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Anti-whaling protester 'feared being thrown overboard'
12:52pm Friday 18th January 2008
Comments (29)A Sussex activist held captive for two days on a Japanese whaling ship said today he feared he would be thrown into the sea after boarding the vessel.
Giles Lane said he knew there was a risk he would be detained before he boarded the harpoon boat Yushin Maru 2 on Tuesday, but said he had no regrets about what he had done.
The 35-year-old pledged to continue efforts to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet's activities in the Southern Ocean.
Mr Lane, from Fulking, near Brighton, boarded the ship with a colleague from the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
"The crew's initial reaction was to try to throw us back overboard into the ocean," he said.
"There were some worrying moments, but it happened too quickly to be scared.
"Then there was a slight scuffle and they tied us to the railings and left us to get a soaking in the icy water."
Speaking from the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin in the Southern Ocean, Mr Lane added: "We couldn't have been washed overboard, because we were chained to the railings, but when the captain turned the ship sharply we were thigh-deep in water. We could have got hypothermia."
Mr Lane and his Australian colleague Benjamin Potts were then locked in a cabin in the ship for two days before being transferred to Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking after an impasse between the Japanese fleet and the activists' vessel was resolved with an agreement brokered by the Australian government.
The pair were then shuttled back to the Steve Irwin, officials said.
Mr Lane said he and Mr Potts had boarded the Japanese ship so they could hand the captain a letter telling him he was breaching international law by hunting the endangered mammal.
"We're still out here disrupting the Japanese whaling fleet, and we'll continue to do that as long as our fuel and food lasts," he said.
"Although we appreciate the concern that people have expressed for our welfare, it is important to remember that this is not about us.
"It's about stopping this cruel and illegal whale hunt. The treatment that we received was trivial in comparison to the suffering that the whales experience at the hands of the Japanese whalers.
"I imagine if you could ask the whales, they would think it was a worthwhile thing to do."
Paul Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin, said the ship would continue its pursuit of the seven-strong Japanese fleet.
He said: "Every day that we stop the whalers is a victory. We will continue to intervene, harass, block and obstruct the whalers at every opportunity."
Last night Mr Lane's girlfriend, Jen Parker, originally from Windermere, Cumbria, said she was "delighted" at the news he was safe.
Ms Parker, also 35, said she believed Mr Lane - her partner of 10 years - would want to stay on in the Antarctic to continue the anti-whaling campaign.
She said: "I'm sure Giles will want to carry on his campaign to stop whaling in the Antarctic. That's what he went out there to do, and I can't see him stopping now.
"I'm certainly not expecting to see him for a while yet, but to know he is safe and well will be great."
Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith said police were investigating complaints in connection to the incident to determine if any laws had been broken.
Your Say YourThe Argus
Lee, Worthing says...
1:10pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Jim Thicky, Preston park says...
1:17pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Lee wrote:A typically informed opinion from Lee who regularly brings these pages to life with his brilliance. Why don't you fly the Rising Sun from your neck perhaps it'll get caught on a passing car. That'd learn ya.
Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the Whalers
Sue, Brighton says...
1:34pm Fri 18 Jan 08
"I imagine if you could ask the whales, they would think it was a worthwhile thing to do."
I also imagine that if you were able to hold a coherant conversation with a whale they may well be joining the debate on whether they should be hunted or not.
The fact that you can't communicate successfully with them is probably why they are seen as 'dumb animals' and a source of food.
I think if most animals and plants were asked, they would probably say they would rather not be killed and eaten.
Idiot!
frail gail, drinking ale says...
3:22pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Dirty Harry, Brighton says...
3:51pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Lee wrote:Yeah, absolutely. It would have been one less useless, left wing halfwit for us to have to put up with. Well done to the Japs. Terrific guys the Japs.
Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the Whalers
R Poon, Saltdean says...
4:38pm Fri 18 Jan 08
frail gail wrote:Too true, I used to work on a Icelandic whaler hunting Fin Whales out of Borgarnes. I'll never forget those great times. If this joker had tried to jump abord our vessel he would have been very strongly repelled.
I have eaten whale meat and bought whale bone knives in the past, and I dont see anything wrong with sacrificing a few of these big mammals for the sake of people enjoying their products.
Joey, Brighton says...
5:09pm Fri 18 Jan 08
2. If you believe in fighting a whale then at least have the guts to take it on in one-on-one combat.
3. We are all going to hell in a hand cart.
Soapy, Shoreham says...
5:26pm Fri 18 Jan 08
whale joke, Artic ocean says...
5:27pm Fri 18 Jan 08
a whale ?
Answer ..Send down four skin divers !
fishface, says...
6:20pm Fri 18 Jan 08
short fat fish, says...
6:31pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Kickboxer, Worthing says...
6:54pm Fri 18 Jan 08
kickboxer,worthing, says...
7:22pm Fri 18 Jan 08
T.Ruth, brighton says...
7:22pm Fri 18 Jan 08
R Poon wrote:You cruel brainless b******ds, hope you both get yours one day soon, because no one is going to miss the evil likes of you, you scumbags.
frail gail wrote: I have eaten whale meat and bought whale bone knives in the past, and I dont see anything wrong with sacrificing a few of these big mammals for the sake of people enjoying their products.Too true, I used to work on a Icelandic whaler hunting Fin Whales out of Borgarnes. I'll never forget those great times. If this joker had tried to jump abord our vessel he would have been very strongly repelled.
T.Ruth, brighton says...
