February 6th, 2010 by Editor

A second collision between the Sea Shepherd and the Japanese whaling fleet has occurred.

According to thelatest news from the Sea Shepherd(which has been sparse the past few weeks), the MV Bob Barker was deliberately rammed at 12.09pm today by the Yushin Maru 3. No one was injured, but a small hole was torn above the water line in the ship’s hull.

The SS said the Bob Barker had been actively blocking the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship. Four harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru 1, 2 and 3 and Shonan Maru 2 were circling and making near passes to the stern and bow of the Sea Shepherd vessel.

“The Bob Barker did not move from its position,” said the release.

“At which point the Yushin Maru 3 internationally rammed the Bob Barker creating a three-foot long and four-inch deep gash in the mid-starboard side of the Sea Shepherd vessel above the waterline. The Bob Barker continues to block the slipway of the Nisshin Maru preventing the transfer of slaughtered whales and effectively shutting “illegal whaling operations”.

“The incident demonstrates a continued escalation of violence by the illegal whalers in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.”

Last month,a Japanese whaling ship collided with the Sea Shepherd’s Ady Gil, slicing a huge section off the front and dooming the high-tech vessel. CaptainPaul Watson, who is currently aboard the MV Steve Irwin, said because of that action, the Japanese now feel they can do whatever they want. “What we really need is for the governments of Australia and New Zealand to step up and start enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who knows what the whalers will do next.

“Australian and New Zealand lives are at risk every day in these waters.”

Watson’s claim that the Bob Barker was deliberately hit could not be independently verified.

[UPDATE:There's now video of the incident]

According to MSNBC, Japanese Fisheries Agency official Takashi Mori said officials were trying to confirm details of a reported clash.

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Australia, Bob Barker, Celebrities, eco, fashion, Gil, japanese whaling fleet, japanese whaling ship, Maru, Michael, New Zealand, nisshin maru, sea, Shepherd, ship, Southern Ocean, southern ocean whale, Steve Irwin, sustainability, Takashi Mori, Watson, Yushin, yushin maru

January 28th, 2010 by Editor

Scientists are studying the part that iron from Australia’s iron-rich soil plays in the algal blooms that plague parts of the eastern coast line during summer.
By sciencedaily.com
Found on the net by our news bot

algal, algal blooms, Australia, coast, comfound, eco, Green, Healthy, iron, lifestyle, new planet, part, rich soil, scientists, soil, sustainability, Sustainable

January 8th, 2010 by Editor

In ourlist of forces working against the Sea Shepherd’sdesperate struggle to save the foundering Ady Gil, weather was the number one concern.

Unfortunately, it now appears that Mother Nature has claimed the stealth boat.

A poster on a Sea Shepherd forumwas listening toCaptain Paul Watsonbeing interviewed on an Australian morning television show when the bad news was revealed.

“Paul Watson just said on ABC News Breakfast Australia that the Ady Gil has sunk, they (not sure which ship) had been towing her for 6-7 hours towards the French base but the weather picked up, she took on water and sunk. He confirmed that all fuel and oil had been taken off the vessel.”

Earlier, the MV Bob Barker attempted to tow the Ady Gil— but quickly discovered that she was taking on too much water when moved. There were hopes that a French vessel with a crane might come to assist, but we’ve no idea if they ever showed up. Either way, it’s an unfortunate end to such a beautiful vessel. In memory, we’ve added some of our favorite pics below.

[UPDATE]Confirmed. Watson says the ship went down shortly before 8:30am AEDT today while it was being towed to an island. [Link]

[UPDATE #2]According to reports, the Ady Gil snapped its tow lines after taking on too much water. Sea Shepherd reported the last known position of the ship to Australian authorities, warning them that it could pose a navigation hazard for three hours after the sinking. TheICR Whaling organization has posted photosof the abandoned Ady Gil drifting; presumably before she sank some time later.

“We spent the greater part of yesterday transferring all of the fuel, oil and batteries and any other contaminates,” said Peter Hammarstedt, the Bob Barker’s first officer. Japanese whalers say an oil slick is following the Gil, but we imagine that it would be minor considering a.) the SS claim the boat was low on fuel when it was struck and b.) the efforts made afterwards to reduce environmental impact of its sinking.

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

abc news, Ady, Australia, australian authorities, Bob Barker, Celebrities, eco, fashion, Gil, Michael, news, oil slick, Paul Watson, Paul Watsonbeing, Peter Hammarstedt, sea, Shepherd, stealth boat, sustainability, water, Watson

January 7th, 2010 by Editor

Go ahead and calltoday’s collisionbetween a Japanese whaling vessel and the Sea Shepherd Ady Gil a best case scenario.

Of all the possible ways it could have happened, shearing off the front 8-feet of the sleek vessel was probably the one that gave it the best shot at survival. Had the Shonan Maru No.2 split the Gil closer to the middle or even backside, there might zero leftover to ponder salvaging — not to mention the increased danger that would have befallen the crew.

