Sea Shepherd E-News: Op Divine Wind commences 9DEZ11

SEA SHEPHERD updates on Operation Divine Wind, the visa situation with the Australian government and U.S. helicopter pilot Chris Aultman, the japanese whaling fleet and more....

The whale wars are upon us! The illegal Japanese whaling fleet has left port bound for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We will be there to greet them when they arrive in just a few short weeks. Operation Divine Wind is set to be our most successful campaign to date! We are pulling out all the stops and this year we intend to end whaling in the Southern Ocean - permanently. We are going up against a global superpower and your help is vital to our success. You can take part in the defense of whales and other marine wildlife by supporting our mission today. Op Divine Wind Q&A with Captain Watson Wondering about Operation Divine Wind? Maybe you'd like to know how we're going to handle an angrier and better-financed whaling fleet this year? Or which crewmembers will rejoin the whale wars this season? With this special Q&A from Captain Watson, you can get answers to these questions and more! Rally for the Sharks of Western Australia As a keystone species, sharks play a critically important role in the health of our oceans. These ancient creatures should be protected and respected, yet they are feared and massacred by billions of people due to ignorance and greed. The Western Australia government recently gave the green light for a shark cull targeted at a great white that killed an American man in the waters of Rottnest Island on Oct 22. In response to great pressure from Sea Shepherd and its supporters, the government has made a wise decision. (more) Aussie Government Attempted to Sabotage Operation Divine Wind Australian citizens are one of the largest supporter bases for Sea Shepherd, but support from the government of Australia is a different story. With no reason given, our helicopter pilot, Chris Aultman, was denied a visa to enter Australia and join Operation Divine Wind. Get the details on the obstacle we had to overcome and the end result for the whales. Sea Shepherd Outreach and Education Center We are pleased to announce the opening of the Sea Shepherd Outreach and Educational Center on San Juan Island, Washington, USA, home of our International Headquarters! The center features archived materials that showcase our history of defending ocean wildlife worldwide, official Sea Shepherd merchandise for sale. Stop in for a visit when you are in the San Juans! New! Jolly Roger Signet Ring As our crew departs for Operation Divine Wind, show your support for our mission to protect ocean wildlife with our Jolly Roger Signet Ring. Custom designed for Sea Shepherd, this ring features our Jolly Roger logo and is available in a Men’s or Women’s style. Merchandise sales in all four of our global e-Stores help fund our campaigns, so visit our e-Stores today! Remember to add a donation at checkout. This is a growing movement. It's the most important movement in the world - that is the movement to save lives - to save the Earth. It means that we have to stand up and say, look we're gonna take matters into our own hands as individuals, as caring, compassionate people. And we're going to fight back, because the one thing that is worth fighting for on this planet Earth is life. Thank-you for your efforts to join us in this noble endeavor. For the oceans, Captain Paul Watson Founder and President Sea Shop Our Jolly Roger Backpack is always ready to go, with loads of room for all your gear. Commentary The Divine Wind That Spared 900 Pilot Whales in the Ferocious Isles by Peter Hammarstedt, First Officer, Bob Barker Campaign Purchase a message on a bottle and send your thoughts directly to the illegal Japanese whalers. Learn more at: www.seashepherd.org/ butterbomb Video Captain Watson discusses Sea Shepherd's role in Taiji, Japan for Operation Infinite Patience and shares what you can do to help. Watch now! Give Events Want to learn more about Sea Shepherd from local volunteers? Come to an official Sea Shepherd event in one of the following areas: Australia • Dec 10 - Brisbane*    *ship tours • Dec 10-11 - Hobart • Dec 11 - Sunshine Coast • Dec 17 - Gold Coast • Dec 17 - Brisbane • Dec 18 - Sunshine Coast France • Dec 10 - Lanester • Dec 10 - Toulouse • Dec 11 - Redon Italy • Dec 10 - Frosinone North America • Dec 11 - New York, NY • Dec 11 - Plymouth Meeting, PA • Dec 15 - Toronto, ON Follow Us

Australian Government Attempts to Sabotage Sea Shepherd’s Campaign to Defend the Whales 5DEZ11

THE Australian government is denying American helicopter pilot Chris Aultman a visa, but is refusing to say why. Anyone with a brain knows why. The Australian government, after pledging right before the last national election to  take a tough stand against whaling in Australian territorial waters and the Southern Ocean, has caved to pressure from the Japanese government and is doing what it can to hinder and delay Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling campaign in the Southern Ocean. Help Chris Altman get his visa, e mail the Australian embassy in Washington, D.C. and demand the government issue him a visa or give a reason for denying one and express your opposition to Japanese whaling. The e mail address is public.affairs@austemb.org . From Sea Shepherd....
On the eve of Sea Shepherd and its three ships' departure to defend whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, the government of Australia has tossed an obstruction in our path designed to delay our plans to confront the Japanese whaling fleet.
Chris Aultman, who has been our helicopter pilot annually since 2005, was today denied his visa to Australia. He was not given a reason for this decision.
Chris Aultman, a United States citizen, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, a professional helicopter pilot, a star of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars series, and a man who does not have a criminal record, has been told he will not be permitted a visa to enter Australia. The Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. would not give him a reason.
It appears that the Japanese ambassador to Australia has been making phone calls.
Australia denied visas for Captain Paul Watson and 1st officer Peter Hammarstedt two years ago. After a two-month delay, 25,000 Australian signatures on a petition, and the assistance of former Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell and Tasmanian Senator Bob Brown, Peter and Paul were finally granted visas. No reasons were given for the denial or the delay.
Now it appears that Australia is seeking to keep the Sea Shepherd helicopter grounded by denying a visa to our veteran helicopter pilot. Australia has also refused to send a government ship to the Southern Ocean to keep the peace in the Australian Antarctic territorial waters and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Captain Paul Watson spoke personally to Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke while attending the Australian Antarctic Expedition’s 100^th year anniversary dinner in Hobart on December 1^st.
Captain Paul Watson: Mr. Burke will you be sending a ship to keep the peace this year?
Tony Burke: That’s not going to happen.
Captain Paul Watson: I think it would be the responsible thing for Australia to do considering the potential threat from the whalers who have indicated they intend to be far more aggressive this season.
Tony Burke: Look, Japan requested that we send a ship to protect their ships from you. If we turned them down it’s only fair that we deny your request also.
Captain Paul Watson: Well, except for one thing. Our ships carry Australian citizens on our crew and we will be in the Australian Antarctic Territorial waters and it is your duty to protect Australian waters and Australian citizens.

Tony Burke: (shakes Captain Watson’s hand) It’s nice to meet you and stay safe down there.
Captain Watson said after that conversation, “I wonder what the Minister will say if the Japanese injure any Australian citizens in Australian waters? I think this is grossly irresponsible of the government to refrain from due diligence in keeping the peace. Australia has stated that Japanese whaling is illegal and they recognize that it is being carried out in waters claimed by Australia. They know that Australian lives will be at risk and yet they refuse to get involved.”
The denial of the visa for Chris Aultman is another indication of the Australian government’s hostility towards Sea Shepherd’s opposition to illegal whaling.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has received overwhelming support from the people of Australia. Unfortunately, the government of Australia does not reflect that support. This is the same government who promised just prior to election that they would take a tough stand against Japanese whaling.