Bethune gives emotional statement at trial

16 Jun 2010 07:20p.m.

Erik wrote:

Damos, The idiocy and downright IGNORANCE of your statements makes me wonder if there is an oxygen shortage in your vicinity. Antarctica is international property as per the Antarctic Treaty System, The waters outside of Aus and NZ territorial waters and off ALL of Antarctica are, again, INTERNATIONAL. Shall I spell out what IN TER NATION AL means? Your assumption that you can tell anyone you feel like where they can or cannot gooutside your own countries waters is ARROGANT beyond belief. You seem to think you and those that share your views are "in charge". How does it feel to be a stupid idiot? Your PM has an idea of reality, though, taking a country to a world court, where the world organizations that has been placed as the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) over whaling (the IWC)No court is going to rule against the authorizing agency if it's members are following the AHJ's policies and procedures. Just a political grandstanding ploy that will take a decade to play out to its inevitable conclusion. Whaling in accordance with the AHJ rules is legitimate and legal. You can make a stand though, go out and run a Japanese tourist off the road when you see them. Then you'll be EXACTLY the same as the incompetents that make up the sscs. Just another violent POS that thinks they get to call the shots.

13 Jun 2010 05:10p.m.

micchi7 wrote:

The terrorist organization SS insists that harm same as orange juice has butyric acid. (= it is not harm). New Zealander engineer believed it. Is it true? None of the Japanese engineers believes it. New Zealander engineeris,are you loopy? All of New Zealander,please tell Japanese how can a let butter decay? Butter is salting product,isn't it?

12 Jun 2010 04:30p.m.

damos wrote:

Japan has no territory in the Southern hemisphere. Japan lies when saying their whaling is for research purposes. This arrogant japanese stance is the same arrogance used when japan ivaded China and then assumed the right to invade the rest of the Asia Pacific region. Mr Bethune has got balls to stand up and be counted in attempting to stop global destruction. Japan is globally destructive, it is a major polluter of the oceans and the air. The spineless members of our society accept this behaviour because Japan has money, in our society having money allows breaches of decency.Our spineless P.M. is ruled by money and that is why he says nothing that might impact upon his income or the income of his ilk.

11 Jun 2010 10:02p.m.

jonmillan wrote:

Richard very true to what you have written,The Japanese were not or have not fished in our territorial waters,but try and tell some of these drug headed brained washed idiots who talk a lot of crap on here.I would rather have twenty japanese friends to one idiot on here.Anti Japanese but bet they drive japanese cars watch japanese made tvs use japanese cameras,the list can go on and on.Leslie get your facts right the Japanese were in the area well before Bethune got there?so who was the attacker,who put their boat in a collision manner?who came off second best,The pursuer was Bethune who went after the Japanese ship.

11 Jun 2010 06:21p.m.

Richard wrote:

I hope people do realize that the entire 'illegal whaling' argument is completely bogus. The popular believe is that 'My God! Those cheeky Japanese are fishing in our backyard! Send navy now!!' A nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (which is not even territorial water which only extends up to less than 25km) which they are entitled to fish or use other natural resources, only extends to the maximum of 370km. It does not stretch all its way to Antarctica! The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is solely created by International Whaling Commission (IWC). It is not binded by any international treaties. In another words, this sanctuary has no legal power, and IWC has no way of actually enforcing its rules and membership is purely voluntary. Any nation can quit anytime to do whatever they want if they desire. We have no rights of telling other countries what they can or cannot do. Lucky for us our government is doing a good job NOT to intervene regarding this matter. In a way Pete Bethune is so brainwashed by Paul Watson to the point that i actually feel sorry for him. I am sure he is an adventurous guy and proud of what he is doing but his reckless behavior is borderline immaturity. One must wonder if he has learned from the mistake in the accident where Earthrace (later renamed Ady Gil) under his command collided with a fishing boat in Guatemala leaving two injured and one killed. Whatever the outcome of the trial is, I hope it will remind him that endangering other vessels at high sea is reckless and illegal. You don't point laser, throw chemical bottles, shoot arrows at a car or an airplane, what makes him think it is okay to do it to ships? The REAL victim is his family though. I mean, what kind of man leave his wife and kids 750K in debt just because he wants to live in his sailing adventure dreams?

11 Jun 2010 05:28p.m.

Frank wrote:

'Leslie' - don't get sucked in - he is a violent attention seeking moron. He has a history of these behaviors - read a bit more about him and stop being naive.

11 Jun 2010 05:09p.m.

johnmillao wrote:

Leslie get a brain,Japanese have the right too fish in the teritorial waters,soon people are going to say dont come here you are taking too much of our timber,too much of our news print etc etc.Are you one of the ones who goes out into the ocean to see the whales??What about our own country it was running wild with deer and pigs,until they got greedy and just about shot them out,probably that was little bit before you and katrina time.Do you ever go and buy soap powder,soap bars etc as most of it is made from tallow.Also what about the dolphins that get killed in pair netting by our own trawlers ,nothing said.

11 Jun 2010 04:38p.m.

Jim wrote:

Leslie
The Japanese are not poachers and there is no Govt in the World who could call International waters a sanctuary.
katrina
Very emotive but lacks consistency. If you were consistent then you would consider the following:
1 shark is murdered (not for food in most cases) every 3 seconds, 20 every minute, 1,200 every hour, 28,800 every day, approx 10 and a half million every year.
Where is the campaign to save the seas mightiest predator? Nothing but emotional hypocrisy!!!

11 Jun 2010 04:33p.m.

Its da truth wrote:

What a Kiwi hero. A man who stands up for the plight of innocent creatures, being killed ILLEGALLY for food by a few greedy Japanese who can't drag themselves into the 21st century. .
Hideous Toyotomi, you seem the fool if you delight in others misfortune. I and many others thank goodness that there are still some people with principles who act despite great risk to their person. Kia kaha Pete!

11 Jun 2010 03:54p.m.

karl wrote:

This case will be dismissed. First time offenders in Japan will be set free eventually. A top Judge in Tokyo confirmed this with me last week...I was very happy to hear that for Mr Bethune!