption so they come over here and sabotage meat packing plants, try to block cows being trucked to the plants etc etc etc. They would get zero sympathy here and we all know it.