26 January 2013

Sea Shepherd E-News: Operation Zero Tolerance 25JAN13 & Statement from Captain Paul Watson 7JAN13 & Sea Shepherd Ordered By U.S. Appeals Court To Keep 500 Yards Away From Japanese Whalers 18DEZ12

Capt Paul Watson has resigned his leadership positions in Sea Shepherd and as captain of the Steve Irwin as a result of a ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court. This is in response to the case brought against Sea Shepherd by the japanese whaling industry which continues to violate international law with their whaling in the Southern Whale Sanctuary. Below is the statement from Capt Watson on his resignation, an article from HuffPost on the court decision and the latest e mail newsletter from Sea Shepherd on the new leadership of the organization and Operation Zero Tolerance. If you can please make a donation to Sea Shepherd (a 4 star charity per Charity Navigator) to show the japanese whaling industry Sea Shepherd will continue their anti-whaling operations with the support of people around the world.

STATEMENT FROM CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON

January 7, 2013

Statement from Captain Paul Watson

Captain Paul Watson on the bridge of the SSS Steve irwin
Photo: Tim Watters / Sea ShepherdFor the 35 years since I founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society I have strived to act non-violently and within the boundaries of the law.

Sea Shepherd has never been a protest organization nor have we engaged in civil disobedience. We are an anti-poaching organization established to uphold international conservation law. We operate within the guidelines of the United Nations World Charter for Nature that allows for intervention by non-profit non-governmental organizations and individuals to uphold international conservation law.

During Sea Shepherd’s long history we have never caused a single injury to any person. Although we have broken some bureaucratic regulations like Canada’s so called Seal Protection Act, we did so to challenge the validity of these regulations, which were in contradiction to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In all other respects we have always operated within the boundaries of the law, both international and national.

In 1998 Sea Shepherd USA complied with the order by the United States Coast Guard to not approach within a thousand yards of the Makah whaling operation in Washington State.

I myself have never been convicted of a felony crime.

And for this reason, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the United States and myself as a U.S. citizen must comply with the order by the 9^th Circuit court of the United States.

Because I have been personally named in the injunction I have resigned as the President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the United States and as President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia. I have also resigned my position of Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society USA and I will hold no paid position with Sea Shepherd anywhere Sea Shepherd is registered and operates as a non-profit organization in any nation.

I have also stepped down as campaign leader for Operation Zero Tolerance. Former Greens Party leader and former Australian Senator, Bob Brown of Tasmania will now hold this position.

I have also stepped down as Captain of the Steve Irwin. Captain Siddharth Chakravarty of India is now in command of the Steve Irwin. The other three Captains are citizens of Sweden, France and Australia.

As a United States citizen, I will respect and comply with the ruling of the United States 9^th District Court and will not violate the temporary injunction granted to the Institute for Cetacean Research. I will participate as an observer within the boundaries established by the 9^th Circuit Court of the United States.

http://www.seashepherd.org.au/commentary-and-editorials/2013/01/07/statement-from-captain-paul-watson-592

Sea Shepherd Ordered By U.S. Appeals Court To Keep 500 Yards Away From Japanese Whalers

SEATTLE (AP) — A U.S. appeals court ordered American anti-whaling activists to keep 500 yards away from Japanese whaling ships off Antarctica.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which sends vessels every December to disrupt whale killings by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research.

The whalers sued Sea Shepherd last year to prevent the protesters from interfering, but the judge refused to grant the request.

The 9th Circuit ordered Sea Shepherd not to approach any of the Japanese vessels until it can rule on the merits of the whalers' appeal.

Japan's whaling fleet kills up to 1,000 whales a year for research. Whale meat not used for study is sold as food in Japan, which critics say is the real reason for the hunts.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/sea-shepherd-us-appeals-court_n_2323908.html

Dear Craig,

Neptune's Navy is now in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The illegal whalers should arrive any minute and we have zero tolerance for poaching! Our fleet is stronger than ever with four ships, one helicopter, drones and more than 120 volunteer crew from around the world. We are ready to put a stop to the barbaric killing of these magnificient sentient beings forever!

We still need your help to make sure our dedicated volunteers can take direct action on the frontlines to save the great whales. They depend on us for protection, and we depend on you to help us get there.

Operation Zero Tolerance Being Lead by
Sea Shepherd Australia

Founder Captain Paul Watson has stepped down as President of Sea Shepherd U.S. and Australia. With much pride we would like to introduce former Greens Party leader and former Australian Senator Bob Brown who is directing Operation Zero Tolerance along with Director of Sea Shepherd Australia, Jeff Hansen.

Encouraged by the huge worldwide support for this campaign
Sea Shepherd Australia is in a very good position to lead Operation Zero Tolerance in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Find out more!

Paul Watson Granted Original Nation Passport

In a show of solidarity, the First Peoples of Australia have granted Sea Shepherd Founder, Captain Paul Watson, a passport. An Original Nation Passport is an acknowledgement
by the First Australians of the years he has spent looking after the planet and the creatures that call it home.

Accepting the honour, Captain Watson made the following statement: “I am proud beyond measure to receive a passport from the First Australians, an indigenous community that continues to remain unbroken from the connection between the laws of nature and our species..."

Captain Watson is the second high-profile activist to have received the honorary Original Nation Passport. Get the details!

Without your unwavering support we are unable to continue our fight in the Southern Ocean. You are our lifeline! To ensure a successful campaing you can contribute to Operation Zero Tolerance and keep our ships at sea until we run the whalers out of the Southern Ocean once and for all.

I truly appreciate your generosity in helping make this a
zero-kill year!

For the oceans,