Active Nonviolence, Southern Ocean Style…

NONVIOLENCE, ENVIRONMENT, ACTIVISM, JUSTICE, 4 Mar 2013

Scott Wilkie – Pressenza Int’l Press Agency

Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson

We live in an age of holistic knowledge. We live in an age where we increasingly see Planet Earth, or more specifically, all the biological organisms that live on it, and their respective environments, as interdependent.

Watch Confrontation in Accompanying VIDEO

We have come to realize how fragile our Planet can be. With the current rate of ‘extinction of species’ vs ‘new species’, this Earth will be a barren landscape in under 1000 years. We know this must be reversed. While Climate Change is the main concern now and rightfully so, people are fighting daily against the direct impact of consumerism and mindless economics upon the Environment. Since the 1960s we have seen thousands of grass-roots organizations influence Government policy and legislation, but still there remains a real need to defend the Environment.

Indeed, the Environmental Movement has emerged as the largest ‘alternative’ political force in many western Nations and indeed, the ‘Greens’ Party has held Seats in Australian Parliament for some time now.

Right now, Sea Shepherd Australia is running its first annual campaign defending the whale populations of the Southern Oceans from the Japanese Government. Previously controlled by the US based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the fleet has been forced to change its ‘control’ to Australia by continued litigation by Japan in the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Kozinski said Japan’s ‘researchers’ were authorised to conduct their Antarctic activities by permit under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling – “Nonetheless, it (Japan) has been hounded on the high seas for years by a group calling itself Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) and its eccentric founder, Paul Watson”. The judgement continues with accusations of Piracy upon Sea Shepherd – “The activities that Cetacean alleges Sea Shepherd has engaged in are clear instances of violent acts for private ends, the very embodiment of piracy”

Nonetheless, I must agree, as do thousands, with Sea Shepherd in its claims that the Japanese fleet has been systematically abusing this ‘authorisation’ by running a de facto whale fishing expedition on an annual basis in foreign territory for commercial gain. The Australian Government even recognizes this, having lodged documents with the International Court of Justice over Japan’s activities. Of course, these ‘complaints’ have yet to be addressed.

Do Sea Shepherd’s actions transgress the often thin line between violent and non-violent action? I think not. While we have clashing of metal and certainly lives have been placed in danger in the Southern Ocean over recent years, with plenty of drama fit for media attention, there have been no serious injuries recorded. Relative to all the violent acts committed by Humanity, Sea Shepherd records a near zero activity classification.

I place the activities of Sea Shepherd firmly in the category of ‘Active Nonviolence’. Paul Watson, Bob Brown, et al are not simply doing justice to those magnificent mammals that roam our oceans, they are protecting our fragile ecosystem, Humanity included.

Within their actions, Sea Shepherd are displaying something that we could use plenty more of right now – bringing ethical and moral injustices to a head with an intuitive understanding of the boundaries of Active Nonviolence and with solid organization, intelligence, forethought.

Go to Original – pressenza.com

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

One Response to “Active Nonviolence, Southern Ocean Style…”

1. TRANSCEND MEDIA SERVICE » “Aggressive Nonviolence” – Whale War 2013 says:

   15 Mar 2013 at 20:42

   […] Accompanying Articles HERE and […]