As it is, the inflicted rhinoplasty may have bought Ady Gil Captain Pete Bethune some time to figure out how to recover his ship. If there’s a bright side to this, it’s that the ship’s two powerful 540hp engines and electronics appear to have been left relatively unscathed. Granted, as the Sea Shepherd have repeatedly said the boat is taking on water, there’s no way of knowing if that alone has already ruined the gear on board.

Even if we assume that the Ady Gil is still afloat and in one piece with the exception of its nose, there are a bunch of forces at work that might cause her to be scuttled. One, yesterday’s incident took place in relatively calm seas. Since this area of the world is known for wickedly unpredictable weather, any change for the worse in ocean swells might quickly swamp the vessel and flood through the open hole. If that doesn’t happen, Bethune still needs to figure out a.) a way to plug the hole in the front and b.) how to tow her home. As Paul Watson mentioned yesterday after the incident, the Sea Shepherd are committed to remaining engaged against the Japanese whaling fleet — so that leaves support from either the MV Steve Irwin or MV Bob Barker out the question.(Or not: Good to see the SS taking care of one of their own. Check out the update below)

More likely would be for either an Australian or New Zealand vessel to lend a hand. Also a possibility would be support from the French research basethe SS visited a few weeks back— though it’s anyone’s guess if they have the capability to assist. In any case, it would be several days before any vessel could be on site, a grim prospect with regards to the weather mentioned earlier.

The last scenario would be for Bethune to somehow plug the hole and, should the engines continue working, slowly glide back to a safe port or sheltered bay off the Antarctic coast.

Either way, the odds are stacked against the Ady Gil. We’re just glad everyone is safe — and that the best case scenario is the one we’re talking about today rather than something more tragic.

[UPDATE]The crew of the world record-breaking speed boat were currently salvaging all the diesel, lest it spill into the Antarctic waters. Swift said they were planning to winch the front of the severed bow onto the Bob Barker, and tow the stricken vessel to port, and repairs, in Hobart, Australia, or to New Zealand. viaTVNZ.co.nz

More pics of the damage below:

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Ady, Antarctic, Australia, Bob Barker, case, Celebrities, eco, fashion, Gil, Gil Captain, Hobart, japanese whaling fleet, Michael, New Zealand, ocean swells, Paul Watson, Pete Bethune, sea, Shepherd, shonan maru, sleek vessel, Steve Irwin, sustainability, vessel, whaling vessel

December 17th, 2009 by Editor

While theSea Shepherdare attempting to find the Japanese whaling fleet (and, in terms of the Ady Gil,actually get out of port), the Australian government is ramping up threats to take Japan to court over their so-called “scientific research”. Granted, we’ve heard this grumbling before. Since 2007, Prime MinisterKevin Ruddhas repeatedly vowed to take action to end the hunt — but with very little to show.

“What we’ve done with the previous government of Japan and this current government is seek to resolve this matter diplomatically — diplomatically and finding a way through,”he toldThe Australianwhile preparing for a meeting with Japan’s PM Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo. “But I have said very clearly, if we don’t find a way through there is one way to sort this out and that is through the appropriate international legal mechanisms.”

Though Rudd refused to comment on a timeline for his patience running out, Environment MinisterPeter Garrettwas a bit more forthcoming. On a radio program yesterday he said that if Japan made no undertaking by June to end the kill “legal option will be undertaken”.

“Our commitment is for the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean to cease,” he said. “We are opposed to it. We’ve remained opposed to it ever since we’ve come to government and that is our policy goal.”

We’ll see if Rudd and Co. remain true to that pledge. As Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said in response to the latest threats. “I don’t think you should make threats that you don’t carry out. It just brings Australia into disrepute. It embarrasses us before a country which is otherwise a very, very important country and a very good friend to Australia.”

What do you think? Will Australia take that next step in June — or will this be more of the same empty promises we’ve heard before?

Photo: A slaughtered minke whale and its calf being hauled up the ramp of the Japanese ship, the Yushin Maru.

By Michael d’Estries
Found on the net by our news bot

Australia, Celebrities, Co, country, eco, fashion, Gil, government, Japan, japanese whaling fleet, June, Leader Tony Abbott, legal mechanisms, Michael, minke whale, Rudd, rudd and co, Southern Ocean, sustainability, theSea, Tokyo, tony abbott, way, Yukio Hatoyama

December 16th, 2009 by Editor

The US, Australia, France, Japan, Norway and Britain will make 3.5 billion US dollars available for developing countries that produce ambitious plans to slow and eventually reverse deforestation.
By en.cop15.dk

ambitious plans, Australia, Britain, Cilmate, climate change, COP, Copenhagen, deforestation, developing countries, dk, France, Japan, Norway, US, us dollars

October 15th, 2009 by Editor

Could sustainable architecture address pollution, climate change and resource depletion by helping us build self-sufficient, off-grid, housing from “waste,” including vehicle tires and metal drinks containers? That’s the question researchers in Australia are trying to answer.

address pollution, architecture, Australia, change, climate, climate change, containers, pollution, resource, resource depletion, sustainable architecture