ALV founder Patty Mark appeals to the Australian government to protect her son Noah and other Sea Shepherd crew members

Animal Liberation Victoria's President, Noah Hannibal recently joined the crew of Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling vessel the Steve Irwin in a six week campaign to uphold Australian law and prevent whaling in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Two other ALV members, Laurens and Ralph are included in the 17 Australian crew members in a total crew of 33 volunteers from around the world.

The Australian government has grossly neglected its duty to both the whales and its citizens by recalling the Oceanic Viking from the area. This decision places the whales in extreme danger, as well as the crew of the Sea Shepherd who are now single-handedly taking direct, non-violent action to stop the slaughter.

The Japanese Government meanwhile is making sure its armed coastguard are aboard the Fukuyoshi Maru No. 68 which is glued to the Steve Irwin, remaining only 6 nautical miles behind them at all times. The Japanese Government is obviously keen to protect it's illegal Cashwhale killing, while the Australian Government turns its back on both the whales and its citizens who are heroically trying to save them.

Noah's mother, ALV Founder Patty Mark wrote to the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, pleading for him to return the Oceanic Viking to the area to protect the lives of the Sea Shepherd crew and the whales.
Click here to read Patty's letter

Patty is also pleading with Australians everywhere to email the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith and put pressure on him to return the Oceanic Viking to the Southern Ocean to arrest the illegal whalers.

Please use the links to the right to send a pre-written email to the Minister, and help our oceanic heroes and the whales. Of course it's even better if you compose your own email and send it to: Rachel.Moseley@dfat.gov.au
who is the Minister's assistant and she will make sure the Minister knows your concerns.
Thank you so much!

An excerpt from Patty's letter (23 Feb 2008)

"As a father you will imagine the worry in my heart for the safety of my son (and every other son and daughter serving on the Sea Shepherd), and as the Foreign Minister of Australia you will understand the importance of upholding Australian law and safeguarding our citizens. I request that the Oceanic Viking be immediately redeployed to the Australian Antarctic Territory to ensure both these jobs are done.

"I fully support my son's decision to work so hard to uphold Australian law and to stop this brutal and cruel slaughter. You clearly stated "the Australian Government strongly opposes Japan's "scientific whaling" programme and wants Japan to cease whaling in the Southern Ocean..." -  it is your responsibility to stand by young Australians who are doing what our Government should be doing.

"I will hold you responsible if anything happens to my child, to any crew member of the Sea Shepherd and for the loss of life of any whales."

read the full letter here >

From Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Captain
(Feb 25 2008)

"Meanwhile we have Australian politicians warning us that what we are doing is dangerous. Of course it's dangerous. Racing through treacherous, freezing, waters filled with chunks of ice, threading our way around mountainous tabletop bergs, pursuing vicious armed killers that out number us and being pursued by armed Japanese Coast Guard two thousand miles from the coast of Australia. Please Stephen Smith, you may be the Foreign Minister but tell us something we don't know.

"The truth is, Mr. Smith, that we would not be down here risking our lives to protect whales if your government had simply kept its promise to do something to kick these Japanese whale poachers out of these waters.

"Instead of telling me, a deep sea Captain with decades of experience, how dangerous these waters and the situation is, why doesn't your government send down a ship to arrest these poachers for flagrant violation of an Australian Federal court order that specifically prohibits the killing of whales in the territorial waters of the Australian Antarctic Territory?

"I have 17 Australian crew-members who voted for your government because of the promise to stop the Japanese whalers by Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett. They would rather not be taking these risks but your government gives them no alternative but to risk life and limb to do what your government promised to do in November but you now refuse to do in February...."