Bob Barker Rammed by Illegal Whaler

At 1209 PM Fremantle, Australia time, the Yushin Maru 3 intentionally rammed the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker, penetrating it's hull and endangering the lives of it’s crew. The collision occurred at 65 degrees 21 South, 67 degrees 58 East, about 180 miles off Cape Darnley in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The Bob Barker had been actively blocking the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship when the collision occurred. Four harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3 and Shonan Maru 2, were circling and making near passes to the stern and bow of the Sea Shepherd vessel. The Bob Barker did not move from its position. At which point, the Yushin Maru 3 intentionally rammed the Bob Barker, creating a 3-foot long 4-inch deep gash in the mid starboard side of the Sea Shepherd vessel above the waterline.

No crew was injured during the collision. The Bob Barker continues to block the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, preventing the transfer of slaughtered whales and effectively shutting down illegal whaling operations.

The incident demonstrates a continued escalation of violence by the illegal whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Said Captain Paul Watson from the bridge of the Steve Irwin, currently en route to join the action, “Because the whalers got away basically scot-free with the outrageous sinking of the Ady Gil, they now apparently think they can do whatever they want and they appear to have no qualms about endangering Sea Shepherd crew. What we really need is for the governments of Australia and New Zealand to step up and start enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who know what the whalers will do next. Australian and New Zealand lives are at risk every day in these waters."

The crew of the Bob Barker noticed that the Yushin Maru 3 stopped moving in the water shortly after the impact, and appeared to be falling behind as the Bob Barker maintained its position on the stern of the Nisshin Maru. It’s possible the Yushin Maru 3 damaged itself in the collision.

The Japanese whalers are far more aggressive this year than in past campaigns.

Facebook | Your Videos: Isoble Lucas condones Sea Shepherd [HQ]

Facebook | Your Videos: Isoble Lucas condones Sea Shepherd [HQ]

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Hampshire Police protecting illegal hunting

Newly released today- video of the totally disgraceful state of affairs on the Isle of Wight as police do nothing to stop illegal interference with a badger sett and contraventions of the Hunting Act. A national scandal is taking place on the Isle of Wight in regards to illegal hunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOEIhH4nZzA&feature=sub

PLEASE CONTACT HAMPSHIRE POLICE AND ASK THEM WHY THEY ARE HELPING TO FACILITATE ILLEGAL ACTS AND EXPLAIN WHY NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN REGARD TO INTERFERENCE WITH THIS BADGER SETT.

postmaster@hampshire.pnn.police.uk


PLEASE ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE CRIME UNIT AND MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE POLICE AND 'WILDLIFE CRIME OFFICER' ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT. ASK FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION.

E MAIL:

ukwildlifecrime@nwcu.pnn.police.uk

(PLEASE ALSO COPY E MAIL TO:)
paw.secretariat@defra.gsi.gov.uk

I met a brave man, risking his life to save the planet

I met a brave man, risking his life to save the planet

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Pirate for the Sea – Barbican Centre, 28 September 2009

Mark Sanders-Barwick, Sea Shepherd UK’s Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, will be introducing the UK’s first screening of the utterly compelling film festival hit "Pirate for the Sea" a biographical film of Captain Paul Watson.

Paul was the youngest founding member of Greenpeace Canada. He organized early campaigns protesting the killing of seals, whales, and dolphins. After leaving Greenpeace he started his own organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, believing in non violent direct action. Paul went on to intervene against illegal fishing and marine habitat destruction issues worldwide, he stopped Canadian seal hunts for ten years, permanently halted sealing in the British Isles, halted the killing of dolphins on Iki Island, Japan, and is most famous for his actions to protect whales in Antarctica. This documentary witnesses his latest campaigns and explores the personal and environmental history of this passionate marine conservationist.

After the documentary, Mark will be taking questions from the audience on Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The performance starts at 20:45
Cinema 2
Barbican Centre
Silk Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Tickets prices are as follows: Standard - £7.50 online (£9.50 full price) / Barbican Members - £6.50 online (£7.50 full price) / Concessions £7.50]

A Pirate for the Sea is rated certificate 15

For more information and to purchase tickets on line visit:

www.barbican.org.uk/film/event-detail.asp?ID=9431

BIG GREEN GATHERING SHUT DOWN - Road Closure Order dated 20th July

When is a Road closure not a road closure?

The injunction to stop the Big Green Gathering cited the fact that the Big Green Gathering could not gain a Road Closure order in time for the event, despite the fact that the Highways Department had told the Big Green Gathering Chair, Brig Oubridge that it would be done. On Tuesday, 28th July, after the Big Green Gathering had been forced to cancel the event, a staff member found the Road Closure Order by a hedge on the Cheddar Road and subsequently another was found still pinned to a gatepost. Other signs appeared to have been taken down and evidence of the silver tape was still in place.

The Big Green Gathering surrendered its licence on the advice of its lawyers because it believed that it was impossible to obtain a road closure order in the time available. It now appears that the order was in place from 20th July 2009. We find it difficult to understand why the Council and the police did not check to ensure that the order had not been made before they issued their intentions to go to court at 6.54 p.m. on Friday, 24th July 2009. The Big Green Gathering on the other hand had no way of contacting the Highways Authority after the offices had closed for the weekend. The Big Green Gathering also finds it strange that no witness statement was received from the Highways Authority in support of the assertion that there was no road closure order in place. A copy of the road closure order appears below.

The Somerset County Council highways department are now saying that this was not a road closure order. "These physical notices are purely for information purposes and are adverts for proposed road closures and temporary speed limits, rather then a copy of a Temporary Traffic Order. They were required as part of the procedure for temporary road closure and restrictions."

The Big Green Gathering organisers recognise the tremendous disappointment this has caused to those who bought tickets, traders and the locals. The Big Green Gathering normally brings in the order of £2million to the local economy and many local businesses are suffering in these times of recession because of the cancellation of the festival. The BGG had already spent over £200,000 on police, security, infrastructure and site wages.


SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL

THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET (BIG GREEN GATHERING 2009)

(TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS) TEMPORARY NOTICE 2009

THE SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL in exercise of its powers under Section 14-16 of the Road Traffic regulation Act 1984 as amended, and of all other enabling powers, hereby makes the following Temporary Notice:-

1. This Notice shall come into operation on Monday 26th July 2009 and will continue in force until Monday 3rd August 2009.

The Following restrictions and prohibitions are made:-

A) To prohibit all traffic from proceeding along Nordrach Lane, from its junction with the B3134 to its junction with Cheddar Road, and Cheddar Road, from its junction with Nordrach Lane to its junction with the B3134

B) Temporary restriction of speed to 40mph on the B3134 from 500 meters South East of the junction with the B3371 in a North Westerly direction for a distance along said length of road of 2500 meters.

C) Temporary Prohibition of Waiting and Stopping of Vehicles on the B3134 from its junction with Old Bristol Road to its junction with Ubley Drove and the B3371 from its junction with the B3134 for a distance of 1250 metres.

These prohibitions are made by reason of the likelihood of danger to the public or of damage to the highway.


S Davidson-Grant

Corporate Director for the Environment

Dated the 20th July 2009

The Sea Shepherd Dragon Boat Challenge

This Sunday, myself and a team from Sea Shepherd UK will be taking part in the Dragon Boat Challenge in Kingston-Upon-Thames.

Please sponsor me to support the vital work of Sea Shepherd UK.