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March 8, 2008 6:56am by David Farrar

Sea Shepherd’s Watson claims Japanese Whalers shot him

The headline says it all.

Hands up if you believe him. I don’t.

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Comment44

International Politics
Japan
mad bastards
Paul Watson
Sea Shepherd
whaling

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Comments (44)

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the deity formerly known as nigel6888

This guy is a nasty piece of work, international piracy is what he is playing at, and now he isn’t getting enough publicity he tries to manufacture another scandal and get another 15 minutes of fame.
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March 8, 2008 7:38am
Sushi Goblin

Shades of Monty Python – the witch burning scene from Holy Grail

“I was turned into a newt!”

(Everyone looks at the peasant)

“Well, I got better”
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March 8, 2008 8:07am
KevOB

If the Sea Shepherd continues its piracy endangering other vessels I would have little sympathy if it got sunk. These are the high seas and the master has rights to protect his ship ans crew.
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March 8, 2008 8:43am
clintheine

I’m sure this latest lie has given the idiot his share of publicity and the usual fools will buy into it without reading the facts.

I’m sure some here will prove their stupidity too…..
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March 8, 2008 8:49am
Danyl Mclauchlan

Since Watson was wearing a bullet proof vest it stands to reason he would have no visible wounds. The burden of proof rests on the whalers to prove they didn’t shoot him.
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March 8, 2008 9:01am
the deity formerly known as nigel6888

so danyl when did you stop beating your wife – i’ve made the allegation, the burden of proof rests with you now!

I am surprised you would run that line of argument

More importantly – why the hell is watson there? why is he wearing a bullet proof vest for god’s sake, what is he trying to provoke? Is he doing green issues any good by being a violent confrontationalist?
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March 8, 2008 9:24am
Redbaiter

“The burden of proof rests on the whalers to prove they didn’t shoot him.”

Why? Because you say so?
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March 8, 2008 9:31am
berend

How extremely lucky he just happened to wear a bullet proof vest…
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March 8, 2008 9:44am
the deity formerly known as nigel6888

yeah berend, maybe he put it on instead of his lifejacket – an easily made mistake at sea…
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March 8, 2008 9:51am
David Farrar

Oh Danyl you troll. He is being sarcastic people.
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March 8, 2008 10:14am
Danyl Mclauchlan

You never let me have any fun.
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March 8, 2008 10:17am
PhilBest

Danyl Mclauchlan –3 Says:

March 8th, 2008 at 9:01 am
“Since Watson was wearing a bullet proof vest it stands to reason he would have no visible wounds. The burden of proof rests on the whalers to prove they didn’t shoot him.”

How the EFFF do you prove you DIDN’T do something to somebody when there is no evidence either way? This is the famous old witchcraft trials principle.
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March 8, 2008 10:17am
PhilBest

Good point, “deity”. These b. stirrers go right out of their way to provoke those they are antagonising, into reaction, in fact, if they could leave them with no option other than violent reaction, they would b. do it. The fact that this a-hole was prepared to the extent of wearing a bullet-proof vest, says it all.
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March 8, 2008 10:20am
Redbaiter

“You never let me have any fun.”

Maybe you should think Danny, why so many people are ready to perceive something that would be ridiculous coming from a rational person as a serious comment from you.
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March 8, 2008 10:22am
Murray

The aliens shot him.

von Danigans razor.

Aim higher next time ET.
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March 8, 2008 10:45am
Alces

If I told them once I told them a thousand times.

“Ahito”, I said ” Use enough gun”.
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March 8, 2008 10:45am
Murray

Ok heres the killer line “”I felt an impact on my chest at one point and didn’t think too much of it at the time and then when I opened up my survival suit – I had a bulletproof vest (on) – and there was a bullet lodged in it,” he told ABC Radio.”

No sorry fraid not. Wearing the best body armour on planet earth a shot WILL put you on your ass and will leave you dazed stunned and bruised. Not oh I just shruged it off and carried on with my assault on a merchant ship on the high seas.

This guy is doing more damage to the anti-whaling cause than the Japanese.
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March 8, 2008 10:53am
Redbaiter

Where’s said bullet. Anyone seen it?
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March 8, 2008 11:01am
Graeme Edgeler

Rb – there was a photo in the paper – see DPF’s link.
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March 8, 2008 11:08am
Alces

Looks like a nicely expanded jacketless “wadcutter”.

A handgun projectile probably.

