Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 14:37:12 -0800
From: Scott Frederick <scott451@gmx.net>
Subject: [KCUTS] Pirates clash in Southern Ocean - shots fired - 3 injured
Hello Kootenaycuts,
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society flag:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Seashepherd_small_pt.jpg
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Sea Shepherd Media Release March 7th, 1800 Hours.
Japanese Fire On Sea Shepherd Crew - Three Injured
Steve Irwin Captain Shot
Cameraman and Crewmember Injured by Flash Grenade
At 1545 ( 0445 G.M.T.)a clash between the crew of the Sea Shepherd
vessel Steve Irwin and the Japanese whaling ship Nishiin Maru turned
violent when Japanese Coast Guard threw flash grenades at the crew of
the Steve Irwin.
Captain Paul Watson was struck by a bullet in the chest which
fortunately was stopped by his Kevlar vest. The bullet struck just
above the heart and mangled Captain Watson's anti-poaching badge on
his sweater underneath. Doctor David Page pried the bullet from the
vest.
Doctor David Page was videotaped prying the bullet from Captain
Watson's Kevlar vest. "You have been hit by a bullet," he said.
The kevlar vest and badge effectively saved Captain's Watson life.
Ashley Dunn 35, from Launceston, Tasmania suffered a hip injury when
he tried to get out of the way of the exploding grenades.
Ralph Lowe 33, from Melbourne, Australia received bruises to his back
when one of the flash grenades exploded behind him.
The Japanese were retaliating against the Sea Shepherd crew for
tossing rotten butter on the decks to discourage whaling activities.
The clash came after a weeklong pursuit by the Steve Irwin of the
Nisshin Maru, in an effort to stop illegal whaling activities in the
Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
Earlier in the day at 0800 Hours (1900 G.M.T.) the Steve Irwin had
ordered the Nisshin Maru to leave French Territorial waters. The
Japanese whaler complied and turned around and headed back west into
Australian waters.
The confrontation occurred inside the Australian Territorial Zone at
the position of 63 Degrees, 41 Minutes South and 133 Degrees 27
Minutes East.
Video and photos of the incident are being transmitted to Sea
Shepherd's head office.
Captain Paul Watson
Master - The Steve Irwin
Master - The Farley Mowat
Founder and President of the
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
www.Seashepherd.org
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Only 436 organising days until the next BC provincial election.
Best regards,
Scott mailto:scott451@gmx.net
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