Whale Wars: From Pirate to Prisoner Shows the Aftermath of Captain Pete Bethune Boarding the Shonan Maru No. 2
Whale Wars: From Pirate To Prisoner Recounts the Aftermath of Captain Pete Bethune Boarding the Shonan Maru No. 2
The shows opens with footage of Pete Bethune beginning his anti-whaling quest in December of 2009. He was happy to be the skipper of the quick Ady Gil, furthering what he calls "marine conservation." The Ady Gil didn't last the full season of harassing the other whaling boats because it was split in two by its adversary, the Shonan Maru No. 2. This made Captain Pete Bethune hellbent on getting justice against the Japanese captain who destroyed his boat, deemed "an accident" by the whalers. That would mean the skipper boarding the ship that destroyed his. Nine days after the incident, he tried boarding the recon boat, but was unsuccessful, as shown on Whale Wars: From Pirate To Prisoner.
After Bethune finally boarded the ship this past February in the darkness, he waited for daybreak before entering the bridge. The skipper claimed the Japanese boat captain initially told him to go away, fearing more Sea Shepherds had got on board. But when it was found out that Captain Pete Bethune was alone, the skipper got inside and faced the angry captain. Bethune claimed on Whale Wars: From Pirate To Prisoner that the head of security was aggressive-acting, and the two almost got into a fight. The Japanese crew turned for Japan. Pete's wife Sharyn was informed of what happened by another Sea Shepherd before the press found out. For 26 days, Bethune was locked in a cabin unaware of where he was going, but he was mostly treated with respect other than the security head, who did things to make the Ady Gil's captain irritated.
Whale Wars: From Pirate To Prisoner Sees Captain Pete Bethune Get a Suspended Sentence for His Actions
When the Shonan Maru No. 2 arrived in Tokyo, Bethune was warned that he was in big trouble. Locals protested the actions of the activist and the media circus was intense around the arrest of the skipper. Bethune claimed he was interrogated by the Coast Guard, and taken to a detention center, where murderers and rapists were housed. Captain Pete Bethune claimed he was perceived as a terrorist by the other inmates, so he was left alone, but many of his actions were controlled by the guards, though he could write one letter a day.
By June 7, his 88th day in prison, the Sea Shepherds publicly kicked the activist out of their group. According to Captain Watson, he didn't want the judges to "lose face" if they released him, and the skipper came back to the Southern Ocean - so he was publicly ousted from the activist group. Five criminal counts were lodged against Bethune, and he was looking at 15 years in the slammer. The defendant got "2 years with labor", but the sentence was suspended for five years. Bethune was utterly relieved, and he was allowed to fly back to New Zealand. Soon, a homecoming party with family and friends was thrown on his behalf. Whale Wars: From Pirate To Prisoner never did say if the Sea Shepherds and the Japanese ex-prisoner are back together. But the captain said he felt like he's been given a second chance at life, admitting he'll never board another Japanese vessel. He'll instead focus on other anti-whaling actions if he goes back to Antarctica.
If you need a recap of Season 3 of Whale Wars, Episode 1 is here; 3 here; 4 here; 5 here; 6 here; 7 here; 8 here; 9 here ; 10 here; 11 here; 12-13 here
Sources:
"From Pirate To Prisoner", Whale Wars, September 6, 2010, Animal Planet
Published by Roy A. Barnes - Featured Contributor in Politics
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11 Comments
Post a CommentLeading up to the boarding, Bethune and his cohorts said that they knew he'd be arrested but that was part of the master plan. You see, Bethune was going to put whaling on trial and really bring the issue to the forefront.
How'd that work out?
Oh, and Watson is, of course, lying again. Originally, when the ICR posted pictures of the arrows recovered from the Ady Gill, Watson said they were lying and they faked it. Then he said he didn't know anything about the bow and arrows on the Ady Gill and used that as an excuse to throw Bethune out of Sea Shepherd. Now he's saying he threw Bethune out so that the judge in Japan could save face.
Judith Ann Morriss: "Whale Wars: From Pirate to Prisoner" was just a special.
Question..i watched Whale Wars..now they have Pirate to Prisoner..Is this just one episode? (That i missed :()
Man these guys are idiots. He actually went on board the whaling ship and got caught. Thats like offering a lion a zebra. Didnt he know he could go to jail with a more severe sentence than he got, like death.
I totally agree I am so glad that someone finally got caught. There has to be a more civilized solution than trying to ram or destroy these vessels.
Well at least one of these pirates got caught. I am still amazed that people are still capable of using violence to further a cause. One word fits these pirates and its idiots. While they think they are saving this planet we live on they are actually helping speed the process of killing it. I dont suppose they thought about the large amounts of fuel used chasing these whalers or the fuel they expended into the ocean from the Ady Gil or the harsh chemicals they use on the Japanese whaling ships. There has to be a better way and what the pirates are doing is wrong.
Another good job. Brave men trying to stop a brabaric practice.
Great recap Roy. My hubby watches this occasionally.
This goes out to, "The Whalers" bring Capt. Bethune back! I do have to say Capt. Bethune you are my Hero, let me explain... You screwed the Japanese whalers good for the rest of the year and you saved a year of whales that would of been executed for nothing! Plus I seen the show and I think your spectacular planning and thought of this got you serious trouble, but it was well worth it, Thank you and tosses a big kiss to a man that stood up for what he believes and matters! I do pray that all charges be dropped altogether, especially after your ship was destroyed and your ship mates(friends) were almost murdered. Personally myself, I would of socked that Japanese whaler Capt. in the nose(lol), but I think that the "Sea Sheperds" need to bring you back! I understand they needed to save face for credit ratings but ya... "We need you back kicking butt and making our sea animal's safe, since many of us can't or don't want to handle the physical position you and other's have taken." "So, I
This season of whale wars did a fair job showing both sides even using clips and Japanese audio and video footage. No matter how anyone thinks Captain Pete Bethune's was destroyed by the Japanese and he served a brave act trying to find justice only to face 1/3 year in prison.
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