By Once again the eco-drama in the frigid Southern Ocean is heating up:
The high-tech stealth boat Ady Gil was cut in half and sunk by a Japanese security vessel in Antarctic waters today, dramatically upping the stakes in the annual struggle between whalers and protesters.
Sea Shepherd group leader Paul Watson told Fairfax Media the $1.5 million Ady Gil was sinking, but its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured.
Earlier today, the fleet was contacted for the first time by the Ady Gil and Sea Shepherd’s “secret” third vessel, the Bob Barker. [The Age via reader tip]
The Ady Gil is the cool “Batboat” that Sea Shepherd has been using to shoot the laser beam at the whalers with. According to the article they were trying to tangle the whalers’ rudder with rope and a security vessels that the Japanese have deployed this year intercepted the Ady Gil and sunk it. It seems to me the Japanese were well within their rights to respond to an attempt to damage their ship. Anyway here is video of the collision:
It appears the Ady Gil was moving towards the Japanese ship possibly to to tangle its rudder with rope and the Japanese security ship turned towards them to hit them with the water cannons and the Ady Gil hit the front of the boat. Acccording to this Times Online article the Ady Gil has not sunk yet, but is inoperable right now. Of course the Times lets Paul Watson repeat his lies about the Japanese hunting endangered whales, which they are not.
All everyone has to do is watch this South Park episode to see what Sea Shepherd and the Japanese whaling issue is all about.
8:17 am on January 6th, 2010 1
Of course, the Japanese are within their rights to protect their ship from another ship trying to tangle their rudder. It appears they resorted to the equivalent of lethal force.
But for all we know – that’s what Paul Watson wanted them to do.
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January 6th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Not very “lethal” as there were no deaths.
Perhaps they need more practice.
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9:55 am on January 6th, 2010 2
The Japanese Fleet have the right to defend themselves, especially against the eco-terrorist group that is Sea Shepherd.
From what I see, That batman boat ran into the japanese ship first, anyway.
And what’s more, they were the one that started it.
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10:48 am on January 6th, 2010 3
These whale hunting boats should all be sunk…
However, it surprises me that such a slow japanese ship
sunk the Ady Gil (former “Earthrace”).
It really looks like the Ady Gil was moving forward in the last seconds
in order to be hit … I cannot believe that this was accidental… Maybe the speedboat has been sacrificed for publicity reasons.
If they turned back a few meters they had not been hit in any way
Anyhow it worked cause I donated 20dollars to the Sea Shepherd organization today… whish i could spend more money on them…
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11:06 am on January 6th, 2010 4
[...] rokdrop.com The high-tech stealth boat Ady Gil was cut in half and sunk by a Japanese security vessel in Antarctic waters today, dramatically upping the stakes in the annual struggle between whalers and protesters. Sea Shepherd group leader Paul Watson told Fairfax Media the $1.5 million Ady Gil was sinking, but its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured. Earlier today, the fleet was contacted for the first time by the Ady Gil and Sea Shepherd’s “secret” third vessel, the Bob Barker [...]
11:39 am on January 6th, 2010 5
Great posting…
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2:38 pm on January 6th, 2010 6
I checked into the engines the Ady Gil used. Cummins MerCruiser has an interesting caveat on the spec page:
“High Output (HO) Intended for use in variable load applications where full power is limited to one (1) hour out of every eight (8) hours of operation. Also, reduced power must be at or below 300 rpm of the maximum rated rpm. This power rating is for pleasure/non-revenue generating applications that operate 500 hours per year or less.”
I’m sure the operator took all this into consideration in setting the record.
I wonder if the engines were actually shot and this was all a big scam? I would imagine that boat could easily have run circles around most anything on the ocean that is, of course, if it were in a standard operating condition.
Tom, you may be 100% spot on!
