The whining Bethune

July 13th, 2010 at 12:00 pm by David Farrar

Before I deal to the latest whines from Bethune, first I’ll share this document which a reader sent to me.

SS Application Ady Gil

Note Paragraph 11 which states:

11. The Ady Gill must not interfere with vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet i n ways that may entail risk of collision or other consequenc that might result in marine pollution and with it risk of more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, as well as risk to human safety

This was in the official Ministerial notification to Sea Shepherd.

Two letters from Murray McCully also worth reading – Bethune letter McCully 4 Dec 2009 and Bethune letter McCully 18 Dec 2009.

We all know what happened of course – there was a collision – which is exactly what Sea Shepherd wanted. They have a long history of collisions, and we now have it confirmed that they have no problems lying to further their cause.

But the Herald also reports a statement from the PM in response to Bethune’s whining:

At a press conference today, he said Foreign Minister Murray McCully had instantly sided with the Japanese, saying he should have known what he was getting himself in for by boarding the vessel. …

Mr Bethune should remember that he got himself into the situation, Mr Key said.

“He had a letter that said ‘I do not want to be taken off the boat under any circumstances and I do want to be taken to Japan’ and he was.

And further to this, Paul Watson is quoted as saying:

“I think what the Japanese have on their hands is a hot potato and they’re going to want to get rid of it, because this is going to make Pete Bethune a national hero in Australia and New Zealand and a hero for conservationists worldwide,” he added.

Watson also mentioned that Bethune is fully prepared to engage the Japanese court system and state his case that what is happening in the Southern Ocean is wrong. “I’m prepared to go all the way, I’m prepared to do whatever time it takes,” said Bethune.

So McCully was absolutely right that Bethune knew exactly what would happen, when he boarded – he wanted it to happen. He is whining about someone telling the truth – a foreign concept it seems.

And as further proof, we have this story from after when he boarded but before he was arrested:

“Sea Shepherd anticipates that the Japanese will hold Captain Bethune as prisoner onboard the Shonan Maru 2,” the group’s statement added.

Personally I think Bethune should be sent a bill for the cost of all the consular assistance he got.

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38 Responses to “The whining Bethune”

  1. Nefarious (533) Says:

    Personally I think the fucker should be taken back to the co-ordinates where he boarded the Shonan Maru 2, dropped in a dinghy and told “NZ is that way, now fuck off.”

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  2. Manolo (9,944) Says:

    I believe Bethune should be deprived of oxygen by giving him no publicity whatsoever.
    Terrorists seek public attention at all costs. The eco-terrorist Greenie Bethune is no different.

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  3. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    So much for Pete Bethune being a “war hero”. The only war he was fighting was one that he started himself, in violation of the conditions he agreed to with MFAT.

    He made his bed; he’s had to lie in it, and now he has to live with the consequences of his actions, which are now being exposed for what they really were – a publicity stunt, which you and I subsidised. I hope that someone in the MSM has the guts to run this information.

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  4. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    @ Manolo – I have mixed feelings. I’ve made a decision to run no more Bethune stories on Keeping Stock, and I see that Clint Heine has done the same. I’m still commenting here and on other blogs though. I agree that cutting off one source of Bethune’s lust for publicity will be helpful.

    But that leads to another dilemma. If no-one challenges the fawning media stories about Bethune, he will win the battle for public approval, in the absence of any negative comment. That’s an outcome which none of us want.

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  5. Lance (1,946) Says:

    I think the Japanese are lying shits that behave in an arrogant in-yer-face manner and make a mockery of Whaling justification. I think they were pissed off with Sea Sheppard and manufactured an incident.
    BUT
    What a bloody fool Bethune is. He went onto a Japanese ship and then expected the NZ govt to demand not only his release but an admission from the Japanese they were at fault.
    Duhhhhhhhhhhh

    As it is I am sure a lot of strings were subtly pulled to stop this dickhead becoming a martyr. That ungrateful and ignorant tirade was a perfect image self destruction.
    This clown is so yesterday’s news.

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  6. mattyroo (831) Says:

    Considering this:

    You plan “to non~violently interfere” with Japanese whaling operations. No description is provided in your IEE of the nature of this non-violent interference, While you refer to the MAR POL and SOLAS Conventions, there IS no mention of other relevant international instruments such as the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which stipulate requirements to be observed by all vessels navigating on the high seas to avoid collisions, and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, under which it is an offence to intentionally cause damage to ships.

    My concern, particularly in light of previous incidents between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessels and Japanese whaling vessels, is that the Ady Gil may well engage in activities which could endanger human life and the Antarctic environment.

    Why is Bethune not being prosecuted here or under IMO law?

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  7. Poliwatch (331) Says:

    Two questions

    Was a post=expedition report filed by 1st June?

    Does the taking of Bethune back to Japan constitute an appropriate means for the removal of waste and sewerage from the Antarctic?

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  8. Thomas the Unbeliever (140) Says:

    Bethune claims that the NZ Government failed its obligations to him – without really specifying what more they could have done. Surprisingly the media has allowed him to remain silent on the fact that his wife (and mother of his children) also ditched him at the same time. The only people who are consiently supporting Bethune are the media who give oxygen to feed his rantings. Everyone else: including erstwhile friends, family and fellow protestors, seem united in their rejection of him. Perhaps we should all accept the verdict of those close to him and collectively resolve to join them in ignoring him.