To expand like that on a vest means lots of energy dissapated quickly.
Didn’t feel it? He’s either a liar or there is a good reason he didn’t feel it.
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March 8, 2008 11:18am
beautox

Surely anybody shooting this guy would be bound to hit his big ugly-looking head. That’s where I would aim.
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March 8, 2008 11:19am
Yvette

Did he save 100 whales again?
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March 8, 2008 11:33am
Redbaiter

Thanks Graeme. Now this bullet needs to be compared by ballistics experts with bullets fired from any weapons that are present on the Sea Shepherd. This incident has Green publicity stunt / deceit written all over it.
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March 8, 2008 11:37am
Murray

Save 100 and get a free tuatara!
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March 8, 2008 12:29pm
Advocatus Diaboli

Paul Watson is cockroach who needs to be strung up by piano wire. If they did shoot at him it’s a pity the bullet didn’t kill him. Anti-whaling loons who boarded the Whale ship earlier this year should have been taken back to Japan to be prosecuted.
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March 8, 2008 12:45pm
Mark

The more those morons are out there the more sympathy I have for the whalers.

This guy and his lefty mates are just damaging the cause.
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March 8, 2008 2:25pm
scrubone

Pretty transparent, but enough to fool those who want to believe.
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March 8, 2008 3:46pm
Steve

This nutbar Watson will one day face the power of the harpoon.
A bullet proof vest will not save the life of an aquaterrorist.
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March 8, 2008 7:02pm
Matty Smith

I despise Sea Shepherd. They’re the worst thing that ever happened to the anti-whaling movement – hysterical idiots with a numb-skulled, short-term solution. All the same, I don’t know whether I think he’s lying, Japan’s government have admitted that they fired what they call ‘warning shots’. I trust Inwood and and the Japanese Government to be sensible and truthful about as much as I trust Watson to be.

You’re attracting the usual level of ‘maturity’ and bloodlust in your comments, DPF. Looking back over what’s being said, it reads like a lynch-party.

“strung up by piano wire”
“Watson will one day face the power of the harpoon”
“anybody shooting this guy would be bound to hit his big ugly-looking head”

Beautiful folks, really sensible diatribe. Ugh.
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March 8, 2008 7:10pm
PaulL

Matty, I think the warning shots was referring to the flash bomb things. The English wasn’t brilliant and I would have thought the reporter might have managed to turn it into something interpretable, I guess that involves thinking skills, and you don’t necessarily learn those in a journalism course.
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March 8, 2008 7:18pm
Alces

I always recommend a reasonably long OE for NZ kiddies.

Otherwise you get to be a Matty.

Careful there pardner, the wind will change then you get to keep the pouting fish face.

Matty doesn’t understand hyperbole or any other vaguely Gonzo techniques used to express derision at socially acceptable arseholes like Sea Shepherd.

This Matty idiot thinks that Advocatus is out buying piano wire or “inciting’ others to do so.
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March 8, 2008 7:51pm
Steve

Matty,
“strung up by piano wire”
“Watson will one day face the power of the harpoon”
“anybody shooting this guy would be bound to hit his big ugly-looking head”

You will of course invite Watson into your home when he is finaly charged.
You will help rehabilitate him.
OMG No way, it must be a Govt problem.
Back into the woodwork, where you came from CYAH
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March 8, 2008 8:21pm
Alces

You’ve had time to reply Matty.

I’m guessing socialist wanker who clicked a link, posted….

Then you panicked.
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March 8, 2008 9:09pm
TimeWarp

What presumptive arrogance. Your use of language in itself justifies Matty’s questioning of the maturity of some of the posts.

Perhaps Matty doesn’t think it’s worth responding when it would just be repeating his initial point… or perhaps he’s out.

But not having heard of Occam’s Razor, Alces presumes Matty’s having a panic attack. Not that the presumption is anything to do with logic but everything to do with convenience.

There’s some interesting topics raised on this blog, and some very good comment – but most of it is diluted by people on particular bandwagons and streaming invective across the web.
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March 8, 2008 9:34pm
Alces

A suitably sensitive socialist, is Time…

“Perhaps Matty doesn’t think it’s worth responding ”

Perhaps the sun will be rising in the west.

Address the poe faced literalism of the socialist NZ State as represented by Matty, ‘ol mate.

“Use of language”…..?……
Sorry, it sounds so errr ,”undergraduate”.
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March 8, 2008 10:03pm
jack

I believe Paul Watson 100%.The Japanese Whalers have armed coast guards aboard and rifles are used to finish off hapless whales that thrash around too long in agony. I think the above Kiwis don’t like Watson because he’s effective whereas the New Zealand Government is as effective as a limp slap over the wrist,and most Kiwis don’t really give a stuff about Whales,like most in the developed World money is GOD. Which ever cretin talked off Watson being strung up by piano wire,if he had another brain it would be very lonely.The Japanese are the pirates not Sea Shepherd as evidenced by their outrageous rip off of Southern Blue Fin Tuna,which for 20 years they overfished by three times their agreed quota and lied to the World.With creeps like the above,the Japanese can laugh at us,and they do.You don’t like Watson because he’s a real man not a cringing sycophant.Reading the above rubbish means I’ll never call myself a Kiwi. The fact is Sea Shepherd is the only effective anti-whaling movement.The author of this blog is patronising with his hands up kiddoes who believe Watson-what a cheek!!!I won’t be returning to this so called blog bye.
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March 9, 2008 3:17am
Duxton

Obviously the Japanese weren’t able to make a head-shot.
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March 9, 2008 9:13am
Murray

Jack if he had been shot with a rifle he’d be in hospital. At a minimum with a couple of broken ribs.

