Posted on 10/08/2010 4:45:32 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
An estranged former member of direct action anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd alleges it ordered its own boat to be scuttled to win public sympathy.
Peter Bethune was captain of the hi-tech Ady Gil when its bow was shorn off in a collision with a Japanese whaler it was shadowing in January.
It sank two days later, but Mr Bethune now alleges he was ordered to scuttle it by Sea Shepherd head Paul Watson.
Mr Watson denies the claim - the latest twist in a bitter row between the two.
Commentators say the feud threatens to undermine the standing of the anti-whaling lobby in the publicity battle over Japan's whaling programme.
Mr Bethune told New Zealand's National Radio he believed Mr Watson wanted the sinking to "garner sympathy with the public and to create better TV".
Former anti-whaling campaign collaborators Peter Bethune and Paul Watson Relations between Bethune, left, and Watson seem to have descended into acrimony
"Paul Watson was my admiral. He gave me an order and I carried it out," Mr Bethune said, according to Associated Press.
"I was ashamed of it at the time and I'm ashamed of it now."
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Blubber Ho!
Video of sinking at BBC article site...
I watched that show for the sole purpose of seeing that boat get sheared and sunk.
LOL!
Whaling sucks, and these eco-terrorists are idiots.
A lose-lose situation.
It makes good TV though and that’s what these Sea Shepherd morons are all about.
I hate to take Paul Wilson’s side, but c’mon, the Ady Gil was chopped in half, there was no saving it.
bttt
People that have to work for a living see them as a bunch of Spoiled Rich Bored Brats.
No worries, you're not taking his side. He denied it.
I can’t wait to see this episode on Whale Wars!
The thing stayed afloat for two days and there were winch’s on board the larger vessel. I dunno, Maybe it was totaled.
Anyway Pirates harrassing azzhole whalers is the way I see this.
Like the man says it’s hard to find anyone to root for here.
Eco-terrorists.
I watch occasionally, hoping they both will lose.
btt
I have no idea.
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