September 8th, 2014

GREAT NEWS!!

SEA SHEPHERD WHALE DEFENDERS FOUND GUILTY OF DEFENDING WHALES

The Sea Shepherd Volunteers who intervened against the whale killers of Sandoy on August 30th have been found guilty of trying to protect pilot whales.

Well, that is why they are in the Faroe Islands and what they are there for – to protect pilot whales and dolphins.

And so far this Operation Grindstop has been a huge success. Last year the total kills for 2013 to today’s date in September, over 1,186 cetaceans were slain including 455 dolphins.

This year the count is 33 murdered pilot whales on August 30th and 5 defenseless Bottlenose whales cowardly slaughtered after being beached by the psychopath of Sandoy. 13 whales were killed in May prior to the arrival of the Sea Shepherd volunteers for a total of 51.

2013: 1,186 killed 2014: 51 killed

Charges and verdict:

1. Charge: Disturbing public order. Verdict: All 6 guilty
By intervening against a mob of killers disturbing the natural order.
2. Charge: Hindering the hunt of pilot whales: Verdict: All 6 guilty
That was the intent.
3. Charge: Ignoring police orders to leave the area. Verdict: 3 guilty (Sergio, Rodrigio and Alexandra) and 3 not guilty (Nikki, Maggy and Monique)
The crew in the water were found not guilty

Sentence: As imposed by Danish Judge Lisbeth Bugel Madsen.
1) 1000kr for a total of 6000 thousand kroner (approximately $1200 total)

The fines are all equal despite the fact that three were found not guilty on charge #3.

None of the six however will pay the fine because they do not acknowledge that attempting to prevent a murder is a crime. Paying a fine would be an acknowledgement that their activities are a crime and would lend legitimacy to the killers.

1. Maggie Gschnitzer (Italy)

2. Rorigio Gilkuri (Mexico)
3. Nikki Botha (South Africa)
4. Monnique Rossouw (South Africa)
5. Sergio Toribio (Spain)
6. Alexandra Sellet (France)

“We are proud that we made every effort to disrupt the murder of the pilot whales on Sandoy. Of course the judge found us guilty. We would have been very disappointed if she had found us not guilty. We were not on that beach for the surf and sun, we were there in cold water and dangerous conditions to intervene against a mob of killers and their defenseless victims.” Said Maggie Gschnitzer.

I think it is good for him to mention something if everybody is ok with that. The 6 is not ashamed to have been found guilty and very proud of it because in the verdict it stated that the judge agrees that they hindered the hunt of the pilot whales – exactly what they were trying to do and the reason we are here

Deportation? A request for deportation has been sent to Denmark. Not sure why if the Faroese insist they run their own country. It will be interesting to see what the Danes say especially about how they will go about deporting the three European from Europe. A decision on deportation will be made on Wednesday.

Of the six only Maggie Gschnitzer from Italy and Sergio Toribio from Spain are still in the Faroe Islands. How will they deport two Europeans from Europe? It should be an interesting decision and it is a question we can all ask the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affiars

Since the arrests were made, forty new volunteers have arrived to carry on with the Grindstop 2014. Today there are 75 volunteers on land, 20 volunteers with the offshore team and 4 on the Brigitte Bardot for a total of 99 volunteers.

If nothing else the arrests of the volunteers on August 30th have invigorated the support base.

Operation Grindstop 2014 is stronger than ever

E-mails can be sent to the Danish Foreign Ministry at: um@um.dk
Ask them how can they deport European from Europe for defending whales in accordance with European regulations that prohibit the killing of whales?