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  9. tknorriss (323) Says:

    Shame on you all. Do you not realise you are all mere mortals daring to lay blame at the feet of a supreme God.

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  10. Augustus (10) Says:

    One of the charges against Bethune was “interfering with a commercial activity”. There I thought japanese whaling was “scientific”. Where’s the liar here?

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  11. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    @ Augustus – Science is big business; just look at climate science!

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  12. Yvette (2,419) Says:

    “11. The Ady Gill must not interfere with vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet in ways that may entail risk of collision or other consequence that might result in marine pollution and with it risk of more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment, as well as risk to human safety.”

    The Ady Gill was bought within distance to the Japanese fleet such as there was a collision despite ’11′ above specifically forbidding this, as do the subsequent letters to Bethune via Fortune Manning Law partnership.
    What consequences will Steve Roest and Bethune now face under the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act.?

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  13. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Bethune should stop his own wailing.

    He looks more and more like a petulant attention seeker.

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  14. kowtow (4,448) Says:

    Bethune broke one of the most fundamental and basic rules of the sea ;avoid collision.

    The fact our MSM dont put his recklessness to him and pose him as a “hero/activist” is appalling.

    It fits the NZ MSM’s image of itself tho’ and that’s why it’s pushed.

    Same with so many similar issues; we stand up to America
    we are anti nuclear………….how often is the image of Lange at the 2 bit debate portrayed?

    We saved S Africa from the evil racist Boer with the opposition to the tour. It’s true ,God, sorry Nelson Mandela, said so. We are constantly bombarded with images of the lefty anti rugby rioters. This is us ,we make a huge difference on the world stage!
    Our race relations are great(not like the Aussies or Yanks) Maybe …..
    Anzac Day’s another good one,how we were better than every one else. No context,no big picture ,dumb Brits dropped us in the shit and the Turks actually are nice fellows

    Did you know the Maori Battalion won WW2 on it’s own? TVNZ would have you think so etc etc etc
    It’s not news it’s propaganda.

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  15. ben (2,366) Says:

    Pleasing to see so many see through the Bethune’s bs, even those who have sympathy with his cause. What gall he has to be warned by the government ahead of time not to collide or put himself in danger, do just that, and then complain when the NZ government doesn’t jeopardise diplomatic relations with Japan to save him. What a selfish, dishonest and unlikeable fellow.

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  16. ben (2,366) Says:

    Since his wife seems right behind him again, are we to assume that news she is leaving him was also a lie?

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  17. Murray (8,832) Says:

    Pete Bethune is a national hero? With three people showing up to see him off the plane, I don’t think so Tim.

    The only people he has unified behind a cause are the Japanese behind whaling. The fucker is a menace to whales and anti-whaling. As are his lying assed cohorts at Sea Shepard.

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  18. Yvette (2,419) Says:

    “11. The Ady Gil must not interfere with vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet in ways that may entail risk of collision …”

    “Notes:
    1. All activities must be conducted in accordance with the approved IEE, and it is an offence not to do so.”

    It is indisputable from viewing the videos of the collision that the Ady Gil sat there allowing water from the Japanese security ship to play over it. Bethune had obviously allowed his vessel to be within range of a collision, or “entail risk of a collision”.

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  19. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    On the basis of what DPF has disclosed here, it will be interesting to see whether Maritime Safety NZ find that Bethune was negiligent in the collision with the Shonan Maru No 2, given his agreement with MFAT not to interfere with Jaoanese vessels. I wonder what Maritime Safety will make of the throwing of buteric acid bombs, the fouling of propellors and the possession of a bow and arrow, and whether they will find those things constitute interference.

    Bethune may yet regret the opening of this particular can of worms.

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  20. Murray (8,832) Says:

    Pull the masters certificate and ground the bugger.

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  21. Fletch (4,316) Says:

    Pete Buffoon, as I said yesterday.

    Having said that, I think DPF’s title for this story ‘The Whining Bethune’ might be a better name for the new Greenpeace ship than Rainbow Warrior III.

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  22. adamsmith1922 (803) Says:

    Until I looked at this, I had, like my good friend Inventory2, taken the decision not to run any more posts on Bethune. The nature of his recent statements and those of Sea Shepherd are leading to a possible rethink.

    He sought martyrdom, having failed to achieve it he now berates the government for failing to support him. The government lives in the real world where people are required to obey laws. The government, ‘much as it might wish to in certain circumstances’ cannot go to a foreign government and say our guy broke your law, but he is a Kiwi ‘war hero’ so give him back to us. Bethune comes off as a whining poseur, no doubt we shall now have to put up with him on Campbell Dead, and with Sainsbury on Far Away. Perhaps we should task Paul Henry with sorting Bethune out.

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  23. kujirakira (2) Says:

    “One of the charges against Bethune was “interfering with a commercial activity”. There I thought japanese whaling was “scientific”. Where’s the liar here?”

