Sea Shepherd - Pilot without a Visa

www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/blow-to-whaling-campaign-sea-shepherd-pilot-denied-visa-20111206-1ogh9.html

Blow to whaling campaign: Sea Shepherd pilot denied visa
Andrew Darby in Hobart
December 6, 2011 - 2:34PM

A former US Marine helicopter pilot, who finds the whaling fleet so Sea Shepherd protesters can stop the hunt, says he has been denied a visa to join the activists in Australia.
Chris Aultman, who won official praise for his work on a polar search last summer, has been held up in Los Angeles as the countdown begins to this year's conflict.
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Mr Aultman said by email that he had come to Australia for the past six years on an electronic travel authority visa, but this time was placed on hold, and then declined.
"I have not received any information about why it was denied or when it will be issued," he said. "I wish I knew."
The 38-year-old Gulf War veteran's work has been vital to Sea Shepherd finding the whaling fleet, and provided a critical platform for aerial footage used in the Whale Wars documentary series.
Mr Aultman won praise for conducting a 14-hour aerial search for missing Norwegian adventurers in the Ross Sea last summer, in conditions that forced the New Zealand Navy to withdraw.
A report by Maritime New Zealand into the tragedy commended Sea Shepherd for its work.
Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson said he and first officer Peter Hammarstedt were denied visas two years ago before a petition, and intervention from Greens leader Bob Brown and former environment minister Ian Campbell.
"Now it appears that Australia is seeking to keep the Sea Shepherd helicopter grounded by denying a visa to our veteran pilot," Mr Watson said.
An Immigration Department spokeswoman said she was seeking further information, but cautioned that privacy laws prevented detailed discussion of individual cases.
Meanwhile, Mr Watson said it seemed likely that the factory ship Nisshin Maru would take on the remaining half of its fuel this week and leave Japan on Wednesday.
Sea Shepherd's three ships are being prepared to leave from Australia in about 10 days' time, with the Steve Irwin and Brigitte Bardot likely to embark from Albany, Western Australia, and the Bob Barker sailing from Hobart.



I can hear the message on Julia's phone....

"Julia, it's Senator Doctor Bob Brown here. I've already warned you to not pull any more stunts against Sea Shepherd. Our backing of your party is wearing really thin. Those Liberals would treat me with more respect. Call me back ASAP if you want our backing at the next election. We need a Visa for Mr Aultman."

It's a cruel world:

Shock verdict: China jails Aussie for 13 years

Read more: www.theage.com.au/national/shock-verdict-china-jails-aussie-for-13-years-20111206-1ogiv.html

Just found an update :

www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=12589

'The submission from Australia will remain confidential until Japan has submitted its countrer-memorial arguments, which it must do by 9 March 2012. Oral arguments will take place at a hearing shortly thereafter.'

So that will be just under two years since the action was first raised in the Hague.

^^^^ Exactly!
C'mon don't be Niave nothing except a bit of non convincing chest beating will be all that is ever done. Expensive lawyers are cheap compared to the cost of losing a big trading partner.

Can't they find an Aussie chopper pilot that's willing to help their cause?

I hate the farken jap whalers! They should fit the sea Shepherd with a long metal pole and ram the yellow monkey's ship propellers, that would stop them for a while![}:)]

Last year the Interceptor ship was called the "Goigia" which translated means Godzilla. So when the japs sent out a distress message they would have to say "We are under attack from Godzilla"

far out , it's not actually illegal what they are doing , sea sheppard and their captain are a bunch of farken idiots . I really hope that stupid ship gets sunk .


BTW i don't condone what the japanese are doing but i don't think the sea sheppard should be held in such high regard

Ditto

Sea Shepard fly the bad arse (or ass if you prefer) environmental flag with a skull n crossbones [}:)] but in reality are doing sweet fek all in the big environmental picture but making a name for themselves by attaching themselves to the environmental poster child that is whaling.

I hate whaling too, but if you really want to save the oceans you need to be doing a bit more than hassling a few Japanese ships and getting your Jollys Rogered plastered all over teev - which in reality is very nice for some big buck fundraising for SS.

SS are like the Chuck Norris of environmental campaigners. All show and.. well just all show really.

Seashepard are total arse clowns IMHO.

I'm certainly not a fan of whaling but what did you think was gonna happen when you slowly steered a carbon fibre boat in front of a big steel ship that was moving?

not the brightest move imo

Your wrong. They use the loophole that they are researching whales. The only paper they have ever released has said that they now now whales eat fish. Bunker C fuel is banned below the 60th parallel and bring armed troops into Aussie waters. Well if you don't mind being invaded no issue for you.

Chili have said if the Japanese whalers enter their water they will be immediately arrested. Last year they entered French waters with no permission. Mate if you think this is all legal than i don't know what your on

$28 million of Aussie money that was donated to the Tsunami relief fund.
[}:)]

Not Chuck Norris but Sean Connery has also just taken a seat on the SSCS board

The big issue is that almost do. Our Australian Government is more interested in helping them than stopping them. The Japanese sent letters to America asking for the American government to remove there tax status. (wiki leaks) The Australian government refuses to Acknowledge their tax exempt status (even though they hold the highest charity charter world wide). Wiki leaks again has Kevin Rudd saying he will do whatever ha can to stop SSCS to the Japanese in response to their letters.

Japan pay for many nations to be members on the International Whaling Commission. Then they also pay bribes to those members so they vote in favour of Japan's position. This years meeting when a vote to change something was put up (a issue that Japan did not want to change) they got up and walked out and made the nations they sponsor and bribe to walk out with them meaning that no vote could be taken. Therefor blocking the action. The only resolve from this years IWC meeting was that the registration fees for country's can no longer be paid in CASH What a joke.

Sorry not wanting to stifle discussion but it is a subject you can see is important to me. I am a financial supporter of SSCS and i am involved in many ways that i can with my keyboard.

I do read a lot and to be honest i research my charities i support and i checked and checked again and to be honest i understand people's negatives about the SSCS group on face value but care enough to scratch the skin and they are simply god send. IMHO.



Did you know that SSCS was here fighting againest Aussie whalers in Albany all those years ago as well. Look at Australian support today..Change will come eventually..

Why dont Greenpeace pick on the Norwegians too? is it coz dey is white?