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3:42 pm on January 6th, 2010 7
Regardless of your opinion on the motives and behavior of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Agency, the issue here is whaling not harassment. The Japanese Fisheries Agency claims that these whale hunts are in the name of research, but the truth is that the meat from the thousands of whales that are killed each year in the name of research ends up in the fish markets of Japan. Quite apart from the danger this presents to the Japanese people due to the potentially deadly levels of mercury in the meat, there is another reason to stop this killing, which is that it is wrong. Unlike cattle or chickens or tuna, whales are a sentient and intelligent species and for all practical purposes they are not a renewable resource, once they are gone from the oceans we will never see their kind again. In the name of all that is good and decent, the people of Japan must demand that their government stops the whaling. Now is the time, humanity is the reason, and they are the only people on this planet who can put an end to this brutal and archaic practice forever. Please read my blog
http://whaleanddolphintalk.blogspot.com/
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January 7th, 2010 at 6:38 am
This comment just confirms what I have been saying all along:
http://rokdrop.com/2009/09/22/beat-takeshi-on-why-australians-oppose-whaling/
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3:43 pm on January 6th, 2010 8
Lemmy,
Are you suggesting martyrdom?
Too bad such a cool ship is gone. Sigh…
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January 6th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Next Paul Watson will come out and say something like “….in order to prevent the Ady Gil from falling into the enemies hands, the heroic crew scuttled the ship on the high seas……”
Regardless of what happened, after the incident, I’ll bet a lot of the Ady Gil crew needed a clothing change (and it wasn’t as a result of seawater, if you know what I mean)
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4:14 pm on January 6th, 2010 9
I disagree with the Japs calling it ‘research’. We all know it is for fish markets. However, just like with any fish, there can be controlled fishing.
I strongly disagree with Sea Sheppard tactics. They do put everyone in danger and there is no doubt they tried to cause the collision for publicity.
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4:56 pm on January 6th, 2010 10
The “cause” is unimportant. Let’s leave the cute little whales out of the equation. Terrorism=terrorism no matter how you slice it. Supporting any terrorist organization is wrong. Tom since you are a supporting of terrorism, why don’t you go ahead and send another $20 to Al Queda?
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5:06 pm on January 6th, 2010 11
I don’t know what Tom is upset about, his people eat dogs, I bet he isn’t out protesting that. Tell me Tom, do you think it is OK for Koreans to eat dogs and why don’t you send that $20 to an organization that is against the killing and eating of dogs.
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6:06 pm on January 6th, 2010 12
If these eco Jackass’s were so smart they’d know the number 1 rule in all the sea is big fish eats little fish so what the hell were they thinking when they sped up to get in front of that boat? Leave the bat-boat for the movies or races and as Ricky Bobby would say, “if you ain’t first, you’re last”!
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8:04 pm on January 6th, 2010 13
“The high-tech stealth boat ….” Maybe they need to work on that stealth part. Seems the Japanese saw them coming. I’m just saying.
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9:15 pm on January 6th, 2010 14
My guess…
It was a one-use special-purpose boat which sacrificed longevity for range, speed and manufacturing cost.
After all the beans were counted, the most profitable course of action (not including multiple levels of publicity) was to have it “destroyed” in the first-available accident and collect the insurance.
Whoever insures the boat and whoever judges the percentages of fault will take notice of the sudden white water behind the Ady Gil as it accelerated in front of the larger craft at the last minute.
Can anybody translate the Japanese being spoken? Interestingly, there is no real alarm in the voice… possibly indicating there was little surprise.
I’m going to meet with a large shipping company president later this month and I’ll get his opinion based on the video.
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9:52 pm on January 6th, 2010 15
Get the Japanese and anyone else OUT OF THESE WATERS. As far as I am concerned what the Japanese whalers are doing is immoral AND illegal. Marine Sanctuaries are just that. Australian waters are just that. They have fished in both. I’d be happy to see them blown out of the water by Navy or Private enterprise. This whaling is a SHAM + An UNNECESSARY Industry. Death to the Business. The Sea Shepard are doing what the international community and the Australian Government should be doing. The Sea Shepard simply doesn’t have the resources that Government bodies have so they are justifiably using what they can. GREAT! Why the hell would anyone in their right minds support this industry? What planet do you idiots think you are living on anyway? A parallel universe without a web of life perhaps. If anyone thinks that fishing can go on at the rate it is for affluent market consumption reasons then you are ignorant and out of touch. I advise such believers to calm down and educate themselves and act responsibly because at the moment you are making fools of yourselves displaying ignorance and citing sources such as the simpsons. (that say’s it all really). THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SAYS – STOP ILLEGAL FISHING.
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January 6th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
BUT but — the CHILDREN
Japanese have people to feed TOO!