7:33pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Dirty Harry wrote:The Japs proved to everyone just how cruel they could be when they tortured our troops in WW2, so murdering the worlds endangered wildlife means nothing to them and obviously nothing to heartless cruel b*******ds like you, you would probably have fought on their side against us in WW2 if the truth was known, you cruel scumbags.
Lee wrote: Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the WhalersYeah, absolutely. It would have been one less useless, left wing halfwit for us to have to put up with. Well done to the Japs. Terrific guys the Japs.
kittyboxer, says...
7:35pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Kickboxer wrote:Only a moronic felcher like you kockboxer would suggest anyone would eat every last living thing. What came first the chicken or the egg?
When we have killed the last fish, When we have killed the last animal, When we have killed the last plant, only then my friends will you realise money cannot be eaten!!.
T.Ruth, brighton says...
8:05pm Fri 18 Jan 08
kittyboxer wrote:Kickboxer is correct in what he says, whereas you my friend have the problem that needs dealing with, go see a shrink and stop smoking the dope, you will then see the light with a bit of luck.
Kickboxer wrote: When we have killed the last fish, When we have killed the last animal, When we have killed the last plant, only then my friends will you realise money cannot be eaten!!.Only a moronic felcher like you kockboxer would suggest anyone would eat every last living thing. What came first the chicken or the egg?
Rhinofish, Hove says...
9:48pm Fri 18 Jan 08
Lee wrote:Lee, why do you think the taxes you pay are funding this protest? Last time i looked the govt do not fund whaling protests. They fund war in the middle east, fat cat administrators and wealthy MPs. Is that what you want your hard earned wages to be spent on?
Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the Whalers
Gillasauras, Atlantis says...
12:51am Sat 19 Jan 08
Lee, Worthing says...
3:09pm Sat 19 Jan 08
T.Ruth wrote:At least The Japs are not frightened of work like these anarchist scumbags ( still the flag is going up )
Dirty Harry wrote:The Japs proved to everyone just how cruel they could be when they tortured our troops in WW2, so murdering the worlds endangered wildlife means nothing to them and obviously nothing to heartless cruel b*******ds like you, you would probably have fought on their side against us in WW2 if the truth was known, you cruel scumbags.
Lee wrote: Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the WhalersYeah, absolutely. It would have been one less useless, left wing halfwit for us to have to put up with. Well done to the Japs. Terrific guys the Japs.
Lee, Worthing says...
3:10pm Sat 19 Jan 08
Rhinofish wrote:They are not, but bet you he still is claiming his giro whilst out there ( idiot )
Lee wrote:Lee, why do you think the taxes you pay are funding this protest? Last time i looked the govt do not fund whaling protests. They fund war in the middle east, fat cat administrators and wealthy MPs. Is that what you want your hard earned wages to be spent on?
Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the Whalers
Karen, Scotland says...
5:33pm Sat 19 Jan 08
Arturo, Monterrey, Mexico says...
6:42pm Sat 19 Jan 08
T.Ruth wrote:Alright look. Ive seen this come up a lot and its just so inaccurate. yea the japs tortured americans in POW camps in WWII, and how does this exclued the americans, when they themselves had concentration camps, in the U.S. for any jap-american or jap, in the country to go too. not to mention the germans know nearly drove the jews to extinction, so this doesnt proove anything. The fact of matter is as simple as they are breaking international law. Going into Aussi water , the endangered spiecies act and so on and so forth. Dont you see where the world is going, whales are probably gonna die out of pollution in the oceans, tragic really, but do we really want to help out in the prosses. just by killing them. thats the real crime if you ask me. but oh well thats just me
Dirty Harry wrote:The Japs proved to everyone just how cruel they could be when they tortured our troops in WW2, so murdering the worlds endangered wildlife means nothing to them and obviously nothing to heartless cruel b*******ds like you, you would probably have fought on their side against us in WW2 if the truth was known, you cruel scumbags.Lee wrote: Should have thrown him overboard would be one less Job doging anarchist to fund with all of my overtime and hard work, I am going to fly the Rising Sun from My T.V. Ariel to show my support to the WhalersYeah, absolutely. It would have been one less useless, left wing halfwit for us to have to put up with. Well done to the Japs. Terrific guys the Japs.
Lee, Worthing says...
7:44pm Sat 19 Jan 08
Karen wrote:Shut up you Idiot , I am talking about the fact the guy can jolly around with his Greenpeace mates with his Giro in his back pocket
Whales are intelligent sentient creatures. The way they are slaughtered and the length of time they take to die is barbaric and inhumane, like some of the posters on this story. Just for the record, these "activists" have to pay there own way there, using none of your wages.....that should let you sleep at night, no conscience there to be bothered by anything else
Karen, Scotland says...
8:26pm Sat 19 Jan 08
Lee, Worthing says...
12:17pm Sun 20 Jan 08
Karen wrote:Minor detail - Moron
Lee I would at least expect a flamer to know the difference between Greenpeace and Sea shepherd!!!!!!. But hey WHAT do you know?
JOHNBOY, brighton says...
1:19pm Sun 20 Jan 08
Karen, Scotland says...
6:34pm Sun 20 Jan 08
Lee wrote:One of the many you are wrong about!
Karen wrote: Lee I would at least expect a flamer to know the difference between Greenpeace and Sea shepherd!!!!!!. But hey WHAT do you know?Minor detail - Moron
But why let the truth spoil things...when you can ply inaccuracies. What people like you are best at!
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Sue, Brighton says...
1:03pm Fri 18 Jan 08