Your grasp of how vests stop bullets seems to have come from a commando comic.

If we need someone to tell us how we feel about whales we’ll let you know. To the best of my knowledge no one posting here has recieved any money from Japan. My cheque certainly hasn’t arrived.

As many of us have pointed out this pirates (a legal definition) activites are harming the anti-whaling cause. This rather indicates we have more of a concern for the effectivness of getting the japs out of the South Pacific rather than some kind of global capitalist cabal who dine on raw whale meat and freshly clubbed seal pup every Saturday evening chuckling over how much lot we get from the exercise.

The random flinging around of labels does nothing to strengthen your position. Watson seeks out and attacks – physically – other vessels on the high seas with the stated intention of damaging and disabling them. Now a quick flip through the Geneva convention and its associated treatys and/or rules of warfare etc etc (see the passage of merchant ships amendment 1928) we seem to find that sort of thing is regarded in a time of war as being a “war crime” while at other times to be “an act of war” or “piracy”. The penalty for which is… lets see… summary execution to be ordered by the captain of the vessel that captures them. A little archaic but that piano wire noose is looking a little closer. Of course these days we’re alledged to be civilised so we hual the buggers of for a trail and release after various rights groups bitch about them being oppressed because they’re asian (see “piracy in the south china sea up by 10% over 2006”).

What doesn’t seem to covered is whaling ships going about “harpooning whales”. The name of the type of vessel seems to indicate a degree of confidence that its at least semi-legal. Indeed the documents do rather indicate that it is perfectly legal regardless of how aborent the locals (and probably the whales) find it. The fact that the japanese have lied their asses off about their intentions (haven’t seen much by way of results of their “scientific research other than sushi) is also not actually covered in any detail in said treaties and associated documantation.

Watson is not effective, he hasn’t saved one single whale meanwhile he has provided the japanese media machine a bucket full of PR disasters for them to use as pro-whaling propaganda. I do not advocate the paino wire hanging of Watson but if he was hit by a bus (a honking big ocean going one) I would see it as a step forward.

If there are anti-whaling/protest ships in the area and there happens to be a grey funnel line rep in the area then the japanese are entitled to its protection with Watson doing what he is. However if they paly it clean and the japanese so much as turn a hose on them then they get to find out if the Australian Navy issues idle threats. Last time they went head to head I seem to recall that the japs came second. Tokyo bay, USS Missouri. It was in all the papers.

I am gratified that you are by your own definition that you are not a kiwi, it gives me hope for real kiwis. The ones who can think beyond their own myopic short term wants.
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March 9, 2008 10:51am
Murray

HEY! I’m an undergrad!
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March 9, 2008 11:08am
Redbaiter

“Jack if he had been shot with a rifle he’d be in hospital. At a minimum with a couple of broken ribs.”

Dead right. That bullet has been fired thru some kind of shock absorbent material before it came to rest. I suspect it was fired into the badge and vest at a time when they were covered by some other substance and Watson wasn’t wearing them.
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March 9, 2008 11:22am
Murray

Its also a jacketless round so we’re looking for a handgun most likes.
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March 9, 2008 11:41am
helmet

Nice one Dim!

I’d say Watson was hit square in the head with a dum-dum bullet.
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March 9, 2008 4:16pm
TimeWarp

Still playing the man, not the ball, Acles.
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March 9, 2008 7:23pm
Truth

Here is an excerpt from Paul Watson’s Wikipedia page:

Watson says he incorporated his own personal experience in writing the book.[22] He also expresses disdain for truthfulness in the pursuit of environmental protection goals:

“The nature of the mass media today is such that the truth is irrelevant. What is true and what is right to the general public is what is defined as true and right by the mass media. Ronald Reagan understood that the facts are not relevant. The media reported what he said as fact. Follow-up investigation was “old news.” A headline comment on Monday’s newspaper far outweighs the revelation of inaccuracy revealed in a small box inside the paper on Tuesday or Wednesday.” [23]
Watson was explicit on this score: “If you do not know an answer, a fact, or a statistic, then simply follow the example of an American President and do as Ronald Reagan did—make it up on the spot and deliver the information confidently and without hesitation.”[24] This has been noted and reported by the news media.[25] In a subsequent book, Ocean Warrior, Watson reiterated this view, saying: “Survival in a media culture meant developing the skills to understand and manipulate media to achieve strategic objectives.” [26]

I wonder if this idiot ever stopped to think that admitting that he lies pretty much renders his strategy of lying useless?
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August 9, 2009 1:28am

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