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January 6th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
What is illegal about whaling? It’s an international agreement the Japs have NOT signed. So are all countries bound by the Kyoto treaty even if they didn’t sign it? Is Korea or Canada bound by treaties signed only in Europe? Of course not. It is not illegal IN JAPAN which is where the boats are from. I don’t believe we should be telling other countries what to eat, or not eat. Or else they might outlaw cheeseburgers for us.
I am against over fishing. I am for preserving the environment. I’m not for telling other cultures what they can eat.
BTW, I never like or watched South Park, but I clicked on the link today and that was a great episode!! I have watched the Sea Sheppard crap on tv. They are a bunch of over actors who are overly dramatic. Chasing the boats isn’t doing anything. Go and petition your governments to put pressure on the Japs through sanctions or other means. I think I’ll donate to the Japs just to be against the bad stuff the activist are doing.
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January 7th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Ditto
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January 7th, 2010 at 6:44 am
This comment only further validates the points I have been making:
http://rokdrop.com/2009/09/22/beat-takeshi-on-why-australians-oppose-whaling/
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9:57 pm on January 6th, 2010 16
Gotta stop the Japs from this slaughter, remind them the War is over….and Oh don’t mention who won… they are still a bit pissed about the “bombs”…..w.t.f……………
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10:19 pm on January 6th, 2010 17
I was extremely sympathetic to the anti-whaling groups prior to reading up on the Sea Publicity Hookers and like organizations. While I am still anti-whaling I am even more against violent and dangerous protests. As long as these thugs continue to employ these tactics I will support the Japanese. They should spend some meaninful time trying to educate the Japanese people.
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10:54 pm on January 6th, 2010 18
What I liked about the video is that after they destroyed the Ady Gil the Japanese kept hitting them with water.
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January 7th, 2010 at 11:45 am
So did I
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January 10th, 2010 at 7:19 am
That was sweet.
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12:49 pm on January 7th, 2010 19
You’ve got to see this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brw6JN0lQXY
I was wrong according to this video. We have seen the video shot from the Japanese fishing boat of the Ady Gil either at full stop in the water or barely creeping forward. That is the video from the Jap ship.
The video link above is shot from the Price is Right boat the Bob Barker. what is especially is the video starting at 1:25. Compared to the Japs video which shows the Ady Gil stationary or barely moving, the video above clearly shows the Japs turning into the Ady Gil.
The skipper of the Ady Gil must be a moron, the SS crew provoked the Japs beyond tolerances, or the Japs just decided to end things once and for all.
No one can argue the point the Japs are poaching and no one can argue the SS are playing a very dangerous game.
My final point is this. I have never thought highly of fishermen. They are certainly from the lower class of society. (if you need verification watch “Deadliest Catch” and watch the Korean Coast Guard T.V. show that documents them boarding the Chinese fishing boats in the West Sea. I have to believe the Japs are in the same socioeconomic class as their peers. Low class people have different values than middle class and upper class.
Things that make you scratch your head………
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12:58 pm on January 7th, 2010 20
Here is another. I would have a hard time believing the Japs won’t end up buying the Shepards a new boat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNl00CWB0JU&feature=related
click the synchronizing link.
I would have never believed it by watching only the Jap video.
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January 7th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Clearly the Japs rammed the boat. Good for them. Trying to disable the screws on a vessel is the same as ramming because it puts the crews lives in danger if you have no propulsion at sea. Both sides should be guilty of attempted murder.
What is surprising is that the overweight moron leader actually got the quote right. “We have to be careful because if we break the law our country will prosecute us, and the Japs will not prosecute their own.” He is absolutely correct. Maybe he can move to Somalia then he won’t have to worry about prosecution.
I don’t think the Japs will pay for the boat. After all, if they are willing to take the political hit for whaling in the first place, ramming a bunch of zealots won’t affect them. Now, if someone had been killed, that would have changed things.
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
I don’t think they will buy any boat either because smaller boats should be getting out of the way of the bigger boats. The Ady Gil had no business being that close to a bigger boat. It was an accident waiting to happen.
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5:02 pm on January 7th, 2010 21
Some of the comments in this section make me wonder if I wandered into the Stormfront message board by accident.
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
This has to be one of the most idiotic comments I have ever seen on this site. I guess if you are anti-Sea Shepherd you are a racist now.
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Really when you think about it the Sea Shepherd types and their supporters are the real racists. The fact that the whalers are Japanese is quite possibly part of the reason for Sea Shepherd targeting them. If this isn’t the case when is Sea Shepherd going to film Whales Wars Iceland, Whale Wars Norway, or Whale Wars Inuits, etc.?