    The liar is whoever translated that for you. Probably the Australian or New Zealand press, who have a habit of making conveniently inaccurate translations — seemingly on purpose with an agenda. Such as the protesters that were, allegedly, calling for Bethune to be killed as reported in some press down there. It seems they know people aren’t intelligent enough to check their sources before spouting off — so why should they when none of you will hold their feet to the fire for such juvenile “mistakes”?
    You guys should take anything that comes out of a Murdoch-financed “news” organization with a massive grain of salt.

    The law you’re referring to has nothing to do with commerce. You could be obstructing the equivalent of girl scouts or a fund-raising drive to renovate a temple or build a christian church and you’d fall under that law.

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  24. Steve (3,648) Says:

    Give me back my flag. You pathetic piece of shit Bethune.
    Go tell your mummy she wants you

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  25. chung wah(1) Says:

    Pete bethune is a man who stands up for his beliefs right or wrong.
    For that i applaud him.
    As for the drunk mccully and the pathetic kowtowing key what a pair of gutless wonders.

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  26. Caleb (463) Says:

    can the public lay a complaint that he be charged under the law?

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  27. Inventory2 (8,809) Says:

    I think Chung Wah might be a Green voter …..

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  28. krazykiwi (9,188) Says:

    Applaud him from the comfort of your keyboard do you chung wah? You brave soul. Were you one of the three who showed up to welcome him back to NZ?

    As for standing up for ‘beliefs right or wrong’ do you know how abjectly stupid that statement is? Let me tell you a little story. Along time ago, in a place called Germany there was this chap with a little moustache and a big belief…

    Oh, and chung wah… welcome to KB :)

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  29. fatman43us (165) Says:

    Chung Wah needs to leave the green stuff in the tin or not inhale. It is affecting his good nature.

    Bethune is a petulant fool. The stipulations in the agreement above should be enforced on him now. The whole Green thing is a menace to simple good living people. It needs burying.

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  30. Puzzled in Ekatahuna (298) Says:

    “can the public lay a complaint that he be charged under the law?”

    You can email the Minister and ask, considering the Notes above [1. All activities must be conducted in accordance with the approved IEE, and it is an offence no to do so] and since the Ady Gill was within the water jets of the security vessel before it lurched starboard or not, and therefore at “risk of collision”, and that activists threw buteric acid and were in possession of the bow and arrows “to interfere”, what repercussions will now result from their breaching the conditions of the Notification 1185?
    And what implications will this have for any future applications under Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act from Company/Organisation ‘Sea Shepherd Conservation Society?

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  31. Hurf Durf (2,860) Says:

    Pete bethune is a man who stands up for his beliefs right or wrong.

    So did Pinochet when he overthrew that Allende fuckwit. Guess that means we can immortalise him as a hero now then, doesn’t it?

    Oh wait.

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  32. Johnboy (10,749) Says:

    “Personally I think Bethune should be sent a bill for the cost of all the consular assistance he got.”

    Personally I think the strange looking weirdo should be sent back to Japan to explain his latest about face in a Japanese court.

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  33. reid (13,566) Says:

    I gave my opinion on a previous thread but one thing I forgot to mention:

    The man deliberately put other’s lives at risk since in the video at least two other people were on board when it happened.

    It’s one thing to risk your own life, quite another to risk others.

    Wonder what the law says about that.

    Unfortunately, the govt has no appetite for prosecuting a matyr’s trial and who can blame them, but wouldn’t it be interesting if one of those other crew were so inclined to bring a case in the future. Wonder what Petey would do then.

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  34. V (572) Says:

    My concern is what happens if in the future Sea Shepard kills/maims a Japanese crew-member, or succeeds in sinking a ship?
    Will they run the F16′s down there and put Sea Shepard to the bottom of the ocean in the dead of night?

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  35. david@tokyo (249) Says:

    Bethune should also be billed for the waste of Japanese tax payer resources he insisted on sucking up.

    And what doesn’t this guy understand about being anti-whaling not being a justification for criminal acts? Does he really think the Japanese law book would have special exemptions in it for anti-whalers?

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  36. david@tokyo (249) Says:

    Augustus (2) said at July 13th, 2010 at 12:59 pm:

    “One of the charges against Bethune was “interfering with a commercial activity”. ”

    That’s an English translation of the Japanese language name of the charge that presumably a translator with a bias came up with.

    The Japanese word is “gyomu” meaning “business” in the general sense. For example, any non-commercial activities for the public good also can be categorized as “business” under this particular law.

    It’s just common sense. Of course it is illegal to obstruct and interfere with the business of others. Bethune may believe that this business is “illegal”, but that’s nothing more than his belief, and certainly not one that the Japanese legal system sympathises with.

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  37. WebWrat (516) Says:

    I take it that Buffoon would approve if some whacko from PETA jumped into a Landcruiser and rammed a Frews truck taking a load of lambs to the works.

    If I was crew on his boat, I would string him up by the balls for endangering my life.

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  38. Galoise(1) Says:

    Quick question to those who have posted in this blog:

    How many of you have watched every video from this crash (both Sea Shepherd and Shonan Maru 2 footage)?

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