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Making an equally baseless accusation about which side is racist doesn’t do much to support your overall argument.
I would think the reason they go after the Japanese is because they get a modicum of support from Australia – something I seriously doubt they’d get from Iceland or Norway.
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January 7th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
As they say, ignorance is bliss. Shepherd already has campaigns against several other venues and most of them are the greedy poaching white devils not greedy poaching Japanese devils.
The video is clear. The Jap fishing boat was at high speed and not engaged in fishing operations. The purpose of that boat is to provide security for the fleet.
That boat intentionally rammed the Ady Gil. Veriy easily, that could have ended in the deaths of the six people I saw aboard the Ady Gil. To say entangling a screw with rope is using deadly force is the same as saying “I’m an idiot and I don’t know what I’m talking about”
You saw the video and you know the Japs intentionally rammed the Ady Gil.
If you still don’t believe what you saw, maybe you should stand in the corner with the mad cow disease protesters.
I use to fish in a 12 foot jon boat with a 4hp Johnson. On occasion, I found the propeller entangled in fishing line. Little did I know my life was endangered by that fishing line. The next thing you know, Al Quida is using 4 pound test to sink cruise ships.
Sometimes I think people are drunk or on drugs when they post comments.
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January 7th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Well, I apologize for not being a fisherman or spending a lot of time on a fishing boat. As far as I knew, a boat with tangled props or a disabled rudder would be a death trap if a storm came up. And I’m sure a 12 foot 4hp boat is the same as a big ship. So no thanks for the idiot remark.
The Sea Sheppard leader may want people to die. He would love the publicity. Bottom line, they tried to cause damage, and got damaged instead. Don’t take a knife to a gun fight.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Really? Don’t tell me you can’t make the mental leap that is required to imagine the difference between a 12 foot john boat with a 4hp Johnson with the propeller entangled in fishing line and a 491 ton, 172ft ship with the screws fouled in the open Antartic Ocean. Really? Come on man, try.
*hic!*
January 8th, 2010 at 12:01 am
The video is not clear; it was shot from the whale lover’s boat. If someone on a motorcycle doesn’t like the way I drive and starts throwing things at my car in a way that might make me have an a accident or be injured you can bet I’m ramming him… same thing here, if these idiots want to antagonize these Japanese with intentions of disabling their boat in the middle of the ocean then I say next time cut the whale lovers boat in half, these dumb SOB’s are just plain stupid to think they can do whatever they want while the Japanese boats just let it happen. The Japanese boat did exactly what it should have done.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:32 am
“You can’t fix stupid”
5:32 pm on January 7th, 2010 22
SAVE THE KRILL!!!
I would like to mount a campaign to save the poor krill from the ravages of an ever increasing horde of Antarctic whales. “whales eat many times more fish than humans” so they “must be caught within limits.” While thinking in terms of trophic levels, I suspect a species disappearing from the top the the food chain (secondary consumers) is much less a crisis than a primary consumer becoming extinct. That would be a real problem.
So, we must exterminate, with extreme prejudice, those ruiners of our world – namely (delicious) whales – before it is too late!
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7:28 pm on January 7th, 2010 23
The Sea Shepherds have done their best to insure the Japanese defiantly continue whaling.
That’s a good thing for them as it keeps the donations rolling in and keeps them out having a good time playing pirates on the high seas… better than working in a cramped cubical at a donation processing center for Greenpeace.
Of course the Japanese are no heroes here either… killing a whale is pretty crappy… even more so when it is under the guise of “research”… which is mostly research about how much whale meat costs in the Tokyo fish market… and, while some coastal towns in Japan had a tradition of whaling, it doesn’t seem there was a national appetite for it requiring a rich history of Japanese whale hunts in the Antarctic.
So… it’s hard to choose a side here. Both have very impure motivations. More accurately, one can’t side with the Sea Shepherds in any way… yet it’s impossible to feel sympathy for Japanese whalers.
As for this specific incident, however, it is very easy to take a side.
A small, fast, highly-maneuverable vessel is attempting to disable a large, slow, less-maneuverable vessel in remote and dangerous seas.
Sympathies would have still been with the Japanese had they opened up with a fifty cal and killed the whole lot of “terrorists”.
…that goes double since they are established media/donation whores who are actually contributing to more whales being killed.
The Ady Gil would certainly be a formidable craft against an Eskimo kayak. Stay tuned for Whale Wars: Alaska.
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I’m not taking sides – just making a statement regarding this portion of your post.
Yes – the Ady Gil were trying to disable the Japanese ship. But what was the worse case scenario for the Japanese? Answer: their rudder gets fouled and they are stuck for a few hours while they untangle the mess. Note: the one time in dozens of attempts to foul one of Japanese ship’s rudder that was successful – it only slowed the Japanese down for a half hour or so. The Japanese ship is part of what amounts to a flotilla of ships – so even if the rudder is really messed up, help is right around the corner.
On the other hand, the best case scenario is that the Ady Gil sinks and everyone manages to survive. Worse case scenario is that the Ady Gil sinks and everyone on board drowns. And that’s not a far fetched worse case – it could have very easily happened.
I think this is going to continue to escalate until someone dies. Might be several someones.
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9:26 pm on January 7th, 2010 24
Wow, this sight is great for all the reactionary stuff: climate change denial, pro-whaling viewpoints. Are you about to endorse Palin for President in 2012?
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Lets see I have never denied climate change, I am just against fraudulent science and fear mongering to advance political agendas with no real concern for the environment. I am also not pro-whaling or anti-whaling, I am anti-Sea Shepherd. All Sea Shepherd is doing as I have explained at length in prior postings is ensuring more whales are killed. While they continue to be media whores, animals that really are endangered are ignored.
Also I have never endorsed anybody on this website and have hardly had anything to say about Palin. In fact I have been critical about some of her statements:
http://rokdrop.com/2008/09/05/overstating-governor-palins-national-guard-credentials/
You can take the foot out of your mouth now.
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January 9th, 2010 at 1:36 am
Lets see I have never denied climate change, I am just against fraudulent science and fear mongering to advance political agendas with no real concern for the environment.
-You are confusing events with trends. In Vancouver right now, it’s much warmer than usual. The current snow seen in some places in the western hemisphere is not evidence that global warming is false.
I still support Sea Shepherd. How many other people are advancing environmental issues like they are? I applaud their stance.
Palin? Well, you are probably bothered by the fake-hawks like Bush, Cheney and now Palin but I cannot see you endorsing anyone who, say, advocated for reductions in funding for the US military in favour of socialized medicine or education.
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February 7th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
@ Bob: Everything u have said in your comments are irrelevant to the article posted above.
Btw, before talking about Japanese whaling causing climate change, please note that the biggest culprits of causing climate change are western countries, namely America.
12:58 am on January 8th, 2010 25
Q: How is Obama like the Ady Gil?
A: They are both a beautiful shade of black, they both traveled the world with lots of ooos and ahhhs but with little real accomplishment and they both gave a bow to the Japanese.
Hahahaha… I just made that up.
Guitard,
No… the best-case scenario is the Styrofoam-core Ady Gil is disabled and all hands, who just happened to be on deck in survival suits, escape uninjured.
The worst-case scenario is that the poor Japanese divers who have to go down in Arctic waters to cut the ropes loose from the props are eaten by angry and vengeful whales… the ones with “near-human intelligence”.
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January 8th, 2010 at 3:30 am
Unless they absolutely have no choice, they don’t go into the water to unfoul the rudder. Instead, they take an underwater camera on the end of a pole and extend it down into the water and using other poles with tools on the ends that they can manipulate with hand controls they untangle things.
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January 8th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Holy smokes! I didn’t realize so many SCUBA divers posted to this site. God forbid a diver had to go into the water for anything because the water is very very very dangerous. First there are the Nor-whales with their enormous horns. Then there are crabs and lobster to worry about. If you survive them there are star fish and jelly fish. Of course there are no wet or dry suits because the boats have no idea they would end up in the cold water of the antarctic ocean. No one in their right mind would ever have any kind of repair equipment or apparatus to fix the parts of a boat that are underwater.
Its truly incredible the logic people come up with to justify their answers.
Utilizing this logic, I will never be able to fix a flat tire on my car because I would have to get out to fix it and I might get hit by another car, I may get rained on, or a ravenous wild animal might attack me.
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January 8th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Actually what’s truly incredible is how phucking dumb some people are.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Guitard, you are more than correct in your comment.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
If they stick a camera on the end of a pole to inspect the rudder and screws and then stick it under water the camera will get wet you big goof.
Why doesn’t the crew just move everything to the bow therefore raising the stern out of the water where a couple of Japs in a rubber raft and using a knife can just cut the string from the screws?
The SS should just use a freeze ray and completely surround the ships in ice. That would slow them down.
I would rename the “Steve Irwin” the “Fatboy” and the “Bob Barker” the “Little Boy”.
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January 9th, 2010 at 2:16 am
meh. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Ramming Speed!
3:35 am on January 8th, 2010 26
The Japanese have six or seven large ships out there all working together. Why wouldn’t (or couldn’t) they come to a disabled ship’s aid?
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January 8th, 2010 at 6:56 am
Good point. I have a fire extinguisher right here. So it should be no problem if someone lights your face on fire. I can merely put you out. No harm done!
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2:13 am on January 9th, 2010 27
Guitard, you are making some great points. I applaud your insight and well thought-out and researched responses.
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11:56 am on January 9th, 2010 28
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
Stupid Sea Shepherds finally got what the deserved.
From what I know, these terrorists have been known to ram other ships using their own vessels.
Isn’t ironic that these “Sea Faggots” are whining like little bitches about getting rammed themselves?
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1:47 am on January 16th, 2010 29
they could of moved earthrace was much faster but they made no effort to do so and to expect the japanese ship to stop in such a short distance is ridiculous. this was entirely the eco freaks fault and since they ram other ships and nearly cut one in half themselves they totally deserve this.
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12:33 am on January 24th, 2010 30
These Sea Shepherd guys are constantly harassing these whalers. Until an international entity stands up and says no more whaling the whalers have a right to do what they are doing. the crew of the Sea Shepherd have done things on there show such as throw acid bombs onto these boats… even go as far as to board one in international waters. That alone is reason to be shot and killed or thrown overboard, these are international waters not protected by laws of a country. the international waters are different and boarding another ship that your not welcome on is no different than breaking into someones house. Board my ship in the ocean and I will shoot you. Or ties you up and throw you over board, let the sharks and barracudas have you. Harass me enough and I will ram your ship. These are things I can legally do and if you have ever been in international waters there are even to this day pirates and anyone attempting to harass your ship or board it is, can , and should be considered a pirate and shown no quarter. However, a crew or vessel in distress is understandably different. These Whalers have even assisted the Sea Shepherd when in distress. They are out there working for a living like everyone else, I dont see people throwing acid bombs(not eco friendly mind you so lets not be hypocrites here Sea Shepherd :-/) at lumberjacks or slaughterhouses. There is a better way to fight this issue if you really care and your not just in it for “ratings” all they have to do is implement a whale breeding facility to help keep the whale population at a constant. Its a problem that easily fixable ….. time for another drink *hic*
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January 24th, 2010 at 4:35 am
Like a lot of people, I think the Sea Shepherds are truly a bunch of whacked out loonies. But you’ve painted a picture that doesn’t tell the whole story.
When someone fell overboard (or jumped – it was never made clear what exactly happened) from one of the Japanese ships – the Sea Shepherds made a sincere offer to assist in the rescue with their hi-speed boats and helicopter. The Japanese never responded to the offer of assistance, however.
The acid bombs to which you make reference are bottles of Butyric acid. It is typically described as being “notably found in rancid butter, parmesan cheese, and vomit.”
It stinks like hell and will make you sick to your stomach if you get even a slight whiff of it. But it is essentially harmless to both humans and the environment.
The one caveat would be that it does make any whale meat with which it comes in contact inedible.
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
The assistance provided by the Irwin consisted of running the ship with lights OUT disrupting the whaling vessels conducting the search. And yes, the Whalers DID respond to the offer of assistance, they were told they were NOT needed and to stay clear.
Apparently you subscribe to the watson school of facts. The MSDS for Butyric acid describes a substance that is very toxic through absorbtion, you might wish to look up this data ..look for the LD50 data..it’s prominent. Additonally, the same MSDS’ proscribe allowing its entry into waters due to it’s toxicity on marine life. For the current campaign, watson and klowns are not using the “rancid butter” term anymore, it seems they like the term ““Nontoxic, biodegradable, organic chemical warfare.” Apparently they think no one will look up the ACTUAL characteristics of this chemical if they say it’s organic… arsenic is organic.. ricin is 100% organic…
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